1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (2 Samuel 3:1)
Saul was self righteous.
David had the spirit of repentance.
There is a war happening during these times between the religious house & the house of repentance.
It’s one to be in church & another to be the church.
We must have living service over lip service.
The Pharisee's saw Jesus but didn't acknowledge Him as God.
There are people who talk about Jesus but can't discern the Holy Spirit
Here are 7 signs
#1 Holy on the outside, but hypocrite on the inside
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:1-11)
This is the difference between condemnation and conviction.
Condemnation: You’re a mistake.
Conviction: You made a mistake.
#2 Blind spiritually
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. (Matthew 15:14)
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:18)
It was the physical eyes that Apostle Paul got blinded with… but really His spiritual eyes opened once the scales fell off & knew Jesus was Lord.
Spiritually people are blind & it is the Lord that encounters those that have a pure heart to see & hear in the spirit.
#3 Hardened heart… NOT humble heart
15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15:15-20)
#4 Hates a radical move of the Holy Spirit… accusation
1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Mark 3:1-6)
If some of us aren’t excited about the word of God… we might be under a religious spirit NOT the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit wants healing, deliverance, & freedom among people.
Anything that hinders a move of God & His will is always AGAINST God!
#5 Judgement of unrighteous by always blaming others…
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)
We are called to judge with a RIGHTEOUS judgement.
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
#6 Self-righteous over Holy Spirit revival
A true spirit of repentance activates a spirit of revival.
We want righteousness over being right.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
#7 Lots of words, but very little weight in the spiritual realm…
More words of their own opinion, twisting scripture… rather than real revelation of the word of God.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (Matthew 23:15)
1 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Click here to listen to the podcast on 7 Signs Of The Religious Spirit.