While this topic is usually a source of much contention in the Body of Christ, I just want to highlight some of the distinct differences between these two from the Word of God.
The Religious spirit speaks its own message because it is always afraid of losing its position and place:
“If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and adhere to Him, and the Romans will come and suppress and destroy AND TAKE AWAY OUR PLACE and our nation [[a]our temple and city and our civil organization].” John 11:48
While the Holy Spirit causes your gift to make room for itself. (Proverbs 18:16)
The religious spirit is always jockeying for position and status above everyone else because it seeks to exalt itself.
The Holy Spirit, when He is Present always highlights Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and He doesn’t speak His Own Message, but He only speaks whatever He hears from the Father.
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK HIS OWN MESSAGE [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13
While the Religious spirit knows the written word of God, it is a complete stranger to the Rhema Word, because while it will have a form of Godliness there’s no power in it (2 Timothy 3:5). The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, will cause the His Power and His Authority to follow the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the surrendered lives of His followers.
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
While the wisdom of men is what usually manifests from the religious spirit, the Holy Spirit’s Power is released through Supernatural demonstration at the Preaching of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
The religious spirit will always draw attention to itself, the Holy Spirit always draws people’s attention to real relationship with Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father through the Cross and the Blood of Jesus Christ. This is because the religious spirit highlights the Messenger over the message, but the Holy Spirit Highlights the Message while operating through the Messenger.
Lastly, the religious spirit seeks to build its own kingdom, while the Holy Spirit builds the Kingdom of God:
“And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, YOUR KINGDOM COME. YOUR WILL BE DONE [held holy and revered] ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” Luke 11:2
The Holy Spirit will operate through our lives the more we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, take up our cross, and follow after Him (Luke 9:23)! While the religious spirit will always attempt to build its own kingdom and seek the accolades of people, the Holy Spirit will build God’s Kingdom upon the inside of those who are His.
We need to ask ourselves, whose kingdom are we building? Who are we drawing people’s attention to and why are we doing what we are doing for God? Is it because we love Jesus Christ and want to make Him Famous on the earth, or is it because we want to build a kingdom for ourselves and be popular, famous, or wealthy?
May Jesus Christ become the only One Who is Worthy of Praise, Honor, and Glory! May His Name Be Exalted above all others and May His Glory be seen upon the Sons and Daughters of His who have laid down their lives for His Purposes in the place of their own!
Featured Image by Luis Morera on Unsplash
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