REBELLION AND RELIGION
By Rhoda Collins
God is looking for people to tear down their personal structures of rebellion and religion that they’ve constructed, to build a relationship with Him.
He’s not looking for “pew-sitters” and “church-attenders”. He’s looking for saints, royal-priests, joint-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, lords, and obedient sons and daughters. Those he can work with to realize His will on earth as it is in Heaven.
The rebellious are their own gods. The religious operate in obsolete systems.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23
“In that He says, “A new covenant,” He (Jesus) has made the first (priest and temple system) obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13
Over the last 2000 years, Christianity has descended back into a temple-system, calling it “church” and denominations, that are run by priests (pastors, etc.). This false system has actually become worse than the former, as this man-made, “church”, religious system is wallowing in rebellion, masquerading as a product of God.
They call their buildings, “the house of God”.
“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands.” Acts 7:48
God rejects rebellion and religion.
These false systems are empty tombs.
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27
Rebellion and religion are closely related. Rebellion is breaking and ignoring God’s standards, while religion is making man-made doctrines and rules and not following the direction of the Holy Spirit.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1
Religious people can look and sound very devout, sincere, intense and very committed to their position. They can be very “busy” with their works and diligently “attending church”. Flesh-guided lives can even be well-intentioned, yet this is still rebellion and religion, as they are following their own lusts, desires and will.
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Religious “churches” and their leaders preach love and tolerance and freedom in Christ. Their definition of “freedom” is that God accepts anything you do. This is fake Christianity.
When the world (non-followers of Christ) looks at today’s “church” and today’s “Christians”, they see rebellion or religion.
The world sees self-righteous, wild animals attacking one another, biting one another, clawing one another, with each “church” believing that they’re better than the others. That only their “church” follows God. They see hypocritical people that look like the rest of the world, buried in sin, acting entitled.
Self-righteousness is unacceptable to God.
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6
Righteousness is a gift from God, like salvation. You can’t earn it. Trying to earn salvation or righteousness is religion. It’s rebellion.
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.” Romans 4:5-6
What does God say He wants for us rather than this obsolete “church”-system that was invented by man?
God wants us to follow the Holy Spirit as Jesus taught us to do by example.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
When you listen and move with the Holy Spirit, you don’t fall into the devil’s traps of rebellion and religion. With the Holy Spirit, you can recognize and resist doctrinal lies, false leaders and internal desires and temptations from the flesh. You can walk the right way.
God says the temple-system and their priests are obsolete.
Recognize, avoid and repent of all participation in rebellion and religion. Tear down your false belief systems. Build your relationship with God by operating in the supernatural realms. Then move on.
Move on together in the spirit with God, as He has exciting plans for your life and destiny with Him, if you’ll let Him!