Spiritual Religion Vs. Godly

It is not a secret that Satan is after the Church. He wants to see us fall. One way he will do that is with spiritual bait. Oh yes...Satan is very knowledgeable and active in your church. We think just because we attend church, hang out with church people, dress like we go to church and sing on the praise team, we are safe from Satan's schemes within the church. Beloved, he has some of the church members by the throats. Why, because we lack wholeness. We have never fully allowed God to perform his miraculous work IN US. Sanctifying us through and through.

When I was growing up, my parents belonged to a church where most{not all} of the members were out of control. As a kid I could see it. What appeared to be holy (spiritual) on the outside was not so holy on the inside. Satan had a hold of so many members. They stuck to the church "rules" dressed appropriately, sang what they were supposed to, prayed how they were supposed to. They had a outward "spiritual" appearance. As I became of age I knew in my heart what I was accustomed to was not right. I had to establish my own "Godly" relationship with God...outside of that church. I wanted a relationship with God and not a religion. It may have took me longer then it should but eventually I learned how to have a relationship and not a spiritual religion.

What I learned from going to church as a kid; being spiritual about Christian things does not make you Godly. With all my heart I want to be Godly.

I am going to try and not be too wordy, because I will lose you. I feel that this is a topic some need to hear. With the world we live in today, we have come accustomed to leading Spiritual lifestyles. SO....

Let's define the two terms:

Spiritual: of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
A spiritual approach to life...ie: Church only on Sundays or maybe holidays. Partaking in Spiritual rituals. Tiffany also brought it to my attention that "Karma" is another example. What goes around comes around. That is spiritual thinking. Not to mention certain Spiritual "items" can become idols.
What does the bible say about idols? (an idol can be anything you put before God)

Exodus 20:1-15 ESV    
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

Leviticus 26:1         
“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.


Godly: conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious. Conforming...talking with /to God daily. Being of good measure. Performing Gods work within your life. Being a witness. Living as is God was standing right beside you. He is after all. Remember that saying...what would Jesus do? Being Godly is performing your every day tasks with his guidance and will over your life.

After reading through the different definitions of Spiritual and Godly, where do you think you are? Where would you like to be?

The bible also talks about false prophets being deeply Spiritual and not Godly. My biggest fear is falling under the schemes of a false prophet. Someone who appears to be spiritual, but is lacking the godly integrity. How do we know?

By being of Godly character ourselves. Keeping that open communication with God. Daily prayer and devotions. Cross reference what you are being taught with the actual WORD of God.

Even a believer can pose as righteous and spiritual. It is up to us to seek out God and strive for that Godly relationship with the Lord. Being Spiritual is an outward show for all to see. Just as a Religion is thought to be. Being Godly is a relationship. Which is what God looks at on Judgment Day.

2 Cor 11:14-15 ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

I think after growing up in the kind of Church that I did and seeing and hearing all the stuff that went on, it turned me sour to religion/God for quite some time. It wasn't until I was well into my adulthood that I sought after God for myself. I have learned to cross reference sermons with the actual word. Listen to what God is telling me and establish that Godly relationship that he desires us to have. I am far from being Godly, as I am human and sin. But I am not where I used to be. It took a bad experience for me to realize the difference between Spiritual and Godly. I pray that if you are stuck in a similar place or position as I was...you begin to really study the word and seek Gods face. He will give you the revelation that you need. He desires all your attention, your whole heart and wants to reward your for your faithful stewardship.

John 4:23 ESV    
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Lukewarm?

What does it feel like to be ON FIRE for Christ?

How do we as believers look to those who do not know Jesus Christ?

 Does Christ see our relationship with him ON FIRE?

 How about LUKEWARM?

Revelation 3:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! ¹⁶ But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!


Lukewarm is where most of us find ourselves. We believe in Christ, we attend church, we do everything we THINK we are supposed to do. BUT...Christ does not want us to play hokey pokey in our relationship with him. Having one foot in and the other out. He wants ALL of you...submitting your selfish fleshly ways to his will. Allowing him to do a work in you. His results are mind blowing!

1 Peter 2:16 ESV
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Do we fill our day with purposefulness ON FIRE acts of God? Doing good around us, portraying Christs love THROUGH US. Or do we sit, lukewarm in our everyday busy lives. Only able to think about Christ...on Sundays, when we routinely attend church. We allow everyday distractions to pull us away from Christ. Christ says to take up the cross DAILY.

Luke 9:23 ESV
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

I don't know about you, but I am on FIIIIYAH! Like never before. My heart is yearning for more, my mind is thirsty for Gods word. I want to be so on fire for Christ that when I wake up and my feet hit the ground...Satan says..."OH NO SHE IS AWAKE! What works of God is she going to commit today." I want to be a THREAT to Satan. No fiery pit in hell can compare to how ON FIRE for Christ I am.

It is my daily prayer that you will get that revelation in your heart...that thirst for his word. Allow him to quench that emptiness that is in your life.

Stay thirsty my friends!

xoxo

Andrea

Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you

Every so often God gives me a huge revelation about the most simplest things. I am here to stir your faith up and encourage you because God is GOOD!

I was driving in my car just thinking and praying one day. I was asking God why others seem to appear more close to Him. What's so special about them that they are basking in the glory, mountains are moving, they are experiencing the prophetic and are hearing God unlike anyone else?? When I thought of this Jesse Duplantis came to mind. God immediately spoke to me and said, "You can be as close to me as you want to be"

It clicked! REVELATION!! It's not about God CHOOSING "special" people who only get to experience Him in those ways, it's about YOU! It's your decision not His!! It's about how willing you are to SEEK HIS FACE, communicate with Him all the time and have a relationship with Him. DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU!. Uh Duuuhh! God is a genius. Just sayin.

How can it be that simple yet nobody gets it? Alot of people don't want to do the work. Yes, it takes work and discipline to be basking in the Glory. Thats the Lord's treasure and if you want some of it, you follow the map and find it. The map is the bible. Read it, study it and learn from it. It is a life manual created by the creator Himself. It contains the secret to getting close to God.

During my drive, I also thought of Moses. . That man obeyed his every command and sought his face. Ask and you shall recieve was definitely shown with his story. He asked God to see His Glory and that's what he got! If you draw near to Him and fully give your heart then God can show you himself in a real way.

Don't get confused with the supernatural and glory. People often are looking for the supernatural and miss God. God isn't smoke and lights. He's LOVE. His glory is his goodness! Don't seek the manifestations, seek His face just for the sake of knowing Him.

I love how God can take a simple question and explain everything in one sentence with the help of the Holy Spirit. Deep revelation for simple things.

Who knew "you can be as close to me as you want to be" meant so much.

So I encourage you to seek, pray and learn. When you are in the presence you learn new things about Him every time. Show yourself faithful and you will be rewarded because God is faithful and a rewarder who diligently seek him.