Religion vs Relationship
'Cause all religion ever made of me. Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet.
It's gotta be more like falling in love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKTW-srvr6E
The views I am sharing here are my own beliefs. Not necessarily consistent with that of my Church. As in my Web Site writings, these views are not intended to be teachings, or to change anybodies’ heartfelt belief. I believe that others should not blindly believe anything that is written here, or anything that is taught by anybody else for that matter. I believe that I should not rely on Televangelists, Pastors, Home Group Leaders, Websites or any body else to feed me Doctrine. I should be a self feeder on Gods Word every day, not just Sunday. I believe that I should examine all of God's Word entirely, both Old Testament and New Testament and prayerfully consider in my own heart what the truth is.
God is Love. Love comes from a heart felt relationship.
What is the difference between religion and a relationship. Religion is rituals or actions that take place out of obligation, habit or policy without a loving heart felt relationship. We can not have a relationship with anybody including God with out conversation. Conversation with God takes place through prayer to God and listening to what the Holy Spirit lays on our heart. Without baptism or immersion in the Holy Spirit we can not have a deep relationship with God therefore we only have an empty religion. Reading the Bible, the Word of God can be the beginning of a relationship with God, which can then be cultivated into a deep and loving relationship with God through continual, constant prayer and conversation with God and His Holy Spirit.
Religion is what God's followers did in the Old Testament when they had 600+ Laws and rules to follow to attempt to please God. The New Testament tells us that God so loved the world that he sent his Son, that by repenting, being baptized, believing in Him and accepting Him into our heart we would receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and remind us of the things His Son told us.
Many Church goers complain that they do not get enough out of their Church and blame their Church. They religiously follow their Church instructions. They go to Church on Sunday, read their Bible at least on Sunday, say what the Church tells them to say and get Baptized by immersion in water. Some even serve religiously in Church ministries yet they still feel unfulfilled. Before we criticize the church, we should remember that WE ARE THE CHURCH.
A few years ago a George Barna nationwide survey revealed that more than half of Bible believing Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force. I have met many, many Christians who claim that they do not understand who or what the Holy Spirit is.
I believe that many feel unfulfilled because they only know about God by what they have read or been told, they do not know God. They have been baptized by immersion in water, but have only sprinkled themselves with the Holy Spirit. If we religiously do things we choose to do for God without praying to God about them, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts, God does not know us and the things we are doing are not authorized. To have a loving relationship that allows us to know God, we need to baptize ourselves by immersion in the Holy Spirit. We need to commit to a relationship that shares continual, constant prayer and conversation with God and allow His Holy Spirit into our hearts to guide us in all truth.
The Apostles would actually make a special trip to an area if the followers had only been baptized in the name of Jesus and make sure they were also baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament tells us that he who sows to please the Spirit will have eternal life. How can we know what pleases God’s Holy Spirit if we do not ask. If we religiously follow Old Testament Laws without prayerful consideration, we may be bypassing the Holy Spirit. I believe this includes our serving and giving. If we give as religious law or as somebody other than the Holy Spirit instructs us to, are we sowing to please the Spirit or an obligation. If the Holy Spirit lays on my heart to give generously and I fail to do so abundantly and cheerfully, I may be guilty of the sin of greed. If after prayerful consideration, I feel it laid on my heart to give a certain amount or percentage, then that is what I should do, not what I should pressure others to do.
If we shall reap as we sow, then let us sow in soil rich with God’s word, and cultivate it with prayer that immerses us in His Holy Spirit, that we might share a deep loving relationship and know God.
For more on my beliefs about prayer and The Holy Spirit, I invite you to check out the other pages of my Web Site:
Thank you for visiting my Web Site and may God bless you and your family.