The church has been so focussed on the sin of the world, we have failed to see how sin has entered our own home. As evil and deception across the world increase, evil and deception within the house of God is being exposed.

Time and time again in this hour, I am seeing the religious spirit work hand in hand with the spirit of Jezebel – in agreement, in alliance, co-ercing.

Deception easily rises within the church because pride and self-righteousness blind us. 

Religiosity LOVES deception because its aim is to protect its image over its INTEGRITY. It refuses to deal with its insecurities and so uses a Christian image to medicate instead – as if we don’t serve the God of healing and deliverance.

The religious watch on with pleasure as Jezebel attacks.

But Jezebel only attacks because she is threatened by true leadership, the true prophetic and God’s anointed.

All of which she is unwilling and unable to walk in – because she has chosen to serve other gods instead.

Judgement begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17) so as people of God we should be RUNNING to ask the Lord to purify and to cleanse us.

Our hearts should be asking the Lord for His righteous judgement to fall, that He may bring the restoration and redemption we so desperately but often don’t even know, that we need.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?

Or who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, 

Nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive blessing from the LORD,

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

• (Psalm 24:3-5 NKJV)

To the corrupt church in Thyatira, Jesus shows himself as the one who sees (fire in his eyes) and the one who brings judgement (feet of brass). Jesus commends them for their works, their love, their service, their faith and their patience – but he addresses them for tolerating Jezebel.

God wants to make Himself known as the God who sees the minds and hearts (Revelation 2:23). Not the God who sees performance religion.

Relgiosity is essentially works without a genuine love, doctrine without grace and a worship of idols, labelled as God.

Its aim is to present itself to the masses as the correct way, whilst leading people into even deeper deception. In the life of the church we have been conditioned to look to the gifts and the supernatural – but God says to look at the heart and character of a man for by his fruits we shall know.

A religious spirit will walk in self-righteousness, judgement, criticism, even slander and accusation of the brethren all the while considering themselves holier than though. And people who are also deceived will walk right into its trap – not even realising how they are being used by the enemy.

It is a dividing of the sheep and the goats. The ones who see and the ones who don’t want to.

It is a call to consecration, sanctification, purification – if we truly desire His glory, we will desire holiness not just a form of godliness. The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV) 

Make us fit for your purpose Lord.