Breaking Out from Boundaries of Tradition by Embracing His Presence
By Sandie Freed
Turning Over a New Leaf
Recently, I had a dream concerning expansion and enlargement. In the dream, I, along with many different Believers, was breaking out into a place of increase and being stretched forth past previous boundaries - yet, there was a restraint. The restraint involved religious tradition, religious mindsets, and old wineskins. I heard the Lord say, "I am turning over a new leaf."
Having heard that phrase before, I really never stopped and pondered the activity concerning the "turning over" of a leaf. Since a child, I simply accepted the fact that the phrase involved change. But today, as I write my thoughts, I am more spiritually challenged. What does it mean for God to "turn over a new leaf?" I have equated it to the process of a tree bringing forth new, green leaves after a winter season. And, yes, it is similar to what God does to us - causes a death to the old to bring forth something new.
Surprisingly, there are many Biblical references to the lives of people being changed such as Saul who turned over a new leaf and became Paul (The Bible Illustrator uses the phrase "turning over a new leaf" quite often). There are numerous mentions of the turning of a new leaf involving the renewing of the mind, beginning over again, and especially the newness which comes from true repentance. Turning a new leaf also refers to the "old" passing away and a fresh, new beginning coming forth! Wow! What a way to start the New Year - with a turning of a new leaf!
The "Turning" Involves Leaving Past Mindsets and Religious Traditions for a Hunger of His Presence
I have also heard the Lord say that in this next season we will hunger for His Presence more than ever before! But, to fully embrace His presence, we must move past religious tradition. Religious tradition involves just what it states: "tradition." Tradition allows little, if any, room for "contradiction." In other words, religious tradition opposes any ideas that contradict what has already been established.
The word "tradition" comes from the Latin word traditionem and means, "giving up, delivering up or surrendering." It is based upon a transference of information, customs, culture and beliefs that are "given up" (and given over) to the next generation. It is similar to the handing over and the giving up of a baton during a relay. By surrendering customs, lifestyles and beliefs to others, it insures the maintenance of tradition.
I wonder how much of what has been orally passed on through my generations has come merely through stories or actuality. I am fortunate because much of my heritage is of First Nation descent and I can document many "family stories" at the
If we were to really stop and ponder this point, we can surmise that many areas of our life are carved out by tradition. In this Christmas season, I am reminded of family traditions. However, I am now reminded that there is a great possibility (more of a probability) that even the way we gather together to worship is based on tradition. I was raised to worship God on Sundays.
As a child we rarely discussed God. Oh sure, we gave thanks at every meal, but we did not discuss the Bible at home. After all, our tradition was to wait for Sunday and sit calmly while the preacher fed us. Unfortunately, this is a mindset for most of the Church - many sit in the pew and allow another person to hear from God for us, rather than hear daily for ourselves. There you have it - tradition!
Today however, I am breaking OUT from tradition. I believe we can have church any day of the week - because we are the Church! I am not advocating that we stop attending worship on a weekly basis, but rather break out of tradition and have "church" every day. How can we do this? By worshiping God every day and acknowledging Him in our hearts on a daily basis. Our hearts must be intimately involved in worship - or else it is simply tradition. Again, it is a HEART issue. If our hearts are not engaged, then our worship becomes religious tradition. Each time we attend a church service, our hearts need to be engaged.
Friends, if we attended every church meeting with engaged hearts, we would witness more of His presence and more of the supernatural! Instead, we settle for the "traditional" day of worship, do our "traditional" tasks with no sincere smiles or joy. Why? Because we have settled for tradition rather than heart-engagement! I like that word "engagement." We need a fresh, passionate love for our Bridegroom - just like someone "engaged" to be married. If we have this love affair, tradition has to flee!
I'll never forget when my daughter was to be married. While "engaged," she planned her wedding. Everything she wanted to do seemed "out of the box!" Yikes! I manifested, let me tell you. I would say, "Kim, that's not traditional." Well, these young people are so non-traditional. Now I say, "Go for it!" As long as your hearts are bent toward God, go ahead and stretch some "old boundaries!" Contradiction can be a healthy and holy thing!
Tradition is Empowered When Our Hearts are Far from God
Let's look at Mark 7:6, 7, and 13 to better understand how Jesus felt concerning religious tradition:
"He answered and said unto them, 'Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men...Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.'" Mark 7:6-7, 13 (KJV)
Notice that in verse 13 Jesus referred to the word "delivered." Remember, the word "delivered" or "delivering" is connected to tradition. In this passage, Jesus illustrated that the Word of God had been delivered, or passed down, only through tradition and not through the heart-felt relationship with God. In fact, "delivered" in this passage is the word paradidomi (par-ad-id'-o-mee) (Strong's #3860) and means to not only "transmit and surrender (to another)," but is also a word which refers to being "hazardous" and "to be imprisoned!" In other words, a relationship with God that is only through tradition can be hazardous and can imprison us!
If we have been attempting to break out into places of enlargement, we need to remember how important it is to first examine our hearts. Jesus said that if we relate only through "tradition," then our hearts are far from Him. Jesus was challenging the "oral laws" of the Pharisees that had become tradition - do we have some of these ourselves? Is He also challenging us? I believe so. Jesus had a habit of offending the mind to expose the heart and He is doing the same today.
The next time we worship we need to ask ourselves if our "heart" is in what we are doing! How long has it been since we worshiped with our whole heart? How long has it been since we spent time with God besides on a Sunday morning? To enter worship with mere lip service is simply tradition if not done with our heart! And if this has become our lifestyle, we are imprisoned with tradition. How can we possibly break out and develop new wineskins while still imprisoned with tradition?
Be Prepared for Controversy and Contradiction
Precious Saints, get ready for a shaking. Our mindsets concerning God and Church are going to be confronted by Heaven. The more we pray for His perfect will to be established, the more our traditions will be challenged. As God turns over a new leaf, He is also expecting repentance from dead works, religious mindsets, and the lack of personal intimacy with Him.
God's ways contradict the mindsets of man. In the past I would blame the devil for my lack of breakthrough. But when God Himself is causing the controversy, how can we bind God? Though the enemy will take our uncertainty and lack of understanding and use it against us, we must develop a new type of warfare mindset against tradition.
The way to win against tradition is to develop a passion for God. This passion, a burning flame, can only come through letting go of the past and embracing the new. How can we expect passion if God is closing the door to the past? When a door closes, there is a lack of oxygen going into the room. There is no oxygen (or breath of His life) as He closes a door - and a flame will not live without oxygen!
I am writing this not to negate any previous revelation concerning the wiles of the enemy, but rather to add to revelation that will empower us to move forward. So, let's be a people with new vision and passion for His presence. Rather than go through Christmas and the New Year celebration with an attitude of tradition, let's connect our hearts with the true meaning of Christmas.
Desire Him and His presence, worship with all of your heart, visit your loved ones with one hundred percent heartfelt desire. Overthrow traditions in the years to come by worshiping God like never before! I love one of the comments that The Bible Illustrator says: "We must not only turn over a new leaf, but tear out the old one. The old man must be slain if the new man is to live."
Isn't this just right where we are in this season? I pray that as He turns a new leaf in your life that you will experience the most powerful time in His presence.
I pray that each of you is empowered by His Spirit to experience the joy of being in His divine presence in this New Year to come. Let's allow the Lord to turn over a new leaf in our lives as He also separates us from religious tradition - so that we may enter into heartfelt worship!
Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
About Sandie Freed: Sandie co-labors with her husband, Mickey Freed, doing the work of the Lord as a ministry team. Together they serve as the Mid-Southern Regional Directors of the Christian International Network of Churches. In addition, Sandie is the Founder and Director of the School of the Prophets and
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