Be Gone Religious Bondage! by Amy Friend

By Amy Friend
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Have you ever looked back and clearly seen the hand of God on your life all the way back to conception and realized how great and loving HE truly is?
 
Have you also looked back and clearly understood the plan of Satan to stop the plan of our Heavenly Father? Some of you may relate very well to what I am about to share.
 
I was the last child born into a Christian family...my Mom was saved, filled with the baptism at age 12 and that same time walked the streets of gold and met our Jesus in a heavenly vision.  My Dad was born again at age 19, baptized in the Spirit as a visitor in my Mom's home church.  They married and my Dad began preaching and pastoring very soon afterwards.  Mom was his right hand "man."  Together their ministry spanned the time of 60 years.
 
There was 7 years between my next sibling and me.  I was not expected so late in my Moms life (or my Dad's!)
 
Oh, the Good 'ol Days
 
Being raised in small country churches was at times challenging.  I remember sleeping under pews, going through the ladies purses for entertainment during services, and all those nights...weeks of the "revival" when I thought everybody looked more distressed than refreshed. Songfests, church camp, tent meetings...people giving hour-long testimonies that glorified the devil instead of Jesus, lol.  Oh, the "good ol' days."
 
Don't get me wrong, I am very glad and thankful to have been born into a full gospel family...they were serving and loving God to the best of their understanding and knowledge at the time. But I am sharing the part of the religious traditions of man that was part of my life.
 
As Pentecostal little girls, we were not "allowed" to wear pants (we were trying to look like men, which was a sin), wear make-up (we were trying to look like Jezebel, which was a sin), go to any dances, movies or even participate in gym class (when it went co-ed, which was a sin).  Amusement parks were taboo. Going to the grocery was a necessity though, and we HAD to mingle with the world for this.
 
Here comes the plan of the enemy...keep them apart from mingling with the rest of the world so they end up having no Influence ON THE "WORLD."
 
Set Apart
 
At 6 years old, I was preachin' to the whole neighborhood about end times and the return of Christ. One year later as a child now in school, I am "set apart" all right, but not in a good way.  I stuck out like a green thumb, was laughed at and whispered about. I didn't look like the rest of the children; dress like the rest, or even know what they were talking about so I could join into the fun kid stuff conversations.  I was separated by religion.  I was someone no one else cared to hang out with. I was sent to the school counselor because I didn't play with other kids...we didn't seem to have much in common.
 
Satan loves to isolate us...he knows that we need each other and we are much more powerful together in unity.  His plans are devious and carefully laid for many years...he is not always in a hurry.  He will watch and wait for years for his plans to unfold. BUT, our God has a plan too! A good plan, a great plan for our welfare!
 
Over next few years, I withdrew from my peers and sought out the company of the widows in my neighborhood.... listening to their stories and helping them to get things done around the house.  Yet inside I was tortured by the effects of religion and all the DO NOTs instead of the DOs of grace. I loved Jesus since a little girl, but I also saw Him as a rule enforcer with little mercy for wrongdoing.  I saw Him not in His true image, but the image that was created for me by men and teachings that didn't embrace this awesome new covenant of grace, love and joy.
       
My Heavenly Father never left me nor had He forsaken me.  He has brought me out into a wealthy place where the true riches of His Kingdom are revealed! I did see many good things as a child too...healings, miracles...people loving Jesus to the understanding and knowledge they had at the time.  God is good. He wants to bless us and will meet us wherever we may be in our ability to receive.  He is of the hope of Glory within us as HE is being revealed.  Sometimes, most times, as a process.  It starts on the inside out, folks! Let us not judge others by their theologies or by the snares of the enemy we may discern in their thinking...let's not disqualify those He has and will qualify because they may be still working through some parts of their own salvation.  Aren't we all?
 
Free from Religion
 
Oh, be careful with the treasures of His heart...the sons and daughters He has given us to raise up for His delight and for His glory! Whether they are our natural kids or our spiritual ones, we are called to love them where they are and be the anointed hands and feet of Jesus. We are His heart to those who are trapped by religion, trapped by tradition, and by striving. None of us have arrived! Show mercy, we will receive mercy...I received it and still am, thank you Jesus! He has delivered me from being a product of religion, giving me truth - line upon line, precept upon precept and is bringing me into greater wisdom and divine connections for His glory! What the enemy planned is no longer controlling my life.  Thank you Jesus for Your abundant life! I've been set free from so much and am continuing to be set free.
 
So can anyone else who turned to Him for the breaking of all chains of religion...all you have to have is a heart that says YES and be willing to let go of mindsets that try to keep us from that freedom in Him. No one knows it all except our God.  It's okay to question what men have taught that doesn't seem to be... shall we say, not quite adding up. You may feel that lil "scratch" in your spirit when you are hearing or reading and trying to process. I have learned that that scratch is the Holy Spirit wanting to reveal something more, or reveal a spirit of error. He will not lead you into a deception...trust Him to take you into greater light of revelation!
 
Thank you Lord Jesus, that you set the captives free...free from religion that seeks to drain us from true fellowship with You and the people of God. Free from religious spirits that hinder us from walking in the supernatural realm, who lie and deceive - making us unapproachable and stuffy. Lead us even deeper to You, the very one we need. Break these chains now by Your might and power!
 
Religious chains, FALL in Jesus authority and name as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Let go of our minds, our children, our families, our churches! Show us, precious Holy Spirit, the areas we need to have renewed and fill us up with His truth that sets us free indeed! When we decrease (by letting go of hindrances that HE reveals, and our self-ness) HE can increase! Then, there is room for more of Him!  
 
Amy Friend
Divine Connection Ministries

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