Losing my religion: how to discern a religious spirit and not be deceived by it.

By Dr. Samaria M Colbert PhD
(c) 2025 Copyright
 

1. A religious spirit doesn’t always show up in the way we think it does, any attempt to move forward into the things of God without God’s approval is a religious spirit.

 
Example: Genesis 11 The tower of Babel, they wanted to build a building to heaven so they could make themselves famous, not honor God.
 

1. To be stuck in how and who you think God should use. Outward appearances mean nothing to God.

 
1 Samuel 16:7 King James Version
 
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
 
I know of a young man who had a call to ministry and he was discouraged by the elders because he didn't hoop and yell as he preached. He was a great Bible teacher.
 
Luke 10:25-37 New Living Translation
 
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
 
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
 
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]
 
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
 
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
 
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
 
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 
 
32 A Temple assistant[b] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
 
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 
 
34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 
 
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[c] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
 
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
 
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
 

1. Those with a religious mindset will walk past someone hurting.
2. Obsurpt authority where it doesn’t belong. (Vagabond spirits) Remember the Son’s of Sceva.
3. To be stuck in how God moved in the past.
4. Concerned about the outward appearance of righteousness but their heart are far from God.

 
Matthew 15:8-9 New Living Translation
 
8 ‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
9 Their worship is a farce,
    for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’[a]”
 

1. Religious people need an audience

 
Matthew 6:16-18 New King James Version16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the [a]hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [b]openly.
 
 
Matthew 6:5-7 New King James Version
 
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the [a]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
 
 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [b]openly. 
 
Luke 20:45-47 New Living Translation
 
45 Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, 
 
46 “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 
 
47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
 
 
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
 

1. There is a such thing as religious pride. (What they have accomplished, and their knowledge of scripture makes them full of pride).

 

• They use their intellectual prowess to put others down, compete or demean other for not having the same know. This is why they repeatedly kept trying to challenge Jesus………

 
Religious people don’t show grace or operate in grace.
 

1. They have difficulty relationally meaning they only tend to surround themselves with yes people.
2. Manipulation, power and control.
3. They won’t obey God’s instructions.
4. They have the outward appearance of righteousness, but they have no power.

 
2 Timothy 3:5-6 New King James Version5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,

1. A religious man will only deal with gullible women who have full of low self-esteem and lust. They come to church because they want to sleep with you.
2. Title driven
3. Idolatry. (They secretly need to be worshipped, and they have worshippers)
4. Their heart is impure.
5. They lie
6. Hyper focused on submission.
7. The misinterpret scripture to make it about them, their agenda (money), or their own self-promotion.
8. They choose based upon who runs after them.

 
James 4:10 New King James Version
 10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

1. They can hear from God, but the blatantly disobey Him, because people don’t show up in the package they assumed.  2 Kings 5 (Namaan)
2. Entitled (toxic loyalty)
3.  Some religious spirit denies the works of the spirit, such as tongues, prophecy, the gifts of the spirit. While others operate in works of the flesh calling it the spirit. (Spirit of manipulation calling it prophecy, familiar spirit.)

 
John 8:1-11 New Living Translation
 
1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 
 
2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 
 
3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
 
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
 
 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
 
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 
 
7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 
 
8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
 
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 
 
10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
 
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
 

1. Religious people throw stones but relationship people seek to restore.

 
What should to do?
 

• Keep your heart pure.
• Don‘t throw stones.
• Stay humble
• Keep people around you who can hold you accountable, it’s okay for someone to disagree with you.
• You can’t truly be religious and love God with your whole heart.
• Eventually God will oppose your efforts because God’s gives grace to the humble.
• God will eventually remove and replace you when you are religious. (Remember  King Saul)
• Don’t believe everyone who claims to be sent by God. It is okay to question what you see just don’t be disrespectful about it.

 
1 John 4:1-2 New Living Translation
 
4 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
 

• Your discernment increases the more you spend time with God (intimacy with God)
• Ask God for discernment.
• Be intentional about remaining humble.

 
Luke 14:11 New Living Translation
 
11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
 
Proverbs 29:23 New Living Translation
 
23 Pride ends in humiliation,
    while humility brings honor.
 
James 4:10 New Living Translation
 
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
 
Acknowledge God in everything you do. Let your sole dependency be on God.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 New Living Translation
 
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.


6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

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