What is Religion?

Religion is man’s attempt to impress God. Jesus didn’t die to make you religious—He died to make you alive in Him.

Religion can be defined as man’s attempt to impress God. It is an attitude that says, “I can make something of myself, I can earn God’s favor.”

Although it may lead to good works, the religious mindset is fatally opposed to grace of God.

Religion is a form of bondage that causes a man to stand when he should bow and to strut when he should kneel. Worst of all, religious makes him see himself as a co-savior. A religious man may have sincere motives, but he is an idol-worshipper.

Jesus didn’t suffer and die to make you religious. He died to give you a new life – his life. Anything that pretends to be a substitute for the thrill of knowing him – of trusting him, being with him, and walking with him – should be rejected as inferior.

“Have you ever followed all the spiritual rules, done everything you thought you were supposed to do… and still felt far from God?

Today we’re asking one powerful question: Are you living by rules or by relationship?
Let’s look at 7 signs that you might be more religious than you realize—and how Jesus came to free us from that trap – this is likely going to be done over 2 Sundays because of the communion we have today.

Let’s start:

What is Religion?

Religion is man’s attempt to impress God. Jesus didn’t die to make you religious—He died to make you alive in Him.

Religion can be defined as man’s attempt to impress God. It is an attitude that says, “I can make something of myself, I can earn God’s favor.”

Although it may lead to good works, the religious mindset is fatally opposed to grace of God.

Religion is a form of bondage that causes a man to stand when he should bow and to strut when he should kneel. Worst of all, religious makes him see himself as a co-savior. A religious man may have sincere motives, but he is an idol-worshipper.

Jesus didn’t suffer and die to make you religious. He died to give you a new life – his life. Anything that pretends to be a substitute for the thrill of knowing him – of trusting him, being with him, and walking with him – should be rejected as inferior.

Theme Scripture:

“I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 1:6 (TPT)

Introduction: A Word for the Weary Dreamer

This is a message for:

• The dreamer whose vision feels buried under years of delay…
• The one silently crying, “Did I make the right choice?”
• The soul groaning under invisible burdens...
• The one standing in the valley of desperation, asking, “God, is there still hope?”

Yes, there is.
Because what God starts, He finishes.

Call to Action / Ministry Moment

Lay aside every burden of performance and effort.

Believe again in the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and His faith in you.

Pray for healing, provision, and peace—not in desperation, but in restful confidence.

Declare over yourself: I am complete in Him. I have received the greatest miracle—righteousness by faith.

Main Scriptures: Galatians 3:5–6,Colossians 2:6–10, Romans 8:32, Acts 9:17; Acts 10:44–45, Galatians 3:22

Too often, we’vemade receiving from God a religious process filled with striving andperformance.

Many believersdisqualify themselves from God's blessings, thinking they lack faith.

But faith isnot something we manufacture; it's the gift of God given at the new birth.

Romans 12:3reminds us that God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that isamong you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but tothink soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure offaith.

When did Goddeal with every man the measure of faith – and what is this measure of faith?

First, let’sdefine what the word “measure” means. The word “measure” is from the Greek word“metron” and it is a noun: avessel for receiving and determining the quantity of things, whether dry orliquid or a graduated staff for measuring, a measuring rod.

What is the measure of our faith?

The answer is in Ephesians 2: 8.

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not ofyourselves: it is the gift of God—

This means thefaith that saved you is the gift of God. It is from God. That is the measure offaith you were given at salvation

So, the extent of your faith is the extent of the faith of God.

Your faith at salvation is from God. The due or required measure of yourfaith is that of God.

This message is for you if you have ever been lied against by the people you trust or abandoned by the love of your life. This message is for you if you have been vilified, humiliated as part of a corporate or social vendetta. The humiliation is real. The pain is tangible. This is for someone who is crying and shouting with the mouths closed. This is for someone who carries a burden and bent over but no physical luggage is seen.

God has sent me here to tell you that you may be alone physically but you don’t have to be lonely.

I want you to consider a situation or a time in your life when you have felt alone. Perhaps an injustice was done against you. Perhaps you felt like you did not have a voice to speak. How did you feel during these times? What would you rather be involved in at that moment?

God sent this message to you to encourage you.

Psalm 89:13-15 AMPC

13 You have a mighty arm; strong isYour hand, Your right hand is soaring high.

14 Righteousness and justice are thefoundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truthgo before Your face.

15 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to beenvied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in thelight and favor of Your countenance!

V14 says:

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

So when we approach the throne of God, we must have arighteousness consciousness and we must know that God is a God of justice.

mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

What does it mean for something to “go before your face”?

This phrase means attendants that walk before someone.

So as you approach the king, you assume automatically thatyou have come before the presence of a king that you will receive mercy, loving kindness and truth.

NLT describes this as Unfailing love and truth walk beforeyou as attendants.

So when we come before the throne of grace, we should expectthis attitude from God.

Abraham understood this when he interceded for Sodom &Gomorrah in Gen 18. In Gen 18, Abraham pleaded for the people of Sodom & Gomorrah before God laying claim to the justice and righteousness of God (the two pillars of God’s throne)

Part 3 – The Boldness of Righteousness

Abraham was the first recorded prophet in the Bible. God Himself called him so. He prayed over Abimelech and his entire family was saved from barrenness in Gen 20.

Today we want to look at how righteousness consciousness empowered or emboldened Abraham to pray for Sodom and Gomorrah!

Background

Imagine you live in a beautiful city – a place where everyone all over the world on paper wishes to live because of its exquisite architecture and facilities but there is one problem. There is no law here or a functioning justice system. You could do whatever you like and no-one would hold you to account. For instance, you could kidnap your neighbour’s child and no one will bat an eyelid – and worse the law enforcement officers will not carry out any arrest. And in the few occasions where any arrests were made, the judges always never convicts anyone.

Would you love to live in a country like that? Would you be able to sleep a night? Would you invite your loved ones to come live there?

If you are in it, would you want to stay?

If an opportunity shows up for you to leave, would you not grab with two hands?

Now this story I just described was not made up. Once upon a time, there were two cities named Sodom and Gomorrah and the Bible described them as a city filled with wickedness – no law and order and their behaviours were so vile that God Himself had to come and check out what was going on there.

So, God as the righteous Judge can’t allow this wickedness to continue. He had to do something about it. He had to right the wrong so He sent angels to go and visit the place disguised as humans and bring Him a first hand report. On their way, God stopped over at Abraham’s house and Abraham entertained God. It was like 2 friends having a nice time together. It was during this fellowship together that God reiterated to Abraham that within the next 1 year, Abaham would give birth to Isaac. God also changed the name of Abraham and Sarah.

Now as God and the angels were leaving, God had a conversation with Abraham – and which is the basis of our text today.

Gen 18:16-25

16 Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, 18 since Abraham [g]is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? 19 For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.” 20 And the Lord said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”

22 Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham approached [the Lord] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do [h]such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?”