What? Does God really hate religion? Well, if we were to do a survey of scripture, it would become clear it is the one thing that God hates above all others. God hates religion… or at least in the way it has been predominately defined throughout history. For those who associate God with religion, this can be confusing. I’ll explain.

Our English word was derived from the Latin word religo, meaning “bind up.” So the question is does God want His people bound up in rules, regulations and ritualistic patterns? The answer is absolutely not. Modern religion is oppressive control attempting to bind something good to anything that is not. Mark 10:18 makes it clear that no one is good except for God. When we take God “the only Good” and tie it to anything else like effort, works, human rules, etc. we “crush people with unbearable religious demands." Matthew 23:4 NLT

Christianity was never meant to be a religion but rather this incredible relationship: a spiritual life that is the result of the risen Christ in the heart of His people. That’s why people will often hear believers saying things like, “Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.”

Religion, the kind that leads to bondage, has a horrific byproduct as well. This side-effect can be absolutely devastating to the children of God. It’s called legalism. Legalism is the dangerous belief that a person can, by his or her own efforts, do something to obtain or retain his or her salvation. 

In Matthew 23, Jesus erupts and opens a huge can of whoop on the religious leaders peddling legalism. In this passage Jesus outlines a handful of things He hated that the religious leaders were doing, and the effects it was having on His people.  Have you ever been caught in any of these traps?

1. Legalism - Placing burdens on people and refusing to do nothing to help them. 
Matthew 23:4

2. Piety – Personal acts of religion with the only motive to be seen by others.
Matthew 23:5

3. The desire to be recognized and rewarded publically for acts of religion.
Matthew 23:6-11

4. Customized faith - Living with loopholes and hypocrisies so as to rationalize cherished sins (specifically money). Matthew 23:16-22

5. Wrong focus - Attention on the minor things and therefore forgetting what is most important. Matthew 23:23

6. Living to look righteous - while never doing anything that is really righteous.
Matthew 23:27–28

7. Make a show - how much you know, or have of the Bible so as to belittle and control others. Matthew 23:29–31

It's almost time for our 21 day fast at Destiny Church - an incredible time when we as a church family take the first three weeks of the New Year and set aside something "natural" in pursuit of something "supernatural." Each Destiny member is challenged to set something aside out of his or her daily routine and "fast" it as we agree in prayer. We'll talk more about this in the final weeks of 2011, but here's the heart behind our church-wide fast.

In general, for 2012 we are praying for the lost - those who don't know Christ and what the Bible refers to as the exiled - those that have been separated from God. We pray for our families, friends, coworkers and leaders who have been separated, that they will come home to God.

Specifically for 2012, we are praying as a church for God to mend broken hearts and broken relationships. Starting in January at Destiny, we will begin a new series called "MEND." The word mend is from an ancient Hebrew word, "tawfar" which meant to stitch or repair two pieces that have been ripped apart. Can you think of anyone whose life or relationship has been torn apart?

So why do we have a church fast every year? Throughout the Bible, fasting is presented as a spiritual disipline and act of voluntary humility. It was often accompanied with confession and repentance. As a church we are in pursuit of bringing people to Christ, helping them find their next step and teaching them to do the same. Using Daniel as a template, I challenge each church member to set something aside the first 21 days of the year and commit themselves to prayer pursuing what God loves most....and that's bringing people back to Him!

Here is a list of some of the most commonly fasted things: pop, carbonated drinks, drinks other than water, television, computer, video games, internet, sweets, fast food, shopping, using credit cards & lotteries/gambling, red meat, gossiping, facebook, bad-mouthing, judging/being critical, cursing, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, naps, sleeping in/pushing snooze - - and the list goes on.

I am so excited about what God is doing in the days to come!

This morning as I was having my devotion, God really challenged me to take a step back, and determine what kind of day I was "going" to have - He even put a couple of creative opportunities on my heart. 

Six creative ideas to make a bad day better or a good day great!

1. Live it. Live your life, not someone else’s. God has a plan just for you today and it’s not mimicking, mocking, or meddling in the lives of others.
2. Love it. Slow the heck down and enjoy life a little more and work on trying to stress a little less – the greatest treasures are found in the little things... and they're right in front of you.
3. Own it. If you screw up, take responsibility. God always gives grace to the humble. Everyone blows it, but only the confident people will own it. 
4. Shut it. Intentionally show interest in the lives of others. In other words listen a little more, and speak a little (or a lot) less.
5. Laugh at it. No, not at the antagonistic co-worker who just doused themselves in coffee and has toilet paper stuck on the bottom of their shoe, but rather learn not take yourself, or life, so seriously.Today is practice for the rest of your life – you might as well enjoy the ride. It’s a medical fact: people who laugh at themselves live longer, and those who laugh at others sometimes live much shorter (just think about it).
6. Give thanks for it. Thankfulness is the key to more. Start with God and say, "Thanks!" Discipline yourself to find the good in your world, and as God leads you, communicate your thankfulness to others for the big and little things they do.

So, you’re in a bad mood. Something, or someone, has set you off. Your blood pressure is rising, and your mind is racing... and somewhere in it all you might even feel God is somehow to blame. What do you do?

Here are a couple of suggestions, ways to invite God into your frustration and fury. Prayerfully turn that feeling of being “PO’d” aka Purposely Offended into an opportunity for God to show up and show off... and to remind you that He loves you. 

1. Pray for the idiot. This sounds a little spiritually sophomoric, but I can personally testify this is a power tool of change... not to mention a mandate from God that we pray for those who persecute or hurt us.
2. Encourage a stranger. Find a person, and make a purposeful investment in their world. Whether by words or action – this can be a game changer for many of us when we realize how many have it far worse than we do.
3. When waiting on the miracle, be the miracle. Every follower of Christ is believing for something. Ask a friend what they are believing for and make an investment in the dreams of someone else. Believe for what they want and need. Getting our mind off our own circumstances can be liberating. Many times that's when God shows up in our lives. 
4. Be honest with God. During a memorial for a teen many years back, I confessed to God under my breath that I was angry…. and I was angry with Him. That day God spoke to my heart. He wasn’t “afraid” of my honesty or of my feelings. In fact, He let me know that He'd rather spend time with me while I was wounded then to spend no time with me at all. It's OK to get real with God.
5. Take a wiff of your own "stank". No matter how “great” we think we are, separate from Christ, we stink. Sometimes a quick reminder of who we are without Christ (a putrid filth) and then who we are in Christ (a beautiful and amazing, reborn creation) can bring a change and a sense of peace to the situation.

Today, if you are PO’d (Purposefully Offended) - I pray that you take a minute and give it all to God, both the good and the bad. You'll be able to walk away from these few moments with Him refreshed and ready to go another day in His amazing plans for your life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 

One last thought: In case nobody told you today, "You are loved!"

Are you "restless"? Is there something inside you crying out, longing to know and fulfill what God has for you next?

When we know God's voice we learn God's heart. And when we know God's heart, then we can follow His will. 

Take the first step and determine to know the voice of God like never before! 

Here are the most frequent ways God has spoken throughout history. Jesus said we are His "sheep" and we know His voice... the question is are we listening? John 10:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

God speaks through Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God speaks directly to your heart (still small voice)

Isaiah 31:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

1 Kings 19:11-13 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God speaks through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Convictions, leadings, dreams, visions and Prophecy)

John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

2 Peter 1:19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Joel 2:28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

God speaks through Peace

Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

God speaks through common sense and wisdom

Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

God speaks audibly (the actual voice of God)

Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 

God speaks with messages sent through angels

Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

God's talking - are we listening?

Everyday our character comes under attack; the question is do we have the truth to address the lies thrown at us?

The first 7 below are from last weekend's service at Destiny. There are 8 more added to them for personal study. There are countless other things that attack our character, but I see a few on the list below that I know will keep me busy for a while. 

Taking specific truths from God’s Word and addressing those specific lies is key to victory. Here are some of the prevalent lies that attack our hearts… and a starting point from Scripture. Truth should be vocalized (spoken), personalized, prayed, and meditated on. 

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Lies that Attack Our Character

Pervasive Thoughts (sins in our thinking)

 The Lie – I can’t help what I think about

The Truth – Our hearts follow what we feed them

Col 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Besetting Sins

The lie – I can manage the outcome of sin

The truth – wherever there is sin, there is death

James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Lying/Exaggeration/Deception 

The Lie - We believe a lie can get us something or somewhere the truth can’t

The Truth – a lie works against what God wants to do in me

Col 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Unforgiveness

The Lie – We can’t forgive, or they don’t deserve it - so I refuse to.

The Truth – we forgive, because Christ forgave us

Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Pride

The lie – It’s ok to play God