The Editorial – November 2018
One of the influences of this attack is the confusion it crates in the body of Christ and the relationship breakdown between churches in the same community. I have found that the level of hypocrisy within the church is in its heights now than ever before.
The experience of the church of 21st Century has been the one of an extreme attack from the demonic structure within, which I have termed Legalism. Having gone through and through the letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Galatians, he emphasise the need to avoid certain attitudes and approach to serving God and proclaiming the gospel of truth in our community and churches. “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage)” (Galatians 2:4). The message in this aspect of Paul’s epistle states that there have been certain of the people coming to infiltrate the church with their own ways of life. All they say is “this is how it is done”.
Do it that Way or!
This demon which has crept into the church has unfortunately chosen to systematically distract the church through the leadership. This is the trickiest aspect of the whole saga. The church leadership positions being used now makes the task of this demonic influence very easy to accomplish the assignment issued from the pit of hell. One of the influences of this attack is the confusion it crates in the body of Christ and the relationship breakdown between churches in the same community. I have found that the level of hypocrisy within the church is in its heights now than ever before. There is a high level of proliferation of legalistic doctrines which are not in line with the gospel of peace given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. This has caused a significant amount of confusion within the body of Christ, especially amongst the new converts. They say which on are we to follow now?
“For before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy”. (Galatians 2:12-13).
The Gospel of Peace Comes with Faith
It is high time we rose to pray for the leadership of the church and the entire church membership against this demonic Spirit of Legalism. Christ came that we may have peace and assurance of eternity with Him. It is therefore the truth and nothing but the truth that the moment we accept Him into our lives, we begin to live a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, which are the fundamentals of everlasting life, even from here on earth. It does not matter where you are, what legalistic background you came from, your colour, and your race, or the doctrines of your local assembly. Here is a word of liberation for you today. You have been called to the place of Cross, which stands for peace when you focus on your faith in Christ Jesus. Paul the apostle stated here;
“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Until we are dead to the law and begin to live for God, this demon of Legalism will still be in control of activities in our lives and the church as a whole, which will continually hinder the flow of the Spirit of God.
I Have Died to the Law
Until we are dead to the law and begin to live for God, this demon of Legalism will still be in control of activities in our lives and the church as a whole, which will continually hinder the flow of the Spirit of God. Paul stated in his epistle;
“For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:19-20).
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8).
