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Are you bewitched?
Written by Peter Youngren on June 30, 2006Paul tells the Galatians, it can happen and quite easily at that. The bewitching is in believing the oldest lie there is. “Yes, surely Jesus died for your sins. His death made you righteous, but you must prove your love to him by doing things that are right. You need to show God why he should keep on loving you.” In fact, God’s love is extended unconditionally to everyone. He loved us when we were enemies.
Bewitching has to do with a core teaching of the basis of our salvation. The Galatians had been seduced by Legalism thinking that they could obtain God’s favor by their own performance. Paul asked them, “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law by believing what you heard? (Gal. 3:2)
A few verses later, “Does God give you his Spirit to work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard? (Gal. 3:5)
The apostle Paul doesn’t allow for a middle of the road approach. Either you’re saved by grace – what God has already done for you in Christ, or by law - by what you can do to impress God by your behavior. Paul says “no” to law and “yes” to grace.
The bewitching of legalism comes in many forms. Every religion has it. There is a charismatic bewitching in which we are told that we must pray so much, give so much, or study so much in order to obtain a new level of anointing to break through to a miracle.
Studying, praying, and giving are all good, when those activities are carried out because of what Jesus has done. When they are carried out in order to get God to do something, they become legalistic effort. The whole focus becomes an error, when we try to produce enough good to impress God. Bottom line, God is already impressed by what Jesus is done. Rest in him. God’s grace is the only way.
Have you ever been effected by legalism? Are you enjoying God’s grace? What effects have you witnessed in your own life of grace or of legalism? Let me hear from you!
All by grace,
PJY
Ambrose
It never ceases to amaze me, the few short years that I have known Jesus how His grace is sufficient and how He is more than enough.
Your preaching on this great grace and our victory in and through Him have truly blessed me, my friends and family in the spiritual, physical and material realm.
I thank God daily for you and Roxanne, NCC, CBC, TICC, CJI and all that you’re doing for the lost.
We both miss you much.
John
I can just remember a year ago, when I have believed that I had fallen short from God’s grace. I remember kneeling down and begging the Lord to forgive me, and I promised him that I will go on a Fast, with one meal a day, because Religion always taught me inorder to get God forgiveness and blessing I had to do something, and that is exactly what I did. The second day of my Fast, I already felt that I was pleasing God, and during the Fast, Lord Holy Spirit led me to the scripture in Galatian 3, I read it through the chapter, not receiving what the Lord wanted me to understand. After reading the chapter, I felt that I have done my duty of pleasing God by reading few chapters. Meantime I was led to listen to a message, and surprisingly it was on Galatian 3, while I was lying and listenting to the message, the Preacher screamed and said, ‘do you think that you can please God by your Fasting’, I jumped out of my bed and I knew it came to me as a rebuke, and the Holy Spirit gently whispered to my heart and said, before you came to me, and were a prisoner of sin, did you had to do anything to receive my forgiveness, and now why are you trying so hard to receive my acceptance when I have called you to be my son. From that day on my perspective on the Lord’s view towards me have changed tremendously. And the more I hear the message on God’s Grace and his love towards me, it just empowers me to live a sanctified life, but not through my strength, but the strength that comes through God’s Grace. Thank you Pastor for teaching, and sharing the revelation that God has given you. It is definetly liberating and giving me and my wife the enjoying freedom that is in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Victoire Durand
I am thanking God for His Holy Spirit who gave you a special anointing to write this Article.
Every believer shoul read it .
I need your prayer for my family who is facing a very difficult trial in every way of life
Blessings
Victoire
Rob
The legalism that I have been affected by is that if you give 10% tithe to God then He will provide financially. I tried this but had to stop as it put my account into overdraft.Don’t get me wrong, I like to give but the church is way out on this one.I thought that the 10% was in response to the temple taxes in the old testament.I dispise the guilt trip that they try to put upon one self.I am a firm believer on personal development because if one does not believe in himself then how can he believe in others or even God alone.
ANDREW OLIVER SATCHELL
HEBREW 13:8
Tsitsi
for me the christian walk was becoming rather frustrating because i did not seem to get it. i felt so hopeless because i felt i was missing it too often, and God was not happy with that, hence a lot of unanswered prayers. i felt so weak, helpless, like i did not have strong enough faith to get things moving in my life. then to think i could witness to others about God when i felt i was living such a defeated life…no, not me, what will i tell them? so i was feeling trapped and that everytime i dont get it, it is my fault, something wrong with me. i felt condemned most of the time. the christian walk felt like a trap to me…, i had so self conscious and not at all relaxed.so to hear the message of grace brought a great relief to my life, like the whole burden of trying to please God in order to get answers to prayer is taken off of me. He hears my prayers because i stand righteous because of what Jesus did for me. so now i have to remind myself of such love and grace, all i do in my life is to respond to such love. and now i see myself and my relationship with God in a different light. and it makes it even greater joy to seek to please him when one understands how much they are loved!i look forward to learning more, so i can understand the love of God for me. pastor i appreciate the teachings you are sharing with us.
Phil VT
Rob, I have to disagree with you on the ‘self belief’ point. In and of yourself there is no way you can ever hope to please God. Your, and my, righteousness is as filthy rags. This is good news believe it or not. There is only one who can please God and He did it for us and He lives in those who have accepted Him. His name, obviously, is Jesus and He alone is the reason we can stand before God confidently. Believing in our own abilities will only lead to further frusterations and let downs. Believing in His ability within us brings freedom and joy.
Regarding the tithing thing - in the New Covenant we aren’t under legal obligation to give but we must still consider the aspect of sowing and reaping in our lives. Also, Jesus Himself said that where our money is there are heart will be also. If our heart is not as close to God as we would like it to be then giving financially certainly helps focus our attention in that direction. The way we give also reveals where our hearts are at. Sometimes I know it can be difficult and as a father of two young boys, possessor of two mortgages and a loan or two I don’t need any lectures on the subject of paying bills and feeding my family but I always make it a priority to give something. If I can do it on what I make, then so can pretty much anyone else. It all depends on our priorities in life. Spending all our money on ourselves is just indicative of a selfish nature on the throne of our heart. Will God love you less if you don’t give? No - certainly not. But as we focus our hearts on Jesus and on things above, giving just becomes part of our lifestyle.
eric lim weng wah
I believe my GOD owns ‘The cattle upon a thousand hill ‘as did the Psalmist David. Money and gold is the least important as far as GOD’s priority lies because JESUS said that it is impossible to serve two masters. Our willingness to give reflects ’ My HEAVENLY FATHER’S NATURE Of GIVING ’ and I consider it a privilege to do so. I have learnt that GOD is no debtor to anybody. JESUS said ’ GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU, PRESSED DOWN AND…’ and so I believe that giving and receiving will strengthen one’s faith in the OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNISCIENT GOD. AMEN.
Peggy
Hi, it’s interesting to read about tithing. Though I agree with Eric’s say that our Daddy owns the cattle on a thousand hills (ps 50:10)and indeed, all spiritual blessings in heaven are freely given to us in Christ, let’s not make tithing into a law. Follow the peace as the Holy Spirit gently leads you. Personally, I believe in giving of tithes cos as I give here on earth, there in heaven my Heavenly Redeemer recieves. It is my testimony to His abundant goodness and favour in my life. Yes, His promises are always Yes and Amen. However, if one is not led to tithe, please don’t. The last thing you want is to be bounded by another law and feel condemned when you cannot do it or if you can fulfilled it, you have a sense of self-righteousness. But if you do feel led by the Holy Spirit to tithe, please do and test and see if Our Daddy will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings into your life. Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek the king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Jesus). Hebrew7:8- In one case, the tenth is collected by men who die, but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. Who do you think is the ‘him’ who is declared to be living? Shalom;)
Phil VT
Peggy, I agree with most of what you stated; however, in one of your statements you are making tithing a law yourself when you ask the rest of us not to. You state that if we give God will open the floodgates of Heaven - that is legalism. That is putting 100% of the onus on us to achieve Gods blessing when in Christ we have already been blessed. How can we earn something we already have? Legalism can be defined as anything that requires human effort to achieve God’s favor or blessing. If it were possible for us to please God in and of ourselves then Christ wasted His time doing what He did for us.
Like you said, giving comes from the God nature within those who have accepted the Life of Christ - let’s not make it into law. All of Gods blessings have their yes and amen in Christ and if we are in Him then we don’t need to scurry around trying to earn them - they are already ours. This is the Good News - that in Christ we ARE the righteousness of God and that the world has ALREADY been reconciled to God through Christ. Cool!
christina
Hello! I don`T now what you mean about bewitched? I think a God will doit so much, for us.only I can say is, god will we shall leasing more of holy spirit what god shall doit in our life.we have all when we have holy spirit over us.more of power.holy spirit will come over us more so something can happen in our life and in our churh to.god bless you! christina ekman
Jamie Penque
Hi Pastor Peter, I love this article you wrote and I think every believer should read it, I am 28 years old, and was brought up as a Christian. I received Christ as a young child, but have always struggled with the legalism of the churches I attended. The messages that you are preaching now are so uplifting, and ‘freeing.’ I feel I’ve grown so much since attending our church, more than I ever have. It is so true that the lie is that some people would have you believe is that you have to give some certain amount, or do a certain thing to gain access to a higher anointing. Because of your preaching I have realized that it is only Jesus and Him alone that has done it ALL for me, nothing I can do, Praise God, I don’t feel in condemnation anymore. We love you, your friends in the US!
Jamie
Peggy
Hi, Phi. I agree with you totally that we cannot earn our Daddy’s favour and blessings in our lives. It has never been because of us or our works but because of Jesus’ Blood that perfectly qualifies us for His abundant Grace!
Yes, and I thank Jesus that His Blood is the only one thing needful to qualify you and I to receive His abundant Grace and blessings.(GW) Eph 1:3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. Note the phrase ‘has blessed’. Hallelujah! Every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer has been given to us by Daddy through our LORD Jesus Christ! And our Redeemer lives! In us!
Let me explain what I meant in my previous post on Malachi (in which I was not clear). In (CEV) Mal 3:10, our Jehovah God says, ‘I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.
What I should have clarified is, our Lord God Almighty, who never changes (Mal3:6), set out this test on HIS own terms in Mal3:10. It is not me nor you who is going to fulfill this test but HE, who is able and willing, who will fulfill His own challenge He gave.
Now let me qualify: My Lord has blessed me. He witnesses (to others) in my life through His blessings (not just money). Here I witness that my Redeemer Jesus, who is more important than my energy and time, is alive!
(MSG)Heb 7:8 Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but Abraham paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, ‘lives.’
Amen!
lyndsey greenhalgh
It’s so great to know that God loves us just the way we are right now. His grace TRULY is enough for us! I used to compare myself and think less because i didn’t read my bible for a a couple days, or read books by famous christian authors in my spare time. (I’ve never been much of a reader till just lately.)
But you know, the Holy Spirit just pressed it on my heart just recently that He appreciated the little moments that I spent with Him each day. I say little comments to Him through the day, (sometimes under my breath when i’m with other people-cuz that would just be weird!) I ask Him for help with almost everything-It’s so much easier than trying to figuring it out by yourself!
That really has changed my life, to know that God looks at us as individuals. He knows how we ‘tick’. He knows how everybody has strengths and weaknesses, and loves us in spite them. And the more time that I spend time with Him- I’m changed!!
The main point is to spend time with HIM, not get caught up in the action and the doing, but the heart attitude of just wanted to spend time with Him no matter how long or short the time. (all the stay at home moms say YA!!)
S Robins
As a Pastor’s daughter who has searched for God’s honest truth all her life, I’ve encountered it all.
I’ve seen enough legalism couched in grace to choke an elephant.
Grace’s thin veneer is often worn to transparency by leaders bent on inflicting stern and submissive obedience on their heavy laden, broken congregations.
I despise the lie.
Once, I was singing for a Christian Christmas party at a restaurant for a ladies group. Women came in a festive frame of mind expecting something in tune with the season. How wrong they were!
My friend who had asked me to sing, provided the message ‘A minute to midnight’.
I’m sure we’ve all heard it before. Only this time, not only was Christ coming soon, but when He came He was condemning anyone and everyone who had any sin in their heart to hell!
I was appalled…fortunately God has a good sense of humor and had me sing a light secular/good will kind of song to which the speaker responded by trying to cut me off. I finished anyway! (DO YOU REMEMBER MEI WROTE TO YOU OF CHILDHOOD FANATASIES>>>ETC)How very un-religious of me (and God, hee hee).
I sat down and a woman next to me was crying. ‘I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried to be good enough for God and I just can’t!’
‘Omigosh!’ I thot. ‘What have I been a part of?’
So I said, ‘Honey, welcome to the human race!’
‘We’ve all fallen short of God’s glory and that’s why He sent His Son, and that’s why He shed His blood! We’re not good enough!!!’
She wiped her tears and smiled. ‘Thank you, thank you so much!’
PASTOR YOUNGREN, how refreshing of you to actually speak the truth from the pulpit. I can’t remember how long, if ever I’ve heard it from a Pastors mouth.
GRACE is the only answer, and its only by HIS grace that somehow this truth will get out and help a hurting world and Christians broken by the burden of the law.
God Bless you.
Barnaby
~ Australia
Am blessed by this teaching….. that I quickly rushed to your home page to check whether you have a ministry in Australia, sydney to be specific(But I obviously realised you are not here). This has blessed my spirit, because I have been able to identify with the fact there are many ‘practices’, ‘traditions’ and ways that we have seen in the church that do not necesarily draw people close to God. On the contrary, as Paul said in colosians, some practices have an appearance of wisdom and yet they have no value in helping against the indulgence of the flesh. May God bless you
Francis
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing this great article! I love reading and I am always searching for informative information like this! You are bookmarked!
Comments:
Karl Hargestam
Amen! Religion is death.