God framed the heavens and the earth with His Words. With His Word, He created the spirit of man. By His Word, God made His Word flesh. In His Word is salvation, deliverance, healing, protection, and prosperity. We must conclude, therefore, that God’s Word is powerful. And yet, there is something so nullifying, so negating that even Jesus said renders this Word of no effect.

The traditions of men.

Here’s what Jesus had to say about this:

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:13)

This is a key reason so many Christians are longing for the power of God to be manifest in their lives and churches long to see this power expressed in their services and congregations – the power of God will not overrun the traditions of men.

Notice here I said, “will not,” not “cannot.” You see, God is omnipotent; He can do anything but lie or fail. But God never forces His will on man. He could easily force us to bow down and worship Him; force us to choose Him. Yet, He never does, as that would be contrary to His character. God is the archetypal gentleman!

Back to my point, there are so many churches that are steeped in denominationalism and rooted in tradition that they end up ignoring Scripture. I know that there are many churches that will not permit me to preach in their pulpits because of my long, dreadlocked hair. I know of others that will not permit women to preach to their congregations.  Still more would exclude many a potential guest preacher because of race or culture. These traditions, based upon errant interpretation of Scripture that I have neither time nor space to correct.

(By the way, this exclusion based on tradition cheats many from hearing from anointed preachers and teachers…)

Tradition often paints an inaccurate portrait of the Church and Kingdom Citizens. Mahatma Gandhi once said he’d have become a Christian had he never met one.

What an indictment against the Church!

Today, folks stay away from church by the thousands, citing hypocrisy, mean-spiritedness, and other factors – most stemming from tradition. Because tradition renders powerless the Word of God, there are no signs and wonders displayed for the purpose of winning the lost. Traditions of men are what largely keep folks from experiencing the beauty of relationship with the Father through Jesus.

Many churches are so yoked to liturgy that a move of the Holy Spirit is nigh impossible. The stated program must be followed. Proper protocol must be observed. Many believers have been thoroughly convinced that their style of worship, their hymns, their atmosphere is the only way to approach God. Others insist that proper dress is important – men must wear suits to worship and women cannot wear pants, and so forth. Let any of these elements be out of place and congregations that have become reliant, indeed, dependent upon tradition will become non-functional, complementing their dysfunction.

Now, the Bible teaches us that God esteems His Word above His Name (Psalm 138:2). The Pharisees evoked Jesus’ anger by esteeming tradition over the Word and folks today have the audacity to follow in their footsteps. By continuing this folly, the very power, yes, the nature of God is not expressed fully to His children.

Instead of obsessing over meaningless traditions that are devoid of power, we need to focus on the Word of God to the end of manifesting the Greater Works Jesus spoke of in John 14:12. Instead of practicing hollow worship smacking of man’s tradition, we need to go forth and fulfill the Great Commission.

It’s time to put away denominational dogma that hinder winning of the lost and properly discipling the saints. It will be a glorious day in the Kingdom when the yokes of tradition and the bondage of defiled religion are destroyed once and for all.

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

I have frequently taken the position that God hates religion. I studied this in great detail. I concluded that since there was no religion (or, at least, the conventionally accepted manifestation of it) in the Garden of Eden, it had to be something devised by man and, therefore, rejected by God.

I was totally right. And totally wrong.

The Word  of God says, “let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). For the sake of this discussion, I’d like to modify this to say, “let God be true and ME be a liar!”

I’ve searched multiple translations of scripture and every translation renders the word, “religion,” the same. Now, I know that James was written to Hebrew Christians and that the term “religion” was used as a frame of reference, thus making the passage contextual. However, that word, “religion,” persists.

Therefore, there must be something God is trying to communicate to us here. Whenever you read a “therefore” in scripture – or use “therefore” when rendering a conclusion, you need to find out what the “therefore” is there, for!

Now I can go real deep on this but I will keep it simple as this is material for an upcoming book (shameless plug). Suffice it to say, religion is not your system of belief – rather, correctly applied, it comprises the steps by which individuals or groups express their belief. The problem is that man has permitted the steps by which faith is expressed to become a belief system in and of itself.

True Christianity, then, is not a religion, it is a lifestyle or state of being. It is the overarching principles by which we experience relationship with our Heavenly Father through Christ Jesus.

Expressed another way, you have a relationship with your spouse. The love you share is the overarching principle of your marriage. However, this relationship must be maintained. You have to have “date-nights,” purchase gifts, perform acts of service, be complementary, be kind, listen, etc. Another analogy would be ownership of a car. The car, itself, is the overarching principle. But in the glovebox, there is an owners manual, which contains a service schedule. If you don’t follow the service schedule, the car will not perform as designed and may fall apart well before its designed service-life. In both cases, the maintenance is critical to the survival of the relationship.

With that in mind, pure religion (James 1:27) is what we do to maintain relationship with the Father through Jesus. Mind you, God’s part was finished on the Cross at Calvary. However, we have to walk our part out. Let’s make it clear, though, this doesn’t render Christianity works-based; indeed, that would reduce it to mere religion and defile it.

Pure religion undefiled means operating and walking in love. When you walk in love, you will not allow your  brothers and sisters in Christ – especially the weakest ones – to be destitute or in lack. You will go out of your way not to offend them. You will stand up for and defend them. The will, culture, and intent of the Kingdom of God is grounded and rooted in love and when you operate according to Kingdom principles you demonstrate the kind of religion defined in James 1:27.

That’s love. That’s religion…that proves whom you are in relationship with.

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:8-11)

God is a Good God. Furthermore, He is a Great Father! His Word declares that He gives good things to them that ask Him! God is so good that he clothes His children in robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), gives us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and even opens the door that we can ask anything in Jesus name and He will do it (John 15:7)!

That’s a shouting moment if you catch it!

Unfortunately, there seems to be only a handful of folks that understand this. Religion has so perverted the Word of God to the point where saints of God have erroneously concluded that God is a sadistic, cosmic killjoy that would just as soon smite you with boils and hemorrhoids as bless you. For many, God is a mean-spirited step-father who will use his unlimited power – or worse, the devil – to inflict pain on mankind.

Nothing could be farther from the truth!

Time and space do not permit the recall of every scripture to prove this. However, for the purposes of this discussion, I will hang my hat on just one here (and a couple later):

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Now, in the context of this scripture, you must ask yourself: is sickness, poverty, or oppression part of abundant life? Absolutely not! Do they exist to steal from, kill, or destroy you? Absolutely! Then they must be of the devil.

Got it? Good. If not, keep reading…

I believe the sinful nature of man leads to either hiding from God or self-flagellation. Both are hallmarks of a religious mindset. I proffer that a renewed mind produces righteous-consciousness instead of sin-consciousness and leads us to run to God when we err instead of running from Him.

Jesus said He came to give us abundant life! Abundant life is whole, full, vibrant, and plentiful. Unfortunately many of the Body of Christ didn’t get the memo! Now, Jesus did tell us that we’d have tribulations in this world (John 16:33) but He also said to be of good cheer (be encouraged) because He overcame them.

So, if I’m in Christ, I, too, have overcome the world! That’s Good Gospel News!

But I’m not done, yet! Jesus said:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:4-7)

Notice how the Lord puts emphasis on abiding in Him. And now for the finishing touch:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

One of the greatest deceptions of the devil is to get Christians to believe that when bad things happen to them that it’s God punishing them for some sin.

Newsflash: the reason for this is that to believe God will punish His children – or worse, that He will permit the devil to do it – is to deny the power of the Finished Work of the Cross.

Denying the power of the Cross is to deny the power of God. And, once you deny the power of God, you, yourself, become powerless.

Powerless saints cannot effectively fulfill the Great Commission! Powerless saints are incapable of performing Greater Works.

Tapping into the power of God and understanding your purpose in God are essential to victorious Christian living!

Now you know why there are so many powerless saints and churches…

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

The church doesn’t have the luxury of discussing and debating history outside the canon of scripture when there are folks who need salvation, deliverance, healing, and prosperity.

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The Church should be an emergency room for the spiritually wounded, a therapeutic outlet for spiritual healing, and a kitchen for the spiritually hungry BEFORE it is a bastion of intellectual debate.

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In other words, FIRST THINGS FIRST! The Church should emulate what Jesus did in His earthly ministry and what the Apostles continued in the first century Church.

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If what you’re discussing doesn’t contribute to making disciples, maturing believers, and multiplying ministries, it should not be a high priority.

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© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:58). This scripture is frequently abused by folks who rail against what is commonly called the “prosperity gospel.” We must consider the context of that statement. Jesus had nowhere to lay his head…in Samaria! The Samaritans would not receive Him because they felt slighted because Jesus had His face set toward Jerusalem

⁵¹And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51-53).

The above scripture is usually trotted out to make the case for a poor, homeless, vagabond Jesus. You can similarly make the case that Jesus, Himself, had a house

³⁸Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? ³⁹He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:38-39).

Why would Jesus say, “come and see” regarding another man’s property?

We must dispense with the lie that poverty=piety. Paul wrote that we are to have all sufficiency to abound to every good work

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:8)

We cannot abound in poverty! In order to represent the Kingdom and to do Kingdom work, we must be equipped with the means to do so!

Another refuge for the anti-prosperity religious crowd is the rich young ruler, whom Jesus was dealing with the fact he was yoked to his money (money was, in fact, his god), not earthly riches, themselves.

²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.²²And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.²³And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁴And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! (Mark 10:21-24)

Jesus never commanded anyone to take a vow of poverty or expected anyone to give up anything without compensation. In fact, He promised that there would be abundance in store for those who sacrificed for the Gospel of the Kingdom:

²⁹And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, ³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30, Emphasis mine)

Sadly, there are some that still believe that God is the author of calamity. The persistence of this belief results in some seriously schizophrenic Christianity. The truth is, God not only is not the author of sickness, pain, suffering, and calamity, He does not control every minutia of human life.

If God simply controls everything, then there was no point in giving mankind dominion and free will. The Lord wishes that none perish, but that all come to repentance – yet hundreds of thousands die unsaved daily.  If God simply controls everything, there is no point in doing anything. That reduces the Christian walk to a fatalistic – dare I say – Calvinistic, religious ritual. I think a lot of Scripture is abused for the purpose of perpetuating religious bondage.

What we need to do is look at the person of Jesus. He said if we see Him, we see the Father:

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9).

He said He only does what He sees the Father do:

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19).

The author of Hebrews says Jesus is the express image of the Father:

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3).

In this context, whom did Jesus make sick – or for that matter, allow to remain sick? None. And Jesus did not cause calamity, He calmed storms:

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39).

He healed the sick, cleansed lepers, raised the dead, and preached Good News to the poor!

Indeed, when two of His disciples wanted to bring fire from heaven on to folks who rejected Jesus, He rebuked them

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (Luke 9:54-55)

Now, if God is causing these things (sickness, suffering, and calamity) and Jesus is providing the cure, then Jesus would be acting against the will of the Father, right?

Jesus is the focal point of all Scripture. All Scripture points to him and he is the living revelation of all Scripture. In order to truly understand the nature and character of God, we must center our studies on the Gospels.

It becomes clear that since Jesus did not bring about any of these things during His earthly ministry, and since the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, God isn’t bringing about calamity, either.

You’d have to pay someone to help you misunderstand this!

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

(knowledge+understanding)*proper application=wisdom. The big problem is that “knowledge puffeth up,” (1 Corinthians 8:1) and there is an abundance of sense-realm knowledge without the leading of the Holy Spirit. Many are too quick to lean on their seminary training or their vast libraries, with the result being an undue complication of something so simple, a child should understand.

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)