“²¹ So the king (Jehoiakim) sent Jehudi to fetch the roll (Jeremiah’s scrolls): and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.

²² Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.

²³ And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

²⁴ Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.” Jeremiah 36:21-24

How many modern day preachers and teachers cut out the parts of the Bible they do not want to preach and throw them in the fire?  The Scriptures about sin, hell and false teachers are conveniently tossed aside as to not offend the ticklish ears, while good works, personal prophecies and the next big thing just around the corner are boldly declared and proclaimed from the pulpits.  As long as the seeker sensitive church continues feeding the flesh with self help philosophies, social justice causes and weekly entertainment gatherings they have power over the person.  The flesh will always yield to that which feeds self righteousness and pride; giving it (the philosophies, causes, gatherings, encounters, etc.) power to reign over the lives of the congregation.

It is only the Spirit of God Who has the power to isolate the sin nature ruling and reigning in the heart of the carnal Christian and free them from this power of religion.  However, the Holy Spirit is not commissioned to do such when we are following man devised schemes, namely humanistic psychology, and not looking unto Jesus and His atoning work on Calvary’s Cross for EVERYTHING we receive from the Lord.  We will remain bound by the power of religion until we submit unto God’s Plan for our Sanctification – faith in Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

If we are submitted to religion, we are not “in Christ Jesus” and therefore we are not free from the law of sin and death.  If you do not believe you are “submitted” to your religion or it has no power over you, try NOT doing that which they promote and then recognize that feeling you get when not performing those tasks.  Do you feel less saved?  Less righteous?  Point proven.

Just as satan deceived Eve through his cunningness, so too are the modern day King Jehoiakims deceiving the flock as they cut out Scripture and throw them in the fire.

“³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

-Donna Clark Warren