To defy entrapment of a political and religious spirit not only does one need to be free of the need of man’s approval but the need to be “justified” in man’s eyes.
Man will always cast judgement on that which they do not understand or fail to have the whole details to a story. They will judge on the outer “appearances” and never see what’s unseen.
Justification is being seen as right, upright in decisions, behaviour and trajectory. This need to be justified in the sight of man drives a person to “justify” oneself all the time. One tends to explain and overexplain their “why’s” in the desperate mission to be understood and to avoid the dire fear of, God forbid, being misunderstood. I have found in my life EVERY time and I mean EVERY time I have sought to justify myself it has severely backfired on me.
This goal is a never ending pit of destruction and a B line for entrapment with a political spirit and religious spirit that will hang you out to dry. A jezebelic influence I believe is behind this activity as it’s manipulative and controlling in nature. This however, is for a further deeper study that in this space time does not allow. Possibly I might teach further on that in time to come.
I find Mark 12:13- 14 AMPC interesting and a clear lesson on how to stand free of the entrapment of a religious and political spirit.
“But they sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him for the purpose of entrapping Him in His speech. And they came up and said to Him, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be, that You cannot lie, and that You have no personal bias for anyone; for You are not influenced by partiality and have no regard for anyone’s external condition or position, but in [and on the basis of] truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful (permissible and right) to give tribute (poll taxes) to Caesar or not?”
We see it was the Pharisees and Herodians (religious and political) seeking to entrap. However, they proceeded to unveil, without realising why they couldn’t trap him. Below are points highlighted by the Pharisees and Herodians on the character and nature of Jesus.
He was sincere – in other words he wasn’t faking it, nor pretending, he had no alternative motives in why he was doing what he was doing.
he cannot lie, deception was not in him
he didn’t have personal bias toward people. In other words he treated everyone equally because his motive toward his interaction with people was pure and wasn’t for personal gain. He held no judgements of external but chose to honour people as equal regardless of social, religious and political status.
he taught the way of God in truth. He didn’t water down or alter the word of God for popularity or gain nor fear of what might happen to him.
In reflecting on these points highlighted by the Herodians and Pharisees we see Jesus never sought to justify himself to make people understand. He just was who He was.
They were pretty much saying Jesus you are different to us. You haven’t got a dualistic heart, nor are you hypocritical.
Self-justification will always lead you straight into the entrapment of man’s judgements. Yes man’s judgements seek to imprison one in their mental confined picture of who you are (for whatever reason).
HOW JUDGEMENT WORKS
Judgements are projections. People make conclusions about you based on their confined perceptions of truth and impurity of the heart, i.e, jealousy, envy, pride and haughtiness. These projections are felt when you are in their presence and it acts like a form of mind control. All of a sudden you don’t feel yourself, you view yourself differently. What is happening is you are picking up how this person perceives you and their formed opinions about you seek to confine you.
This is judgement and projection. You discover this only happens in their presence and then around others who have purity of heart you all of a sudden feel free and your normal self again.
This is how I discern who is “safe”. I am very sensitive to projections. I’ve dealt with it my whole life and it has taken me many years to understand how judgement works. This is why Jesus could hear people’s thoughts. He picked up on their projections. A judgemental heart is an impure heart.
THE ROLE OF THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
This is where the breastplate of righteousness part of the armour of God comes into play. Not many people know how this breastplate works. See judgements attack identity and conscience. It will try to cause one to feel guilty for who they are. Judgement always comes with a sense of condemnation. That’s why the Lord calls judgement a weapon that is formed against someone (Isaiah 54:17).
So it tries to condemn you into agreeing with its final opinion or expectation. It’s witchcraft, it’s manipulative and that’s why it co-labours with mind control and confusion. It seeks to altar how you think through condemnation and accusation. Meaning, by manipulating you to think you are wrong, something is wrong with you, you have a wrong heart etc. It is full of pride and malice.
The breastplate of righteousness protects your heart and your identity in Christ. It reminds you who you are in Christ.
Jesus knew who He was and didn’t apologise for it. A political and religious spirit will seek to break down your identity and have you apologise for your faith and who you are in Christ. It will seek to ensnare you into self justifying to “prove yourself” or explain yourself. This is because it’s rooted in control and the need to be “higher”. It’s rooted in a competitive heart which is pride. This is what Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 3 regarding sects and factions (political spirit). The need to be better than each other and identifying with a person (Paul and Apollos) rather than with Christ. This is why the breastplate of righteousness is effective because a political spirit is competitive. If you don’t know who you are this spirit will find a hook in you to “justify” and play its game.
A political spirit will also try and lure you to take sides. Many people have “judged” from the outer my refusal to take sides in disputes and disagreements among leaders. I won’t be owned by any man and somehow that frustrates and infuriates people. The only way then people know how to deal with my unwillingness to side is to judge. To conclude a guilty verdict against me through condemning me in their own mind and opinions.
But that’s ok because I’m not a slave to man’s opinions but rather whether or not I’m pleasing my Father. Now don’t get me wrong it doesn’t mean I’ve always been good at this and I continue to challenge my own heart in this area. It is necessary to remain pure. I’ve been ensnared many times by the fear of man. However years ago the Lord took me through a very painful, long season of persecution to burn that out of me.
THE KEY
Jesus NEVER gave into projections and judgements because he didn’t value man’s opinion above God’s. This is the Key. If you value man’s opinions above God’s you will live a life unto men in exchange for your God-given purpose.
Don’t live for man to “see”. Rejoice at being hidden in Christ. Rejoice in the times people don’t “see” you as you can have that deep rest assuredness in your heart that He does and that’s all that matters. It’s a life of freedom living, it’s a life of purity, it’s a life of victory.
The days at hand call for a people who value God’s opinion above man’s, who are dead to their need to justify and bring forth their own justice. Man’s opinions and judgement will NEVER go away and the more you are delivered from the effect of man’s opinions the more useful you will be in the master’s hand.
Blessings,
Anita Alexander
