Religion can be a vaccine that tricks us into believing we already have all of Jesus we need and should resist His working in us. Try not to let religion vaccinate you and give you immunity to hearing the voice of God for yourself.

Church tries to change people from the outside, but the living Jesus and the Bible change people from the inside out. Church is seen as the delivery system of Christianity, but when I read the Bible it looks like the living Jesus delivers it. We need to be infected by Jesus. Perhaps church needs the attitude of John the Baptist: “He (Jesus) must increase but I must decrease.”

The more Christianity
Is systematized
And analyzed,
The more it is
Anesthetized.
It needs to be
Revitalized.

When the living Jesus
Is allowed to be
In control,
The kingdom of God
Shows up.

To pray
Is not just
What you say.
It’s how you hear
And obey
Jesus
Every day.

Multitudes of Christians have been trained to be more dependent on the organization called church than on the living Jesus. Christianity’s been systematized into the passive, weekly attendance of a highly organized “service,” but it’s much more than that. Christians are supposed to be led (shaped, directed, guided) by the Spirit, not by a religious system. Romans 8:14.

When Christianity is limited to commemorating what Jesus did in the past, it’s incomplete. He wants to demonstrate His presence now! Direct connection with Jesus is much more powerful than informative talks about Him.

You can’t (and don’t want to) “go to church” 24/7/365, but you can continually interact with the living Jesus. Try it! If Christians would focus on and listen to the living Jesus, as much as we do preachers, it would revolutionize our life. Jesus wants to speak directly to your heart and also thru the Bible. The Bible isn’t a complex system known as systematic theology. It is powerful words that set humble human hearts on fire!

If you’re having trouble getting your conscience to forgive your sins, the living Jesus can help. The living Jesus wants to train you to make your nervous system your friend instead of your enemy. The goal of church should be to inspire people to actively and passionately pursue their own relationship with the living Jesus.

To repent is to continually get closer to the living Jesus. It’s a lifestyle, not a once and done thing. Too many Christians live like they are indifferent to Jesus instead of being passionate about Him.

Breathe better. Wholesome laughter is great exercise for your respiratory system. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”