Hindrance.

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Romans 14:13

What actually is a hindrance to the Holy Spirit? Can all the rituals, traditions, programs, pyramidal hierarchy, and systems of the institutional religion be a hindrance to your spiritual growth? Are you trapped in the ‘serving’ system of the institution rather than being attentive to the personal leading, teaching, and prompting of the Holy Spirit to you? Can’t it be both, you may ask? What happens when the two conflict? Which do you serve? Which priority do you serve first? Does the Holy Spirit bow in subservience to the religious institution or the pastor? Who is a hindrance to whom? Are you trapped in a ‘people pleasing’ cycle within the religious institutional system? Whom do you fear more? Which one are you trying to impress or garner favor with?

Does the busyness of your schedule in the institution hinder your time, focus, and obedience to the Holy Spirit? Have you just settled into allowing the institution set your agenda, teaching, and direction with God instead of the Holy Spirit? Who is your God? Who really sets your path and spiritual walk with Him? Have you learned to receive your daily and moment by moment assignments from the Holy Spirit or are you just in the practice of doing your weekly religious service ritual?

Were the Pharisees and their religious system, rituals, and requirements a hindrance to the people who loved and were searching for God? Did that system make it harder for the people to recognize who Jesus was? I would imagine the more entrenched in the religious system a person was the harder it would have been to recognize who Jesus really was. They naturally were trying to have the Pharisees favor and praise as they WERE their spiritual leaders! Who are your spiritual leaders? Who were the first people you thought of when reading that question? If they were anyone but Jesus and the Holy Spirit first … your priorities are askew. Any human you might consider as a spiritual leader of yours they should constantly be pointing you to the Holy Spirit for your guidance and spiritual growth rather than any OTHER system or program.

Ask the Holy Spirit what or who is really hindering your spiritual growth with Him? Are you open enough to really hear the Truth from Him? Or are you entrenched in the religious systems which has trained you to only follow within their program, and space? Do you spend all your time with God only in that religious space? When do you actually go to Him outside of that religious space? Who are you really trying to impress? Is the religious institution hindering your relationship with Him? Are you only following the institution’s program instructions or are you actually following His Voice? Do you really think the religious institution and the Holy Spirit are ALWAYS in agreement for your life? Be honest with God and yourself!