Menkato V Awomi
Dimapur
Throughout the Gospels, one of the recurring themes we see is the constant rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders of His day, the Pharisees and Sadducees. These men were considered the spiritual authorities of Israel, the custodians of the Law, and the gatekeepers of religious life. Yet, when the very Messiah they claimed to be waiting for walked among them, they rejected Him. Why? Because the anointing upon Jesus exposed their systems, their pride, and their reliance on human recognition and influence.
The Pharisees and Sadducees measured everything by fleshly standards, status, education, reputation, and influence. They could not comprehend the true anointing of God because their eyes were blinded by their love for position and control. They saw Jesus not as the fulfillment of prophecy, but as a threat to their influence.
When Jesus declared truths that pointed to His divinity, they mocked Him. You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham? (John 8:57). In Matthew 13:55, they reduced Him to His earthly background: Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary…? They could only see Jesus in the flesh, not in the Spirit. They failed to discern the anointing.
But Jesus confronted them directly: Even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father (John 10:38). He urged them to look beyond His flesh and recognize the works that only God could do. Still, they refused.
The Same Spirit of Religion Today
Fast forward to today, and sadly, little has changed. The faces are different, but the spirit of religion remains the same. Just as the Pharisees clung to their traditions, many church systems today are still caught up in external qualifications—age, degrees, and church positions—while ignoring the anointing that God places upon His chosen vessels.
Many young people in this generation, especially Gen Z are burning with a passion for God, filled with the Spirit, and anointed for His purposes. Yet, instead of nurturing and encouraging them, the religious system often rejects them. Leaders measure worth by theological degrees, years of service, or denominational approval. They forget that when Israel was looking for a trained soldier to face Goliath, God raised a shepherd boy named David and anointed him to do the impossible.
Just as Jesus was rejected by His own people, many young believers today are dismissed by their own communities. Parents are persuaded by religious voices that their children cannot truly be called unless they follow the system, graduate from a certain Bible college, or climb the church ladder step by step. Many young people are told to silence their fire, to wait until they are older, or to serve “behind the curtain.”
But this mindset is not of God, it is the same religious blindness that caused Israel to reject Jesus.
God is Raising a Generation
We are living in a time when God is raising a new generation that refuses to be bound by dead religion. This is a generation hungry for truth, filled with the Spirit, and eager to glorify Jesus above systems, traditions, and man-made qualifications.
Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 4:12 ring louder today than ever: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. The anointing is not tied to age, nor to degrees. It flows through obedience, surrender, and intimacy with God.
Paul also reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:6 to fan into flame the gift of God. The fire is already there, the Holy Spirit has already been given, but the question is: will we be bold enough to stir it up?
God is not waiting for religious systems to change. He is calling His people to rise above them, to obey His Word, and to be bold in declaring the truth of the Gospel. It may offend, it may challenge traditions, but as Peter boldly declared: We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
The End of Dead Religion
Religious systems that are not rooted in God’s Word and Spirit will not last. They may look powerful today, but like the fading glory on Moses’ face, they will disappear (2 Corinthians 3:7–11). Hebrews 8:13 says it clearly: By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
So it is with every system built on human wisdom, human power, or human influence—it will fade. God is not confined to systems; He works in His sovereignty.
A reminder to those dead religion or religious system built on human will the word says in Acts 5:38-39 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
A Call to This Generation
Eternal life is a gift, but the anointing carries a responsibility. Each of us will give an account of the fire God has entrusted to us. Will we surrender fully to His will, or will we try to fit into systems that He never built?
The young generation must not take the fire of God for granted. Too many have fallen asleep under the weight of dead religion. But the Spirit is moving. The signal is green. God has already poured out His Spirit, and He is waiting for a generation who will say yes.
This is not a call to rebel against systems or leaders, but a call to stand boldly for truth. A call to worship God in Spirit and in truth. A call to live in purity, faith, and love. A call to glorify Jesus above all.
The Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day tried to silence Him because they feared losing influence. Today’s religious systems often reject the young anointed because they fear losing control. But no system can stop what God is doing.
The fire is burning. The Spirit is moving. The only question is—will you fan the flame?
