1Ki 22:21  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

Six years ago I left the holiness pentecostal movement.   I can now see and identify the traits of a denominational spirit at work.  It's job is to impersonate God.    I was  a third generation member of the denomination . . . having lived fifty two years in the denomination. 

The first month was the most difficult.  This spirit tried to influence me into to coming back.  

When . . . I would accidentally bump into my old brothers and sisters of the faith.  They would say "we miss you greatly!"   And . . . "how are you being fed spiritually?"  They would always smile and act polite . . . but  . . .  I knew what was going on in their heads.  I can still remember the same old rhetoric being spewed from the leaders,  (about anyone that went astray) being hammered into the minds of everyone in the congregation.   They were concerned about my soul and its welfare.  And how . . . I had lost touch with God.

Denominational  spirits have the permission from God, to impersonate God.  Yes, they serve a purpose, in the plan of God.  There are many spiritual hurtles on the race track of life.  Just like the Olympic runners,  that have many obstacles on the track . . .  the hurtles are set in place . . .  to see who is the best.  

These spirits have a powerful influence over the members of a denomination.   This influence is so strong . . . it causes the individual to become blind to the most horrendous actions and in reverse the same person chokes on a gnat.   The Jewish writer Josephus  states it better than any historian that I have read.  He calls it a "distemper" that affects the mind into thinking the most ridiculous things are a necessity required by God.

The latest truth . . . I've learned from God is "What did the people of Jericho do . . . to deserve being slaughtered by a blood thirsty band of people?"   The peaceful people of Jericho were not at war with the children of Israel.  The people of Jericho had lived there for years.  

Or  the idea of removing the foreskin of a man . . . .  thus making  man acceptable to God is totally ridiculous.

Or  that a cow is holy and can not be eaten.  Or when praying . . . we have to face a certain direction.  Or when praying we have to put our bodies in a certain position.  Or when praying we have to wear certain clothing.

Mankind actions proves . . .  that we obey these denominational spirits without question.