Hey everybody, I’m Anne-Marie Michaelis, a Christian author and coach. Welcome to the Hidden Battles Podcast, a weekly podcast about the hidden battles of spiritual warfare and the struggles that go on in our minds and hearts, and the truth to overcoming these hidden battles. My life was radically transformed during a supernatural encounter with Jesus.

God allowed my eyes to be spiritually opened long enough to see the truth of these hidden battles and to scare the rebellion against him right out of me. In each episode, I share a true story about a real life experience, a teaching, and a final takeaway. This podcast will reveal the hidden battles that lurk in our minds and hearts, and the way out.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Please take a moment to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to my channel on YouTube, at GodDesign LLC. Podcasts are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For a free download of my memoir, visit my website at goddesign.org.”

Today in this episode called “Religion vs Relationship”, I’ll share a story from my memoir titled “Religion vs Relationship: He Will Meet You Right Where You Are.”  This story goes out to all those who have had a bad taste left in their mouth over “religion” or who have felt the shame, unworthiness, rejection, or judgement of religion without the grace, love, and acceptance of Jesus.  We should feel shameful of our dirty rotten sins, but there is grace, joy, peace, freedom, and mercy on the other side of that shame once we surrender to Jesus and are spiritually awakened and made new.  This story is about a person that was held captive to the realization of his sins and inadequacy on the one hand, and rejected from the body of Christ by another human, a spiritual leader (a priest) on the other.  Basically deemed unworthy. This person went through his entire life believing he was unworthy. Unworthy of praying for himself as well as unworthy of receiving any prayer from another.  THAT IS NOT JESUS AND THAT IS NOT CHRISTIANITY.  This story is his story that I will share because he is no longer with us to share it and he was a brave truth seeking soul. This person was my Dad. 

This story may just be your story, and God willing, your story may just be about to change.

I want to start with a very aggressive warning from Jesus in Matthew 23 about spiritual leaders. The problem Jesus is addressing is not with all spiritual leaders, the problem was with the spiritually rotten ones that are corrupting it for everyone else.  This scripture is about a bunch of spiritual leaders being judged by God himself and how to identify them.  Matthew 23:1-12 (Jesus is addressing the disciples and the crowd ABOUT the spiritual leaders).  Matthew 23:13-36 (Jesus is addressing the spiritual leaders directly).  The problem he is describing in (1-12) “is the distortion of godly leadership” … In God’s assessment of “greatness” … leaders are supposed to be servants.  The problem Jesus is describing in (13-36) “the practices and perversion of ungodly hypocrites”. Jesus calls these rotten spiritual leaders “hypocrites” and calls them “sons of hell”, “blind guides”, “blind fools”, “blind men”, “robbers”, “snakes”, “brood of vipers”, “white washed tombs”, “persecutors” of God’s people, and I don’t know what I missed from the scripture but it was pretty brutal.  These came about in a series of “Woe to you”  statements to the rotten spiritual leaders.  Again you can read the entire scripture in Matthew 23:1-36.  The bottom line is a warning from Jesus to spiritual leaders against hypocrisy and not to be focusing solely on outward appearances and rituals while neglecting faith, justice, mercy, and faithfulness.  Remembering to be a genuine service to others and not to abuse their authority. 

Now, for this story from my memoir.

About a year after my Dad passed, I learned something I never knew before regarding my Dad and his desire to become a Catholic. My Mom was going through notes my Dad had written during their courtship. In those notes, she found numerous writings about his desire to become a Catholic. My Dad always taught me to find a way to make a difference. I’m sharing his story along with mine because we all have a story to share, and he is no longer here to be able to share his story with you. But if his story or mine reaches even one person struggling and can provide hope and realization that they belong to God, and Jesus will meet them right where they are in the middle of their mess, then sharing our stories was well worth it.

I will share with you some of what I read that my Dad wrote early on in high school and possibly shortly after graduating. I never knew this about my Dad, but they explained quite a bit about his hardened heart and misplaced anger with God. His heart was initially on fire for God. He had a deep desire and yearning to belong to a church community to grow and understand God. These were found in my Mom’s notes before they were married when he was just being introduced to the Catholic church and going through a priest to become a Catholic.

“One of the reasons I am becoming Catholic is because

God feels closer to me in the faith, especially when I’m in church.”

“I’d really like to know when I’m going to turn Catholic.

It seems that that’s all I think about lately.”

“I shouldn’t be in any hurry anyways, cause the longer

he [the priest] takes, I guess the more I will understand.

But I would feel a lot better when it’s over.”

Somewhere between the three separate notes written above and the note written below came the rejection from the priest. We don’t know why and it sounds like he did not know why either. But this priest must have delivered the final judgment of unworthiness to be a Catholic church member to my Dad.

“Why can’t I turn Catholic?

Why wouldn’t Father [priest name] let me?

I’m sick and tired of going to church and not being able

to go to communion. It would give me a lot of encouragement.”

I may never in this lifetime know why he was rejected and deemed unfit in the eyes of this priest. But I do know that this same priest did not hesitate to obtain a promise from my Dad to raise his children Catholic to be married to my Mom in the Catholic church. I shared earlier that Dad did commit to this promise and more than followed through on it. We went to church on Sundays. My brother and I went through eight years of Catholic school. He watched us be baptized as babies, do our communions, and our confirmation. Never once did I know his desire in his heart early on to be able to participate in communion, even as the three of us went each Sunday to receive our communion.

When I first read these notes, I wept for quite some time. My heart sunken into my stomach. I wished I had known this many years ago. I cannot even begin to imagine how this felt. To see others declare their faith, receive communion, and be accepted as fit and worthy to be a member of a particular church. The judgment that was made and the rejection that ensued against someone who wanted desperately to have the opportunity to draw close to God and to learn and grow in Christ. Is a man (layman, pastor, or priest) to have the authority to prevent someone from the opportunity to draw close to God and Jesus? The answer is NO.

Mark 12:38-40 (NIV) As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

I beg anyone reading this that may have gone through any feelings of rejection, unworthiness, or judgment to seek out a Christian Bible-based church. One that accepts you as you are and helps you learn and grow into that unique and gifted person that God created you to be. God does not make mistakes – you were fearfully and wonderfully created. I also challenge you to remember my story of where God encountered me and met me.

Remember my journey with God. He didn’t meet me in church. He met me where I was. He met me in a bed, frozen stiff with demonic oppression, completely disobeying Him with my lifestyle. He always met me where I was and was faithful to me. He will meet you wherever you are; in your truck, in your bed, on the floor weeping, praying, anywhere. Have Faith in Him. Trust Him and let Him be your Father, Healer, and Teacher. Seek Him in everything you do. Talk to Him and let Him in.

It’s not about religion; it’s about a relationship.

What does God’s Word say about coming to Him?

God’s Word is clear.  Jesus, the second person of the Godhead (who is both God and man in flesh) came for us sinners. If we come to Jesus, He will never, never reject anyone who follows Him. 

– Matthew 9:11-13 (NIV) When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

– John 6:37 (AMP) All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me].

Not only did Jesus emphatically let us know He came for us sinners and that He would never, not ever, reject one sinner that came to Him in repentance and surrender but also that He came to draw us out of the darkness unto Himself.  That is literally what He did for me.  I was drawn out of the darkness and snares of the enemy not knowing where I was being fully drawn to and my destination was Jesus.  Once you arrive at Jesus, He awakens parts of you that you cannot even imagine and there’s no desire to even go back into the darkness, which is from the pits of hell.

Jesus is our mediator.  Which means that He bridges the gap between our sinful selves and our Holy Almighty God, to put us in right standing with the Father.  Jesus washes us from our sins when we turn to Him in faith.  Making us acceptable to God the Father.  No other person on this earth, including priests can stand between you and God- only Jesus.  He is our mediator AND He will speak to God the Father on our behalf!

– 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT) For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity-the man Christ Jesus.

• Romans 8:34 (AMP) Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. 

Now for reflections –

My first reflection question is “How do you feel knowing that Jesus is sitting next to God the Father, interceding specifically for you?”

Interceding is defined as intervening between two parties to reconcile difference- so in this case-Jesus is sitting next to God the Father to mediate on our behalf that we are in right standing with God the Father because of our relationship to Jesus Himself and the debt of our sins are covered and paid for by Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross – FOR US. 

My second reflection question is around “James 4:8-10” and for this particular one I used the Message translation.  Anyone that knows me knows I am usually in the Amplified translation, but this translation sounded like I was saying it which was funny.

– James 4:8-10 (MSG) So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

My second question is this … are you ready to surrender to Christ and start your walk of faith in Him? 

If you’re ready to surrender to Christ, let’s pray a prayer of salvation and begin your commitment to walk with Jesus and accept Him into your mind, heart, and every facet of your life!

Heavenly Father, I come to you as a sinner in need of Your grace. I repent of my sins and confess openly with my lips that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that He died and rose from the grave for my sins. Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life and ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart; to be my teacher, counselor, comforter, and helper in all areas of my life. May Your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.   

If you prayed this prayer of salvation, this is the first step and a very important and good step in beginning your walk with Jesus.  Relationships take effort and communication, keep the communication channel open with Jesus so you can start building your relationship and hear what He has in store for you.  I cannot emphasize enough how important getting into God’s Word is as He literally can speak to you through His scripture.  Find yourself a Bible translation that is easy for you to understand and start your journey today!

I wish both blessings and revelation to each of you as you grow closer in your relationship with Jesus!

Hey, friends, that wraps up today’s Hidden Battles Podcast. A transcript along with additional devotionals for this week’s podcast, as well as my memoir, are available for free download on my website at goddesign.org, or check out some of my other books that you may find helpful. If you liked this episode, please share with others.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Never stop praying, never give up, and I’ll see you next week.