Book Review
Overcoming the Religious Spirit
Based on Rick Joyner’s “Overcoming the Religious Spirit”
Rick Joyner’s book Overcoming the Religious Spirit exposes one of the most subtle yet destructive forces that can hinder genuine relationship with God: the religious spirit. Unlike obvious sins of the flesh, this spirit disguises itself in zeal, piety, and outward devotion, yet its root is pride and self-righteousness. Joyner describes it as “a counterfeit form of true spirituality,” one that values form over substance, rules over relationship, and appearance over authenticity. As I read and prayed through this book, I saw how easy it is, even with good intentions, to fall into the trap of serving God while unknowingly resisting His Spirit.
Understanding the Religious Spirit
Joyner begins by explaining that the religious spirit is a demonic influence that attempts to substitute human effort and tradition for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the same spirit that opposed Jesus in the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day. These were men who knew the Scriptures, fasted, tithed, and prayed regularly, yet when the Son of God stood before them, they failed to recognize Him. Why? Because their hearts were more devoted to maintaining their systems than encountering God Himself.
This warning echoes deeply today. The religious spirit doesn’t just exist in “dead” churches; it can dwell in revival movements, prayer groups, and even our own hearts. Joyner writes that the most dangerous aspect of this spirit is its subtlety—it convinces believers that they are defending the truth when they are actually resisting it. It manifests through judgmental attitudes, critical spirits, and a preoccupation with external conformity rather than inward transformation.
Characteristics of the Religious Spirit
Joyner outlines several characteristics of this spirit that help believers discern its influence. Among them are pride in spiritual knowledge, a need for control, legalism, and an obsession with outward appearances of holiness. The religious spirit thrives on comparison—measuring one’s righteousness by others’ failures. It feeds off fear: fear of deception, fear of being wrong, fear of losing reputation.
But the heart of this spirit is independence from the Holy Spirit. It seeks to do the work of God without depending on God. The fruit is often division, criticism, and burnout. Joyner contrasts this with the spirit of true worship, which flows from humility, love, and intimacy with Jesus. True spirituality invites freedom and grace; the religious spirit breeds performance and pride.
The Antidote: Intimacy with Christ
Throughout the book, Joyner emphasizes that the only cure for the religious spirit is cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. Religion seeks to earn God’s favor, but intimacy receives it. When we abide in Christ, His love exposes every false motive and burns away the pride that fuels the religious spirit. Joyner often returns to this central truth: our goal is not to be right but to be like Christ.
He also teaches that humility is the key posture for overcoming this spirit. The religious spirit cannot thrive where there is repentance and transparency. Joyner encourages believers to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden pride and to embrace correction with gratitude. True humility, he explains, is not thinking less of ourselves but depending wholly on God for everything.
Personal Reflection: My Own Battle with the Religious Spirit
As I reflected on Joyner’s insights, I was reminded of a season in my own walk when I unknowingly operated under the influence of a religious spirit. It was a time when I was deeply involved in ministry—attending every prayer meeting, fasting regularly, and studying Scripture with intensity. Outwardly, everything seemed right. People even admired my “dedication.” But inside, something had shifted. My joy had been replaced by striving. I became critical of others who didn’t share my level of devotion. I judged those who seemed “less serious” and subtly took pride in my spiritual discipline.
While reading I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper, “You love My work more than you love Me.” Those words pierced my heart. I realized that I had allowed religious performance to replace relationship. I had been pursuing spiritual activities without seeking the presence of the One I claimed to serve.
Over the following weeks, God began to dismantle my self-righteousness. He led me to verses like Matthew 9:13, where Jesus says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” I wept as I saw how my pride had caused me to judge others rather than love them. Slowly, the Lord restored the joy of simple intimacy—reading His Word not to gain knowledge, but to know His heart; fasting not to prove devotion, but to draw closer to His presence. That season taught me that the religious spirit is not just a problem “out there”—it’s a daily battle within each believer’s heart.
A Recent Lesson on Humility and Blessing
Just last Saturday, I attended a one-day healing conference at The Wisdom Church, and God spoke to me again in a profound way. I was blessed by the humility of the lady pastor who spoke and led our small group. She carried such peace and gentleness, and during one of our discussions, she shared something that deeply convicted me.
She said that every day she declares that all negative words and curses spoken against her—especially because of her online ministry—will be turned into blessings. She also said she intentionally blesses those who curse her. Her words were simple, but they carried great spiritual authority because they flowed from humility and love.
As she spoke, I felt the Holy Spirit gently convict me. I realized that whenever I I would feel I am being cursed, my prayer had often been, “Lord, return to sender all the curses spoken against me.” I thought I was standing in faith and spiritual warfare, but I saw how my response revealed something of the religious spirit in me—a heart still eager for justice more than mercy. The pastor’s example reminded me of Jesus’ command to “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).
That day, I repented and began to change my posture. I started to pray, “Lord, turn every curse into a blessing, and bless those who spoke against me with Your love and truth.” Something shifted in my heart. I felt lighter, freer, and more at peace. True humility disarms the religious spirit, and blessing those who hurt us is one of the highest expressions of Christlike love.
The Spirit of Jezebel: A Biblical Warning
Another powerful theme that Rick Joyner discusses, and one that often works hand in hand with the religious spirit, is the spirit of Jezebel. This spirit is named after Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament, the wife of King Ahab, who led Israel into idolatry and rebellion against God (1 Kings 16–21). Jezebel’s influence was manipulative, controlling, and seductive. She sought to silence the true prophets of God, replacing their voices with those of false prophets who spoke what pleased her.
In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah confronts 450 prophets of Baal—Jezebel’s prophets—on Mount Carmel. Through Elijah, God demonstrates His power by sending fire from heaven, proving that He alone is the true God. But even after this mighty victory, Jezebel responds with threats instead of repentance, vowing to kill Elijah. Her goal was to intimidate and silence the prophetic voice. The same spirit is active today—trying to suppress truth, promote compromise, and control through fear and manipulation.
Jezebel’s spirit is not limited to women; it can operate in anyone who seeks to dominate, deceive, or use influence for personal gain instead of God’s purposes. In Revelation 2:20, Jesus rebukes the church in Thyatira for tolerating “that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,” saying she leads His servants into immorality and idolatry. This shows that the Jezebel spirit can infiltrate even the church, blending seduction, manipulation, and counterfeit spirituality.
When I read these accounts, I realized how the Jezebel spirit works subtly to distract believers from purity of devotion. It uses flattery, fear, and false prophecy to pull hearts away from obedience to God. It thrives wherever pride and wounded ambition remain unhealed. The religious spirit and the Jezebel spirit are partners in deception—one binds through legalism, the other through manipulation—but both oppose true intimacy with Jesus.
Overcoming this spirit requires the same weapons that defeat the religious spirit: humility, repentance, and unwavering devotion to Christ. Elijah ultimately overcame Jezebel’s threats not through power but through renewed encounter with God. When he hid in the cave, exhausted and afraid, the Lord met him not in the wind or the fire, but in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). That whisper restored Elijah’s faith and identity. Likewise, when we return to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, every Jezebelic influence loses its hold.
As believers, we must guard our hearts against these two spirits—religion that replaces relationship, and control that replaces freedom. Our defense is not fear or accusation, but the love of Christ ruling in our hearts. When love reigns, no counterfeit spirit can remain.
Restoring the First Love
Joyner concludes his book with a call to return to our “first love.” The religious spirit always replaces love with duty. It makes serving God a burden instead of a delight. But when we return to the simplicity of loving Jesus, everything else falls into place. Joyner writes that revival begins not with louder worship or longer meetings, but with broken hearts that love Jesus more than ministry, doctrine, or recognition.
He also urges believers to walk in discernment, not suspicion. The religious spirit often masquerades as discernment, but its fruit is accusation and division. True discernment always leads to restoration and unity. In our pursuit of purity, we must remember that mercy triumphs over judgment.
Conclusion
Rick Joyner’s Overcoming the Religious Spirit is more than a book—it’s a mirror that reveals the hidden motives of our hearts. It calls believers to exchange performance for presence, legalism for love, and religion for relationship. As I continue to walk this out, I’m learning that intimacy with Jesus is the safest place to remain free. His love disarms pride, heals comparison, and restores purity of devotion.
Through experiences like the healing conference and through understanding the lessons of Elijah and Jezebel, God keeps reminding me that freedom from controlling and religious spirits is not achieved once for all—it’s a daily choice to love, forgive, and bless. Overcoming these spirits means keeping my heart tender, humble, and surrendered to the One who loved me first. And as I grow in that love, I find joy again in serving—not as a duty, but as a delight in knowing Him.
BELOVED 
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