Overcoming the Spirit of Midian

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: The Spirit of Midian – Overcoming Midian Scripture: Proverbs 10:12; 17:19; 22:10; 29:22,23; James 3:16-18; Matthew 5:9; 44,45; 2 Thessalonians 3:11-14; Philippians 4:6-9 Greetings Sons of God: We know the spirit of Midian is the spirit of strife and contention. So how do we as the sons of God overcome this spirit. Let’s look a couple of Scriptures for the answer. James 3:16-18: For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Proverbs 10:12: Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all sins Proverbs 17:19: He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. Proverbs 22:10: Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease Proverbs 29:22,23: An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. A man’s pride shall bring him low, but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. When we examine these scriptures and know that there are plenty more we a couple of ways we can overcome the spirit of the Midianite which is strife and contention. We overcome strife by abiding by the wisdom of God that produces peace. Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. We also overcome strife and contention with love: Matthew 5:44,45: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. We can overcome strife and contention by cutting fellowship with those who keep up strife and contention: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-14: For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. So the Lord has shown the sons of God that we overcome the spirit of the Midianite with wisdom, peace, love and in some cases by cutting fellowship. The end result of overcoming is peace (Philippians 4:6-9). In the next message, we will the spirit of the Edomites. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Sin of Midian

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: Spirit of Midian – The Sin of Midian Scripture: Numbers 22:4; 31:1,2,16 Greetings Sons of God: Numbers 22:4: And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. The Moabites are a very evil nation toward Israel and we will talk about the spirit of Moab but we see Israel advancing through the Wilderness and they settle in the plains of Moab and Balak is concerned about Israel and so Balak, king of the Moabites consults the elders of Midian about what to do about Israel in stopping them. We know the advancement of physical Israel is a picture of maturing of the sons of God and advancement of the Kingdom. So the nation of Moab and Midian are seeking to stop this advancement. The Lord despises anything and anyone who seeks to be a stumbling block to the advancement of His Will. Because of this evil union and devised plans against Israel, the Midianites will feel the judgment of the Lord against them. Numbers 31:1,2: And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. Now God tells them to go out and kill the Midianites because of the evil they caused Israel to commit against God through the counsel of Balaam. But the captain of the armies brought back not only the spoils of war (cattle, flocks and goods) but they also brought back the woman and children of Midian and Moses was upset with them for a particular reason and now we will see the sin of Midian in this scripture: Numbers 31:16: Behold these caused the children of Israel , through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord Now we will revisit this story when we talk about Moab but the Midianites participated in causing the children of Israel to defile themselves b sleeping with the women of Moab and Midian and eat forbidden foods sacrificed to idols. A plague went throughout the children of Israel and ultimately 24,000 Israelites we killed because of their sin with the women of Moab and Midian. Because of Midian’s co-conspiratory ways with Moab to try to destroy Israel they would be overcome by Israel In the next message we will look at how the sons of God overcome the spirit of Midian. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Spirit of Midian - History of Midian

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: Spirit of Midian – History of Midian Scripture: Genesis 25:1,2,5; Exodus 2:15-3:1 Greetings Sons of God: Genesis 25:1,2: Then again Abraham took a wife and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. So as we can see Midian was a son of Abraham through his wife Keturah but if you keep reading to Genesis 25:5 we see this: Genesis 25:5: And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac Now we know that Isaac was the child of promise from the Lord and we also see that Abraham had many more sons besides Isaac and Ishmael. Midian is one of those sons. The name Midian means “strife and contention”. The definition of strife is heated or bitter conflict. So when we examine the spirit of Midian we will examine the spirit of strife and contention. Now Midian is also the name of a people and place. Now let’s look at the importance of Midian. Exodus 2:15: Now when Pharoah hears this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well So after killing the Egyptian Moses fled to Midian (strife and contention) and it would be in Midian that he would marry Zipporah and Jethro, the priest of Midian would become his father-in-law. It would be in Midian that Moses would learn how to be a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). He was taught by his father-in-law how to lead the flock and watch over (pastor) the flock of his father, sounds familiar, very important spiritual significance considering Moses would eventually be the one to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. So it sounds like Midian is a great place because everything that happened for Moses but in the next message we will look at the sin of the Midianites and see why it is a spirit that we as the sons of God must overcome if we are to prepare ourselves to enter into the Promised Land and receive our inheritance. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Overcoming the Spirit of Amalek

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: Spirit of Amalek – Overcoming Amalek Scripture: Numbers 1:2,3 Greetings Sons of God: The spirit of Amalek comes in constant opposition to Spiritual Israel, the House of God. It seeks to try to stop you from coming into the knowledge of your inheritance as a son of God. Remember Amalek’s grandfather Esau, saw his birthright as insignificant and sold it for earthly gratification and provision. When the sons of God do not realize their spiritual inheritance they will not see the significance of their inheritance and will settle for earthly provision and gratification instead coming into the understanding that they are a son of their Father’s House and everything that the Father has, belongs to the son. Now we saw in our previous message that Amalek was a coward nation that attacks the weak and feeble of Israel after coming out of Egypt. So how does God remedy this problem from this happening again. This is what He does, He numbers them! Numbers 1:2,3: Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. Remember God brought them out of Egypt and they traveled in one big mass of people and understandably the weak and feeble would trail in the back but it would make them susceptible to enemy attack by the Amalekites. So what God does He arranges the children of Israel into their 12 tribes. Now we know that this arrangement according to Numbers 1:2 is by the households of their fathers. By arranging the children of Israel into households and subsequently into their tribes would allow them to advance and as long as they obeyed God they would overcome every enemy. It would be in this arrangement of Spiritual Israel as households and subsequently the 12 tribes (James 1:1) that the Kingdom of God would advance and if the sons of God would obey the voice of the Lord, they will overcome every attack of the enemy. But let me take this a step further, in this arrangement of households the weak and feeble will be protected because the strong will bear the infirmities of the weak. They will be truly their brother’s keeper and care for those who may be spiritual immature and vulnerable. So in the proper arrangement and obedience of the sons, Amalek will be defeated and the Kingdom will advance. In the subsequent messages you will see the crucial importance of the arrangement of the House of God in the advancement of the Kingdom. In the next message we will look at the spirit of Midian. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Sin of Amalek

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: The Spirit of Amalek – The Sin of Amalek Scripture: Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Greetings Sons of God: Deuteronomy 25:17-19: Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt. How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the rememberance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. The major characteristics of the spirit of Amalek is one of being a coward and cruel. They did not desire a fair fight. In Exodus 18:8 the Scriptures say that Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. Rephidim means rest. So in a place where they would temporarily rest from their journey from Egypt. The Amalekites came out and attacked Israel but how they did it was they attacked from the back and killed those who were feeble and or weak that were in the back. Now remember the children of Israel were moving as a massive group of people towards Sinai and this fact is crucial in understanding how God solves the problem when dealing with Amalek. Of course in Exodus 18 the nation of Israel would overcome this attack and defeat the Amalekites. Why is all of this significant and what does this have to do with the sons of God? Natural Israel is a picture of Spiritual Israel, who is the House of God, the sons of God, the church. After being delivered from the world and being baptized the enemy will try to come in and “pick-off” the weak and feeble who are not spiritually mature or strong. Remember Amalek is a sum of His parents and grandfather, Esau. So he has no regard for spiritual things and a lover of earthly material things. He attacks those who desires spiritual things but picks out the weak and feeble to attack. This shows the coward and cruel nature of this spirit. Those who are spiritually immature are very susceptible to this spirit if they are not protected and cared for after being saved and delivered from the kingdom of darkness. The spirit of Amalek picks these sons off by flooding them with the number one device of the enemy, deception. In the next message we will see how God deals with this spirit and how we as the House of God will overcome this spirit. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Spirit of Amalek: History

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: The Spirit of Amalek: History of Amalek Scripture: Genesis 36:12; Numbers 24:20 Greetings Sons of God: One of the biblical concepts that we should know that a person is a sum product of his forefathers, so to understand the son, you must go back and examine the father. Genesis 36:12: And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife. So we know that Amalek is a person who is the son of Eliphaz who is the son of Esau. Now let’s examine Esau. Esau means “red” but we know that Esau was the twin brother of Jacob. What made Esau important in this story is that Esau gave away birthright for some food. This is a spiritual picture of one who disregards the importance of his spiritual inheritance for earthly provisions and fleshly gratification. He regarded his birthright as insignificant and of little value. Esau was a man of the world and this is crucial to know because it will become important in talking about the spirit of the Amalek and Edom. Now let’s examine the parents of Amalek: Eliphaz means “god of gold”. This means he was a lover of material and earthly things. Amalek’s mother, Timna, her name means “restraint or holding back the will”. The spiritual meaning of this is to bind your ability or free choice regarding spiritual things. So this is what we have as a spiritual picture to bring us to Amalek: Esau – Man of the World Eliphaz – Lover or material and earthly things Timna – One who binds your ability to freely choose spiritual things Hence Amalek means “Nippers or People that Wring” . The definition or wring is to twist forcibly, as to extract liquid out. God thoroughly disliked the Amalekites. This is what He would say about Amalek: Numbers 24:20: And when he looked upon Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. The reason God calls Amalek the first of the nations is because they were the first nation Israel would be attacked by in the Wilderness after exiting Egypt. Now the reason God really dislike them was not only the fact that they attacked Israel but how and how plays a crucial role in understanding the spirit of Amalek and how it plays a role in the Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

New Teaching Series: Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land

Journey of the Sons of God to the Promised Land Today’s Focus: Introduction Scripture: Greetings Sons of God: It is vital for us as sons of God to study God’s Word so that in our search He will give us His wisdom, knowledge and understanding into who we are, who He is and what He has called us to do. For many of us when we read Scriptures we for the most part really do not deal with the Old testament because we are as some people say “A New Testament church”. Of course I do not advocate this mentality because there is so mush wisdom, knowledge and understanding locked in the Old Testament that for us to understand who we are, we must go back into the Old Testament and allow the Lord to show us. That brings me to this series. Now we know that physical Israel journeyed from Egypt into the Promised Land by way of the wilderness but what we have been shown by the Lord is that, this journey was not just for physical Israel but it is a picture for Spiritual Israel, the House of God to understand the journey that we must take if we are to come into our inheritance which is the Kingdom of God and possess the earth once again in the name of the Lord. Now one of the important biblical principles is how God hides wisdom in names. For example: Abraham=Father of Many Nations Samuel=The Lord Hears Jehoshaphat=The Lord Judges Now understanding this when we start to examine these four major nations that come against Israel in the wilderness in their progression to the Promised Land we must examine what their names mean and in the revelation of their names we will then be able to see what spirits we as the Sons of God, the House of God must overcome if we are to come back into righteous rule in the Earth. When you began to understand what their names mean then when you see them in Scripture then you will began to understand what is going on and the issues Israel is dealing with in their advancement to the Promised Land. The four nations we will examine in this series will be: 1. Amalek 2. Midian 3. Moab 4. Ammon It is time for us to study and stop regarding men by the flesh but by the spirit and when we do that we then have a heavenly view and an accurate view and ministry then can be true and effective. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Story of Ruth

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: The Story of Ruth Scripture: Book of Ruth Greetings Sons of God: Now you maybe wondering what does Ruth have to do with all of this, well let’s see! For the sake of time and information I will provide the Scriptures for you to read. Ruth 1:1: Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1:4: And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. Elimelech, his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion went into the country of Moab. Remember Moab represents the spirit that kills fathers. As they dwelt in the country of Moab, Elimelech died (Ruth 1:3) and her two sons (Ruth 1:5) So now all you have is Naomi and her daughters-in-law living in the country of Moab. In this current situation the family name would die because there was no father or son to perpetuate the seed and continue the generation. We have 3 widows. Of course Naomi makes the suggestion that Ruth and Orpah go back to the house of their mothers (Ruth 1:8). Notice it does not say fathers because the spirit of Moab kills fathers. Of course Orpah went back but Ruth clave to Naomi. Now this is significant because Ruth made a declaration that would begin to set everything else in motion: Ruth 1:16: And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God Ruth desired to be in covenant relationship with Naomi and she was willing to walk away from her identity as a Moabite and be joined to the children of Israel and make Jehovah, Yahweh her God. Now in order to be in covenant relationship, she would have to marry into the family. Of course we know that Boaz comes into the picture (Ruth 2)and marries Ruth. Now pay close attention: Ruth 4:10: Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. The son that Boaz and Ruth are to have is meant to fill in the gap left by Elimelech and his sons. Obed, the son of Boaz will fill the generational gap and continue to perpetuate the seed of Christ. The unique aspect of this story is at the end of Ruth 4 it says Boaz and Ruth gave the son to Naomi and she nursed him and this is what the Scripture says: Ruth 4:17: And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. The story of Ruth is not just a love story but a eternal picture of the redeeming of the sons of God to the House of God and the generational gap filled to perpetuate the seed of Christ in the Earth. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Moab and the Doctrine of Balaam

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: Moab and the Doctrine of Balaam Scripture: Numbers 22:1-3; Numbers 25; Revelation 2:14 Greetings Sons of God: Revelation 2:14: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication Now the Lord tells the church at Pergamos that He has a few things against them and that they have people there who hold the doctrine of Balaam to teach people to cast a stumbling block before the believers. But what is this doctrine of Balaam, well you have to go back to the Old Testament and see who Balaam is and what he did. Let me start with this scripture to set the setting because the setting is crucial to this message: Numbers 22:1-3: And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. First we see the children of Israel have set up the nation in the plains of Moab. Remember Moab is the spirit that mocks the need of fathers. The Scriptures say that Balak who is the king of the Moabites (Numbers 22:4) was afraid of Israel. Now he looks out and see the children of Israel and sees that they are many and understand they are in family units and tribes. Now Balak, king of the Moabites fears Israel and sends for Balaam to come curse Israel. Now Balaam’s name means “destroyer of the people or confuser of the people”. Now Balaam finds himself blessing Israel more than anything, even prophesying the destruction of Balak and the Moabites. But what Balaam suggests Balak to do is to get the children of Israel to have sex and marry the Moabite women. When the children of Israel did this, the Lord was angered because of the mixing of the holy seed with the profane. Spiritually you have the children of God becoming unequally yoked with unbelievers. The Spirit of Moab is present to eliminate and destroy the image and rule of father over the House of God. The judgment of the Lord was very brutal towards Israel for this sin. Over 24,000 people died due to this transgression (Numbers 25). When the spirit of Father (Antipas principle) is removed Satan can set up His throne and the primary weapon of use is the flood of deception. The doctrine of Balaam can now come in and confuse and destroy the people by placing a stumbling block of offense in their path in that they sin against God. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Confronting the Spirit of Moab

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: Confronting the Spirit of Moab Scripture: Numbers 1:1,2; 2 Chronicles 20 Greetings Sons of God: Numbers 1:1,2: And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of he children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, ever male by their polls; Before the nation of Israel could enter into the promised land they had to overcome 4 nations to the east of the Jordan. These nations are the Midianites, Edomites, Ammonites and Moabites. The Edomites are the sons of Esau and the meaning of Edom is “red or red earth”. Meaning these people represent people who have lost their birthright (Esau and Jacob) and are not a covenant people. The Ammonites are sons of Benammi (Lot’s son) and the meaning of the name is “son of the people” representing democracy. Finally the Moabites are sons of Moab (Lot’s son) which means “what father?” Meaning they mock the need of a father in their lives. Now we know that Israel’s journey is a picture of the journey of the church or House of God in the Earth and like physical Israel having to confront and overcome these three nations, the church, the sons of God must overcome these three spirits before coming into the promised land. But look at the opening scripture, before they journey to the promised land the Lord orders them in a particular fashion. He tells them to number themselves after their families or households by the house of their fathers. In other words, for the church, we must arrange ourselves in households that have fathers over them. It is in this arrangement that God sets Israel out in their advancement to the promised land. It will be in this formation of households that Israel will advance and overcome the 3 nations in the wilderness. For the sake of time and information it will be in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (means “The Lord judges”) in battle with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah and Israel that Israel will triumph over the Moabites and the Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20) 2 Chronicles 20:22: And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. In the next message we will go back and look at Pergamos and see how this place called Moab plays a critical part in trying to destroy the move of God. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

History of Moab

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: History of Moab Scripture: Genesis 11:27; 19:30-38 Greetings Sons of God: In as much as we see the importance of the restoration of the spirit of Father to the church we must understand that the devil has spirits and/or demons that come against the spirit of Father to destroy and/or defile the very thing that God is doing. For the next couple of messages we will look at the spirit of Moab and see how it comes against the church and the building of the House of God in the Earth. Now we know that God hides wisdom in names so let’s examine what the meaning of Moab is: Moab: What father? Seems weird but let’s investigate. Moab was not only the name of a place but the name of a person. Moab was the firstborn son of Lot. Understanding biblical principles of families we know that sons are a product of their ancestors. Genesis 11:27: Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran begat Lot So we see that Lot is the nephew of Abram. Now Haran died when Lot was a very young boy and so Lot became an orphan (critical point) at a very young age. Lot then goes with his uncle Abram and they set off on their journey. Eventually to make a long story short, Lot’s herdsmen and Abram’s herdsmen do not get along and for the sake of peace they go off in different directions (Genesis 14:8-18) Of course, Lot ends up in Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham intercedes for Lot’s safety and as the come out of Sodom and Gomorrah Lot and His two daughters go up into the mountains to stay. Now right here I want to point out some critical points: 1. Lot was an orphan at a young age but even under the care of Abram, Lot never saw Abram as his father. No where in scripture will you find that Lot sees Abram as his father. This is critical. 2. Lot had no sons, just daughters. With those two points it brings us to Genesis 19 and the meat of our story. Genesis 19:30 starts with Lot’s daughter realizing that their father has no son to carry his name and so they devise a plan to get him drunk with wine, sleep with him and bare him a son. They pull the plan off and the two daughter become pregnant and bore Lot a son each: Genesis 19:37-38: And the firstborn bare a son and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day Remember God hides wisdom in names: Moab means “What Father?” and Benammi means “Son of the people”. These two people born of a incestuous relationship mock the role of a father and promote the rule of the people (democracy). Of course the Scriptures state that they are the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites which dwell in the wilderness. It is the spirit of Moab we want to concentrate on over the next few messages because it is the Moabite spirit that comes to destroy God’s people and unless God’s people overcome this spirit, they will never inherit the promised land. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Principle of Adoption

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: Principle of Adoption Scripture: Luke 3:23; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:4,5 Greetings Sons of God: Galatians 4:4,5: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father In making sure that we are modeling the Father’s model of His House in the earth we must not put people in the wrong place of our lives. To understand the principle of adoption is crucial especially to the father over the household that God has set. Well let’s start with understanding adoption in the natural and bring it to the spiritual. When we adopt a child, they become a son or daughter of our household even though “biologically” they are not ours. Meaning, when we adopt a child that child was not birthed from our very loins but the loins of someone else. We are then entrusted to stand in the stead of the biological parents and raise that child like one of our very own biological children that were born of our loins. Now going back to the Scripture and watch the careful use of words by our brother Paul, he says that because God sent forth His Son made of a woman under the law to redeem us who were under the law, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS. This does not say that the Lord will adopt. That can’t be right because if we are born again we are born of the Father and He does not adopt us but gives life or birth to us. Adoption points one who is already born being placed in a household under the care of someone else who stands in the place of the one who biologically births them. Hence the we points to the sons of God receiving the adoption of sons of God. Sounds weird huh? Let’s break it down and understand everything in this teaching series is to bring us up to this point so that we can understand the arrangement of God’s House: God is our Father and Lord of all. 1 Corinthians 8:6: But to us (sons) there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things and we by Him No one else can have that place in your life. If you are a son of God then you were born of God and He is your Father and Source. Now as we studied in the previous message of the Antipas principal, God matures sons then graces them with the Spirit of Father and then stand in the Father’s stead, a representational son who is carrying the grace of Father, to watch over, defend, protect and help mature the sons of God. Spiritual fathers are mature sons who is carrying the grace and Spirit of Father and is set over a household of faith to put on display the nature and character of the Father. They bring the grace of God to you and dispense it as the Father directs them. They are not the Father, this is why the Pope is out of place because people call him his holiness and the heavenly father. That is not correct and nobody on earth is worthy of that title but God. Hence the household of faith and the holy nation is a collection of households of faith with spiritual fathers set over them by the Father combined to make tribes and ultimately the entire holy nation. Now let me leave you with the greatest picture of this Adoption Principal Luke 3:23: And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph which was the son of Heli Question how did Jesus come to Earth? God the Father placed Jesus in the womb of a virgin named Mary. Of course we know God united Mary and Joseph but understand Joseph was NOT the biological father of Jesus, BUT YET the Father gave His Son to them and told them to watch over Him and bring Him to maturity. The Father would direct them in protecting Him until He came of age. Joseph was not Jesus biological father but Jesus grew up receiving him as a father and would come to learn of His biological father, God the Father. Joseph and Mary both knew this and loved him as their son even though He was not biologically theirs. The sons of God belong to the Father but the Father places them in household of faith and matures son to carry the Spirit of Father to watch over, protect and mature the sons of God. These mature sons or spiritual fathers carry the Antipas principle and by that order of fathers and sons the households are protected from the enemy and prevents Satan from establishing his throne amongst the sons. It is time for us to get back to the Heavenly model and receive the Spirit of Father over households of faith. Satan has established his throne in a lot of churches but it is in households of faith governed and protected by the Spirit of Father that prevent this from happening. If we remove Antipas or the spiritual father that carries the Spirit of Father we have just given Satan the legal right to establish his throne amongst the believers to rule over them. When Antipas was killed, Satan established his throne. It is time to receive the one who comes in the name of the Lord and is carrying the Spirit of Father. God Bless you. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Antipas Principle

Restoring Spirit of Father to the Church Today’s Focus: The Pergamos Church and the Spirit of Father Part 3: Antipas Principle Scripture: Revelation 2:13 Greetings Sons of God: Revelation 2:13: I know thy works, and where thy dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name , and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth When we examine Antipas we see the Lord designate him as a faithful martyr. Now we know God hides Himself in names so what does the name Antipas mean? It comes two words Ante and Pas and of course this is in the Greek: Ante – instead of, in place of Pas – Father (from the word pater) Antipas – In place of or like the father Antipas was the presiding elder and spiritual father over the church at Pergamos. Now his name means like the father or in place of the father and the reason is the Father, God expresses Himself in the one whom represents Him and that is the Son. Antipas as the spiritual father over the House of God in Pergamos was the set-man and representative of the Father to watch over and be a defense against anything that comes against the family of God of Pergamos. The Spirit of Father within Antipas prevented the enemy from coming in and destroying and defiling the church. This is why his martyrdom was brought about by the Lord in writing this letter and this is why: When the people allowed Antipas to be killed it allowed the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (Doctrine of lawlessness and taking the grace of God for an occasion to sin) to take hold and now Satan has a LEGAL RIGHT to set up His throne within that church because the Spirit of Father and grace of Father no longer is in place. Satan can now sit comfortably amongst believers because the security system of the church, the Spirit of Father is not resident. Antipas was a representative of the Father of the family in Heaven and Earth. He is not the Father but the representative who is carrying the grace of the Father to watch over and protect the children of the Father. This is why we must shift from the pastor/congregational model to the model of fathers and sons because it is the Spirit of Father that will protect the children from the infiltration of the enemy amongst the believers. Now if we are saying that the Spirit of Father resides in a son set to oversee a household of faith and help protect and bring the sons of God to maturity. We must now examine the principal of adoption. We do not want to be neglectful and think that spiritual fathers carrying the Spirit of Father means they are the Father. That is not what we are in anyway saying. What we are saying is that he that the Father sets over a household of faith is a mature son with the grace of Father who oversees, protects, nourishes and represents the Father over the household. In the next message we will examine the principal of adoption because this is how the Father sets His House in the earth and method by which He matures the sons. Peace, Love and Grace, Calvin Calhoun, Jr.