The Institution vs.
The Apostolic
Today’s Focus: Features
of Institutional Christianity: Cannot Recognize the Working of the Holy Spirit
in a Son.
Scripture: 1 Samuel
16:18; 17:45
Greetings Sons of
God:
1 Samuel 16:18:
Then answered one of the servants and said, behold, I have seen a son of Jesse
the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty man, and a man of
war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, AND THE LORD IS WITH HIM.
One of the features
of the institutional church is that they cannot recognize the working of the
Holy Spirit within a son. A true son recognizes the working of the Holy Spirit
and gives all the credit and glory to God.
He does not trust in his or her own ability. When Saul tried to put on his armor on David
to go fight Goliath. David realized that
this armour is not proven and would just weigh him down but he knew that God is
with him. Now when David confronted
Goliath these are the words he spoke.
Now please pay attention because this is so powerful when the Spirit of
God is speaking through a son to the enemy.
1 Samuel 17:45:
Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword and with a
spear, and with a shield: BUT I COME TO THEE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS,
THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, WHOM THOU HAST DEFIED.
David recognized
that he could not beat Goliath except the Lord be with him. Notice that David did not go in the name of
Saul but in the name of the Lord. Sons
point all of the credit to the one who gives them the ability to defeat the
enemy and that is the Lord. When David
went back to Saul, Saul could still not see David as being anointed by the
Lord. All he can see is a youth!
So many of our
older believers and when I state older, I am speaking of older in natural age,
find it hard to see the Lord doing phenomenal and great things through people
younger than them. Moreover, because we
are speaking about the institutional church they cannot see the working of the
Holy Spirit within the son. Funny, when
Saul enquired about David he was told that the Lord is with David. Even though he knew that when David was
victorious in battle he was too blind to see the Lord working in him then.
In the next message
we will see how the institutional church cannot recognize sons within its own
house.
Peace, Love and
Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
