Show Notes
Pastor Sean Gleason continues the Spiritual Warfare series by confronting the orphan spirit, a demonic stronghold that convinces believers they must live for acceptance, approval, and survival rather than resting in their identity as sons and daughters of God. Teaching from Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son, Pastor Sean reveals that both sons in the parable were wrestling with the same orphan spirit, one through rebellion and reckless living, the other through performance and resentment, even though they had a good father. Pastor Sean opens up about his own journey with the orphan spirit, tracing it back to a childhood moment of rejection and through his deliverance from depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. He shares a recent personal story of wrestling with ambition and rebellion when he felt pulled to start his own ministry, and how the Lord used spiritual fathers and mothers in his life to expose a transactional, orphan mindset still at work in his heart. Drawing from Romans 8:15, Philippians 2:3, and Hebrews 12:5, Pastor Sean breaks down how the orphan spirit causes people to sell short their inheritance, chase counterfeit sources of acceptance, and either rebel against authority or exhaust themselves trying to perform for it. He contrasts performance with presence, reminding the church that nothing they do can impress God, only please Him, and that sons and daughters are able to receive correction as love rather than rejection. The vision of Mercy Culture is to take people from corporate encounters with God to daily personal encounters with God. At Mercy Culture, one of our unique characteristics is that we are a presence driven church. We are not built around any person or ministry. We are built around the presence of God. Each week, you will hear a teaching from our Lead Pastors, Sean and Natalie Gleason or another leader in our community. To learn more about Mercy Culture, visit https://mercyculturewaco.com
More from Mercy Culture
In Arise and Build in Wartime, Pastor Dehavilland Ford teaches us how to stand firm in spiritual warfare while continuing to build what God has called us to. Through the stories of Nehemiah, Deborah, and Jael, we learn the importance of prayer, obedience, spiritual authority, and refusing to be distracted by opposition. We are not called to be spectators in spiritual warfare. We are called to arise, stand in our God-given authority, and build from a position of victory in Christ!
Witchcraft isn’t hiding in the shadows anymore. It’s on the shelf at Target, in your playlist, and maybe in your home. Pastor Millicent Sedra is back on Holy Disruption. This time she, Pastor Heather Schott and Pastor Jasmine Weiler are exposing the spirit of witchcraft: what it is, how it works through the spirit of Jezebel, and how Christians end up partnering with it without realizing it. Thirty years ago witchcraft was kept in secret. Now it’s on the shelves at Target and in our playlists, our movies and our homes. Pastor Millicent's warning: “If the devil can get you entertained by something, eventually you’ll be enslaved to that same thing.” They’ve seen firsthand what most Christians have only read about: a woman carried out of a Sunday service with witchcraft in her lap, an attack on Pastor Jasmine while she led worship on a Native American reservation, and a so-called prophet who told a mother to prepare for her son’s death. The conversation also covers witchcraft inside the church, from prayer teams to YouTube gossip channels, along with how to recognize its effects and how to shut the door through repentance, forgiveness and taking every thought captive. If the Holy Spirit is tapping your shoulder as you watch, don't miss your chance to clean house! 🗳️ Liberty and Justice: forlibertyandjustice.us 🗳️ Vote: mercyculture.com/vote 📖 Jezebel: The Witch Is Back: amazon.com/dp/1940243033 🙏 Join the Global Freedom Fast: mercyculture.typeform.com/to/dg2zAqme 📲 Download the Connect with God app: connectwithgod.online 🤝 Partner with The Justice Reform: thejusticereform.com/partner ▶️ More from Pastor Heather Schott: youtube.com/@Heather_Schott/videos
In The War on Peace, Pastor Chris Donald teaches that true peace is not found in the absence of trouble, but in the presence of Jesus. Through Scripture and personal testimony, we discover how fear, pride, and control can rob us of peace and how daily encounters with God, surrender, and obedience to the Holy Spirit teach us to walk in the peace Jesus has already given us. Peace is not something we strive to create. It is a gift we learn to live in.
In Breaking the Patterns of Deception, Pastor Humberto teaches how to recognize the lies of the enemy, break strongholds, and overcome spiritual warfare through obedience to Jesus Christ. Through Scripture, we learn how to renew our minds, reject deception, and walk in freedom by fully surrendering our will to God.
In Encounter-Based Warfare, Pastor Matt Wakefield teaches us to face spiritual battles from the presence of God. Through daily encounters, submission to His Word and confidence in Christ’s finished victory, we learn to resist the enemy and remain rooted in peace, worship and obedience.