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
