Institution
Often when the lord has something to say to me, it is when I first wake up in the morning. I like to lay still and be aware of Gods presence in me and with me. One morning the Holy Spirit spoke to me about institutions; later I looked it up in the dictionary.
I don’t want to explain all that it means you can look that up if you care to. There are certain aspects that I thought were interesting. The Holy Spirit was showing me that the church often becomes an institution and when we start being institutionalized we begin to lose touch with the Holy Spirit.
One of the meanings of institution is (establishment) there must be rules and regulations established.
Institutionalism was also interesting; 1: emphasis on organization (as in religion) at the expenses of other factors. 2: public institutional care of defective, delinquent or dependant persons.
Why is it; that if we allow ourselves to be institutionalized in a church, we would lose touch with the Holy Spirit? It is because we go back to a set of rules and regulations that have no power instead of being led by the Spirit.
Several times in the past years I have seen groups of people meeting in homes or halls; praying together, studying together, and the Holy Spirit working mightily in their midst, when someone would come up with the idea; we should form a church; and they did! Soon after most of the gifts of the Holy Spirit were not manifested any more. Why did the manifestations cease?
As soon as you begin to be institutionalized you are once more submitting yourself to the letter of the Law not the Spirit of the law.
We need the organized church it is an instrument to be used to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God never intended it to control you or become a prison to anyone. We are not to be led by the church; we are to be led by the Spirit
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
As soon as we allow the institution to direct our life we start coming under the influence of the letter of the law; we lose the freedom that is in the spirit of the law. The Holy Spirit works by the spirit of the law, in Galatians 3:3.
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Again in Galatians 3:5
Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Understand this! We can work in the church, be involved in the church and enjoy the freedom that is in Christ. Do not allow yourself to be institutionalized by the church. Don’t become one of the foolish Galatians. Don’t fall back under the letter of the Law that kills.
Thank you for your comments Judy. I didn’t use them all I don’t want the message to be to large.
Judy’s comments:
I agree with you that spiritual growth has something to do with becoming increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit from God and of our own spirit. For me, spiritual growth is about an increase in the functioning and awareness of my spiritual senses, my intuitive knowings and my perception of the witness (quickening) of the Holy Spirit in my spirit.
It also is about an increase in my awareness of the fullness of the presence of God in my spirit, as well as my awareness to commune with Him and enjoy His presence.
Thanks for stirring up the issue of spiritual growth. Judy