Notes on Spiritual Fatherhood

1 Corinthians 4.15,16 :There are many today that would not tolerate what Paul is getting ready to do.

When a father speaks; a son should respond!

If we indeed have spiritual fathers, and it is my contention that we should, then we should heed the call, because what is being directed is evidently a sign that our father in heaven has something for us to receive. For a son to hear there must be an assumed relationship that gives permission to interrupt.
Evidence that there are a lack of fathering in the Body:
• Membership within the church today has been redefined as an informal contact with someone a few times a week and being able to rely on that someone in a time of need when they really don’t know you.
• There is no assumed relationship with the leadership within the institutional church normally.
• When there is the assumed relationship; it is shallow and its reality leads to a natural disillusionment between one or both parties and separation occurs.


A Father will pastor and help you with what you are hearing or seeing.

Where there is no (pastoring) shepherding occurring and being received then there is fatherlessness.
Most are seeking the guidance of a father whether they recognize it immediately or not.
The problem of access and trust are very real in the environment we have created in the body today. The children of God will not give access or trust in someone because of the normalcy of dysfunction that exists in the body.



We don’t decide who our spiritual sons or fathers are.
Fathers Disciple the sons they are given; sons who have a God given desire to be fathered.

• Part of the difficulties, confusion and disillusionment we experience in the body today is as a direct result of pastors, teachers and other church leaders who are grabbing those that are not theirs in the first place then they are incredulous when people give them such difficulty, leave their congregations etc.
• Discipling involves discipline (teaching people) and where there is no discipline, no real father and son relationship exist.

• There has to be an acceptable intrusiveness and a willingness to be accessible. It isn’t about manipulation or servitude, which happens outside a relationship with spiritual fathers. Spiritual abuse occurs when someone demands respect, subjection or obedience. It is witchcraft to manipulate someone into doing what you want them to do; spiritual fathers do not do this.

• Spiritual fathers are a part of the flow of our spiritual lives. They are a part of the journey by design.

The current church system fosters an atmosphere of orphans.

1. Those who have left their last perceived relationship show up in another body and begin the cycle again. They weren’t receiving spiritual oversight in a genuine family relationship, and what was a part of their deepest desires was never fulfilled.
2. Orphans do not understand what it is to have a father; and some are okay with it.
3. Orphans drift and wander from place to place with the initial rush and kindness being enough for a while, then the reality comes home that “these people don’t even know me”.
4. Orphans never mature but remain infants, running in circles and ultimately attributing the dysfunction of the current institution to the character of the Father.

What is provided when a spiritual father enters your life? :

Confirmation – God will not tell you something differently in regards to you than he is telling your spiritual father.

Assurance – you can be assured that you are hearing from God because you know this person is in your life for this reason and he has your best interest at heart.


Freedom – you no longer have to have people telling you what to do, but a father agreeing and walking with you, hearing what you hear and sometimes.....even translating:)

Whose your spiritual father? Ask your Father in heaven; it will change your perspective on everything.

Waiting

Waiting and growing under God’s direction.


Are you waiting on a promise? Do you know something special it is going to happen based on that promise? Not quite sure what the answer will look like and how it will manifest itself for you and your ministry? Join the club.

Waiting at times leads to feelings of doubt and lack of self worth. Questions arise: “How could I have missed it” or “did I miss it”, or even worse: “Has God really said”? This is an all too common affliction when we get caught up in the waiting and fail to act on anything; succumbing to fear and complacency. Not fulfilling our purpose is disappointing; not trying to fulfill any purpose is tragic. Difficulty arises when “life happens” and to fill in the “in between times” with purpose, holding on to the enablement that God has promised is not an easy proposition, but it is our call. Advancing with prayer, fellowship and practical preparation being spiritually sensitive to what God is doing, ensures that we all have something to look forward to in “well doing” and is for our benefit as a people and a church.

Waiting is such an integral part of growth that God guarantees His people will be doing plenty of it. We have assurances in His word that he has much for us to do, couple that with our uniqueness and gifting, and we know He has His plan specifically for us. In short, no one can do what we were designed to do in the way He wants us to do it without Him. Our waiting as His children is a waiting on revelation, and our Father wants to reveal what is already evident to Him.

I would submit to you that with our God “waiting” is not to be “static” or stationary. We wait on Him, moving forward, because preparation is required for growth and the Father is more concerned in our growth than with our receiving "stuff". Growth requires much nourishment, pruning, preparation and movement into areas of faith that we have never had to experience before. “Wait” being pulled or pushed to a place already prepared; move forward and let God reveal himself to you, there is special and wondrous around every bend in the road of this journey of promise!

(1) Believe the revealed promises, He is talking to you: HEAR
(2) Agree with one another in spiritual relationships: BUILD THE BODY
(3) Deal with the practical, under the Holy Spirit’s direction: PROVISION IS AVAILABLE; PROCEED