The Role of Spiritual Father
Topic: Watchman of the Family
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-17; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:2
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
As a natural father is to watch over his home to protect his family, so does the spiritual father. The spiritual father's role not only watches the natural but most of all the eternal. Remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high places. So if the fight is in the eternal then we must allow those who are mature in the eternal to watch over our souls and when they bring a warning or correction we as the sons should obey for our sakes so that we are protected. Let me show you some scriptures and examples of how God has placed spiritual fathers in the House to watch over the family and warn the family of sin and the enemy.
1 Corinthians 4:14-17: I write not these things to shame you BUT AS MY BELOVED SONS I WARN YOU. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beesech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have i sent unto you Timotheous, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Paul is warning the Corinthians that it is one thing to learn about Christ but it is more important to be the exact representation (ambassador) of Him. See they had the instructors but they need spiritual fathers to take what has been taught and put into action for the people to mimic. He does not want them to become people who are puffed up in word but become sons filled with power to put on display the Kingdom of God and the culture of the Son.
In Paul's letter to his son Timothy he warned Timothy of the various doctrines that were present and to come.
1 Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Here we have a spiritual father warning his son of doctrines that will seduce people, typically weak or immature, to depart the faith. Paul does not desire this to happen with him even though these discouraging things may happen and some that are close to you may depart the faith for those seducing spirits and doctrine. The spiritual father warns his children and the warning is out of love and concern because being mature that father will be given insight to things that the children may not be aware of and out of love and concern He is lead by the Spirit in dealing and warning the children of the situation. What good parent would not do this for their children? We have been called to be our brother's keeper and watch out for one another. You may not totally understand why someone would tell you not to do something but if they truly love you they will warn you before you make that next step. However, you must be in the right place to hear the Spirit of God and know that the things the father is warning you about is for your benefit.
Hebrews 3:12: Take heed, brethern, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Spiritual fathers understand that the enemy wants to infiltrate the family and try to destroy it through unbelief and confusion. Spiritual fathers see this move of the enemy and warns the family. It may involve a one on one situation but it is the spiritual father's desire that the sons overcome every trial and tribulation. However we as the sons must have a desire and an understanding that we suffer unto obedience and the Father's love will warn us of the enemy and or trials that we will endure. Cover and guard your heart in righteousness and allow God through the fathers to warn you of trouble in your path.
The warning of a father does not always have to be about the enemy. It can be the fact that you may not be maturing and the father can see this and his desire and goal is for you to mature and the Father will show him the obstacles and give him counsel of the Lord in overcoming those situations.
In these situations the spiritual father's role is also to command and encourage and we will talk about this in the next message.
Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
