A Father’s Heart
Topic: Importance of Spiritual Fathering
Greetings Sons of God:
When we hear the words spiritual fathering it seems to bring
a mixed bag of feelings to the surface.
People give you strange looks and think you are in Catholicism or even a
cult. At times I would frown until the
Lord reminded me that there was a time when I thought the same thing but it was
not until my heart was seeking the Father that this “spiritual fathering” would
be revealed to me. Spiritual fathering
is the primary method by which the Father matures us, the church, His
sons. Now as the spiritual father over a
household my first teaching to any son the Lord has given is to not only teach
them but show them how to be a Son.
Spiritual fathers are simply mature sons that have been given grace to
bring the sons of God to maturity. But
let me give you Scripture first so we are not talking hypotheticals:
1 Corinthians 4:14,15:
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 you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I
have begotten you through the gospel.
I am going to stop here to bring out the critical points and
pick up on the second half at a later time.
First, Paul is writing a letter to the church (The Corporate Body) in
Corith. Lets break it down:
My Beloved Sons
Paul calls the believers in Corinth is beloved sons. We understand that Paul was never married nor
had any biological children but he calls the believers in Corinth his “sons”
I Warn You
Paul is writing the sons that He has in Corinth to warn
them, or make them aware of a situation or circumstance that is arising that he
may have seen or heard and need for the sons that the Lord gave Him in establishing
the church there to make some changes.
Ten Thousand Instructors, Not Many Fathers
This is the meat of the matter so I will proceed
slowly. Should we teach about Jesus
Christ? Yes, Jesus told us to teach all
nations but there was a greater level that we needed to teach on. Even the Pharisees were teachers. It is on this level that teaching is not only
in words but in demonstration and emulation.
Who are we emulating?
Christ. The image of Christ, can
only be seen in a son demonstrating the Character (likeness) of God. Here is the difference between the
instructors and the fathers. The fathers
demonstrate and teach so that the glory of the Father is seen in the Son
putting Him on display. A true authentic
relationship MUST exist between the spiritual father and son in the household.
The heart of the son must be turned to the father and the father to the
son. Why? To make ready a people prepared for the Lord! Sounds familiar. Someone can teach you without demonstrating
the thing they are teaching. Many within
the church prove this point hence there is a disconnect and lack of authentic
relationships and understanding of who we are in Christ. Only way to understand who we are in Christ
is through authentic relationships and culture. Fathers lay down their lives
for their sons. They not only teach them
but they correct them and help guide them to maturity through the Word of
God. The goal is to bring you into a
full relationship with your Heavenly Father and restore order within your body
with the spirit ruling over the soul.
His mind over your mind. His will
over your will.
Let me end this thought session to show you the critical
importance of spiritual fathering:
1 Corinthians 4:17:
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved son and
faithful in the Lord, who shall bring into remembrance of my ways which be in
Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
So Paul’s answer to the problems of the church in Corinth
was to send a Son (Sounds familiar: A father sending his son), Timothy to BRING
THEM into remembrance of his way WHICH BE IN CHRIST. To bring someone is to usher them and show
them the way they need to follow and Paul was making it very clear that the ways
they are following is Christ. So
spiritual fathers are not your access point to God but they are given to you to
equip you, build you up, mature you and strengthen you in your relationship
with Christ that you may be used for the Father’s will.
Peace, Love and Grace,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
