There is another dimension to fathering.
The term used is “spiritual fathers”.
When the term is used for many it immediately creates vivid images that are off-putting. Others would swear by the power of the God-given gift of spiritual fathering.
Unfortunately, both are true, having been experienced by many.
What are spiritual fathers?
The revelation has been given by the Holy Spirit to the church of Jesus Christ. It is solid and necessary.
Spiritual fathers are those graced by the Lord Jesus, to manifest the Heavenly Father, to the church.
Jesus said: “If have seen Me, you have seen the Father.”
Jesus did not coming proclaiming He is the Father, but the Son, of the Father. He always directed the disciples to the Father, emphasizing that the works, the words, and the truth, was of the Father. He openly declared the Father was greater the Himself.
Hence, spiritual fathers are men, graced by the Heavenly Father, to manifest, reveal the Heavenly Father to those whom God has brought to their lives and ministry, to see this work done in them.
Anytime, a spiritual father, begins to take the place of God the Father’s place in their lives, you can be sure he is beginning to set himself up, exalt himself and take possession of you.
No man can do the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
No man should dominate and control and manipulate others.
No man can and ever will be the Heavenly Father.
Paul said: “You have many instructors, but not many fathers.”
Spiritual fathers will come and go in our lives; manifesting and revealing a dimension of the Fathers heart for our lives. It may be for a healing, a restoration, a correction or an encouragement.
As I discussed in my book “Where Are The Father’s?”, father’s will seal their children with seals of acceptance, acknowledgement, and approval.
So also it is with spiritual fathers, they will seal the sons of God with the seals of the Heavenly Father.
But, they will never own, possess, or demand the sons of God as their own. Man never shed their blood for you, purchased you from the tyranny of Satan, or redeemed you from sin and the curse, so they can never, ever take possession of you, insulting the Heavenly Father, by calling you “their” sons.
Some will say that Paul did in fact say that Titus was his son.
Well, let us take a closer look at this.
Tit 1:4
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
‘Own’ here is:
gnēsios : From the word legitimate (of birth), that is, genuine: - own, sincerity, true.
So, you can see this has nothing to do with ownership, but rather, true, and genuine.
True spiritual fathers, like Jesus, will always direct and guide you toward, a deeper relationship, a deeper devotion, a deeper love, toward the Heavenly Father.
Mat 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Jesus prayed and said we should all pray in this way.
True spiritual fathers, will not demand payment, of some sort of son-ship tithe.
They will never lay legalistic demands on you, for their benefit.
We have been brought into the Kingdom of Christ and God. The kingdom of God is just that, the domain where the King of Kings rules, and has dominion. It is the Kings domain.
2Th 3:7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
Where on earth do men and women get the right and the audacity to rule over and have dominion over other men and women?
Spiritual fathers, as fathers have been instructed in the Word of God to do, will nurture and admonish, teach and correct, and seek the maturity and completeness of those they have responsibility for.
Their sole aim and goal, in fact, would be to see the sons of God, be imitators of their Heavenly father.
Mat 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Col 1:28 - 29
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Men have, as they do many of the graces of our Lord Jesus, abused this powerful revelation, and used it for their benefit to control, manipulate and dominate (which is witchcraft) others.
Rom 8:19
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
The earnest expectation of the creature is the manifestation of the sons of God, not the sons of men.
Is it any wonder that church is so weak and defeated, when all we are reproducing is spiritual children of our own kind?
The greatest objective of a true spiritual father will be the sons of God’s maturity. That they would grow up in to all things in Him, coming to the full measure of the image of Christ.
