Growth and Maturity Continued

1 Thess 2: 11
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.

My initial experience in the ministry, was that 'instructors' tend to focus more on their legacies , on the vision of their ministry, on results and achievements for the gospel. i say this a bit tongue in cheek probably because of the negative connotations this had for me, but I'm very sure every 'instructor' is sincere and pure in motive of what their purpose is.

I discovered that many men and sons of God are desperately (knowingly or unknowingly) searching for the fathering that a mentor-father can give and needs to give. I needed it but couldn't not find it until much later. What I am trying to highlight is the need for this powerful quality.

Paul says in 1 Cor 4:15 "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, ..."

Guardian originally referred to the slave who was responsible who was responsible for the child's early education in conduct. It would be an instructor or supervisor. One who takes care of the early stages of growth for understanding of the ways and conduct necessary in the house. But they did not and could not seal with the seals of a father.By what Paul indicates it's obvious these instructor types abound. But the mentor-fathers are scarce, or rather are not quite so prolific.

From the verse in Thessalonians we see there are 3 areas that mentor-fathers contribute to their sons:
1. encouraging
2. comforting
3. urging

Encouraging means we contribute counsel, aid, help, to exhort, with the purpose of producing an intended outcome.
It's always for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the individual, not for our own benefit. It could include even correction or admonition.It could be a stronger plea to the person even than to beg. To appeal to.

Comforting: Comes from a combination of words. alongside and mythos - telling stories. We are to come alongside with comforting stories of victory and inspiration and miracles so the son or child or believer can get comfort and motivation from what happened to those before us.

Urging: To affirm, validate, confirm positively, and establish as true, attest, declare. To drive forward onward and impel, entreat earnestly and repeatedly,To advocate earnestly the doing, consideration, or approval of; and press for, to stimulate; excite, to exert an impelling force; push vigorously.

Can you see the vital need to bring these components into our mentor-fathering so that the mentee, child, son, believer begins to live in the way that is required of them. This is not a small responsibility. Its not about your perfection, its not about being too demanding, its not about too much responsibility, its not even about being too religious - No! This is about fulfilling the call to be mentor-fathers in the earth and raise up a generation of sons who live for God as God's sons.

Measure yourself on scale of 1 to 10, 10 being dong great and 1 not so great:
Do I as a father/leader/male

Encourage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comfort 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Urge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Where would you like to be a year from now?
Where are the biggest gaps?
What can you do immediately to begin to correct this gap?

Please write me and let me know how you are doing and how you would like to do and maybe correct some disparities.