Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
6/22/2021
Spiritual Fathers
Interestingly, the phrase spiritual father is not found in the Bible. There are passages that do imply a form of spiritual fatherhood between individuals and over churches.
In Paul’s letter to Titus, he discusses how older women should teach younger Christian women in the faith (Titus 2:4).
As Timothy’s spiritual father, Paul taught doctrine and modeled Christian living to his young friend by taking him along on mission trips (2 Timothy 1:13; Acts 16:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:19). After a while, Timothy took on a leadership role of his own, and he in turn discipled other believers in a “spiritual father”-type of relationship (1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Timothy 4:11–16).
In matters of authority, the underlying guiding principle is submission. First Peter 5:5–6 says, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Jesus believed in the ones who no one else believed in. He took the ones who didn’t make the cut for formal ministry training and transformed them into some of the greatest ministers in history.
A true father believes in his sons and gets the best out of them.
He gets the best out of them because he treats them the best.
One of Jesus’ main priorities was not building His own ministry, but building others. He worked diligently to see the life of God established in others. This could only be done out of a deep and intimate personal relationship. Any father that is unwilling to spend time with his sons as Jesus did, is not a father at all. Fathers who don’t put forth the effort to spend time with their sons are nothing more than fakes, who simply desire the title of father like the Pharisees did (Matthew 23:1-12). Jesus clearly warns us in the scripture not to call leaders by the "title" of father, who simply desire to be titled as a form of honor before men. Not that there aren’t legitimate men who walk in that role but so all understand it is not about honoring a man but God himself, the author of our faith.
The Lord may assign a spiritual father to a believer, or He may not. This is His choice, and we must abide in His will. He may give you a close friend to walk with. If we choose our own will, spiritual messes will be the result. Elijah did not have a spiritual father (that we know of); rather the Lord was his Father. If the Lord chooses this for any of us, then He will be completely sufficient. He can do whatever He desires, and He may have a reason for not giving us a spiritual father. We should never try and force believers or ministers to have a spiritual father and mother. Again, not everyone will or must have a spiritual father. Some believers, however, may have multiple spiritual fathers.
“For though ye may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye shall not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15 JUB)
Paul says that “ye shall not have many fathers.” Fathers plural. So one can have more than one spiritual father. Maybe even two or three if that is the will of the Lord for that person. Some people may only have one spiritual father.
Boundaries and Protecting Hearts
The Kingdom of Heaven is based on relationship. There are boundaries in relationships. We can relate to the Lord as a son or daughter. That is a much closer relationship than someone who is simply saved and believes. The same is true with friends in the natural or the Spirit. There are friends in general, and then there are very close friends; with different levels in between. With each type of relationship, there should be healthy boundaries. The boundaries set, depend on the relationship.
True fathers and sons are about their Fathers’ business. When fathers and sons are walking together in truth, freedom, and wholeness; it truly is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Pray with me one hour this week and ask God about a spiritual father and about you. What does fatherhood look like for you and your family?
“My Praise Is A Weapon!” YLC Praise Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EZuUvCcSM4
