Spiritual fathers and mothers
A spiritual father is one who: cares deeply for you and can interact with you and help you sort out nagging questions when you run into problems. He will encourage you and give you positive feedback as well as leave an imprint in your life. He will help you grow up spiritually. He will be ready and willing to serve and encourage you.
“Being a father or mother in the Lord is not limited to those who are pastors or spiritual leaders. There is also a very crucial need for other spiritually mature, caring people to act as “fathers and mothers” to other believers” … “We need to turn loose these “moms and dads” in the church to be who they are.
“If we fail to take the next steps to become spiritual parents, we remain spiritual babies- spiritually immature and lacking parenting skills.”… “Through modeling and impartation, spiritual reproduction happens naturally.”
“Just how do spiritual young men and women grow up to become spiritual fathers and mothers? There is only way – to have spiritual children! You could memorize the entire book of Leviticus and repeat it backwards but your knowledge and expertise would not make you a spiritual father. Spiritual parents become parent by having spiritual children.”
The Spiritual Mentor (Ron DePriest) pg 156 – “The indication is that there can be more than one father who will input into your life – but not many.” (1 Cor. 4:14-15) … “You cannot successfully be a spiritual father to many sons and daughters.”
Phil 2:19-22 “…I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
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1 John 2:12-14
Malachi 4:6 “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
My thoughts –
Every person needs a spiritual father and/or mother to help them, to lead them, to believe in them. If only the few that are Sr. Pastors are to be fathers then most of the church will be left fatherless… One person or one couple can only father and mother a handful of people successfully. No one can or should try to father an entire church. It is the responsibility of the five-fold ministry to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry… if only the “elect” few are to father or mother others in the church then many will never reach their destiny in Christ. I, as a gift to the church should be raising up sons and daughters who will raise up their own sons and daughters who will also raise up sons and daughters. (I am reminded of 2 Tim. 2:2)
