DISCERNING FATHERS
(week 27/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON AND GBOYEGA ADESIYAN
A spiritual father is one who does not only gives birth to spiritual children by the Word and prayer, but whose life of example and leadership the children can follow to inherit the spirit without measure and so fulfil destiny.
1Corinthians 4:15 NKJV: For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Here, the scripture makes a distinction between instructors and fathers.
What makes the difference?
Instructors say and may not do, but fathers say and do and so can be imitated and followed to inherit the Spirit without measure and so fulfill destiny.
Matthew 23:1-3 NKJV: Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, (2) saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. (3) Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Hebrews 13:7 KJV: Remember them, which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, CONSIDERING THE END OF THEIR CONVERSATION (OR CONDUCT).
Hebrews 6:12 KJV: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
1Corinthians 11:1 AMP: PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).
Now it is vital to DISCERN IN YOUR HEART, who are true spiritual fathers are and then IMITATE AND FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.
The father you will follow is the one you are discerning (or ‘seeing’) in your HEART, not just the one you are professing with your mouth!
Matthew 15:7-8 KJV: Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
For example, the Jews who believed in Christ and God called God their father with their lips but were actually following and imitating Satan in their hearts!
John 8:31-44 KJV: Then said Jesus to those Jews WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (33) They answered him, we be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, ye shall be made free? (34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you; whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. (36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (37) I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (38) I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. (39) They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (40) But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. (41) Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, we be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (42) Jesus said unto them, if God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (43) Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. (44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
How can this happen: for God’s people to be ‘seeing’ and imitating Satan in their hearts (i.e. wills, minds and emotions)?
It happens when through spiritual ignorance, carelessness or laziness we allow the power of Satan in the air to dominate our hearts rather than the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit by effectual, fervent prayer in the Spirit (Eph.6.18, Jam.5.16; Heb.5.7).
Ephesians 2:2-3 NIV: in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (3) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
So to CONSTANTLY discern and FOLLOW TRUE SPIRITUAL FATHERS, we need to:
1. Recognize and esteem them highly in love (1 Th. 5.13) by their fruit of the good treasure (Lk.6.45) of God’s wisdom and revelation (Col. 2.3), which they preach, teach and practice.
2. Practice the instructions of the wisdom of God they teach by the power of the Holy Spirit through effectual, fervent, prayer in the spirit (Eph. 6.18, Jam.5.16, Heb.5.7) and speaking God’s Word once every 6 hours (Dt. 6.7, Mk. 13.35) and at every opportunity and by this in every temptation with our thoughts.
3. Honour them with tithes and offerings regularly:
Galatians 6:6 AMP: Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].
Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV: Honor the LORD with your possessions, with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine (Pr. 9.1-5).
In doing this, we will be fulfilling and experiencing in this 3rd day:
Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (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.
By being submitted to and being in the unity of the Spirit with these spiritual fathers, we will partake of the anointing of the Spirit without measure that is released upon them. Firstly, as a borrowed anointing and later in its fulness as we follow them and so grow into the perfection and fulness of Christ!
Psalms 133:1-3 KJV: A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (3) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Hence this prophetic message NOW!
