Precious people,
Spiritual fatherhood is greatly Apostolic and it has it’s roots in scriptures.
We see all through the bible men and women who walked with prophets, priests or kings to be mentored or fathered to become what God desires of them in the future. For instance, Isaac was fathered by Abraham both on Kingdom and family matters, Elisha was greatly fathered by Prophet Elijah, king Saul was fathered by Prophet Samuel, King David was fathered by Prophet Samuel, Joshua was fathered by Moses, The disciples who became later the Apostles of the Lamb were greatly fathered by Jesus Christ Himself, young preacher Timothy was
mightily fathered by Apostle Paul and the list goes on and on….
1 Timothy 1:2. “unto Timothy, my son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ
our LORD.”
So, we have already established here, that the subject of fatherhood is not mysterious neither is it unfounded in scriptural doctrine.
Though the word “FATHERHOOD” and “MENTORSHIP” are usually used interchangeably or intertwined, there is a slight difference.
- Fatherhood is more of a divine relationship between the spiritual son/daughter with the spiritual father.
- Mentorship is more of getting an information, insight, wisdom, counsel and direction in an area of one’s interest.
- Fatherhood is going beyond the pulpit to being concerned about your spiritual sons/ daughter’s welfare.
- Mentorship is mostly intellectual, dispensing knowledge to an individual in the area of specification.
- Fatherhood is a spiritual connection while mentorship is an intellectual connection.
#FACTS
- A spiritual father may or may not do everything a mentor does.
- A father can be a mentor but many mentors can’t be fathers.
- Books, podcasts, articles, etc can greatly mentor you in an area. Eg marriage, ministry, business, politics etc.
- We have mentors in the secular world. Eg someone can mentor you in music, arts and entertainment etc.
- We have mentors in the business world or the marketplace; someone can mentor you into business, industries or corporate organisations.
- We have marital mentorship. A couple or an experienced husband/ wife can mentor the younger couples into successful marriages.
- We also have political and governmental mentorship.
It is scriptural and doctrinal to have mentors who are tested, tried and proven in your journey of destiny though you have a father in the LORD.
1 Corinthians 4:15. ” For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. “
In truth, a spiritual father is very important but if he does not stretch himself in advanced knowledge (in Word and doctrine, even in the corporate advanced knowledge), if all you have got is him and you listen to no one else but him, you might stagnate in an area.
This is why fatherhood is a MANTLE and a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. It is not a “mare title” just because you have a few people following you.
Fatherhood is about God entrusting destinies in your hands.
Note.
As a father and mentor, though this is my personal opinion, you must be at least 100 times ahead in knowledge, understanding and wisdom at least in all areas of life so that those whom you are leading may constantly learn from you.
This is the cost and sacrifice you pay for FATHERHOOD and MENTORSHIP.
WHO TO BE or WHO NOT TO BE one’s spiritual father.
This is a question that has caused a lot of pains and heartaches for many young ministers today and lots of them are still healing from wounds and injuries either emotionally, materially, spiritually or financially caused by such spiritual miscalculation.
But at the same time, true spiritual fatherhood has made many to be giants, generals and champions in their fields of influence.
While a young minister MUST HONOUR those who are above him in ministry, he must not
become a victim of intimidation, manipulation, deception and control in ministry.
Everyone has a scriptural right to hear the voice of God and listen to the Holy Spirit and there must be that liberty of the Spirit to follow the dictates of one’s conscience. It is until then that the true purpose of father-son or father- daughter relationship can unleash its rich potential to the advancement of the course of the Kingdom.
In most cases, the fault is the young ministers when it comes to the choice of a spiritual father.
Among other indices and parameters peculiar to each person
HERE ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES MINISTERS MAKE IN CHOOSING WHO THEIR SPIRITUAL FATHER SHOULD BE.
They choose:
- A popular minister who doesn’t have time for them.
- A minister who commands great crowds in terms of congregational strength.
- A minister who is very rich and wealthy in terms of financial resources.
- A minister who has large networks and very strong connections so that he can connect them in.
- A minister who has a “class status” in the society.
- A minister who has travelled far and wide especially internationally.
- A minister who has a radio or television channel.
- A minister who has heavy protocols around him so they can boast that their spiritual father has a very strong weight.
Plus lots more….
Now I will need to balance this, I never said that any minister with the mentioned qualities cannot be a good spiritual father. NO NO. As a matter of fact, there are many genuine fathers with the mentioned characteristics plus genuine fathering qualities yet their spiritual sons and daughters are happy being under their Apostolic covering. This piece is directed at young ministers or ministers at large who make the above mentioned bases as the “only bases” for choosing a spiritual father without looking at the issue very objectively and
holistically.
Actually, you CANNOT CHOOSE your spiritual father by your own strength, you will need to rely
on the Holy Spirit for divine direction.
However, no matter what anyone claims that God spoke to him about his spiritual father, certain
qualities have to be in place because the Holy Spirit Himself cannot lead you into error or danger.
Anytime you see any of these below traits in a supposed spiritual father know for sure that you are in the wrong hands because the Word of God takes precedence over any other consideration.
THE FOLLOWING ARE ATTRIBUTES OF SOMEONE WHO CANNOT BE YOUR SPIRITUAL FATHER:
- Anyone who doesn’t believe in you or in the grace of God upon your life.
- Anyone who is very jealous of you and enters competition with you.
- True fathers don’t compete with sons, they complement sons.
- Anyone who talks you down, discourages, demoralizes, and constantly pulls you down.
- Anyone who rather than correct and rebuke you in love, they rain curses on you and your generation.
- Anyone who cannot publicly identify with you but has private ” relationship” with you.
- Anyone who doesn’t have ” any time” for you at all
- Anyone with untamed anger, rage and bitterness and who vents that anger on you regularly.
- Anyone who publicly disgraces and exposes your weakness to the public.
- Anyone who you are always afraid to talk, to – no sense of belonging and no – sense of purpose.
- Anyone who wishes you to crash in ministry and destiny because of a mistake you did that can be easily forgiven.
- Anyone who speaks glowingly about you in the public or in your presence but stabs you at the back in your absence
- And many more…