Who are fathers?
(A Brief Exposition)
Fathers represent the foundation of the society.
From the Hebrew and Greek words “abba” and “Pater” that translate the word “father”, a father is a source and progenitor — one from whose loins generations are born and nurtured.
In the prophetic scripture of Malachi 4:5-6, we realize that a society without FATHER FIGURES will become a platform for the wanton and wholesale violation of moral values, and of course all kinds of social vices and upheavals will thrive there.
Research shows that children who have no father figures in their developmental years and also in their lives in general end up to become delinquent, with the exception of those who have an indirect paternal influence on their lives.
Fatherhood is God’s idea; not man’s idea, and it’s a Kingdom principle, while God the Father is the true Portrait of Who a father should be.
Fathers are teachers, trainers, protectors, nourishers, sustainers, supporters, life coaches and disciplinarians, and the Scripture is replete with these attributes of fathers.
Fathers INSTRUCT; they don’t just ADVISE. Remember how Solomon of old was INSTRUCTED by his father David in the way of wisdom (Prov.4:1-7).
In recent times, the subject of FATHERHOOD has come under public scrutiny and also undergone ruthless attacks while those are have no idea of same are trying to air their views and opinions.
Some folks quote Matthew 23:9 out of context, claiming that Jesus said, “CALL NO MAN A FATHER…”, but a closer look at that scripture from verse 1 shows that Jesus was referring to the Pharisees who were HYPOCRITES, and telling the people not to see them as examples of fathers.
Simple as ABC!!!
The worst thing that can happen to a society is the absence of father figures who can guide, instruct, mentor, tutor and train the next generation.
Whenever you see a DISCONNECT between fathers and children, then negative trends will hold sway unabatedly in the society.
And God’s strategy to close this gap is to raise ministries in the mein and similitude of Elijah’s and John the Baptist’s who will regig awareness in that direction.
MALACHI 4:5-6
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, LEST I COME AND SMITE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE.
Imagine a society that has no fathers to train new fathers; that has no doctors to train new doctors; that has no builders to train new builders; that has no engineers to train new engineers. So, this matter cuts across all spheres of life.
EIGHT KINDS OF FATHERS
here are eight kinds of fathers I want to briefly talk about, and each has their contributions to our lives.
(1) THE HEAVENLY FATHER:
That’s the ultimate!!! The perfect, spotless and immaculate picture of fatherhood. God the Father is OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, Jesus said (Matt.6:32, Matt.6:9).
(2) SPIRITUAL FATHERS:
Your spiritual father nurtures, trains, ovesees, guides, and instructs you unto destiny fulfilment, and it’s a destiny relationship.
You can have only one spiritual father from the inference of Paul in 1 Cor.4:15, Phil.2:19-22, ITim.1:2, Tit.1:4, yet there will be a few others who will play “fatherly roles” in your life.
There’s a difference between “MY FATHER” and “A FATHER”.
(3) FATHERS IN CHRIST:
Apart from your spiritual father, there will be a few others who will play fatherly roles in your life. You can’t call them “your brother”; they’re fathers to you. The Apostle John wrote to FATHERS and also to YOUNG MEN (I Jn.2:13-14).
(4) BIOLOGICAL FATHERS:
Biological fathers are our natural parents. We came through their loins. The Bible refers to them as FATHERS OF OUR FLESH (Heb.12:9).
(5) SURROGATE OR FOSTER FATHERS:
These are people who play the role of a biological father in your life in case your biological father is absent for whatever reason.
That was who Mordecai was to Esther. Esther was an orphan but she had a father in Mordecai, and she fulfilled her destiny in a grand style (Est.2:5-7).
(6) FATHERS-IN-LAW:
Your father in law also plays a fatherly role in your life. Moses had more spiritual encounters than his father in law, in the person of Jethro, but he submitted to his Godly wisdom and instruction for ministry success (Exo.18:1, 17-24).
(7) FATHERS OF MOVEMENTS:
They’re like the faces of the move of God on the earth. Dad Hagin is referred to as the father of the Word of Faith Movement.
Dr. David Yonngi Cho is called the father of the Church Growth Movement.
So, we have fathers in this order. Abraham is the father of the faithful whom God used to “pioneer” the new race of the blessed (Rm.4:11-12, Gal.3:7-9).
(8) FATHERS IN LIFE:
They’re in different spheres of life. Your teachers in primary and secondary schools. Your lecturers in the University.
Your mentor in business and career. Your boss at work, etc. Paul was trained PROFESSIONALLY as a lawyer under the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
I have never seen anyone who beat up their teachers in life and do well in life.
Friends, the principle of fatherhood is powerful. It holds together the fabric of society. Don’t be part of a generation that curses their fathers (Prov. 30:11).
HONOUR the fathers in your life, because that’s required by Scripture (Exo.20:11, Mal.1:6), for in your HONOUR of fathers lies the blessing of perpetual revelance and longevity.
A generation that DISHONOURS fathers cannot go far in the things of God.
Fatherhood is not an enslavement, as some presuppose; it’s a strategic platform ordained by God to bring us into destiny fulfilment.
May the Lord give us understanding!
Amen!!
I trust this is a blessing Sirs and Mas?
Miracles Happen Everyday!!!
Shalom!!