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The Need For
Spiritual Fathers
And Sons To Recognize Them
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.
1 Cor. 4:15
A
couple of days ago I was talking with my friend, and partner with the RAIN
network, Prophet Uebert Angel. Prophet Angel pastors several branches of Spirit
Embassy Church, which he founded along with his wife Pastor Beverly Angel. He is
mostly busy these days with the Zimbabwe branch that now has over 6,000 members.
It was he who said to me in 2008 regarding the name for RAIN, “That is the
name the Lord will bless.” In my years of knowing this warrior for Jesus I
have never known any of his personal prophecies to me to fail. Only one other
person can I say that of personally. That was my friend the late Ruth Ward
Heflin.
As
we were catching up on topics like RAIN, the church, global revival, etc., he
said to me, “You need to write again regarding spiritual fathers to the
network.” Therefore this is my endeavor to do so.
Although I have written a book on
the topic in 2005, and it is available as a free download at www.therain.us - it is not an end within itself.
However, it was only a beginning. So much more needs to be said in the area of
spiritual fathers their purpose and function, as well as, the sons who need to
recognize them.
To
put this in perspective let me go back several years and build my case. In 1993
my natural father, who also was a pastor in the USA for over 33 years, died
prematurely at the age of 67 with cancer. In January of 1994 I founded a church
plant and began the work of a Senior Pastor, not being acquainted with office of
an Apostle. The loss of someone to speak into my life and guide me left a vacuum
that was waiting to be filled. Unfortunately, in my inexperience and lack of
maturity I didn’t know where to turn.
God
however did. He always does. In search of “more of God” I found myself at a
ministers conference in October of that same year. A “missionary” (Apostle)
who had served in many nations over the course of many years, and carrying a
“signs and wonders” ministry was speaking. Afterward I went down and stood
in line for prayer for an “impartation” of his Anointing.
What
happened next I could have never imagined. As I lay on the floor under the power
of God I began to weep. It wasn’t just a mere crying spell. It was a deep,
broken weeping that left me empty. The Hand of God was going deep into my heart
where the hand of man wasn’t able to go. After many minutes of this spiritual
purging I suddenly looked up and standing at my head was an angel with a pitcher
of something in his hands.
Shocked,
I watched as he tilted the pitcher over until I saw a thick golden honey like
substance begin to pour forth. I watched until it hit me in the forehead. At
that point I began to laugh uncontrollably. I held my sides and stomach as I
rolled back and forth under this heavy intoxicating laughter. I even asked the
Lord to make it stop, as I was laughing so hard I couldn’t catch my breath.
Eventually
it subsided and I sat up dazed and confused under this weighty Anointing.
Something had happened on my insides. Something had happened in my spirit man.
Something had happened in me that would leave me forever changed. It wasn’t
just an appointment with God. It was a Divine appointment with destiny.
The
man’s name that had prayed for me was Dan Duke. The Lord had set me up to meet
my spiritual father. A man who would speak into my life and guide me through and
over many spiritual and natural obstacles he had already dealt with in his life.
That was 17 years ago this month of October 2011.
Dan
is also a senior leader, adviser, and Apostle of this network. Our relationship
has grown over the years, as all healthy relationships should. He has been my
example as a spiritual father and has spoken volumes into my life that I not
only value, but also will pass on to my spiritual sons, and their sons after
them.
(You
can read more detail to this in my book The Power of Impartation)
You
cannot choose your own father anymore than I can choose my own son. It is a
Divine appointment. Spiritual fathers carry the experience, maturity and
anointing that the sons are all looking for. It doesn’t happen overnight. This
is the misconception of the church. People think a man of God can lay hands on
them and all of a sudden, they have everything that has taken this man a
lifetime to achieve. God will release His Anointing in seed form only. You
don’t get the full tree readily bearing its fruit.
Jesus
said he who is faithful with little would also be faithful with much. As we
mature in and faithfully steward His anointing, then it will grow into the
mature tree bearing its fruit in all seasons. Faithful is the key.
The
reason there are so many bright young stars that arise only to burn out like a
“falling star” is because they’ve never learned to recognize and honor the
spiritual fathers the Lord has sent them. Many
young leaders coming up fall away through lust for women, money, or fame. They
ignore the need for someone to “speak into their lives” that can correct
them as well as encourage them.
A
good father will correct his sons and not just pat them on the back and tell
them everything will be all right. Equally true, a good son will receive the
corrective word of the father and submit to his authority. Not a bondage
authority, rather a loving father who admonishes them only to keep them on the
right path and to avoid the mistakes they’ve made.
A
spiritual son wants or desires to be like his father. That is one of the
attractions and ways to recognize their responsibility. However, it doesn’t
stop there. I run into young men all the time who want what I have…and
that’s all they want. They don’t want the wisdom, experience, and maturity
that have taken decades to develop. It’s just about “what can you give
me?”
Yes,
a spiritual father does give. But he also RECEIVES! A son will receive, but he
must also GIVE! There will never be the full transmission of anointing without
giving something back!
Let the elders who rule well be counted
worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 1
Tim. 5:17
Let him who is taught the word share in
all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians
6:6-7
If
we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your
material things? 1 Corinthians 9:11
Every
true son will equally support his father. Do not read into this some religious
rule or regulation. This isn’t about rules it’s about RELATIONSHIP!!! We are
vessels through which the Father above pours the Life of His Son. I never want
to be known as only a “taker”. I want to be known as a “giver.” And, the
more you give, with love being the pure motive in your giving, the more you will
receive to give more.
Listen
to the word of the Lord you who call yourself spiritual sons to someone. You are
never a full son until you learn to give back to your father in recognition of
what he has sown or, is sowing into your life. People who call themselves
“sons of Prophet This or Apostle That” and never support the man of God,
isn’t a son at all, rather, an illegitimate child. The King James would use
the word “bastard.”
Sons,
if you recognize a particular man of God as your spiritual father it is time to
step up and begin to give honor where honor is due. I unapologetically have
faithfully given financial resources and other things to my spiritual father and
now I am bearing the fruit of the seeds that have been sown the last 17 years. I
recognized the principle and have faithfully honored it, as I have been able.
And Dan Duke isn’t the only one I honor either.
Learning
to honor the fathers before you will bring a harvest of sons to your feet. Learn
this principle. In the early years of my relationship with Dan I prayed and
asked the Heavenly Father, “How long am I too sow financial seed into this
man?” The Lord answered me in a dream, “As long as he is your father.”
Meaning: Always. For once a child is born – his father will always be his
father.
If
you want to walk in the fullness of the Anointing, recognize, honor and support
your spiritual father. Jesus set the example by saying, “I only do what I see
my Father doing.” Failure isn’t an option.
Do
not allow the enemy to procrastinate this principle any longer in your life. Now
is the time to sow your seeds for tomorrow’s harvest. Without delay – today
honor your father. If you don’t have one, ask God to give you a Divine
appointment and let God bring the “suddenly” into your life and forever
change you and your ministry.
My
love and embrace,
Eddie
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