Importance of spiritual parents.

How to Be a Spiritual Father

Malachi 4:6 NASB95

6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

1) Our land has problems.

Read Father Stats sheet

and in a healthy family first of all you have Mom’s and Dads. If we do not have healthy spiritual and natural Moms and Dads we can develop a orphan spirit.

The ‘orphan spirit’ refers to a spiritual condition in which some Christians profess outwardly to know God as Father, but experience an internal contradiction to that belief.

4 Signs of the Orphan Spirit in Church Life

1. Competing and Needing to Stand Out

Spiritual orphans do not feel accepted and feel the need to prove their worth.

This may result in:

Seeking to hide their own limitations

Perceiving the strengths of others as competition

Secretly taking satisfaction in the weaknesses of others

Needing and seeking attention.

Our Father’s invitation is to a place of unconditional acceptance and rest in our unique, God-given identity. (1 Cor 12:18)

2. Isolation or Independence

Deep down the orphan does not feel as though he or she belongs in the family. Suffering a sense of abandonment, the instinct of an orphan is to go it alone.

This may result in:

Withdrawal, physically or emotionally from others.

An attitude of independence.

Our Father’s invitation is one of welcome embrace, to a place of belonging in His family. (Eph 1:5)

3. Fear and Insecurity

The spiritual orphan is unsure of his or her place in the family. Orphans also feel uncovered and unprotected—therefore their instinct is to protect themselves and their position.

This may result in:

A constant need of reassurance by leaders

[2]Lack of confidence in their spiritual gifts, and any ministry position they have been given.

the need to prove themselves.

Being protective and territorial about their ministry areas

Our Father’s invitation is to a place of security in His love, care and constant oversight. (Matt 10:29-31)

4. Performance-Orientation

The spiritual orphan feels rejected—therefore believing that he or she must compensate by working hard or performing well in order to be recognised.

This may result in:

A constant drive to perform well

Judging the weaknesses or performance of other team members or leaders

Having feelings of mistrust towards others—feeling they are going to be ‘punished’ at any time

Our Father’s invitation is to experience the fullness of His undeserved grace and favour. (Eph 1:6)

2)

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NASB95

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The things I have taught you. use this to train others who will train others also.

Paul was talking about 4 generations.

Paul

Timothy

faithful men

Others

Jesus didn’t say have great church meetings. He said go make disciples. Mom be a spiritual mom to someone, dad be a spiritual dad to someone.

Let say you did this with one person a year. After the ask them to do the same thing. Find one person per year.

After 2 years it would be 4 of you.

After 10 years it would be a 1000

After 20 years its a million

After 30 years its a billion

Just this practical way of finding the one to help can change so many lives.

Spiritual parenting isn’t just for church leaders and pastors. Its for anyone.

3) This is how it works. Find someone you know in your church or in your neighborhood or whatever just have a cup of coffee with them once a month, pray for them, be there for them, help them grow as a christian.

= you might say I have kids, full time job, or a crazy schedule. How do I find time? Great question:

Its reaching out to those in our context. God puts coworkers, family, neighbors, friends, and those we run into often in our path for a reason. Specially if we are asking Him to direct our steps according to Proverbs 3:5 Psalm 37:23

faithful men- when it comes to going anywhere in life trust is more precious than gold. Faithful men and woman get promoted by God and others. We credibility horizontally and vertically.

1 Corinthians 4:15–16 NASB95

15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

He didn’t say imitate a sermon but his way of life.