I was recently sitting in a conference waiting for my turn to speak. The three previous speakers spoke on the subject of absentee spiritual fathers in our generation. As I sat there and listened I began to realize the need for spiritual fathers was a much bigger problem than I thought. There seems to be an ample supply of white haired men around, but that alone does not satisfy.
After pondering the comments and heart cry of the other speakers I soon realized that old age and white hair does not make one a father. I felt the Lord tell me that the anointing to be a true spiritual father is a gift from God. The father anointing gift is no less important than the gift to be a prophet, evangelist or shepherd. In other words, they have the same high level of importance as the five gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 where it says that some are called to be apostles, some prophets, some pastors, some evangelists and some teachers.
It is the norm when one is recognized as having an Ephesians 4:11 gifting and to be anointed with oil and given a charge to go and do the work of the Lord.
Unfortunately we seem to think (perhaps unconsciously), that all of those listed in Ephesians 4:11 must have a greater anointing than anyone else. Thank God that is not true.
For example, when it comes to a father anointing God seems to reserve the privilege of laying His hands on them for. As He lays His hands on them He releases an indescribable anointing on them to be a true spiritual father to His children. He then sends them out to do what few men can do and that is to love people unconditionally as a father.
Elijah the prophet was called out from the back of a cave to take on the role of a father in I Kings 19:9. Up until then, he had been operating in the power of the wind. God was calling him to operate in the quietness of the gentle breeze. What a contrast of callings. The gentle breeze ministry is a fathering ministry, which is what Elijah did with Elisha.
We see again in Malachi 4:5-6, where it says that “Elijah the prophet is going to come before the great and terrible day of the Lord and will restore the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers”.
Over the years I have read and preached on this Malachi passage many, many times. However, as I read that passage today, I realize more than ever the need for fathers.
Perhaps the reason all three of the men who spoke before me in the conference were crying out, was because we really do need the father anointing to be released in this season. May it be so Lord.
Father,
I thank you for the incredible promise of the father anointing through Elijah. I also thank you Father that you encouraged Elijah that he was not the only one left but that you had seven thousand who had not bowed a knee to Baal.
Thank you Lord for an ample supply of qualified men to pour your father anointing on in this hour.
I thank you also Father for giving us the solution even before we had the need.
Amen
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 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. Malachi 4:5-6 KJV
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries