Monthly Message: SEPTEMBER 2008

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NOTE: Church Leaders Are Not Automatically Spiritual Fathers, but Lead Offices are Extension of God Who is the Father of His House.

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efore David attempted to take on Goliath he knew the importance of submitting himself to Kingdom authority. King Saul gave the consent for David to go fight, but since he could not see past David as the "sheep herder" or the "harp player", Saul tried to put his own armor on David. 

Walking a short distance in the cumbersome clanking armor, David finally took OFF Saul's suit of tin, because while David needed the authority vested in the King's approval, he didn't need to pursue his assignment in another man's armor. He didn't allow a COVERING to become a SMOTHERING. Five stones and a slingshot in the Name of the Lord is more powerful than a full suit of armor fitted to another man's purpose. As Kingdom leaders, our goal is not to develop permanent dependant followers that "look like us" but we MUST raise up champions that are developed into GOD'S IMAGE who know their PURPOSE, VISION, and DESTINY.

NOTE: David came IN THE NAME OF THE LORD (relationaliy) but also came in submission to the OFFICE of  KINGDOM AUTHORITY (positionally). Young champions need 2 basic dimensions of development to become solid leaders...

1. RELATIONAL: fathering or mentoring as protégés and 2. POSITIONAL: offices for discipleship, training, and release of ministry.

Let's look briefly at these principles...

1. RELATIONAL: The Kingdom Principle of Spiritual Fathers.. The Apostle Paul said (in 1Corinthians 4:15), "For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten (birthed) you through the gospel". The Apostle Paul was saying, you can have many teachers telling you HOW & WHAT to do, but not many "fathers" shaping the WHY and WHO we are.

The word, "father" in this regard is defined as a founder, beginning, a seed, cultivator, and senior elder. Abraham was called the "father" of many nations (but of course he did not physically father everybody), and George Washington is called the "father" of a nation because of "founding" or "birthing" new culture and government. There are those we call "fathers" of movements, and even refer to some as the "spiritual father" of a church because they founded it or have come to elder status of honor, but ultimately we must remember that it is GOD'S HOUSE and HE is THE FATHER of HIS HOUSE and spiritual fathers are surrogates of Him.

Note: Being a "spiritual father" is not a POSITIONAL OFFICE, but a RELATIONAL representation of God's Character, Heart and Mind into sons until the Father God's image is BIRTHED and Christ is FORMED into their heart (Galatians 4:19). It is NOT our "DNA" being formed in young champions, but it is God's IMAGE being fashioned in them. Genuine spiritual fathers never seek to impose their "armor" on a "son" or "daughter", but they impart anointing out of the mantles they carry to lead these young champions by example on a journey of discovery and purpose.

How a "spiritual son" treats a "spiritual father" in areas of respect and loyalty is reflective of their true relationship with God the Father, but a "spiritual father" understands that this LOYALTY is not for control to their ministry needs, but for the purpose of the developmental process in a spiritual son or daughter. Saul loved David as long as all David did was to play his harp for him, but when David graduated to conquering giants, Saul felt betrayed in his own selfishness, and it became Saul's undoing.

NOTE: It should also be noted that "spiritual fathers" must NOT seek to take the place of physical "Dads" or their authority in the family and home, but one of the priorities of spiritual fathers is to lead physical fathers to become the priest and spiritual leader to their own families.

True Kingdom "fathers" (men and women of God) have a specific passion, dynamic, or developed calling that speaks into the heart of a young protégé bringing greater understanding to  their Kingdom career and purpose.... bringing us to...

2. Positional: The Kingdom Principle of Delegated Offices of Authority..  

JESUS THE SON of GOD opened access to us as sons of God to come directly to God RELATIONALLY, but then He set OFFICES & GIFTS in men and women POSITIONALLY as extensions of His NAME, NATURE, POWER and AUTHORITY to GOVERN His HOUSEHOLD and ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM RULE in Kingdom citizens. DAVID may not have looked up to Saul as a "fatherly" example, but he fully respected the POSITIONAL AUTHORITY Saul carried as the covering of a king.  Corinthians 12:28 says He SET apostles, prophets, teachers, and then other gifts, administrations, and operations, along with Ephesians 4:11-14 apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip saints into the work of their ministry by developing them into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. While RELATIONAL "fathering" births character, integrity, and purpose,  POSITIONAL offices bring order, authority, and training to equip champions to become further extensions of God the Father.

When David went out in proper Kingdom protocol IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, he not only accomplished another page in his own destiny, but his EXAMPLE of Kingdom LEADERSHIP released a whole new generation of sons in the army of God.

King Saul harbored jealousy and instead of celebrating the NEW THING God was doing in David, he went out to kill David only to end up falling on his own sword of FORMER INEFFECTIVENESS.

True spiritual fathers and leaders never seek to make young champions slaves, but they set aside the focus of their ministry  "thousands" to celebrate the 10,000's these NEW David's bring forth and help them develop character for lasting success. TRUE KINGDOM LEADERS bring healthy transition to protégés finding their own ARMOR that is fit to their unique vision to go beyond anything we've ever accomplished.