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Chapter 3
Father Leadership
One of the main ways that God provides leadership in His kingdom is
through fathers. This is why the spirit of Elijah must come and restore
“the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children
to their fathers.” Otherwise the “great and dreadful Day of the Lord”
which is coming would consume us and “strike the earth with a curse”
(Mal. 4:4-6). These final words in the Old Testament point to God’s
Father Leadership in His kingdom. Fathering involves the loving heart
attitude displayed in raising children. A father exhorts and comforts
and implores and sometimes chastens when necessary (1 Thess. 2:11,
Heb. 12:7-11), but only after establishing you through much
encouragement. A father is always around through thick and thin. A
father does not forsake you when you fail or leave you when
disagreements arise. A father not only goes with you into battle, he
leads the way (Joshua 1:5-9). Spiritual fathering is the major
leadership method for building the body of Christ.
One of my favorite authors Rick Joyner writes:
“Though the image of the Lord is both male and female, and
there is the nature of Him that would gather us as a hen gathers
her chicks, God is presented throughout the Scriptures as
“Father,” and is never called “Mother.” To dilute this, is to
distort His image with a very thick veil. “Father” means “life
giver.” The father gives the seed, and the mother nurtures the
seed. In Scripture, we see the creation as “a” mother. Both
Israel and the church are also referred to in Scripture as
“mothers.” Just as the woman was taken from Adam so that
they would have to come together to be the complete image of
God, the Lord will be joined perfectly to His Bride to give the
creation a true reflection of His glory.” 2
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