Yesterday while I was writing and posting on the characteristics of true spiritual fathers, I had more concurring thoughts along these lines.
In 40 years of ministry I have witnessed a good number of both spiritual and biological sons living in their father’s mistakes. It’s sad but it’s a reality that happens regularly.
For example, when it comes to ministry, if a father missteps and follows the dictates of his soul and flesh more than the Lord, then he often will birth an Ishmael that the son winds up paying on for the rest of his life — a vain work, a house built by man and not the Lord.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…” (Psalms 127:1)
You can follow a man’s successes but be careful you don’t follow his failures. On a larger scale, as an example, many walked in John Alexander Dowie’s error believing he was Elijah. The same with William Branham, who amazingly and sadly, still has a cultish following called the Branhamites. These were mightily anointed men. But I’ve witnessed this on smaller scales also where an associate pastor follows in the error of his pastor or a minister follows in the steps of his mentor or leader, or a spiritual son who follows in the same error of his spiritual father or esteemed leader who passes on.
This is why the works of man far outweigh the works of God, and the soul of man reigns in place of the Spirit.
On a natural level, this is also true. A son inherits a poor father and often pays dearly for their reckless lifestyle, living off their sins and mistakes for years. Others have absentee fathers and also reap the dire consequences of that. If not for the grace and intervention of God, many would never recover. The way of the transgressor is always hard.
I’m sure there are many positive examples of this, too, where the sons build on their father’s successes, but here we are addressing the errors and introducing a caution.
Conversely, as I said, the opposite could also be true where the son recognizes his father’s mistakes and corrects them and learns from them, and builds better. That’s a wise son. Truly, we have only one Father in heaven and it is best to ultimately follow Him.
Of course, when one is saved as I was saved, everything changes with mind renewal, and you are cut off from the curse and sins of your father. There was a lot of strife and criticism in my family that I was delivered and redeemed from. Praise God for His transforming power!
SOME DIE, BUT THEIR WORKS FOLLOW THEM
There are men I’ve known who made a wrong turn in their lives and ministry, and the last God-chapter of their lives closed, and they moved into the works of man, and some died because of it. God allowed them to come home to save their reward. That’s mercy on the Lord’s side, not so much judgment. It is much more severe when they die prematurely and their works are also burned.
“…each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:13-15)
I know most Christians won’t understand all this, because it’s a lost theme or message in the body of Christ today, but it happens. To whom much is given much is required. There is often a cause for sickness and early death when it comes to these things. In a way, much more so for ministers, as they suffer stricter judgment due to the level of anointing, authority, and responsibility given them. Lack of discerning and lack of judging themselves can lead to such consequences.
“For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (1 Cor. 11:30-31)
MANY DEATHS, MANY THOUGHTS
I’ve given much thought to these things in recent years because I have lost many friends and ministry colleagues to an early death and departure. It seems the older we get, the more we obviously experience more death to people we know. And because my circle is one of ministry, I search these things out. I’m a student of life, but also of death, and the reasons or causes behind it. I’m writing another book on this theme now as the Lord keeps shedding more light on it as I inquire. The body of Christ needs to know and understand these things, especially ministers, so we can teach people, and hopefully extend their lives, and save their works. Eternal crowns, rankings, and positions are at stake. Forever is a long time. A wise man considers these things and becomes wiser.
There is so much more to say, but these are my few thoughts for now. You should get my last few books if you’re interested in receiving revelatory knowledge God has enlightened my heart with in the last few years. Most of these posts are also on my blog for safekeeping. Feel free to follow our blog if interested (Holy Fire Ministries website), share these precious truths, and circulate them with members of the body of Christ as you feel the need. Avoid jealousy and envy at all costs. We are all members of the same body each to help the other. These were given to me for you.
Happy 4th everybody! Stay safe.
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