Lessons From Desperate Sons

Transcription

1 Series on Spiritual Fathers Session 2 Lessons From Desperate Sons Malachi 4:5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 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. Today we will look at three successful transmissions of spiritual life from fathers to sons, from the view point of the son. Note a common attitude in all three sons is their desperation to be blessed with the spiritual inheritance of their father. I. Isaac to Jacob For twenty years Rebekah was barren and Isaac cried out to the Lord who heard him and she conceived. Gen 25:21 While Rebekah was pregnant she felt turmoil in her womb and she inquired of the Lord. The Lord said, the older shall serve the younger. Gen 25:22-26 Isaac was determined to give the blessing to Esau because he was firstborn. Rebekah on the other hand was more sensitive to the Lord and helped Jacob to receive the blessing. Esau despised his birthright blessing saw little value in it. And traded it for a bowl of soup. Jacob desired the birthright blessing and schemed to get it. God evidently looked past Jacob s deceitful ways and saw his hungry heart. Isaac finally blesses Jacob on his own and recognizes he carries the blessing of Abraham and is heir of the promise. Gen 28:1-5 The takeaway here is: Jacob was spiritually minded, Esau was not. Jacob eagerly desired to see the promises of God manifest. Though scheming seemed to work in this case it is not God s plan. 1

2 II. Moses to Joshua Moses had two natural sons, Gershom and Eliezer who never seem eager to seek after God. This could be because of the influence of their mother, Zipporah, who clearly did not like Moses God. She was opposed to the God of blood. Ex 2:21, 4:25, 18:1-12 So instead of the natural sons, Joshua became the spiritual son who inherited from Moses. Notice four things about Joshua s relationship with Moses. 1. He constantly lingered in Moses tent seeking the presence of God. Ex 33:11 2. His willingness to serve Moses in any way. He is called Moses servant or assistant. Ex 24:13, 33:11 3. His willingness to obey all that Moses told him to do. He never shows any sign of wanting to take over. He is there to serve. Ex 17: Only when God spoke and spoke very clearly did Joshua accept his new role as Moses successor. Numbers 27:18-23, Deut 34:9 III. Elijah to Elisha Elijah was told by God to go and anoint Elisha as prophet in his place. This he did and immediately Elijah moved on so that Elisha had to drop everything and run after him. Elisha followed Elijah and became his servant. (2 Kings 3:11) There was no training program. The main learning procedure in all these relationships was as follows: 1. They spent a lot of time with each other and did things together. Usually they actually lived together. What the father had rubbed off on the son by osmosis. 2. At the end of several years, Elijah knows his time is coming to an end, so he gives Elisha the option to stay here. 2 Kings 2: He is asked to choose one final request before Elijah is taken. Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit. 2

3 IV. Jesus related to people on three levels. 1. Blessing the multitudes He met many people s needs without a continuing close relationship. This was possible to thousands. 2. Discipling the hundreds This was a planned program of teaching and training achieved by a teacher to student relationship. (These will follow as long as it is reasonable, comfortable and profitable) 3. Fathering the Twelve A much closer relationship where they spent time together and were privileged to many special events with Him privately. Note the following principles: 1 This is a special relationship only possible with a few. 2. It is not discipling or mentoring which is mainly teaching and training. It is more than instruction about how to do things. 3. It is a life and spirit impartation by osmosis and the son must desperately want it. 4. The father has the right to chose who can become his son. 5. Once the relationship has been established it is the son s responsibility to pursue the father, seeking every opportunity to be with him. 6. The son s part of the relationship is to serve and assist not to grasp for a leader role or joint ministry role. 7. There comes a definite God given moment of transfer and impartation of authority and it visibly passes from one to the other. 8. Once this has happened one of several things can happen: a. The son can leave and establish his own house. b. He can inherit his father s house who then needs to step down and get out of the way example: David to Solomon c. He can serve in his father s house until his father dies and then take over. Elijah to Elisha; John Osteen to Joel V. What Must Sons Do To Guarantee A Successful Generational Transmission? 1. Have a genuine longing for God A God chaser no other motive. 2. Be taken up with worship, passion and adoration for God 3. Value and honor your parents, spiritual and natural, and have a genuine longing to see generational blessings, family traditions and the good name perpetuated. 3

4 4. See past your parents flaws and concentrate on the divine treasure within (2 Cor 4:7; 2 Cor 5:14-16) 5. Be willing to be a servant to them at all times Picture of the perfect associate on the ladder under the pastor handing him rungs so he could take the next step. Septic line breaks.. fix it. 6. Seek to manifest the following.. always; Obedience, Faith, Honor, Esteem, and Love 7. Hear God s voice and do not try to take your inheritance to early. Wait until it is given to you prophetic word that came to Ken and me concerning a spiritual gift or inheritance that was coming upon us. It was difficult not to try to make it happen, to be patient understanding God s timing is perfect. My distain concerning people wanting their natural inheritance early / fighting over what their parents had. Series on Spiritual Fathers Session 3 The Privilege Given To Spiritual Fathers What should spiritual fathers do to make the spiritual transference successful? I. The following stages are observable in the way Jesus fathered the twelve 1. He was first an example and they watched him do it. Luke 4:38 Peter s mother in law healed and others 2. Next He showed them how to do it with Him. Luke 8:51 Peter, John and James entered with Jesus. 3. Then He sent them out on short ministry trips with clear instructions and clear accountability. They were to go in His name and represent Him. Luke 9 they were sent out 4. He had them come back and report all that they had done. Luke 9:10 they gave account 5. He brought correction and adjustment to the way they handled things. He primarily showed them how to do nothing of themselves but to always work with the Father. Luke 11 How to pray. How to cast out a demon 4

5 6. He continued to point them to the Father. He explained that the Holy Spirit was coming and told them they would live the same way He did, being lead by the Holy Spirit. Luke 12: the Holy Spirit will lead you. 7. He commissioned them and sent them out on their own once they had been anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. 8. They now worked with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit the same way He had. II. What Can Father s Do To Guarantee Successful Generational Transmission? 1. Live a true and genuine life which is an example in every way. Same on Monday as on Sunday. No hypocrisy. 2. Set the right example in all things especially when treated badly. How you speak about others at home. Bless those that curse you. 3. Be real and transparent. Honest Quick to repent / say I am sorry / wrong. Talk about your feelings, dreams, failures, life lessons not just victories. 4. Give an example of trusting, vigorous faith in all things. Reliance on God visible. Pulling the family together to believe God about everyday issues. 5. Make yourself available and give them access to you. Other than God and wife, Nothing is more important than your children. Men s Bible Study Give them the feeling that this is the most important meeting of the week to you. 6. Take them with you. Do things together. 7. At the right time, when God directs, bless them and give them their inheritance by the laying on of hands and by prophecy. 1 Tim 1:18 prophesies concerning you 2 Tim 1:6 laying on of hands Hebrews 11:20-22 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau NEXT TIME What Causes Failure by Fathers What Causes Failure by Sons 5