"The Cry for Spiritual Fathers"

Years ago, I was sitting in a church service listening to my pastor preach a powerful message. In the midst of the message he said, "Some of you will be sent by God to other spiritual fathers and spiritual mothers who will help you along on your journey!" I had sat under this pastor's ministry for 4 years and revered his ministry. He had been highly instrumental in helping me make a solid commitment to serve Christ. I had never imagined being under anyone else's leadership.

The Holy Spirit highlighted this one line that he spoke. It was as if the words were a personal prophecy to me, even though it was spoken to the entire church. It was as if I couldn't hear any more of the message. Those words kept resounding in my spirit so loud that everything else he preached became muffled in my hearing.

This moment began a process where God stirred up my heart to connect with a new spiritual father who would help God in shaping my future ministry. God put a cry in my heart to be spiritually fathered. For weeks I walked around realizing that there was a man or woman of God who had been divinely appointed by God who was trained and equipped to help ME get to the next leg of my spiritual journey. Months later, the person would be revealed, and God knitted us in the spirit as spiritual father and son. God used him mightily to iron out some rough spots and immature thinking in my life and ministry!

Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Malachi's Prophecy

Spiritual parents and elders play an important role in preparing each emerging generation for the dispensation of grace and revelation that God is desiring to release in their time and season. They are able to pour into Believers from their vast wisdom and knowledge. Many young Believers, and those with ministry gifts, may possess head knowledge and giftings, but lack the wisdom gained from years of experience walking with God. There are some things you can only learn from experience, trial and error. God desires to lessen the errors made by each generation and prevent us from walking in pitfalls through providing spiritual parenting.

God has planned for each generation to have a fresh encounter and a revealing of present truth (2 Peter 1:12) that reveals the plan of God for mankind, and the Church, in a new and deeper way. At the turn of the 20th century, there was a great Pentecostal experience that was epitomized by the Azusa Street Revival. We have experienced the restoration of the apostolic and prophetic ministries, but the Lord is now preparing us for the greatest revelation of the Kingdom of God and revealing of His glory.

The prophet Malachi helps reveal to us the importance of spiritual fathers in preparing a generation to walk in the fullness of God. Malachi 4:5-6, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers..."

Elijah is noted for the great supernatural feats, signs and wonders that accompanied his ministry. Although Elijah's earmark may be the demonstrative, supernatural power of God, he excelled in raising up disciples. Within Scripture we read that Elijah raised up "the sons of the prophets" (2 Kings 2). There where many that Elijah poured into and they were identified specifically as "sons," meaning they were to carry a portion of Elijah's spiritual DNA forward within their own respective territories and assignments.

The Double Portion Anointing

We have experienced an increase in the gifts of God and the working of the Holy Spirit, but still there is a yearning for MORE of God's power to reach the lost and those captive to darkness. God's plan is one of increase. It will take the proverbial "double portion anointing" to fulfill the plans of God to reach a record harvest of souls, and build the Kingdom of God. Elisha received the double portion anointing in connection with being fathered, tutored, and sharpened under the mantle of Elijah's leadership.

2 Kings 2:9 (emphasis mine), "...And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a DOUBLE PORTION of thy spirit be upon me."

Many have declared, decreed and prophesied the "double portion" anointing upon peoples' lives. The reality is there are prerequisites before an individual can tap into the double portion anointing or any anointing. We find a great secret within the life of Elisha that set him apart and qualified him to receive a double portion anointing.

Although Elijah had a company of prophets that he mentored in different regions (Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho), there was something different about Elisha. I'm sure most, if not all, of these "sons of the prophets" could prophesy and possessed great ministry callings and giftings. What makes Elisha outstanding is found in 2 Kings 3:11:

"But Jehoshaphat said, 'Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?' And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, 'Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.'"

Elisha was noted not for his gifting, but for his service. He was known as one who "poured water on the hands of Elijah." This was not a service done out of fear, obligation or intimidation, but rather out of love because Elisha's heart was knitted to Elijah. Elisha began to take on the character, humility and wisdom of Elijah by clinging closely to him. 2 Kings 2:4, "...And he said, 'As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee...'"

6 Keys to Identifying Spiritual Fathers and Mothers

1. There will be a longing and yearning in your heart for discipleship, mentorship, correction and guidance from a God-sent man or woman.

2. What you see in the person(s) life will stir up something in your spiritual bowels. Your spiritual DNA will connect to their spiritual DNA. They model the character, behavior and demonstration of God that you desire in your own life and/or ministry.

3. The person will be more interested in pushing you into your God-given destiny.

4. The person will help you to discover and develop in your ministry calling and assignment.

5. The person should have a proven track record of living a holy life and bearing fruit to the glory of God.

6. There is a knitting together in the spirit that God does. Elisha was already prepared in his heart to receive Elijah as a spiritual father and to follow him as a leader.

1 Kings 19:19-20, "So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah..."

Prayer

Father God, we thank You that You are the ultimate Father in Heaven and have provided us direct access to You through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, Your Son. We also give thanks that You have made provisions for spiritual fathers/mothers/mentors to help pour into our lives and disciple us.

"Father, in Jesus' name, please reveal to my heart and spirit those leaders that you ordained before the foundations of the earth to provide spiritual parenting and guidance. Although there may be tens of thousands of instructors (1 Corinthians 4:15) in the things of God, please connect me with the person or people divinely appointed to help prepare me to receive a double portion blessing and anointing as I enter this next season of My life.

"Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit also brings me into a deeper place of sonship with You by the renewing of my mind with the Word of God and in learning to follow Your voice."

Demontae Edmonds
Freedom 4 the Nations
Email: INFO@F4Nations.com
Website: www.f4nations.com

Demontae Edmonds serves the Kingdom of God as servant, prophet, and apostolic leader. He has ministered throughout the United States and abroad. His heart is to reveal the reality of Jesus Christ and the glory of God in a real and tangible way. God has used him to bring healings, deliver major prophetic words for nations, economies and top church and secular leaders in several nations. He has accurately prophesied detailed events, including US elections, Nigeria's 2016 elections, and other specific world events. Apostle Edmonds resides in Virginia with his family.

To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link elijahlist.com/subscribe.