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Present Day Fathers - part 3 Isa 39:1-4 (KJV) “At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.” What does this text have to do with being a spiritual father? Let us just say of all the duties of a father none includes making friends with an enemy no matter how much the enemy feeds the insecure part of the father’s life. Hezekiah was not just a peasant opening his house up to a neighbor down the street, but instead he was a king allowing an enemy into his palace. Babylon has never had anything good to impart unto God’s people. Babylon represents the world’s way, the world’s order, and the world’s government. Yet, because God had blessed Hezekiah with extended life, his guard was down and was seduced by letters and a present. It is amazing how we have seen an older generation brought into the kingdom of God. They have been raised up as leaders. They do have much wisdom to give to a younger generation in the church. The problem is, however, when God raises us up, we often begin to use the position to stroke our own ego. As we find the ability to spread the gospel to anyone, even with our own will, it becomes empowering to know that “I” can make things happen, all “in the name of Jesus”. Instead of imparting life, many circles of the church have marketed the gospel by showing the world what we have. There are many great patriarchs of the church who have sat by and watched this go on while God has crushed their will. They have been raised up as spiritual father’s in this last day to impart the heart of God to this younger generation while the rest of the church is showing all of their treasury. Isa 39:5-8 (KJV) “Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.” Hezekiah proved that he was only king because of the throne he sat on, not the heart he carried. Because he had shown his treasury to Babylon the word of the Lord is that all would be stripped away, even the seed within his sons to reproduce the kingdom. A spiritual father is not focused on today, but his heart beats for the future. He knows that all he does today will be manifested through his sons tomorrow. He takes no thought for himself, but his motivation is for the seed that will yield its harvest. Hezekiah’s only response was that the word was “good” because it was not he that would have to suffer, but the sons that he birthed into the kingdom. Yes, there are men of God who have a great treasury, but what will be said of these men when their sons become “spiritual eunuchs” serving in the palace of Babylon? - John L. Frost June Newsletter 2003 | Pursue Your God In Holiness | Love: The Protection of God Pastor's Journal June 2002 | The Lord Is Our Refuge | Present Day Fathers part 3 | Pillars and Posts part 3 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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