Series: Fathers & Sons; Fatherhood

Sun am 16 May 2010 – Kobus Swart

1 Cor. 4:15; (Ps. 127); Gen. 12:1-4, 10-26; Gen. 11:10-13, 26, 32; Gen. 14:13-24; Gen. 15:1, 18;
Gen. 17:15-21; (Rev. 1:10); (Rev. 4:1); (Rev. 18:2, 13.); (Gen. 20:3); (Ex. 20:12)

It is significant that one of the key things God is doing now, is to prepare spiritual fathers in the Body of Christ. While there has never been a shortage of tutors (“boy leaders”) in the church, we have not seen many true fathers (1 Cor. 4:15). One of the reasons for this, is the fact that the spirit of Nimrod has prevented it in different ways, as in the beginning, ie. by destroying any potential father. Nimrod was very involved with the establishment of Babylon and other cities (Gen 10) and became a mighty hunter against the Lord. If you look at Nimrod’s genealogy, he is from Ham the son of Noah, who violated the father-son relationship by exposing his father’s nakedness. Nimrod was a kingdom builder for himself.

The spirit of Babylon – who traded with the souls of men (Rev. 18:2, 13), is brought under the spotlight afresh. This can only happen where people have wandered in the fields of the fatherless, without identity and purpose in life.

In various expressions of the traditional church as well as in Charismatic circles, evidence of the spirit of Nimrod is also seen in the way elderly leaders who are near retirement, are being treated. So often there is no honour shown to those who have laboured for many years shepherding God’s people. To merely institutionalize the office a “father” does not make you a father. The name “Abram” before he became “Abraham” meant “exalted father”. He had the title but he was not a father.

The way to prevent a curse is to see the hearts of true fathers and sons restored. First the hearts of fathers are to be restored to the sons. God starts with fathers. Then the hearts of the sons will be linked to the fathers. There has been enough of the trading with souls. Abraham represents the model of father which God is raising up in the earth. Over a period of 40 years, God changed Abram to come to the place where he could be renamed to Abraham – the father of many nations. You can adopt a title, but you cannot copy character. What you are is what you impart.

True sons will stand in the gates and stop the spirit of Nimrod from trying to come into the household.

Abraham did not wait until the death of his father before he left Haran. He was in the wrong place and he had to relocate to a more accurate position. Here is the challenge, if you want to buy into the new season, leave that which only prolongs the orphan culture. Abraham had to go through a very tough test in Genesis chapter 14. Abraham had to come face to face with the spirit of mammon. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ “I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.” (Gen. 14:21-24). True fathers cannot be motivated by insecurity or by a spirit of poverty. Abraham had to get to know the Lord as the possessor of heaven and earth.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; (his protection) Your reward shall be very great” (his provision) (Gen. 15:1). Unless these things are established in him who is called to be a father, he will never be able to produce true sons because those elements in your spirit will be transferred to those under your ministry.

Something had to happen to Sarai too. In a very powerful encounter, God not only changes Abram’s name adding a piece of His own name, Yahweh, into Abram’s name, He also changed the name of his wife to Sarah – the mother of nations. It takes a father and a mother to produce the godly offspring. Marriage is supposed to model the marriage between Christ and the Church. Godly marriages must reflect that.

God has one goal in mind; He wants a family in the earth, not an organization or an institution.

Take your eyes off man and the system; He is the possessor of heaven and earth.