06- Role of a Spiritual Father
1 Thessalonians 2:7
Position of a leader – Father
Nursing Mother and Father.
Mother: gentle care
1 Thessalonians 2:7, But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children
Galatians 4:19, My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
Father: Strong Authority
1 Thessalonians 2:11, as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
1 Corinthians 4:15, For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:14-21
1 Corinthians 3:5, he is called a servant.
1 Corinthians 3:6, he is called as a farmer.
1 Corinthians 4:1, the minister is called a slave of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:1, again he is called a steward of the mysteries of God.
1 Corinthians 10:3, he calls himself a wise master builder.
1 Timothy 2:7, pastors/teachers are called messengers.
2 Corinthians 5:20, the preacher is also called an ambassador.
Now in 1 Corinthians 4:15, the pastor is called as Spiritual Father. Few characteristics we can see from the heart of Apostle Paul.
1. Give birth to new sons
1 Corinthians 4:15, 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. You may be a husband, but you are not a father until you give birth to an offspring. There are some Christian leaders, who are not spiritual fathers because they have never produced a child.
They have never led anybody to Jesus Christ hence they can’t be a spiritual father. Acts 18, we see the story of how Apostle Paul came preached the gospel, and the church was born.
Paul also went to Galatia region to the town of, Antioch of Pisidia, Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium and started churches. And so, when he wrote the Galatians in
Galatians 4:19, My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Only when you know how to produce the child then you know the difficulty and will treat the persons equally irrespective of whether you led them to Christ or not. Because everyone was born into the family of God by Him alone.
James 1:18, Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
1 Peter 1:23, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Remember the words of Jesus Christ?
Matthew 9:37-38, Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
2. Warns his children
1 Corinthians 4:14, I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
‘I do not write these things to shame you’ Paul has been very harsh on the Corinthians in this chapter. He was using sarcasm to show them their proud and haughty spirit that they might repent (4:8-10). However, his real point in this was not because he viewed them as his enemies and wanted to shame them, but because he viewed them as his children and wanted to warn them. What prompted him to write was not because of bitterness but love.
Paul needed to warn them that their pride and arrogance was only going to hurt them and the church. If not checked, it would result in divisions in the body of Christ.
3. Encourages his children
1 Corinthians 4:16, Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
The word exhort means “to urge to a course of action.” That which Paul was urging them to do was to follow his example. A father exhorts his child in ➢ to keep his room clean, ➢ use his manners with guests, ➢ be respectful toward adults, and ➢ like many things in life.
Likewise, spiritual father needs to exhort our spiritual children in things like ✓ trusting God, ✓ repenting of sin, ✓ obeying the Word, ✓ using their spiritual gifts, ✓ serving others, ✓ forgiving those that have wronged them, ✓ persevering in trials, ✓ praying without ceasing, ✓ studying the Word, ✓ sharing their faith, and ✓ giving to the poor.
One need to know others well enough so that the exhortations flow naturally from a heart of love for their spiritual welfare and progress.
Hebrews 10:25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
We are also taught that when we meet together as a church it is for the purpose of exhorting one another!
4. Set himself as an example
1 Corinthians 4:16-17, Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and
faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Imitate me in being willing, ➢ to be a fool for Christ, ➢ to be weak and without honor in the eyes of the world, ➢ to be hungry, ➢ poorly clothed, ➢ homeless, and ➢ roughly treated for the sake of the kingdom.
Imitate us in, ✓ toiling, ✓ working with our hands, ✓ blessing when we are hated, ✓ enduring when we are persecuted, ✓ reconciling when we are slandered. Imitate us in being willing to lose your lives for Christ’s sake, dying to a life of ease and comfort for the sake of the gospel, and responding in a Christlike way to your enemies.
Paul loved these Corinthians so much that he was not content just sending off this letter, but he wanted to send his beloved son Timothy.
Philippians 2:20-21, For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
What was Timothy’s job among them? To remind them of Paul’s ways. Timothy was NOT to remind them of Paul’s doctrine, but his ways. Corinthians were having behavioral problem, so they needed to be reminded of how Paul lived among them.
A human father knows that he must set a good example for his children, because if his example contradicts his words, his children are far more likely to follow his bad example than his good teaching.
5. Father disciplines his children
1 Corinthians 4:18-21, 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
There was a group of proud, arrogant, divisive believers in Corinth. They thought they were safe because Paul was gone, and for all they knew, would never return. Paul wants them to know they are greatly mistaken! He is coming to them soon he will find out if there is any divine power behind all their words.
Discipline is important. Love is not easy, blind sentiment. Love really disciplines when it’s necessary. An undisciplined child belongs to a parent is too selfish to love the child. It’s true spiritually. People who are willing to discipline me spiritually.
This is a great illustration of a loving father who is going to use the rod when he needs to use it! Who is going to discipline when he needs to discipline, and who is going to love in gentleness when that’s called for. But the decision is theirs.
Have you ever told that to your children? Ever said, “Look, the choice is yours. You can obey me, and everything will be great, but you don’t obey me and the consequences, you pay.”