The Importance of Spiritual Fathers

This week, Christ the Healer Church will celebrate its 12th Church Anniversary. Later this week, Bishop Calvin and Pastor Lynn Lockett will be honored for their contributions to the Clarksville Community.

There are no other people deserving of this honor! In the body of Christ it is important who we maintain relationships with. One of those relationships must be to our spiritual fathers and mothers.
Let us look at the mantle of anointing that Elijah passes down to Elisha. Elijah took the mantle, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left, then the two of them crossed over into dry ground. After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you?’ So Elisha answered, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” Elijah replied, you have asked a difficult thing. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t (2 Kings 2: 8-10).

Elisha went on to receive the double portion of the spiritual fathers anointing. You see, Elijah had walked with God, talked with God, demonstrated his faith in God, so God allowed Elijah’s spirit to transfer to his spiritual son, Elisha. But before Elisha could take the mantle, he had to first submit himself to Elijah’s training, for over 20 years! Too many in the body today are in a hurry to grab a mic and preach but we have no foundation from the father. You can’t be a Bishop Calvin Lockett without a Pastor Verdell!

Your spiritual fathers’ anointing came out of submission to God and allowing his body to be “buffeted about.” When your pastor tells you it is not your time yet, believe them, they see what you can’t! People who are anointed can see for real, they know who you are in the spirit. Your spiritual father is responsible to protect you from harm, so don’t get mad when he/she has not given you a title yet, they can see! Only a person who is under the obedience of God can lay hands on you and anoint you to greater works!

Today's prayer is that we value our spiritual fathers and be mature enough to discern what they mean in our lives. Father, allow us to trust that the portion of anointing that flows from our spiritual fathers will find us and we will follow in that same anointing.