John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does ( NLT)
WHEN THERE IS NO MODEL FATHER
Recently, I was discussing with a brother who lost his father at a very young age. He is a minister of the Gospel. In our discussion, he told me how his pastor has played the role of a father in his life to the point where he calls him daddy as though he were his biological father.
In previous lessons, much emphasis was laid on modeling true fatherhood by earthly fathers who are christians. What about those who do not have a father or are from a background where Christ is not honoured or revered?
If you are in any of these category, I want you to know that you have hope. God the father is our father. He is a father to the fatherless. You can learn true fatherhood from him by reading scriptures and allowing the Holy Spirit teach you more about his fatherhood.
Further, the local church is an expression of God's family here on earth where the pastor stands as the father figure for all representing God the father. It is to your advantage If you belong to a local church where Christ is modeled and taught by the pastor.
In Ephesians 2:19, Paul says, "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family" ( NLT).
Per adventure you have no one around you who is a model of godly fatherhood, your pastor should be able to play that role in your life provided you're under the right shepherd.
The local church is designed by God to raise disciples and transform people into the very image of the son whose pattern is akin to that of God the father. The impact of the local church in our lives( family life inclusive) is far-reaching. Your christian walk is incomplete without being part of a local church.
It is impossible to submit yourself to a genuine spiritual father and not have in him a true model father. Being under true authority will shape you into the kind of father we have been discussing about in this series.
You lose alot when you abandon the family of God headed by the pastor. You cannot run a solo race and be built. If you do not belong to a church or you are not submitted to godly spiritual authority that can model true fatherhood to you, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right place.
Father, I thank you for this series. As a father, I receive the grace to model godliness in Jesus name.