Prepare for the Double Portion

God has promised to pour out His Double Portion Anointing, the former and latter anointings together after two days.

• • "After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6: 2-3

These two days are the Church Age. As Jesus promised, He will be perfected in His saints on the Third Day when they are prepared to enter into His presence, Luke 13:32.
The prophet Joel declared the Double Portion anointing:

• • "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23

The former rain (Pentecost) was only poured out moderately. This is the firstfruit anointing, the earnest, (down payment)of our inheritance. But God's prophetic Word declares we will receive the early and latter rain together in the first month, or at the beginning of the New Day. The apostle James gave us this same hope:

• • "Be patent therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain." James 5:7

Our God has a harvest in the earth. He has had long patience for this harvest, but it cannot be harvested until it receives the early and latter rain God has promised.
Those who enter the hundred fold realm, the Holy of Holies, will have their Father's name in their foreheads. This is the seal of the living God, Revelation 7:2. Those who enter through the vail receive another anointing. Before Aaron, the High Priest, could enter through the vail:

• • "Moses poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him." Leviticus 8:12

It was necessary for Aaron to receive another anointing before he could enter into the Holy of Holies. This is the Double Portion anointing.

We are right now in the beginning of a new apostolic reformation, Judgments are coming on many, many nations, and they are coming.

Judgments are coming. We need to know it is coming so that we know it is God and we know why He is doing it. He is trying to turn the nation back to God.
Sometimes that is just His last resort, but God still has a destiny for this nation. We’re going to go through some rough times but she will emerge again.

God is allowing all of this shaking because He is trying to bring the church to a place. He is going to create another kingdom in the earth, the kingdom of God. He is shaking everything down. Everything that can be shaken is going to be shaken in our lives and in the church.

The changes that are coming to the church are so profound. Pentecost turned the early church upside down (Acts 2) and turned the world upside down. This next move is going to turn the world right side up. What is coming is so profound that it will be hard for us to comprehend. God is going to break all of the traditional boundaries, all of them. This is much deeper than revival.
“You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.” (Isaiah 48:6)

God has a lot of stuff up His sleeve and He has a big sleeve. He is going to start pulling them out. We are living between a dying age and a new age. We are living in between them. We are living between sunset and sunrise. The church is at the point of profound change. There is a new season for the change, and because of this storms are abounding everywhere.
It is the dawning of a new age. There are birth pangs taking place because God is seeking to birth something. We have these contractions that happen.

The Lord Jesus said to me, “The day has now come when you will begin to see great anointings breaking out across the earth, anointings like you have never seen before. There are different anointings and there is nothing in history to reference them to. You must allow these anointings to strengthen your spirit. The time has come to stand and not fall. The time has come when these anointings will enable you to reveal the heart of the Father to this world. Tell the people they are My sent ones to this generation. I am about to release my apostolic anointing into the true church. Many angels are now prepared to come to the earth. They will carry these anointings and diffuse these anointings and impart mantles with them. Truth will be revealed like never before. You will be sent to reveal the heart of the Father. You must know the Father and reveal him to this world.”

Then Elijah said to me, “The spirit that was upon me in the earth in my days will be seen again in your days. It will turn the hearts of the children to the fathers. In my day, there were droughts in the earth. There were great deluges of rain. There were great fires and windstorms. There were confrontations with the powers of darkness. You are going to see the same things when my spirit comes again into the earth and rests again on God’s people.”

God is going to do a new thing. There is coming an anointing. There is coming a power. There’s coming a new revelation, which will turn the hearts of the children, not just to their earthly fathers, but to their heavenly Father. They will know God. They will know what He is like and what their destiny is here on this earth.

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)
God has His eye on a lost generation. Jezebel is going to lose her children. The Father is going to make himself known in the earth. The spirit of Elijah is coming. You’re going to see on YouTube confrontations between witches and the people of God. It is going to go worldwide. Guess who wins? God is going to demonstrate His power like never before.

Then Moses said to me, “The spirit that was upon me in my days on the earth will be upon you in your days now. This apostolic anointing will be released in the earth with great power. The end-time apostles are coming. It is going to change everything. They will lead God’s people through deep waters into the Promised Land, leading them through droughts, plagues, and dangerous times. The spirit of Pharaoh has to be broken. God sent plagues upon the land to break the spirit of Pharaoh.”

The people of Israel in Moses’ days were in bondage to Pharaoh, which is a type of the world. The church today is still in bondage to this world and it’s pull upon them. It has to be broken. Do you know what is coming upon the land? Plagues. All kinds of stuff is coming. Volcanic eruptions are coming. Chemical warfare is coming. Plagues are coming. There are going to be viruses with no antibiotic for them. Why? To break the spirit of Pharaoh so God’s people have no one else to turn to but God. That is the purpose of it, to turn the people back to God. Moses said, “These apostles will release the fullness of Passover, the fullness of Pentecost, and the fullness of Tabernacles.”


We have never entered into the fullness of our salvation, but we are going to. We are going to have a whole Church of people who are whole. A new reformation is about to get underway.

The Ministry of Angels

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

One of the most comforting teachings in the Bible is the way in which angels work with believers...

ANGELS ASSIST AND MINISTER TO BELIEVERS

“But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit Salvation?”  Heb 1:13-14

The angels assist us in a way very much like waiters. They fetch and carry. (See also Rev 22:9; 1 Kings 19:5-7; Matt 4:11)

QUESTION: HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT ANGELS ARE INVOLVED IN OUR AFFAIRS?

Answer: with our words (Dan 10:12; Eccl 5:6; Matt 18:18). Our words often determine the response of Heaven towards us and the resulting circumstances or situation. Pray. The Sword of the Spirit is the spoken Word of God. You bind your angel when you fail to confess the Word. Angels are obedient to God and His Word.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9

We see that there is no such thing as a silent disciple. We must speak God’s Truth. There is no place for anyone who is ashamed of the Gospel. When soul winning, expect the angels to minister to those you are witnessing to. It is important to remember that angels cannot preach the Gospel - only we can. However, we can ask God for the angels to protect and strengthen those to whom we are witnessing.

ANGELS PROVIDE PROTECTION

“The angel of the Lord encamp all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12

The latter verse was misquoted by satan to Jesus, but is an example to us that angels do protect us, but we must not provoke them or the hand of God to action.

Examples of where angels helped believers include the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. (Daniel 6:22). Note Daniel’s  confession (or the words he speaks). Another example is in Genesis 21:8-21 where we see Hagar and Ishmael protected from thirst. Again read Matthew 18:10 for an example of the work of angels.

In 2 Kings 6:17 we see Elisha shielded from national foes. In Acts 12:5-11 Peter is guarded  from a sadistic government official and in Acts 27:9-44 Paul and his companions were kept from death during  a shipwreck. another instance we see angels at work helping believers is in Acts 5:19 when the Apostle is let out of prison.

ANGELS MINISTER STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT

“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”  Matt 4:11

“Then an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.” Luke 22:43

Jesus was encouraged and strengthened during His fast.

These Scriptures indicate with clarity that angels do act as ministers of strength and encouragement.

ANGELS HELPS IN GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION

God may give guidance in various ways:

Through the Word; the Voice of the Holy Spirit; through dreams, visions, an inner witness (conviction); through circumstances, a word from other people, through the gifts of the Spirit (like prophecy) and through angels.

The following Scriptures detail situations where angels ministered guidance to individuals:

• Mary and Mary Magdalene told on the morning of the resurrection to tell the others that Jesus has risen (Matt 28)
• Philip told which road to take to find the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26)
• Cornelius told to send for Peter (Acts 10)
• Paul told that he must stand trial before Caesar. (Acts 27:23-24)

ANGELS ACCOMPANIES PRAYER

This ministry can be clearly seen in the following two examples: in Acts 12( when the church was praying for Peter’s release from prison) and Daniel 10 (after 21 days of prayer, Daniel’s answer arrives via an angel).

ANGELS HAVE A MINISTRY TO THE DYING – ANGELS TRANSPORT a SAINT’S SPIRIT AFTER DEATH

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.” Luke 16:22  Lazarus’s spirit was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom. When God’s saints fall asleep in death, the angels escort the spirits to Heaven.

ANGELS GUIDES OUR WAY

Angels work towards prospering the way of believers: “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.”  Exo 23:20

Just as the Holy Spirit is God inside of us and central to see God’s Kingdom advanced, the angels of God play the role of ministering along side of those who inherit salvation.

Hebrews 1:14

“Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Amplified)

Are we conscious of the Spirit within us? Are we aware of the angels of God ministering along with us? How does fasting and prayer play a role? These two devotional elements in our lives are lethal to  the enemy, explosive, being essential to the awakening of our spiritual senses and to the activating of angels. (Daniel 10:3,12-13) David tells us that prayer returned to his heart when he fasted. (Psalm 35:13) This tells us that it was more than words for David, but that the spirit of prayer was awakened within him. God’s Word is also awakened within us through this radical expression of devotion.  As well, the angels of God are activated by the Word of God spoken in faith. (Psalm 103:20) Now more than ever we need to be awakened with bright eyes of faith not only to the Spirit within us but that the angels of God would find a place of activity in our midst.

SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD BY APOSTLE JONAS CLARK

BENEFITING FROM  SPIRITUAL FATHERS Mentors and honoring spiritual fathers are essential.To have a good spiritual father or mentor in your life is truly a gift from God. Your response to that gift will determine much of what happens in your future. Scripture says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17). Honor reveals character. To honor someone means to show approval, gratefulness, and respect. To dishonor someone means to disdain, put down, belittle, and insult. Those that honor their fathers lengthen their lives and those that dishonor their fathers shorten their lives. This truth is found in the Fifth Commandment. “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). You not only have natural fathers, but you have spiritual fathers. A spiritual father is that person God puts in your life to help you become all that God has called you to be. Spiritual fathers transfer a wealth of knowledge to their sons and daughters through the spirit of wisdom. Scripture says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). To have a spiritual father in your life is a gift from God. Your response to that gift will determine much of what happens in your future.   Sons must guard against the pitfalls of jealousy, pride, and dishonor. Lucifer is an example of one that dishonored his leader. One trait that led to Lucifer’s downfall was pride. Insecurity is the root of pride. An insecure and prideful person will most certainly belittle others. To belittle a person means to dishonor them. Dishonor ends relationships. Lucifer was jealous of the glory given to Jehovah. His jealousy opened the door to pride, and pride led to dishonoring God. “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Ezekiel 28:13-15) You need a spiritual father in your life. Apostolic ministries have apostolic fathers. I came from a generation of preachers who grew up in ministry without the benefit of spiritual fathers. Like thousands of others, we had to get whatever we could through books, audios, videos, seminars, conferences and brief meetings with men of God hurried off platforms and away from the people. I have wondered how much more effective I might have become if someone would have taken a personal interest in the call of God on my life. As the apostolic church moves forward, we can expect the heart of spiritual fathers to be restored toward the sons of God. One cannot be an apostle who doesn’t have the heart of a spiritual father. Let’s look at the Apostle Paul as an example. Paul had a vested interest in the success of his spiritual son Timothy. You can hear the heart of the father when Paul says to Timothy,“For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ you do not have many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). Today fathers are abandoning their wives, children, and responsibilities. This is a reflection of the spiritual condition of our world as we note the same pattern of abandonment taking place in ministry. Over 1500 pastors quit the ministry each month and thousands more leave churches without cause. Pastors are leaving because the ministry is tough, and a lack of understanding the roles of five-fold ascension gifts leads to abuse. If you don’t understand the role of your leader, then you can abuse that leader. Some leaders protect themselves by becoming insensitive. Callousness, however, can damage the work of ministry. In the past, some ministry gifts would not take the time to raise spiritual sons or daughters. Some even went out of their way not to make a way for any spiritual kinship at all and focused on building their own ministries instead. Some sons and daughters only want blessing, not correction and guidance by loving apostolic fathers. The result for many of God’s leaders has been to follow the path of least resistance by concentrating on their own ministries and avoiding further aggravation. It takes more time to raise a spiritual son or daughter than it does to convert a sinner. The cry of the Spirit is the return of apostolic fathers toward the sons and daughters and sons and daughters toward fathers. For decades, we have been missing the spirit of the father in our churches and homes. Our society is a mirror of the spiritual condition of our nation. A lack of fathers in the home is the primary social problem facing America says 72.2 % of those polled. In 2006, there were 12.9 million one parent families in the United States, 10.4 million single mother families and 2.5 million single father families. Just over 67 percent of the nation’s 73.7 million children younger, than 18, lived with two married parents. The results are grimly revealing. Children of single-parent homes are: Five times more likely to commit suicide. 32 times more likely to run away. 14 times more likely to commit rape. Nine times more likely to drop out of high school. 20 times more likely to end up in prison. The outcome of a lack of both parents in the home is lawlessness. The family is under attack, but hope is on the way. God spoke of the turning spirit of Elijah returning to His Church in the last days. “And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6). Times are changing. The Holy Spirit is challenging hearts and reversing them from self-centeredness to helping others. Millions of children have been raised in single parent homes, mostly by good mothers doing the best they could. The role of mothers, however, is different from fathers. Take little Johnny, for example, who was told not to play baseball in his friends’ backyard. He disobeys and breaks the neighbor’s glass window. Who do you think he runs home to tell, his mother or father? Most likely he ran to mommy. That’s because the role of mothers is different from fathers. Mother’s nurture and comfort but fathers set rules and boundaries for behavior. Fathers also discipline and correct. Little Johnny’s mom probably offered him hugs and plenty of love. I’m sure she told him that everything was going to be all right. But when dad came home little Johnny had to face the consequences of his rebellion, go to the neighbors house, repent and arrange to have the window repaired. Spiritual fathers do not replace natural fathers. Don’t expect them to take you on fishing trips or out to ball games. They are spiritual fathers. Spiritual fathers are mentors that offer wise and trusted counsel designed to get you to think. Submission to their oversight is biblical, voluntary and comes through relationship. It also affords you spiritual covering and accountability. A mentor offers instruction, advice, guidance and counsel. A spiritual father also corrects. Don’t expect a true spiritual father to ignore your mistakes and personality malfunctions. Correction is designed to help you grow both spiritually and emotionally. Spiritual fathers do not replace your relationship with God. They point you toward dependency on the Lord and away from themselves. It is Jesus that is the author and finisher of your faith. IDENTIFYING SONS AND DAUGHTERS It takes a father to give birth to a son. Son, from the Latin root su, means to give birth. Not everybody that attends your ministry is a spiritual son or daughter. Some are autonomous sheep, disgruntled goats or barbarous wolves. Others are just good people passing through. So how do you know who your spiritual sons and daughters are? One time the Holy Spirit said to me, “I have many sons and daughters for you in every nation if you will go.” I asked him how to know who they were, and he answered, “You will know them by their pursuit.” Pursuit is the key. It doesn’t mean that you were the one that led them to the Lord. It’s possible to have many spiritual sons and daughters that heard the salvation message through someone else. Hundreds of people have told me they wanted me to be their spiritual father. To know who they are, I look for pursuit. Like everybody else I am busy and want to spend my time with the right people. When we have meetings in other countries, for example, I am keenly aware of those present. If I take the time and expense to travel to another nation, and they won’t attend when they live there, then I know they are just talkers. I spend my time with workers, not talkers. The same goes for identifying your spiritual sons and daughters. Talk is still cheap and doesn’t mean much. Pursuit tells you who they are. If they are not pursuing then, don’t spend much of your time with them. On the other hand, those who do pursue are the ones you can do exploits with and help them become champions. Spend your time with them and watch them become all that God has called them to be. VICTORIOUS LIVING      Spiritual fathers don’t teach you to pass exams, they prepare you for victorious living. Our educational system has given us a pattern of learning based on lectures and exams. Students learn only to pass academic tests. Teaching to pass a test is not the Biblical model for learning. The learning pattern throughout Scripture is to find a mentor who teaches and trains you through an internship. Paul mentored Timothy, Silas, and Erastus, and Elijah taught Elisha, and Joshua interned with Moses. All creation is waiting for the sons of God to manifest (Romans 8:19). Without spiritual fathers, there can be no revealing of sons. Marks of true spiritual fathers include: Trustworthy Guide Protect Direct Nurture Shape and mold Discipline Encourage Give wisdom Instill purpose Give hope Consistency Listen Involved Instill moral values Demand integrity Develop character Provide spiritual leadership Correct. Spiritual fathers caution behavior. “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you” (1 Corinthians 4:14). Warn, Greek noutheteo, means admonish, caution and exhort. “As you know how we encouraged and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory”  (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Spiritual fathers set a good example. “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). Spiritual fathers admonish. “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” (1 Corinthians 4:19-21). The relationships between spiritual fathers and sons and daughters are significant in the local church. Without strong spiritual fathers, we cannot have strong spiritual sons and daughters. Again, Scripture declares the entire world is waiting for the “manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). Let’s number some of the benefits of sonship. BENEFITS OF SONSHIP The benefits of sonship include training from a spiritual father, protective oversight, prodding for spiritual and emotional growth, preparation for inheritance, and correction. 1. TRAINING, COUNSEL, AND EXPERIENCE A spiritual father is a gift to you from the Holy Spirit. Spiritual fathers are competent and seasoned through trial and experience. They have passed through places in life that you have not yet been. Wouldn’t it be nice to counsel with someone that has experience in what you are facing? Paul told Timothy, “You have known my manner of life, persecutions, and afflictions” (2 Timothy 3:10-11). 2. PROTECTION FROM DEMONIC WILES Spiritual fathers provide protective oversight to their sons and daughters. Inattention is not healthy for anyone. Because of their experience they often see things that you can’t and their vision offers protection from evil wiles and demonic onslaught (Ephesians 6:10-12). 3. SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT Spiritual fathers provide a safe environment to grow. Fathers train and prepare their sons and daughters for the transition from adolescence to adulthood. They get you to think. Everyone gets older, but not everyone matures. Maturity is vital in your life, and spiritual fathers will put a demand on you to grow. Spiritual fathers inject a spirit of excellence in their sons and daughters. Demand is good for you and helps you face personal challenges that buffet success and achievement. As you submit to their instruction you will enter new levels of triumph. Expect them to motivate you to set goals and achieve objectives (2 Timothy 1:6-7). 4. INHERITANCE Apathy is deadly and kills spiritual momentum. Growth is needed if you are going to receive your inheritance. Not heavenly inheritance, but full accomplishment of your unique calling. Inheritance is what rightfully belongs to you. Everyone has been given a gift, something specific that God has called you to do with your life. Many never discover that gift but with the guidance of a spiritual father, you will find your purpose and make a difference with your life. Scripture declares that we are under tutors and governors until we come into our sonship (Galatians 4:1-3). Like spiritual fathers, tutors give private instruction, and governors regulate your progress. 5. CORRECTION No one likes correction, but everyone needs it. Correction helps us improve, and compliance is proof of sonship. How do you know if you are a real son or daughter? You know by your response to correction. Scripture identifies true sons in contrast to illegitimate sons by their ability to receive correction from the father and make necessary course adjustments. If you can’t handle correction, you are not a spiritual son or daughter. “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons. My son do not make light of the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when he rebukes you because the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons” (Hebrews 12:5-8). THE TWIN PITFALLS OF SONSHIP The benefits of sonship are terrific, but there is something you need to guard yourself against, the twin pitfalls of sonship. Familiarity and presumption are two major traps of sonship. Developing relationships is a lot of work and fundamental in apostolic ministries. There are many reasons for not raising sons and daughters including a lack of those who want to be raised by true spiritual fathers and an increase of rebellion in the heart of God’s children. Some true fathers, while training spiritual sons and daughters, have displayed their humanity only to find some not able to handle their transparency. Relationships are tested. Mark Twain the famous author wrote, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Contempt is disrespectful behavior that leads to presumptuous actions. This is the pitfall of sonship that causes you to take your spiritual father for granted. King Saul took Samuel for granted. He entered the realm of presumption assuming a role of ministry that didn’t belong to him and lost his kingship. Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because they thought of him as the carpenter’s son, not the only begotten son of God. Sonship is a beautiful thing to achieve and unlocks worlds of opportunity for you. Jesus never entered his ministry until He was first called a son (Matthew 17:5). He is our prototype son that was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him (Acts 10:38). You, too, can become a spiritual son or daughter. Beware, however, the dangers of familiarity and presumption. ACTION EXERCISE You need a spiritual father in your life. Spiritual fathers raise learning, growing, thinking, imaginative people. The new apostolic reformation includes restoration of spiritual fathers, sons and daughters. Perhaps the Holy Spirit has been turning your heart as you read this essay. If so, remember sonship begins with serving your man of God. Find a five-fold ascension gift and pursue the gift of God in him. Serving is the entrance to sonship. Jesus was always connected to his father. Get connected through serving. When you are around him, be ready to learn and draw on his gift. Sons catch the spirit that’s on their fathers. You can’t catch what you’re not around. You can expect him to give you assignments. When he does, fulfill them with excellence. Be like Joshua, the one who lead the children of Israel into the Promise Land. He was first called the servant of Moses. Today he is remembered as one of God’s greatest leaders. CONCLUSION You need a spiritual father in your life. Apostolic ministries have apostolic fathers. Developing relationships is a lot of work and fundamental in apostolic ministries. Spiritual fathers are mentors that offer wise and trusted counsel designed to get you to think. A mentor offers instruction, advice, guidance and counsel. A spiritual father also corrects. The learning pattern throughout Scripture is to find a mentor who teaches and trains you through an internship. Paul mentored Timothy, Silas, and Erastus, and Elijah taught Elisha, and Joshua interned with Moses. The benefits of sonship include training from a spiritual father, protective oversight, prodding for spiritual and emotional growth, preparation for inheritance, and correction. A spiritual father is a gift to you from the Holy Spirit. Spiritual fathers are competent and seasoned through trial and experience. Fathers train and prepare their sons and daughters for the transition from adolescence to adulthood. They get you to think. Maturity is vital in your life, and spiritual fathers will put a demand on you to grow. Spiritual fathers inject a spirit of excellence in their sons and daughters. Demand is good for you and helps you face personal challenges that buffet success and achievement. Everyone has been given a gift, something specific that God has called you to do with your life. Many never discover that gift but with the guidance of a spiritual father, you will find your purpose and make a difference with your life. Scripture declares that we are under tutors and governors until we come into our sonship (Galatians 4:1-3). Tutors give private instruction and governors regulate your progress. No one likes correction, but everyone needs it. Correction helps us improve and is proof of sonship. How do you know if you are a real son or daughter? You know by your response to correction. Jesus never entered His ministry until He was first called a son (Matthew 17:5). Some things I've learned over the years about spiritual fathering: 1. A spiritual father will see you for who you are and will be a champion of your heart. 2. Fathers give their sons and daughters an inheritance. An inheritance has to do with a tribe, a ministry, and spiritual DNA. Read more about it here. 3. Fathers are generous with their time with their sons and daughters. They are there for them in life's storms. 4. Fathers teach their sons and daughters how to live life. They help wake them up to the kingdom. 5. Fathers don't give themselves the designation of "father," sons or daughters do. Men who talk about themselves as fathers a lot probably do so out of their own need for affirmation. Be careful of them. 6. A son or daughter should be slow to call anyone their spiritual father. They may want to do so prematurely because of the hole in their heart, but a father must prove his faithfulness over time. 7. Fathers are consistent. Too many of you have suffered under inconsistent father figures. Their inconsistency can be a form of abuse. 8. Don't confuse authority figures, especially your pastor, with your spiritual father. Pastors may qualify as a spiritual father if they show up in your life over time in a deeply invested and personal way. 9. Some of you are fortunate to have dads who have loved you well and become a spiritual father to you. Recognize that your dad is part of a rare breed of man and you are privileged. You may have other spiritual fathers, but be sure to never let that fact diminish the role of your dad in your life. Honoring your natural father for who he is and what he's invested in you is the fifth commandment God gave his people. 10. To get the most from a spiritual father, you have to press into them. Don't expect them to do all the work. Make it easy for them to invest.

FREEDOM FROM DEMONIC CAPTIVITY

Demon bondage can be brought about when an individual is possessed, oppressed, or is in rebellion towards God (sins of the flesh). It takes God's discernment to determine which of these is producing the bondage in an individual's life.

The Bible makes it clear that there are demons, or evil spirits, in the world that interfere in people's lives (Ephesians 6:11-19). Evil forces, or powers, influence and control the minds of individuals, bring sickness and cause undesirable behavior, inability to function normally, and even suicide. As a result of these forces, people can become a danger to themselves as well as others.

What Scripture Says

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee" (Deuteronomy 18:10-13).

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

"... there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.... And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out,t hey went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters" (Matthew 8:28b, 32).

"There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them with which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one" (Acts 5:16).

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

Indications of Demon Activity

The following areas may help you to recognize your need for being released from demonic oppression, possession or bondages of the flesh (sin):

1. Compulsion to abuse animals or people;
2. Sexual perversion and immorality (homosexuality, molestation,etc.);
3. A compulsion to abuse your body (drugs, alcohol, gluttony, abuse or misuse of other substances, etc.);
4. Seeking spiritual knowledge through Eastern religions and other counterfeit religious groups (TM, Yoga, humanism, etc.);
5. Involvement in occult practices (fortune-telling, Satanism, etc.);
6. Mental distress or oppression (anxiety, fear, anger, disorientation, etc.);
7. Psychological disorders (split and multiple personalities, paranoia, etc.);
8. Physical disorders may be demon caused (Matthew 9:32, 33);
9. Lack of freedom or joy in the Lord (spiritual bondage);
10. Inability or constant refusal to repent of sin, though you know you are sinning (rebellion).

See Bible passages under References/Homework and in a Bible dictionary and concordance for examples of the above. If you are having difficulty in discerning your problem, please seek help from a local pastor, elder or Christian counselors who will help you to discern your need and can counsel and pray with you.

What Is God's Answer?

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18, 19).

This prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in Christ, and the authority noted herein has been passed on to Christians (Mark 16:17).

Jesus came to free those under demon bondage. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). The term "saved" or "salvation" includes your spiritual, physical and mental health.

You need to pray sincerely to the Lord that He will forgive your sin, cleanse you, be your Saviour and Lord and baptize (fill) you with the Holy Spirit (I John 1:8, 9; John 1:12; Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit will give you the power to overcome demon bondage, activity and influence. You will be free. You can experience an abundant, full, meaningful life with the joy and purpose God desires for you (John 10:10).

If You Can't Pray In Victory

First, you need to be sure your problem is not a fleshly, willful one on your part. Take a bold, fearless inventory of yourself. You must choose whom you will serve; self and fleshly desire, Satan or God? Repent of all sinful desires. Renounce sin and sinfulness and its ingrained habits. Commit yourself to Christ with determination and resolve. After you have repented and asked for forgiveness, accept God's assurance that you are a child of God and have been forgiven.

If you need further help, the elders of the church can pray and minister to you (James 5:14,15).

How You Can Stay Free

You cannot reckon an evil spirit dead nor crucify an evil spirit. Neither can you cast out the flesh. You must crucify the flesh (Galatians 2:20) and its desires and cast out evil spirits (James 4:7). When demons or evil spirits are cast out, you need something to replace them, lest they return (Matthew 12:43-48).

You can be assured of victory over demons if you have received Jesus as Saviour and Lord (John 1:12), and have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit guides you into truth, empowers you, and intercedes for you. He also gives you spiritual gifts, such as discerning of spirits, for your welfare and that of others (I Corinthians 12; Mark 16:9-20).

As you receive God's nature, the traits of your fleshly nature (such as irresponsible behavior, pride, and lack of love) will be replaced by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).

Your greatest need is to continually study God's Word. Meditate upon the Bible day and night (Joshua 1:8) to put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to effectively overcome the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:10-18). Jesus answered Satan with the Word of God (Luke 4:1-13). You can do the same. Pray withoutc easing (I Thessalonians 5:17) and get into a local church fellowship for further ministry (Hebrews 10:25).

As You Pray

Consistently honor God with thanksgiving and praise. As you give Him first place in your thoughts and actions, Satan and his demons will have no place in your life.