Gen. 3:4 π Gen. 6:3 π Dt. 12:32 π Psa. 119:160 π Prov. 30:6 π Isa. 45:19 π Isa. 63:16 π Jer. 3:19 π Jer. 23:16 π Mt. 7:13-15 π Mt. 10:28 π Mt. 11:27 π Mt. 13:38 π Mt. 23:1-10 π Mt. 23:4 π Mt. 23:6-7 π Mt. 23:9 π Mt. 23:11-14 π Mt. 23:13 π Mk. 4:3-20 π Lk. 3:38 π Jn. 3:5 π Jn. 3:16 π Jn. 3:35 π Jn. 8:41-46 π Jn. 10:1 π Jn. 10:7 π Jn. 10:10; 2nd π Jn. 14:18 π Acts 13:10 π Rom. 8:8 π Rom. 8:15 π Rom. 12:1 π Rom. 16:18 π 1 Cor. 4:1 π 1 Cor. 4:2 π 1 Cor. 4:15-16 π 1 Cor. 11:1 π 1 Cor. 15:46 π 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 2nd π 2 Cor. 6:18 π 2 Cor. 11:13 π 2 Cor. 12:14-15 π Eph. 1:3 π Eph. 3:14-19 π Eph. 4:6 π Phlp. 2:22 π Col. 2:8 π 1 Tim. 2:5 π 1 Tim. 3:4 π 1 Tim. 3:8 π 1 Tim. 3:12 π 2 Tim. 2:14-16 π 2 Tim. 3:5 π 2 Tim. 3:16 π Tit. 1:13 π Jas. 5:16 π 1 Pet. 2:5 π 1 Pet. 3:15 π 1 Pet. 5:8 π 1 Jn. 2:13-14 π 1 Jn. 2:27 π 1 Jn. 3:10 π Rev. 2:2 π Rev. 2:14-17
It is amazing how one will find certain scriptures to back ANY false doctrine, but the Psalmist clearly states, “The ENTIRETY of Your Word is truth.” ( Psa. 119:160 ) Religious leaders almost always see themselves as God’s ‘anointed’ leaders and ‘final’ prophets and this false perception of leadership eventually grows into the delusion that they themselves are gods! As such, they demand unconditional obedience and total submission to their ‘final authority,’ and place themselves above questioning and accountability. Hence many Christians today look upon these religious leaders, who are ‘mere’ mortals no matter what image they put forth, as if they alone are the supreme source of spiritual instruction, nourishment, and protection. One thing is certain, Satan does indeed “come to steal [God’s truth, His Word - Mk. 4:3-20 ], kill [the soul and body – Mt. 10:28 ], and destroy [everything Godly and good]” while our Lord Jesus Christ came so that we “may have life, and have it more abundantly” ( Jn. 10:10 ), it remains a fact that none of us are above deception and error, as none of us fallible humans has all the answers only the Man Jesus Christ. ( Renette Vermeulen ) He is certainly the ANSWER for this world today! God made us part of Jesus’ body, where we can minister to ONE ANOTHER, and keep ONE ANOTHER accountable, safe, and healthy in the faith. ( 1 Pet. 3:15 , Tit. 1:13 , Jas. 5:16 ) To this effect Paul wrote to Timothy, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord… Be… a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of TRUTH,” [because] “ALL Scripture, [the entire context of the Word] is given by inspiration, [not dictation] of God, and is profitable for… reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness.” ( 2 Tim. 2:14-16 ; 3:16; top )
As sincere believers in Christ we must ensure that we do not become partakers of turning these mere mortals into “gurus.” This was also the case in Jesus’ day, when rabbinical leaders, especially those of the Pharisees and Sadducees, were highly exalted by their disciples. It is this elevation of an individual man of which Jesus is speaking when he warns the crowds and His disciples against accrediting to someone an undue role. “Call no man Father.” ( Mt. 23:9 ) We give these ‘gurus’ titles of honour (cult status) and create our very own “golden calves” and forsake our Only True Spiritual Father God Almighty, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit that is resident within us. We are the Temple made of Living Stones. ( 1 Pet. 2:5 ) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship.” ( Rom. 12:1 ) “Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.” ( Rom. 8:8; top )
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples:
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. [Jesus refers to all sincere believers of Christ as brothers!] And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah.” ( Mt. 23:1-10; top )
Jesus criticized these Jewish leaders who love “the place of honour.” ( Mt. 23:6-7 ) His rebuke here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their gluttonous appetite for status and honour. Here Jesus was using hyperbole to show the scribes and Pharisees [an honest, objective comparison must include the “patriarchs,” “set men” and “super apostles” today] how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching and instead setting themselves up as the final authorities, the high ranking officials [first in rank], “father” figures and representatives and teachers here on earth, in truth, merely predatory clergy. “Kingdom Now” cults build their own empires of this world and use what they call “the Kingdom of God” as the “gate” for the spiritual exploitation of God’s children. Jesus was not condemning or even referring to calling one’s biological dad as “father” but he was specifically condemning the usage in the specific ways that these “set men,” “apostolic source,” “patriarchs,” “spiritual fathers” and “super apostles” religiously use it. “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. ...you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ...you devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.” ( Mt. 23:11-14; top )
Nothing has changed since the creation of Adam. Satan was there in the garden just like he is roaming this earth to see whom he can devour. ( 1 Pet. 5:8 ) He still continues to deceive and beguile just like in the garden. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil [to be as gods].’” ( Gen. 3:4; top ) This false teaching that “you are gods” is nothing new in the body of Christ today. If God is not your only Spiritual Father then your only “other father” in the spirit is Satan.
“You are doing your father’s actions.” They told Him, “We’re not illegitimate children. We have one Father God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own; God sent Me. Why is My language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me! Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me?” ( Jn. 8:41-46; top )
From the above Scripture we can clearly see Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees that there is another “father,” the devil and that he also has sons on the earth. (Also see
Mt. 13:38
,
1 Jn. 3:10
,
Acts 13:10; top
) You can have your “spiritual father” the devil or you can have your SPIRITUAL FATHER God Almighty. The question is which category do you fall in?
God is by nature a Father (He was the Father of Adam) and He keeps revealing Himself to us. He wants a family but our sin made it impossible for us to be reconciled to Him. He has found a way for our sin to be dealt with so we could be united to Him again through CHRIST JESUS His Son, our only REDEEMER! “Come out from the ways of the world [doctrines of men] and become the sons and daughters that God intended.” ( 2 Cor. 6:17-18 ) We can have the relationship with God that we were made for! Yes, I believe in the Father and Son principle wholeheartedly. God is my Spiritual Father and I am His spiritual son. Paul tells us that we have “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba, Father.” ( Rom. 8:15 ) What does he mean by “Abba, Father”? Abba is an Aramaic word which means “daddy” or “papa.” What Paul is saying is when you accept Jesus as your Saviour you are adopted into God’s family. You become His child and He becomes your Heavenly ‘Spiritual’ Father. The relationship is so deep and so personal that you can call him “daddy.” You may rightfully call Him “my Father, my Father” and in turn He will call you “My son, My son.” Fatherhood is personal; God does not want to be distant. He does not want a medium (set man/representative) between Him and you. Christ is our Representative, our only Mediator, PERIOD! ( 1 Tim. 2:5; top ) In fact, all sincere believers are representatives of Christ and we should be imitators of Him and not imitators of one’s “set man,” a position nowhere to be found in New Testament original apostolic teaching.
“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. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” ( 1 Cor. 4:15-16 ) Paul was not an intermediary between Believers and Jesus Christ. He was not even telling them to follow him per se, but rather that they should submit to Jesus Christ just as he had submitted to Jesus Christ. It is for this reason that Paul used the phrase, “imitate me.” Many supporters of the “spiritual fathers” teaching stop there but Paul completes that phrase, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.” ( 1 Cor. 11:1 ) The teaching on “spiritual fathers” is not found anywhere in the New Testament and opposes the teachings of Jesus Christ on that very subject. You don’t need a “spiritual father” to be anointed and to be blessed. Now, if God does send you an older man who has a genuine fatherly role in your life, bless God! But if any man comes along and insists on being called your “father,” especially if he has little or no interaction with you but to take your money, you and he are severely deceived! Our Heavenly Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus and anointed us by The Holy Spirit with an anointing that abides in us. ( Eph. 1:3 , 1 Jn. 2:27 ) The Father gives to Christ all manner of blessing. The blessings first come to Christ, and from Him they come to us. “The Father loved the Son and has given all things into His hand.” ( Jn. 3:35 ) We must go to Christ for everything. Christ says, “All things are delivered unto Me by My Father.” ( Mt. 11:27 ) Christ alone is the DOOR. “No true child of God can submit to these ‘hirelings,’ which Jesus Himself described in John 10.” They do not even enter by the Door, (the True Jesus,) but climb into the stable via their false doctrines and false ‘authority,’ (another gospel,) and THEY are the ones Jesus warned about, the thief, that do not come except to steal (the blood-bought souls of Jesus,) kill, and destroy,” not following the TRUE Christ, Who came to “bring life and life in abundance.” ( Renette Vermuelen – see Jn. 10:1 , 7 , 10; top )
Our Heavenly Spiritual Father wants to have a direct relationship with us. That which is personal! He is not afar off but resides in you. Even a good earthly father is limited by human weaknesses (failures) and inadequacies. God is not just “The Father of creation” or “Father of all.” He is interested in a personal and intimate relationship with you and you alone. Read Isa. 63:16 ; Jer. 3:19 ; 2 Cor. 6:18 . He wants to be a Father to you. He longs for you to have a relationship with Him. The Bible clearly does not say: He gave some spiritual fathers, set men, apostolic sources, and patriarch, etc. This is what the “New [Roman Catholic] Reformation” teaches and practices. But the Bible still says, “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” ( Dt. 12:32 ) “Do not add to His Words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar!” ( Prov. 30:6; top ) Fatherhood is not a single act but an on-going, lifelong process. We live with our children and teach them about life. We help them, lead them and direct them when they are unsure of what life throws at them. We offer advice and encouragement. We don't leave them to their own devices. We walk together with them. So it is with God! He wants to be a Father to us daily, in an active and on-going way. We are not left to muddle on in our own strength. He calls us into the shelter of His wings to protect us, care for us, nurture us and lead us in His ways. He is certainly our ‘spiritual’ covering. - not some mortal man, that wants to “father” you and “cover” you and thousands of others around the world, men who claim they are “Patriarchs” and will become “spiritual fathers” to you, men who claim to have climbed to the rank of “super apostle” or “patriarch.” Be very wary of such men – they live to separate (Swindle!) you from your money and your Father God!
The whole idea of this deception is that once one has reached a certain, unspecified level of “spiritual maturity,” he, the “super apostle” is to be regarded as a “patriarch” and no longer needs a “spiritual father” over him. He becomes “the spiritual father” to all his deluded followers, his “children.” This is what I call a non-resident “father” and what psychologists and sociologists call “absentee father”! To be father to thousands or even hundreds or even more than a few adult believers in Christ is humanly impossible because only GOD is Omnipresent and the Father of ALL! ( Eph. 4:6 ) “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” ( Col. 2:8 ) Yes, God works through us, the Body of Christ, but these false teachers insist on complete loyalty and honour to themselves and that they are the only “true representatives” of Christ. These so exercise control over the ministry and the people that they thereby completely substitute it with a form of worship. (The fulfilment of end times prophecies – 2 Tim. 3:5 – and the deeds of the Nicolaitans! – Rev. 2:14-17 ) By manipulation these Nicolaitans subdue and conquer the “laity” by substituting the Only True Spiritual Father and the Leadership of the Spirit of God in the Church for their own doctrine, organised programmes of man, and a system that craftily creates a hierarchy and a counterfeit Levitical priesthood. Jesus hates this stuff! Why? Because arrogant men wrongfully claiming to have expert or superior knowledge of the way to eternal life stand in front of the door to the kingdom of God - they do not themselves go in and they don't let anyone else go in either. ( Mt. 23:13 ) They lay claims to the “first fruits,” “tithes” and “offerings” that belong to God in the first place but notice well that they will not submit themselves to all the requirements of the Levitical law such as circumcision! What they tout as a “more excellent way of giving” is only one big “Pyramid Scheme” craftily created to swindle God’s flock. “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” ( Rom. 16:18; top )
A true Spirit-filled father (New Testament elder) will not seek his own gain in anything, but always the welfare and the good of his Spirit-filled children. ( 1 Tim. 3:8 ) I have seen first-hand of how a “spiritual father” refuses to take “firstfruits” from his biological children but are too quick and eager to accept them from their “spiritual children.” They build these magnificent houses with huge swimming pools yet they cannot, [will not] use it to baptise their spiritual children in it. Yet they claim to be “fathers of the house” and preach that all they have has been given to them. It’s not their material possessions, but God’s – or so they assure us. But if this were true, then the magnificent house with the huge swimming pool must be used first and foremost for the advancement of Gods kingdom in the earth. This reminds me of the Pharisees that placed heavy burdens on men’s shoulders yet they themselves would not even lift a finger to move it! ( Mt. 23:4 ) Paul says, “I will not be a burden to you. I do not seek what is yours but you. Children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.” (see 2 Cor. 12:14-15; top ) Those are the words of a true father. He also considered it worth sacrificing everything to serve those whom he had brought to Christ. Fathers expect nothing in return for all that they do for their children. Paul did not expect respect or even submission from others. He only sought their spiritual growth. How I wish that today’s “spiritual” leaders would imitate Paul accurately and truly become aligned by GOD’s infallible WORD and have the HEART of our ONLY SPIRTUAL FATHER, GOD ALMIGHTY!
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the
The TRUE Gospel is NOT a “new revelation” at all! In context, it is the REVEALED WILL of God for ALL humanity. God states, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek Me in vain; I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right... They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image [their church idolatry,] and pray to a god that cannot save...” ( Isa. 45:19 ) If God is really in those false systems, He is not the God of His Word. God is in the hearts of the SINCERE ones still held captive by those systems, a man-made system of men who still cling to their “words of truth,” hirelings who use abuse to lure Jesus’ blood-bought souls into their false systems and towards their false god. These are the very “set men” and the “golden calves” that they themselves have created. The time is now that the SINCERE believers of Christ must HEAR what the Spirit is saying to His believers! He will not contend and tarry with them much longer. ( Renette Vermuelen – also see Gen. 6:3; top )
Paul continues, “Moreover, it is required in stewards that one is found faithful.” ( 1 Cor. 4:2 ) An unfaithful servant and steward, even one claiming an “apostle” or “father” or “super-apostle” or “patriarch,” is no longer a genuine messenger of Christ but a promoter of himself or perhaps even a well-disguised worker of Satan. Jesus still commends those who, like the assembly of Ephesus, “have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” ( Rev. 2:2 ) Paul clearly insisted that his faithfulness to God was the integral, even primary “credential” by which the Corinthians would know that Paul, who had brought them to Christ in the first place and not the false “apostles” was the pattern to follow in order to remain steadfast in Christ. About the only principle that can be truly drawn from Paul’s example of fatherhood is that only those who have personally participated in a particular individual or group’s spiritual birth event and who remains true (faithful and obedient) to Christ alone have any right to speak of being anything like or speaking the things of The One True Father.) The traveling (predatory clergy) hucksters who use corrupted teachings and flattery to draw followers after themselves do not qualify to ever be genuine spiritual fathers. And no one can simply choose a man (or woman in some places where this “spiritual fathering” error is practiced!) to be one’s “spiritual father” and accomplish anything other than to remove oneself from the will of Christ and God. Spiritual children are born again from above. ( Jn. 3:5 ) Only those mature believers who qualify as genuine New Testament elders who truly know God the eternal Father ( 1 Jn. 2:13-14 ) and whose fatherliness is both exemplary and evident ( 1 Tim. 3:4 , 12 , Phlp. 2:22 , etc.; top) are those who are in any position to participate in any fatherly role in any other believer’s life – particularly that of any assembly of believers. “Father,” like “pastor,” is not a title or position over other believers – though after 20 centuries of deception and malpractice they are just that in most “church” circles – rather they are descriptions of one’s lifestyle and leadership traits. ( Neil Girrard )
Without Our Heavenly Father we are orphans. A fatherless child has no name, no identity, no rights and no inheritance. He has to carve out an existence and identity for himself. An orphan has to succeed on his own, make his own way in life, fend for himself and gain approval through his own actions. In all of us there may be many orphan ways. God is a Father and He does not want us to be orphans. He wants to Father us! An orphan heart is an empty heart and our Father wants to fill that emptiness with His love and bring us back home. Satan was removed from the Father's presence and became the ultimate orphan. Since then he has tried to infect us all with that orphan spirit. Thank You, Jesus, for You have not left us with that of an orphan spirit but have given us the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and teach us into all TRUTH. It is those false teachers that want you to be led astray by teaching a “different gospel” who are the real “antichrist.” You are only an orphan or a bastard if you don’t know where you come from! A son is not like an orphan: a son has rights, an inheritance and a place in the family. A son knows that he is loved for who he is. This is a free gift, not one that is earned because of what one does for the “set man” but given to us because of who we are. Sons are rooted and established in love and we have a name that comes from The Father. ( Eph. 3:14-19; top )
Jesus promised, “I will not leave you as orphans.” ( Jn. 14:18 ) Jesus says that we are no longer orphans - though these super-impostors will tell us that we are orphaned if we do not take on one of them as our “spiritual father.” We must decide just who is the liar here! When one looks at the natural vs. the spiritual, we see that Adam was God’s Son here on earth. ( Lk. 3:38 ) First the Natural then the Spiritual. ( 1 Cor. 15:46; top ) We have our biological fathers in the natural and then in the Spiritual we have God our Heavenly Spiritual Father. When one talks about an orphan we understand that an orphan does not have parents. When Adam sinned, Adam did not become an orphan because God did not die. Neither did God abandon Adam or leave him alone to fend for himself. God promised a restoration through His Son Jesus Christ (the Last Adam). Adam was not an orphan - he was the prodigal son like in the parable of Luke 15. It was Adam’s disobedience that resulted in him becoming the prodigal son. It was the sin in Adam that cut himself off from the fatherhood of God. It was sin that caused the separation from him and God. He was still God’s son – therefore God had promised to restore him.
Through our reconciliation with the Father, the emptiness of our hearts can be dealt with. We can again enjoy the intimacy and closeness of relationship that Adam and Eve first enjoyed. We can become a son like Jesus and an heir to the promises of scripture. Our lonely walk can be brought to an end and we can enjoy the freedom of being a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father, who is our only Spiritual Father! This is what John 3:16 is all about! God wants to reveal Himself to us as “Father” and He wants to be a Father to us, day by day, in an on-going, vital, life-giving and life-changing relationship.
God has unlimited riches and resources. We can therefore afford to be generous. We are strengthened in our inner being by the Spirit living in us (opposite of despair). We have power from the Holy Spirit. Rooted and established in love, a strong connection to the magnitude of God's love. We can be so filled with this love that Jesus and the Father are seen in us. This is what it means for God to be a Father TO US. ( A Father to YOU )
God is building a spiritual house and Christ is the foundation of that spiritual house. Today, God is executing a mighty move away from religion and into relationship throughout the whole world! While Satan is working, God is working so much more. Only problem is, ultimately, only a FEW really follow the Truth (Jesus the Narrow Way,) just as He Himself had said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” ( Mt. 7:13-15; top ) It is only to those who obediently come out from among the “Christian” idolaters and who live separate and holy unto the Lord, who touch no unclean thing that God still says,
Take care; stay blessed and rested in Christ
- First Fruits, Tithes and Offerings - Darryl Samuels - ( in Adobe/pdf format )
- The Untrustworthy Bible - Neil Girrard
- The Sons of the Devil - Neil Girrard
We’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email author Darryl Samuels Email webhost Neil Girrard