Today is 4/4. I mentioned yesterday in a post that I'd had some recent dreams about the number 4. Usually when the Lord highlights the number 4, I like to say, "Where there is a 4, there is a door."
Just prior my family's trip to Hawaii, I had a dream that when we returned from the trip the baby that Kelly is pregnant with would be born. However, instead of one baby being born, the 1 supernaturally became 4. I knew this dream was not literal, but symbolic about birthing/opening a door of new life and glory in God!
On the last day of our trip in HI, I had the following dream:
In other words, each of these 'spiritual fathers' approached me as if I was a 'son' to them. The first father had great miracle working faith. Around him, I became a lion of faith, unafraid of any impossibility. However, I could tell this man wasn't equipped to connect with me in the heart, like I knew his love was lacking.
The second father came up to me, and he was a powerful exhorter! He was calling me to a very high standard of holiness and to do great exploits of faith. He then preached against some things going on in the church that were in error. However, I realized even though this man preached all the right things with sincerity, He himself was not doing them in his own life. The leaven of hypocrisy was in him.
The third father came up to me, and he was a man of deep knowledge and truth. He was wise, seasoned, and holy. He began to identify areas of weakness in my own life. I respected his word and the truth he spoke. However, the more he addressed me, the less I was being helped. I felt weights and chains begin to cling to me and realized he was a master of the Law, and from it came powerful condemnation. There was no grace available in his ministry.
Finally, the fourth father came up to me. He approached me as one who understood me. I saw hues of color around him—blue, purple, and red. I could feel the whole atmosphere of his presence. It was an unusual mix of the fear of the Lord and the absolute freedom of love. He ministered truth in such a way it neither compromised God's holiness or His unfathomable love and grace. I was convicted of sin but renewed in confidence of who I was in Christ. I knew from this experience that only the Father heart of God could accomplish this kind of ministry blend. And I knew this was the most 'Christ-like' encounter I'd had within a man.
So, what's this all mean?! I believe God used the 4 spiritual fathers to let me know that I, too, am being called to be a spiritual father. And maybe many others right now are at a place where God is calling them to prepare to father or mother the next generation. I believe I was given examples of fathers who were missing needed ingredients in their hearts that made them an incomplete example of the Father heart of God...and then a final example of what it looks like when we have allowed the Father heart of God to flow through us; it is powerful, complete, and healthy.
Each of their names began with the letter D. D is the 4th letter of the alphabet. It is also the 4th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and D (Dalet) means DOOR.
I believe we are in a transition season where God is opening a door for men and women to take up the call and responsibility to gain His heart as fathers and mothers for the next/younger generations!
It is important which D/father we emulate! God wants Christlike mothers and fathers—mature, healthy, complete, full of grace and truth! May we enter this door of opportunity humbly and wisely for the sake of the future generations and for the sake of God's name!
—Andrew Whalen, Vanquish Ministries, www.vanquishpw.com, Texas Visit the FTPN home page.
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