FATHERHOOD

DEREK PRINCE
FATHERHOOD
Derek Prince Ministries-International
Charlotte, North Carolina U..A.
FATHERHOOD
Co!"ri#ht $ %&'( Derek Prince Ministries-International
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I0N %-'&11'2-%3-4
This ,ook is an e*ite* transcri!t o+ Fatherhood +ro- the Keys to
Successful Living *ail" ra*io !ro#ra-.
Co)er ," Ronna F.
Printe* in the U..A.
Derek Prince Ministries
htt!566///.*erek!rince.co-
CONTENT
Intro*.ction................................................................................4
% The Fatherhoo* o+ 7o*............................................................&
1 H.-an Fatherhoo*................................................................%(
2 The Father as a Priest.............................................................%4
8 The Father as Pro!het............................................................1%
( The Father as Kin#................................................................14
9 :hen Fathers Fail.................................................................22
A,o.t the A.thor......................................................................2&
INTRODUCTION
ne o+ the #reat the-es o+ ,i,lical re)elation is +atherhoo*.
tran#el" eno.#h, it is a the-e that has ,een so-e/hat
ne#lecte* in -an" Christian circles.
O
Personall", +atherhoo* is a s.,;ect /hich I ha)e not -erel"
st.*ie* in the 0i,le, ,.t ha)e also +ace* in -" o/n e<!erience.
M" +irst /i+e, ="*ia, an* I raise* a +a-il" o+ nine.
.,se>.entl", -" secon* /i+e, R.th, a**e* three -ore chil*ren
to o.r total +a-il". o alto#ether I stan* in the relationshi! o+
+ather to e<actl" one *o?en !ersons. Most o+ the- are #ro/n an*
no/ ha)e +a-ilies o+ their o/n.
%
% THE FATHERHOOD OF
7OD
o/e)er, it is not /ith h.-an +atherhoo* that I /ant to
,e#in. I /ant to share, +irst o+ all, a,o.t the +atherhoo* o+
7o*, /hich is the #reat +act ,ehin* the .ni)erse. There is a
Father /ho is o.r 7o* an* /ho also is the +act ,ehin* all other
+acts. It is a Father /ho create* the .ni)erse, as a +ather, an*
/ho has le+t the i-!rint o+ His +atherhoo* on e)er" as!ect o+ the
entire .ni)erse.
H
In E!hesians 25%8-%(, Pa.l !ra"s one o+ his #reat an*
/on*er+.l !ra"ers5
For this ca.se I ,o/ -" knees .nto the
Father o+ o.r =or* @es.s Christ, A+ro-B
/ho- the /hole +a-il" in hea)en an* earth
is na-e* Aor e)er" +a-il" in hea)en an*
earth *eri)es its na-eB.
CK@DE
The /or* that is there translate* F+a-il"F is the 7reek /or*
patria. An* that /or* is *eri)e* *irectl" +ro- the 7reek /or*
+or +ather, so the -ost literal, strai#ht+or/ar* translation /o.l*
,e F+atherhoo*.F In this connection, I /o.l* like to #i)e "o. also
@. 0. Philli!sG translation o+ those )erses /hich ,rin#s o.t this
+act o+ the connection ,et/een +ather an* +a-il" or +atherhoo*.
%3 Fatherhoo*
Philli!s translates it this /a"5
:hen I think o+ the #reatness o+ this #reat
!lan I +all on -" knees ,e+ore the Father
C+ro- /ho- all +atherhoo*, earthl" or
hea)enl", *eri)es its na-eE. . . .
C@0PE
That is a re-arka,le +actH All +atherhoo* in the .ni)erse
.lti-atel" #oes ,ack to the +atherhoo* o+ 7o*I an* that
+atherhoo* *i* not ,e#in on earth, it ,e#an in hea)en.
Fatherhoo* is eternal /ith 7o*. It *i* not ,e#in /ith ti-e, it *i*
not ,e#in /ith h.-an histor", it ,e#an in eternit".
Eternall", 7o* is the Father o+ o.r =or* @es.s Christ an*
He is so *escri,e* in -an" !arts o+ the 0i,le. In his #os!el @ohn
sa"s, FIn the ,e#innin# . . . the :or* /as /ith 7o*.F That /as
,e+ore creation e)er took !lace. The *i)ine :or*, the eternal
on o+ 7o*, /as /ith the Father. The cri!t.re sa"s He /as in
the ,oso- o+ the Father. That inti-ate, !ersonal relationshi!
,et/een 7o* an* the on e<iste* ,e+ore creation e)er ,e#an.
This is an a,sol.tel" *istincti)e +eat.re o+ Christian re)elation.
It -akes Christianit" .nlike an" other reli#io.s +aith that I ha)e
e)er enco.ntere* in the /orl*. It re)eals so-ethin# .ni>.e an*
!artic.lar a,o.t the nat.re o+ 7o*. In 7o*, eternall", there is
+atherhoo*. There is a relationshi!.
:hen @es.s ca-e to earth, His .lti-ate !.r!ose /as to
,rin# to the Father those /ho /o.l* t.rn to Hi-. This is state*
in -an" !laces. First Peter 25%' sa"s5
For Christ also *ie* +or sins once +or all, the
;.st +or the .n;.st, in or*er that He -i#ht
,rin# .s to 7o*. . . .
CNAE
:h" *i* @es.s *ieJ That He -i#ht ,rin# .s to 7o*. @es.s
/as not the en*, He /as the /a". He sai* that Hi-sel+,
The Fatherhoo* o+ 7o* %%
e-!haticall", in @ohn %8595
@es.s sai* . . . FI a- the /a", an* the tr.th,
an* the li+eI no one co-es to the Father, ,.t
thro.#h Me.F
CNAE
@es.s is the /a", ,.t the Father is the *estination. I think
-an" ti-es in o.r Christian +aith /e reall" -iss the !.r!ose o+
7o*. :e talk a #reat *eal a,o.t the =or* @es.s Christ as o.r
a)ior, o.r Intercessor, o.r Me*iator, an* so on. All o+ that is
/on*er+.l, ,.t it sto!s short o+ 7o*Gs !.r!ose. 7o*Gs !.r!ose is
not -erel" that /e sho.l* co-e to the on, ,.t that thro.#h the
on /e sho.l* co-e to the Father.
There is so-ethin# ,ea.ti+.l a,o.t the lan#.a#e o+ @es.s in
the !ra"er He !ra"e* in @ohn %4. This !ra"er o!ens /ith the
/or* FFatherF an* it occ.rs si< -ore ti-es in the !ra"er. @es.s
s!eaks a,o.t ha)in# -a*e kno/n the na-e o+ 7o* to His
*isci!les.
FI -ani+este* Th" na-e to the -en /ho-
Tho. #a)est Me o.t o+ the /orl*. . . .F
C)erse 9, NAE
=ater He sa"s5
FHol" Father, kee! the- in Th" na-e, the
na-e /hich Tho. hast #i)en Me. . . .F
C)erse %%, NAE
An* ri#ht at the en* o+ His !ra"er, He sa"s a#ain5
F... I ha)e -a*e Th" na-e kno/n to the-,
an* /ill -ake it kno/nI that the lo)e
/here/ith Tho. *i*st lo)e Me -a" ,e in
the-, an* I in the-.F
C)erse 19, NAE
%1 Fatherhoo*
:hat na-e /as it that @es.s ca-e es!eciall" to -ake
kno/n to His *isci!lesJ It /as not the sacre* na-e @eho)ah.
The @e/ish !eo!le ha* kno/n that na-e +or +i+teen cent.ries.
:hat /as the ne/ an* s!ecial re)elation, the #reat !.r!ose, the
na-e that @es.s /ante* the *isci!les to kno/J The na-e is
FFather.F That is the .lti-ate na-e o+ 7o*. That *escri,es the
nat.re o+ 7o* in His eternal character -ore !er+ectl" than an"
other /or* that e<ists in the h.-an lan#.a#e.
The .lti-ate re)elation o+ 7o*, there+ore, in the Ne/
Testa-ent, is the re)elation o+ 7o* as Father. An* the .lti-ate
!.r!ose o+ the Ne/ Testa-ent, the reason /h" @es.s Hi-sel+
ca-e, is to ,rin# .s to 7o*. I+ /e sto! short o+ this re)elation o+
7o*, /e ha)e sto!!e* short o+ the +.ll an* +inal o.t/orkin# o+
re*e-!tionGs !.r!ose.
:hen /e co-e into the +.llness o+ this re)elation o+ 7o*
an* into that *irect relationshi! /ith 7o* as Father, it s.!!lies
certain thin#s /hich are cons!ic.o.sl" lackin# in the e-otional
e<!erience o+ !erha!s the -a;orit" o+ the !eo!le in o.r c.lt.re.
The three thin#s /hich co-e o.t o+ this re)elation an* this
relationshi! are5 i*entit", sel+-/orth, an* sec.rit".
Identity
Identity is a real !ro,le- +or -o*ern -an. An interestin#
co--entar" on this nee* /as the s.ccess o+ the ,ook an* TD
serial, Roots. The essence o+ that stor" /as a -an lookin# +or
the !lace or roots +ro- /hich he ca-e. All h.-anit" is ,.s"
/ith the sa-e search. Men an* /o-en /ant to kno/ +ro-
/here the" ca-e, /ho is ,ehin* the-, ho/ it starte* an* /ho
the" are. cri!t.re an* !s"cholo#" a#ree that a !erson reall"
*oes not ans/er the >.estion, F:ho a- IJF .ntil he or she
kno/s /ho his or her +ather is.
To*a", h.-an relationshi!s ,et/een !arents an* chil*ren
ha)e ,een so #reatl" ,roken *o/n that it has !ro*.ce* an
i*entit" crisis. Christianit"Gs ans/er to that i*entit" crisis is to
The Fatherhoo* o+ 7o* %2
,rin# -en an* /o-en into a *irect, !ersonal relationshi! /ith
7o* the Father thro.#h @es.s Christ the on. Peo!le /ho tr.l"
kno/ 7o* as Father no lon#er ha)e an i*entit" !ro,le-. The"
kno/ /ho the" areKthe" are chil*ren o+ 7o*. Their Father
create* the .ni)erse, their Father lo)es the-, an* their Father
cares +or the-.
Self-worth
That ,rin#s .s to the secon* nee* that is s.!!lie* ," this
re)elation o+ 7o* the FatherKthe nee* o+ self-worth. I cannot
co.nt ho/ -an" !eo!le I ha)e *ealt /ith in -" -inistr" /hose
#reatest !ro,le- /as not s.++icientl" a!!reciatin# the-sel)es.
The" ha* too lo/ a !ict.re o+ the-sel)es /hich ca.se* the-
-an" s!irit.al an* e-otional a#onies. In % @ohn 25%, it sa"s5
ee ho/ #reat a lo)e the Father has
,esto/e* .!on .s, that /e sho.l* ,e calle*
chil*ren o+ 7o*I an* s.ch /e are.
CNAE
Once /e reall" co-!rehen* that /e are the chil*ren o+
7o*, that 7o* lo)es .s inti-atel" an* !ersonall", that He is
intereste* in .s, He is ne)er too ,.s" +or .s an* He *esires a
*irect an* !ersonal relationshi! /ith .s, that #i)es .s sel+-/orth.
I ha)e seen this ha!!en a#ain an* a#ain in the li)es o+ !eo!le.
Once I /as in a -eetin# an* I literall" ran into a la*". :e
/ere #oin# in o!!osite *irections at consi*era,le s!ee*. he
!icke* hersel+ .! an* sai*, FMr. Prince, IG)e ,een !ra"in# that i+
7o* /ante* "o. to s!eak to -e, /eG* -eet.F
F:ell,F I sai*, F/eG)e -et. 0.t I can onl" #i)e "o. a,o.t
t/o -in.tes. IG- )er" ,.s".F he ,e#an to tell -e /hat her
!ro,le- /as an* a+ter a /hile I interr.!te* her. I sai*, FIG-
sorr", ,.t IG)e onl" #ot one -in.te le+t . . . ,.t I think I kno/
"o.r !ro,le-. :ill "o. +ollo/ -e in this !ra"erJF An* I le* her
in a !ra"er in /hich she ;.st thanke* 7o* ,eca.se He /as her
%8 Fatherhoo*
Father an* she /as His chil*, that He lo)e* her, that He care*
+or her, that she /as s!ecial an* that she ,elon#e* to the ,est
+a-il" in the .ni)erse. I sai*, F7oo*-,"e. I ha)e to #o,F an* le+t.
A,o.t a -onth later, I #ot a letter +ro- that la*" in /hich
she sai*, FI ;.st /ant to tell "o. that ,ein# to#ether /ith "o. an*
!ra"in# that !ra"er has co-!letel" chan#e* -" attit.*e to/ar*
li+e. For the +irst ti-e, I reall" ha)e a sense o+ -" o/n /orth.F
Security
The thir* #reat !ro)ision o+ 7o* thro.#h the re)elation o+
Father is security. 0ehin* the .ni)erse is not ;.st so-e scienti+ic
+orce or so-e F,i# ,an#,F ,.t a Father /ho lo)es .s.
A +rien* o+ -ine /as once +eelin# lonel" an* sa* late one
ni#ht in the *eserte*, /in*" streets o+ a cit". He ;.st *i* not
>.ite kno/ i+ he /as #oin# to -ake it thro.#h. As he stoo* there
on the street corner, he ;.st ,e#an to sa", o)er an* o)er a#ain,
FFather . . . Father . . . Father . . . Father. . . .F As he *i* that,
sec.rit" ca-e to hi-. He kne/ that e)en tho.#h thin#s /ere
col* an* ,leak aro.n* a,o.t hi-, he /as a chil* o+ 7o* in the
.ni)erse that 7o* ha* create* +or His chil*ren.
1
1 HUMAN FATHERHOOD
ince the eternal character an* nat.re o+ 7o* is that o+ Father,
it +ollo/s that e)er" +ather, in a certain sense, re!resents
7o*. In a certain sense, /e -a" sa" that a +ather, a #oo* +ather,
is the -ost 7o*-like thin# a -an can ,eco-e. It is a -anGs
hi#hest achie)e-ent.

I re-e-,er a ti-e /hen I /as contin.all" tra)elin# +ro-

-eetin# to -eetin# an* con+erence to con+erence, !reachin# to
lar#e cro/*s an* ha)in# a #oo* res!onse +ro- the !eo!le. 0.t
then I hear* a -an -ake this state-ent5 FThe e<!ert is the -an
a/a" +ro- ho-e /ith a ,rie+case.F It /ent to -" heart like an
arro/. I tho.#ht to -"sel+, FThat reall" *escri,es -e. IG- a -an
a/a" +ro- ho-e /ith a ,rie+case. E)er",o*" re#ar*s -e as an
e<!ert, ,.t in act.al +act, /hatGs ha!!enin# in -" ho-eJF
7o* challen#e* -e, in an alto#ether ne/ /a", that I ha* to
s.ccee*, +irst an* +ore-ost, as a h.s,an* an* as a +ather ,e+ore I
co.l* s.ccee* in an" other ca!acit". To s.ccee* in other
ca!acities ,.t +ail as a +ather /o.l* ,e, in 7o*Gs si#ht, to +ail.
I ,elie)e this is tr.e o+ -an" -en in o.r c.lt.re to*a".
The" can s.ccee* in -an" ca!acities5 on the #ol+ co.rse, as the
,ank !resi*ent, as an a.thor, as an actor, -a",e e)en as a
Christian -inister, an* "et +ail in their ho-e. An* I /ant to
s.##est to "o. that to +ail in "o.r ho-e as a +ather is to +ail, an*
no other s.ccess can -ake .! +or that +ail.re.
%9 Fatherhoo*
In % Corinthians %%52 Pa.l s!eaks a,o.t a relationshi!
,et/een 7o* an* the ho-e. He sa"s5
0.t I /ant "o. to .n*erstan* that Christ is
the hea* o+ e)er" -an Aor h.s,an*B, an* the
-an is the hea* o+ a /o-an, an* 7o* Athe
FatherB is the hea* o+ Christ.
o, Christ is the hea* o+ the h.s,an* an* the h.s,an*, in
t.rn, is the hea* o+ his /i+e an* his +a-il". In a certain sense,
there+ore, the -an Ch.s,an* an* +atherE re!resents Christ to his
+a-il". He has the sa-e relationshi! to his +a-il" that Christ has
to hi-.
There are three -ain -inistries o+ Christ /hich are
eternall" associate* /ith the =or* @es.s Christ5 that o+ !riest,
that o+ !ro!het an* that o+ kin#. =et -e e<!lain ,rie+l" /hat is
in)ol)e* in each -inistr".
As a !riest the +ather re!resents his +a-il" to 7o*.
As a !ro!het he re!resents 7o* to his +a-il".
As a kin# he #o)erns his +a-il" on ,ehal+ o+ 7o*.
2
2 THE FATHER A A
PRIET
he +ather is the !riest o+ his ho-e, re!resentin# his +a-il"
to 7o* in intercession an* !ra"er. A +atherGs s.ccess in the
other t/o -inistries as !ro!het an* kin# are )er" closel" tie*
/ith his s.ccess as an intercessor an* as a !riest. I+ he s.ccee*s
as the intercessor, he /ill !ro,a,l" also s.ccee* as the !ro!het
an* as the kin#. 0.t i+ he *oes not .n*erstan* the !ractice o+ the
-inistr" o+ intercession +or his +a-il", then it /ill ,e )er"
*i++ic.lt +or hi- to ,e either !ro!het or kin# in his +a-il".
T
There are so-e )er" ,ea.ti+.l e<a-!les in the 0i,le o+
+athers /ho !ractice* this -inistr" o+ intercession. At the
o!enin# o+ the ,ook o+ @o, /e rea* that @o, /as a !er+ect an* an
.!ri#ht -an ,e+ore 7o*. He ha* se)en sons an* three *a.#hters,
an* on one *a" o+ each /eek his +a-il" -et in the ho.se o+ one
o+ his sons +or +eastin# an* +ello/shi!. At the en* o+ e)er"
/eek, @o, rose .! earl" an* o++ere* sacri+ices on ,ehal+ o+ all o+
his sons, sa"in# in his heart that -a",e the" ha* +aile* an* /ere
not ri#ht /ith 7o*. o he /o.l* o++er a sacri+ice on their ,ehal+.
The o++erin# o+ those sacri+ices o+ @o,, in Ol* Testa-ent
ter-inolo#", corres!on*s to the -inistr" o+ intercessor" !ra"er
on ,ehal+ o+ o.r chil*ren .n*er the ne/ co)enant in @es.s
Christ. E)er" +ather is calle* to ,e an intercessor +or his
chil*ren.
%' Fatherhoo*
Then /e -o)e on into the histor" o+ the nation o+ Israel
an* +in* the- ensla)e* in E#"!t .n*er *arkness an* o!!ression.
7o* -a*e !ro)ision +or their *eli)erance thro.#h the sacri+ice
o+ the Passo)er la-,. The .lti-ate !oint o+ se!aration ,et/een
Israel an* E#"!t /as the Passo)er, /hich -a*e !ro)ision +or the
*eli)erance o+ e)er" Israelite +a-il". The *estro"in# an#el ca-e
into e)er" E#"!tian ho-e an* sle/ the +irst,orn. 0.t ,eca.se o+
the ,loo* o+ the Passo)er la-,, the *estro"in# an#el /as not
allo/e* to )isit or *estro" in an" Israelite ho.sehol*. Ho/ /as
that ,loo* a!!lie*J :ho a!!lie* itJ E<o*.s %1525
!eak "e .nto all the con#re#ation o+ Israel,
sa"in#, In the tenth *a" o+ this -onth the"
shall take to the- e)er" -an a la-,,
accor*in# to the ho.se o+ their +athers, a
la-, +or an ho.se. . . .
CK@DE
:ho /as res!onsi,le to select the la-,J The +ather o+
e)er" +a-il". :ho /as res!onsi,le to sla" the la-,J The +ather.
:ho /as res!onsi,le to s!rinkle its ,loo* /ith h"sso! on the
*oor!ost o+ his ho-eJ The +ather. In other /or*s, the +ather ha*
the 7o*-a!!ointe* -inistr" o+ !riest on ,ehal+ o+ his +a-il". It
/as his res!onsi,ilit" to see that 7o*Gs !ro)ision o+ sal)ation
/as -a*e e++ecti)e in his !artic.lar ho-e. As +ar as I .n*erstan*
the re)elation o+ cri!t.re, no one else co.l* *o the +atherGs ;o,
+or hi-. I+ he +.l+ille* his +.nction as !riest an* s!rinkle* the
,loo*, his +a-il" /o.l* ,e sa+e. I+ he +aile*, there /as no one
else /ho co.l* take his !lace an* !ro)i*e !rotection +or his
+a-il".
I ,elie)e 7o* has ca.se* that re)elation to co-e to .s
,eca.se it is still a!!lica,le to*a". There is so-ethin# in the
s!irit.al real- that a +ather can *o +or his ho.se that he cannot
*ele#ate to an",o*" else. He can ser)e /ith a !riestl" -inistr"
+or his ho-e /hich 7o* /ill ackno/le*#e, ,.t 7o* is not
o,li#e* to ackno/le*#e that -inistr" in an" other !erson ,.t the
The Father as a Priest %&
+ather. It is the +atherGs res!onsi,ilit" to !ro)i*e *i)ine
!rotection +or his ho-e.
In the Ne/ Testa-ent I /o.l* like to !oint o.t a
re-arka,le +act a,o.t the -inistr" o+ @es.s. It is a +act that I
ha)e learne* thro.#h !ersonal e<!erience. Peo!le ha)e co-e to
-e to re>.est !ra"er +or a chil* an* I ha)e learne* to ask, FAre
"o. this chil*Gs !arentJ Are "o. the +ather or -otherJF
o-eti-es the ans/er /o.l* ,e, FNo. :eGre ;.st nei#h,orsI the
!arents *i*nGt /ant to co-e.F 7o* sho/e* -e )er" *e+initel" I
ha* no scri!t.ral ,asis +or !ra"in# +or a chil* like that. I+ "o.
/ill st.*" the -inistr" o+ @es.s, "o. /ill +in* that He ne)er
-inistere* to a chil* e<ce!t on the ,asis o+ the +aith o+ one or
,oth !arents. He al/a"s re>.ire* a !arent to e<ercise +aith +or a
chil*.
This is )er" cons!ic.o.s in the stor" o+ the e!ile!tic ,o"
recor*e* in Mark &. @es.s ca-e *o/n +ro- the Mo.nt o+
Trans+i#.ration an* He /as con+ronte* ," a scene /here His
*isci!les ha* +aile* to cast o.t an e!ile!tic s!irit +ro- a ,o".
@es.s ,e#an to talk to the +ather an* He aske* the +ather ho/
lon# the ,o" ha* s.++ere*. The +ather re!lie*, Fince he /as a
chil*.F Then he /ent on to sa"5
An* o+tti-es it hath cast hi- into the +ire,
an* into the /aters, to *estro" hi-5 ,.t i+
tho. canst *o an" thin#, ha)e co-!assion on
.s, an* hel! .s. @es.s sai* .nto hi-, I+ tho.
canst ,elie)e, all thin#s are !ossi,le to hi-
that ,elie)eth.
CMark &511-12, K@DE
One *a" I /as #ri!!e* ," the reali?ation that @es.s hel* the
+ather res!onsi,le to ,elie)e +or his son. The son, ,eca.se o+ his
con*ition, o,)io.sl" co.l* not e<ercise -.ch +aith +or hi-sel+,
,.t, in an" case, @es.s *i* not ask the son to e<ercise +aith. He
re>.ire* the +ather to e<ercise +aith on ,ehal+ o+ his son. I
,elie)e it is the res!onsi,ilit" o+ !arents to e<ercise +aith in
13 Fatherhoo*
intercessor" !ra"er on ,ehal+ o+ their chil*ren an* ,rin# the- to
7o* thro.#h @es.s Christ. Lo. can search the cri!t.res +or
"o.rsel+ an* "o. /ill +in* @es.s ne)er -inistere* to a chil*
.nless there /as at least one !arent e<ercisin# +aith on ,ehal+ o+
that chil*. He /o.l* not #o contrar" to s.ch a *ee!l" entrenche*
!rinci!le o+ 7o*.
Finall", look at Acts %952% /here /e +in* the stor" o+ the
Phili!!ian ;ailer. Pa.l an* ilas ha* ,een i-!risone*, then 7o*
inter)ene* /ith an earth>.ake, the !rison *oors /ere o!ene*
an* the !eo!leGs chains /ere loose*. The ;ailer s!ran# in an* he
sai*, Firs, /hat -.st I *o to ,e sa)e*JF Derse 2% sa"s5
. . . 0elie)e on the =or* @es.s Christ, an*
tho. shalt ,e sa)e*, an* th" ho.seAhol*B.
CK@DE
Lo. /ill notice that the ;ailer, as the +ather o+ his ho.se,
/as a++or*e* the 7o*-#i)en !ri)ile#e o+ e<ercisin# +aith +or the
sal)ation o+ his /hole ho.se. Too -an" ti-es, alas, in >.otin#
that cri!t.re, /e ten* to lea)e o.t those last three /or*s, F. . .
an* th" ho.seAhol*B.F
8
8 THE FATHER A
PROPHET
+atherGs secon* -ain res!onsi,ilit" is !ro!het +or his
+a-il"I that is, to re!resent 7o* to his +a-il". The +irst
thin# /e nee* to see is that ine)ita,l" a +ather *oes re!resent
7o* to his +a-il". He -a" inten* to *o it, he -a" *o it /ell or
he -a" *o it ,a*l" ,.t, al-ost ine)ita,l", he *oes it.
Ps"chiatrists, sociolo#ists an* those in -inistr" /o.l* al-ost all
a#ree that a chil* nor-all" +or-s its +irst i-!ression o+ 7o*
+ro- its +ather. I ,elie)e this /as inten*e* ," 7o*. One o+ the
-ost sole-n res!onsi,ilities that 7o* can #i)e an" h.-an ,ein#
is to re!resent Hi-sel+ to others.
A
The kin* o+ +ather a !erson ha* has a lot to *o /ith that
!ersonGs initial res!onse an* reaction to 7o*. I+ a !erson ha* a
+ather /ho /as kin*, o.t#oin#, /ar--hearte* an* eas" to
co--.nicate /ith, that !erson /ill nor-all" +in* it eas" to
think o+ an* to a!!roach 7o* in those ter-s. 0.t i+ a !erson ha*
a +ather /ho /as .nkin*, critical an* al/a"s -akin#
.nreasona,le an* e<cessi)e *e-an*s, that !erson is lia,le to
think o+ 7o* in the sa-e /a". The" /ill see 7o* as al/a"s
-akin# *e-an*s /hich h.-anit" can ne)er li)e .! to5
.nrealistic, le#alistic an* harsh. o-eti-es it ha!!ens that a
chil* has a +ather /ho is act.all" cr.el an* )icio.s. Der"
+re>.entl" s.ch a chil* .nconscio.sl" trans+ers those attri,.tes
11 Fatherhoo*
+ro- the nat.ral h.-an +ather to 7o*. Conse>.entl", the" ha)e
a ne#ati)e attit.*e to 7o* /hich is not ,ase* on an" reason
e<ce!t the ,eha)ior o+ the +ather.
Ho/ can a +ather re!resent 7o* to his +a-il"Kto ,e the
!ro!het +or #oo* an* not +or e)ilJ In E!hesians 958, Pa.l is
/ritin# to +athers as he sa"s5
An*, +athers, *o not !ro)oke "o.r chil*ren
to an#erI ,.t ,rin# the- .! in the *isci!line
an* instr.ction o+ the =or*.
CNAE
A#ain, in Colossians 251%5
Fathers, *o not e<as!erate "o.r chil*ren,
that the" -a" not lose heart.
CNAE
The Ne/ Testa-ent, ;.st like the Ol* Testa-ent, !laces the
res!onsi,ilit" +or the s!irit.al e*.cation an* instr.ction o+ the
chil*ren +airl" an* s>.arel" .!on the sho.l*ers o+ the +ather.
O,)io.sl", -others ha)e a #reat in+l.ence o)er chil*ren an* a
lot to contri,.te to their s!irit.al *e)elo!-ent, ,.t, !ri-aril", it
is the +ather /ho is res!onsi,le +or !ro)i*in# s!irit.al
instr.ction +or his chil*ren. I+ a +ather *oes not *o it, there is no
one else /ho can e<actl" take o)er that res!onsi,ilit".
The -a;orit" o+ +athers, i+ the" are a/are that the" ha)e an"
res!onsi,ilit" +or the instr.ction o+ their chil*ren, are >.ite
content to trans+er it to the .n*a" school, to the ch.rch, to the
!astor or to the "o.th lea*er. Der" o+ten s.ch a !arent, i+ his
chil* is in so-e kin* o+ ch.rch or "o.th #ro.! an* #oes astra",
/ill ,la-e the ch.rch or the "o.th #ro.!. The +ather can ne)er
*i)est hi-sel+ o+ the !ri-ar" res!onsi,ilit" +or raisin# his
chil*ren in the *isci!line an* instr.ction o+ the =or*. It is one o+
his sacre* res!onsi,ilities /hich is not trans+era,le.
Pa.l in*icates that in *oin# this a +ather -.st #.ar* a#ainst
The Father as Pro!het 12
t/o o!!osite *an#ers. The +irst *an#er is rebelliousness in the
chil*. The +ather #.ar*s a#ainst re,ellion ," -aintainin# +ir-
*isci!lineKnot allo/in# chil*ren to ,eco-e /a"/ar* or
irres!onsi,le, not allo/in# the- to ans/er ,ack an* e<!ectin#
the- to *o /hat the" are tol* !ro-!tl", >.ietl", o,e*ientl". It is
-.ch easier to #i)e instr.ction to chil*ren /ho are ,ro.#ht .!
that /a".
Ho/e)er, a +ather -.st also #.ar* a#ainst the o!!osite
e<tre-e /hich is discouragement. I+ a +ather is .n*.l" se)ere,
critical an* *e-an*in#, the res.lt -a" ,e that the chil* /ill
,eco-e *isco.ra#e* an* take the attit.*e, F:ell, itGs no #oo*.
Nothin# I *o e)er !leases -" +ather, so I -i#ht as /ell not
,other to tr".F The /arnin# that Pa.l #i)es is5 FDonGt !ro)oke
the-. DonGt e<as!erate the-.F
I ha)e *ealt /ith -an" !eo!le /ho ha* se)ere e-otional
!ro,le-s an* ha* co-e to -e +or hel!. I cannot tell "o. ho/
-an" ti-es I ha)e *isco)ere* that their ne#ati)e attit.*eKlack
o+ sel+-/orth, +eelin# o+ +ail.re, +r.strationK #oes ,ack to a
ti-e in that !ersonGs li+e /hen, as a chil*, the" e<!erience*
ne#ati)e treat-ent, s.ch as criticis-, ,ein# !.t *o/n or scol*e*
.n+airl" in +ront o+ others. That treat-ent le+t a -ark or /o.n*
in the so.l o+ that chil* /hich has not heale* +or -a",e t/ent"
or thirt" "ears. Fathers -.st ,e care+.l to -aintain *isci!line on
the one han* ,.t, on the other han*, not to *isco.ra#e or
e<as!erate their chil*ren ," .n+air or e<cessi)e *e-an*s.
In or*er to -eet his res!onsi,ilities to his +a-il", a +ather
-.st al/a"s kee! in -in* the nee* +or re#.lar, on#oin#
co--.nication /ith his chil*ren. I+ he *oes not -aintain that
kin* o+ co--.nication, then he cannot +.l+ill his
res!onsi,ilities. The co--.nication ,et/een a +ather an* his
chil* is .s.all" -ost e++ecti)e in a non-reli#io.s settin#. I+
chil*ren associate the instr.ction their +ather #i)es the- /ith
so-ethin# sti++, +or-al an* reli#io.s, the" ten*, in the en*, to
resent ,oth the reli#ion an* the instr.ction. I can think o+ a #oo*
-an" cases o+ !eo!le /hose !ro,le-s /ent ,ack to that kin* o+
18 Fatherhoo*
sit.ation.
It is essential in co--.nicatin# /ith chil*ren to not -erel"
talk to the- ,.t to let the- talk to "o.. Most !eo!le /ho *eal
/ith /a"/ar* or *elin>.ent chil*ren /o.l* a#ree that the"
nearl" al/a"s ha)e one co--on co-!laint5 FO.r !arents ne)er
listen to .s.F o "o. -.st c.lti)ate the !ractice o+ listenin#. =et
"o.r chil* talk, let hi- or her e<!ress the-sel)es, let the- co-e
o.t /ith their !ro,le- an* *o not tr" to *o it in too reli#io.s an
at-os!here.
This !rinci!le is state* in the la/ /here Moses #a)e the
Israelites )er" clear an* !ractical instr.ctions on ho/ to ,rin# .!
their chil*ren. De.terono-" %%5%'-1%5
There+ore shall "e la" .! these -" /or*s in
"o.r heart an* in "o.r so.l. . . . An* "e shall
teach the- AtoB "o.r chil*ren, s!eakin# o+
the- /hen tho. sittest in thine ho.se, an*
/hen tho. /alkest ," the /a", /hen tho.
liest *o/n, an* /hen tho. risest .!. An*
tho. shalt /rite the- .!on the *oor !osts o+
thine ho.se, an* .!on th" #ates5 that "o.r
*a"s -a" ,e -.lti!lie*, an* the *a"s o+
"o.r chil*ren, in the lan* /hich the =ORD
s/are .nto "o.r +athers to #i)e the-, as the
*a"s o+ hea)en .!on the earth.
CK@DE
I /as i-!resse* /hen I *isco)ere* that the !hrase Fhea)en
on earthF ca-e +ro- the 0i,le. F.rther-ore, it /as a *escri!tion
o+ /hat 7o* e<!ecte* the +a-ilies o+ His !eo!le to ,e like. I
looke* aro.n* at o.r -o*ern ci)ili?ation an* I sai* to -"sel+,
FHo/ -an" +a-ilies in this nation to*a" co.l* ,e *escri,e* as
Ghea)en on earthGJF I /o.l* sa", +rankl", it is a )er" s-all
!ro!ortion.
One -ain reason +or this is that +athers ha)e +aile* to *o
The Father as Pro!het 1(
/hat Moses sai* the" sho.l* *o. Moses sai*, in e++ect, FTeach
the :or* o+ 7o*, the tr.ths o+ "o.r +aith, to "o.r chil*ren.
!eak a,o.t the- /hen "o. sit *o/n, /hen "o. rise .!, /hen
"o. /alk ," the /a".F In other /or*s, let the :or* o+ 7o* ,e a
central the-e o+ "o.r /hole +a-il" li+e. Do not si-!l" reser)e
the teachin# o+ cri!t.re to the ch.rch, .n*a" school or "o.th
#ro.!. =et 7o*Gs :or* ha)e a nat.ral !lace in "o.r *ail" li+e
an* co--.nication /ith "o.r +a-il". =et it ,e so-ethin#
nat.ral an* so-ethin# !ractical. =et the chil*ren see ho/ it
/orks o.t in real-li+e sit.ations.
I /o.l* like to >.ote the testi-on" o+ the late Dr. D.
Ra"-on* E*-an, one-ti-e !resi*ent o+ :heaton Colle#e, /ho
sai*5 F=ookin# ,ack on the /a" I ,ro.#ht .! -" chil*ren, i+ I
ha* to *o it o)er, IG* s!en* -ore ti-e /ith the- in si-!le, non-
reli#io.s acti)ities.F To that I /o.l* ha)e to sa", FA-en.F I+ I
co.l* li)e so-e o+ the ti-e I ha)e s!ent /ith -" chil*ren a#ain,
that is /hat I /o.l* *o. Dr. E*-an +o.n* that the thin#s the
#ro/n chil*ren re-e-,ere* -ost /ere the in+or-al ti-es o+
;.st ,ein# to#ether.
Real co--.nication /ith a chil* is not achie)e* in +i)e
-in.tes. O+ten the -ost i-!ortant thin#s are sai* /ith a chil* in
a cas.al or o++-han* /a" at a ti-e /hen "o. /o.l* least e<!ect
it. For instance, on a +ishin# tri!, #ar*enin#, -o/in# the la/n,
cleanin# o.t the #ara#e or +in*in# o.t /h" the car /ill not r.n. It
is sit.ations like these /hich len* the-sel)es to real
co--.nication ,et/een !arents an* chil*ren. It is in those kin*s
o+ sit.ations that a +ather sho.l* ,e a,le to trans-it to his chil*
the *ee! !rinci!les o+ the :or* o+ 7o*. @.st ha)in# Fa +a-il"
altarF ," itsel+ /ill not necessaril" *o it. A lot *e!en*s on ho/
the rest o+ the ti-e is s!ent in the +a-il".
(
( THE FATHER A KIN7
he +.nction o+ a kin#, o+ co.rse, is to r.le or to #o)ern an*
is the thir* -inistr" o+ the +ather in his ho-e. In -o*ern
A-erica, the /or* Fkin#F is not al/a"s too acce!ta,le, altho.#h
it is a /or* that is .se* thro.#ho.t the 0i,le. I+ "o. *o not like
the /or* kin#, /e can s.,stit.te the /or* F#o)ernor.F In an"
case, the +.nction o+ the +ather is to r.le or #o)ern his ho.sehol*
on ,ehal+ o+ 7o*.
T
I+ /e t.rn to % Ti-oth", Pa.l *isc.sses the >.ali+ications
+or a -an /ho /ants to hol* the !osition o+ an el*er, o)erseer,
or a ,isho!. Dario.s *i++erent /or*s are .se*, ,.t the !oint is, it
is the *escri!tion o+ a -an /ho is to lea* or to #o)ern 7o*Gs
!eo!le. The -ost i-!ortant o+ all the >.ali+ications +or that
o++ice is the con*ition o+ the -anGs ho-e. Ho/ *oes that -an
+.nction in his ho-eJ This is /hat Pa.l sa"s in % Ti-oth" 258-(5
A.ch a -anB -.st ha)e !ro!er a.thorit" in
his o/n ho.sehol*, an* ,e a,le to control
an* co--an* the res!ect o+ his chil*ren.
CFor i+ a -an cannot r.le in his o/n ho.se
ho/ can he look a+ter the Ch.rch o+ 7o*JE
C@0PE
A -an is e<!ecte* to r.le in his o/n ho.se. He is e<!ecte*
to e<ercise a.thorit" an* to ha)e his chil*ren res!ect+.l,
o,e*ient an* .n*er his control. I+ a -an cannot achie)e that at
1' Fatherhoo*
ho-e, Pa.l in*icates he has no ho!e o+ s.ccee*in# as a r.ler,
#o)ernor or lea*er in 7o*Gs ch.rch.
The /or* that is .se* there +or Fto r.leF literall", in 7reek,
-eans Fto stan* o.t in +rontF or Fto stan* at the hea* o+.F It
contains )ario.s relate* i*eas. I /o.l* ;.st like to #i)e "o. a
+e/ *i++erent /a"s "o. co.l* .n*erstan* it5 to r.le, to lea*, to
stan* at the hea*, to !rotect, to control. Essentiall", it -eans that
the +ather is the hea* o+ his ho-e, he is o.t in +ront, he sets an
e<a-!le an* he stan*s ,et/een his +a-il" an* all the *an#ers
an* !ress.res o+ li+e. It -eans that he is a -an. He has /hat it
takes. He has /hat -o*ern s!eech calls F#.ts.F It takes F#.tsF to
,e a -an an* to ,e a +ather.
Pa.l then #oes on to sa" that s.ccess+.l lea*ershi! at ho-e
is essential +or lea*ershi! in the ch.rch. There is stron# reason
+or this5 The ho-e is reall" the ch.rch in -iniat.re, in
-icrocos- or in e-,r"o.
In the ch.rch there are three -ain ele-ents5 the !astor or
the she!her*I the *eacon or the hel!erI an* the con#re#ation or
the +lock. Those corres!on* to the three -ain ele-ents in the
ho-e. In the ho-e, the +ather has the res!onsi,ilities o+ the
!astor or she!her*. The /i+e, accor*in# to cri!t.re, is the
hel!er, create* to hel! her h.s,an* like the *eacon. The chil*ren
are the con#re#ation or the +lock. 7o* has ,.ilt into the +a-il"
all the ,asics that -ake .! a !ro!er Ne/ Testa-ent ch.rch. 7o*
sa"s, in e++ect, to the +ather o+ the +a-il", FLo. -ake it s.ccee*
in "o.r little ch.rch, the one IG)e co--itte* to "o. in "o.r o/n
ho-e, an* then "o.Gll >.ali+" +or !ro-otion in the ch.rch o+
7o*.F
=et -e sa" this also, as a -atter o+ o,ser)ation an*
e<!erience5 Lo. can ,.il* a lar#e con#re#ation o+ !eo!le /ho
atten* a ch.rch, ,.t in the last resort, a con#re#ation is no
stron#er than the +a-ilies that -ake it .!. I+ the +a-ilies are not
in or*er, the ch.rch cannot ,e in or*er.
As a !ict.re o+ a +ather /ho acce!te* an* +.l+ille* his
The Father as Kin# 1&
res!onsi,ilit" to r.le, #o)ern, or ,e kin# o+ his ho-e, I /ant to
t.rn no/ to A,raha-. There is a )er" si#ni+icant !assa#e in
7enesis %' /here the =or* is s!eakin# a,o.t A,raha-. He
re)eals /h" He chose A,raha- to ,e the hea* o+ the ne/ nation
that /as .lti-atel" to ,rin# re*e-!tion to all h.-anit".
I *o not kno/ /hether "o. ha)e e)er /on*ere* /h" 7o*
chose A,raha-. Do.,tless there /ere h.n*re*s o+ tho.san*s o+
conte-!oraries o+ A,raha- all o)er the earthGs s.r+ace. O.t o+
all o+ those h.n*re*s o+ tho.san*s, 7o* chose one -an. Is it an
.nre)eale* -"ster" /h" 7o* chose A,raha-J No, it is not.
0eca.se 7o* Hi-sel+ tells .s ;.st /h" He chose that one -an,
A,raha-, to ,e the hea* o+ this ne/ race on /hich the sal)ation
o+ all other races /as #oin# to *e!en*. 7enesis %'5%4-%&5
An* the =ORD sai*, hall I hi*e +ro-
A,raha- that thin# /hich I *oI seein# that
A,raha- shall s.rel" ,eco-e a #reat an*
-i#ht" nation, an* all the nations o+ the
earth shall ,e ,lesse* in hi-J For I kno/
hi-, that he /ill co--an* his chil*ren an*
his ho.sehol* a+ter hi-, an* the" shall kee!
the /a" o+ the =ORD, to *o ;.stice an*
;.*#-entI that the =ORD -a" ,rin# .!on
A,raha- that /hich he hath s!oken o+ hi-.
CK@DE
First, look at the -eanin# o+ A,raha-Gs na-e. Ori#inall",
his na-e /as A,ra-, /hich -eans Fe<alte* +ather.F Then, /hen
7o* -a*e His co)enant, ,lesse* hi- an* !ro-ise* hi- a #reat
n.-,er o+ *escen*ants, 7o* chan#e* his na-e to A,raha-,
/hich -eans F+ather o+ a -.ltit.*e.F 0.t "o. /ill see in ,oth
+or-s that the +irst +act a,o.t his na-e is that he is a +ather. That
is tre-en*o.sl" si#ni+icant. 7o* chose A,raha- as a +ather.
econ*, +atherhoo*, /hen its *.ties are carrie* o.t, ,.il*s a
-i#ht" nation. 7o* sai* o+ A,raha-, F... AheB shall s.rel"
,eco-e a #reat an* -i#ht" nation.F :h"J 0eca.se he co.l* ,e
23 Fatherhoo*
relie* .!on to +.l+ill his o,li#ations as a +ather.
Thir*, /h" *i* 7o* choose A,raha-J He states it Hi-sel+.
He sa"s, FI kno/ hi-, that he /ill co--an* his chil*ren an* his
ho.sehol* a+ter hi-, an* the" shall kee! the /a" o+ the =ORD, to
*o ;.stice an* ;.*#e-entI that the =ORD -a" ,rin# .!on
A,raha- that /hich he hath s!oken o+ hi-.F :hat *i* 7o* see
in A,raha- that -a*e Hi- choose hi-J He sa/ that he /o.l*
co--an* his chil*ren an* his ho.sehol* a+ter hi- to kee! the
/a" o+ the =or*. He co.l* rel" on A,raha- to +.l+ill his *.ties
as a #o)ernor o+ his +a-il".
That /or* Fco--an*F is a stron# /or*. It is al-ost a
-ilitar" /or*. There -a" ,e so-e -others or /i)es /ho /o.l*
ask, FAre "o. s!eakin# a,o.t ,ein# a *ictatorJF No, ,.t I a-
s!eakin# a,o.t a -an /ho is a -anKa -an /ho kno/s his
!osition an* res!onsi,ilit". There are so-e sit.ations in /hich a
-an .n*er 7o* is res!onsi,le to co--an* his ho.sehol*. He is
res!onsi,le to sa", FIn or*er to !lease 7o* an* ha)e His
,lessin#, this is the /a" /eGre #oin# to *o it in o.r ho-e. :eGre
not #oin# to *o this, ,.t /e are #oin# to *o that.F A +ather has a
ri#ht to *eter-ine so-e o+ the ,asic r.les o+ the ho.sehol*5 /hat
ti-e the" /ill eat to#ether, the ti-e that "o.n#er chil*ren -.st
,e in, the kin* o+ entertain-ents that are !er-itte*, the a-o.nt
o+ ti-e that the" s!en* in +ront o+ tele)ision an* the kin* o+
!ro#ra-s the" /atch. A +ather has not -erel" the !ri)ile#e, he
has the *.t" o+ co--an*in# his +a-il" in these res!ects. 7o*
sai*, FIGll ,rin# .!on A,raha- that /hich IG)e !ro-ise* ,eca.se
I can tr.st hi- to *o that +or Me.F
Fo.rth, all thro.#h the rest o+ the cri!t.re, A,raha- is set
+orth as a !attern +or all s.,se>.ent ,elie)ers. In +act, the Ne/
Testa-ent sa"s that /e are the chil*ren o+ A,raha- ," +aith an*
that /e are to /alk in the ste!s o+ the +aith o+ o.r +ather,
A,raha-. :alkin# in the ste!s o+ A,raha-Gs +aith -eans that
/e ,eha)e in o.r ho-es as A,raha- ,eha)e* in his ho-e.
In closin# this section, let -e *ra/ a contrast. There /as
The Father as Kin# 2%
another -an /ho /ent a lon# /a" /ith A,raha-, kne/ a lot o+
/hat A,raha- kne/ an* sa/ a lot o+ /hat 7o* *i* +or
A,raha-. His na-e /as =ot. 0.t the ti-e ca-e +or A,raha-
an* =ot to se!arate ,eca.se their +locks an* her*s /ere too
n.-ero.s +or the- to sta" to#ether. A,raha-, like the
#entle-an that he /as, sai* to =ot, FLo. choose. :hiche)er
/a" "o. #o, IGll #o the o!!osite.F =ot chose to #o to/ar*
o*o-, a !lace o+ e<tre-e sin+.lness. The ne<t ti-e /e rea*
a,o.t =ot, he an* his +a-il" /ere insi*e o*o- an* the
;.*#-ent o+ 7o* /as a,o.t to co-e on the cit". =ot trie*
*es!eratel" to #et his sons-in-la/ an* -ost o+ his +a-il" o.t an*
+aile*. As he esca!e* hi-sel+ an* looke* ,ack .!on the
s-ol*erin# r.ins o+ o*o-, he -.st ha)e reali?e* that -an" o+
his +a-il" ha* ,een *estro"e* in that r.in an* that he /as
res!onsi,le +or takin# the- in.
Fathers, "o. -a" lea* "o.r chil*ren into o*o-, ,.t "o.
-a" not ,e a,le to lea* the- o.t a#ain. :hat a +ear+.l
res!onsi,ilit" reste* .!on the sho.l*ers o+ =ot as a +ather. He
le* his chil*ren into a !lace o+ sin an* .lti-ate ;.*#-ent an*
co.l* not #et the- o.t a#ain.
9
9 :HEN FATHER FAI=
.!!ose that a +ather +ailsJ :hat ha!!ens to his +a-il"J Or
s.!!ose that the +athers in a nation +ail. :hat ha!!ens to
that nationJ 0eca.se 7o* kne/ that A,raha- /o.l* +.l+ill his
*.ties as a +ather, 7o* !ro-ise* that he /o.l* ,eco-e a #reat
an* -i#ht" nation. 0.t /hat a,o.t a nation /hose +athers *o not
+.l+ill their *.tiesJ

In De.terono-" 1' Moses lists t/o thin#s5 +irst, the

,lessin#s that /ill co-e .!on 7o*Gs !eo!le i+ the" o,e" Hi-I
secon*l", the c.rses that /ill co-e .!on the- i+ the" *iso,e"
Hi-. The +irst +o.rteen )erses contain the ,lessin#s. The
re-ainin# )erses o+ the cha!ter, )erses %( thro.#h 9', list the
c.rses +or the *iso,e*ience o+ not /alkin# in 7o*Gs /a" an* not
kee!in# 7o*Gs la/.
No/ there are -an" re-arka,le c.rses liste*, ,.t I /ant to
!oint o.t ;.st one. In De.terono-" 1':41, Moses sa"s5
Tho. shalt ,e#et sons an* *a.#hters, ,.t
tho. shalt not en;o" the-I +or the" shall #o
into ca!ti)it".
CK@DE
The lan#.a#e that Moses .ses is in the -asc.line. In other
/or*s, it is a**resse* !ri-aril" to +athers. Also the /or* F,e#etF
!ri-aril" re+ers to the +atherGs !art in !rocreatin# chil*ren. o
28 Fatherhoo*
this is a**resse* !ri-aril", ,.t not e<cl.si)el", to +athers. It
sa"s, FTho. shalt ,e#et sons an* *a.#hters, ,.t tho. shalt not
en;o" the-.F It ca-e to -e /ith a shock one *a" that not
en;o"in# o.r chil*ren is a c.rse. I ,e#an to ask -"sel+, FHo/
-an" !arents reall" en;o" their chil*ren to*a"JF
I /as re-in*e* o+ a !astor, a +rien* o+ -ine, /ho ha* a
lar#e +a-il" o+ chil*ren an* I re-e-,er hearin# hi- !ra" one
*a", F=or*, hel! .s to re-e-,er that chil*ren are a ,lessin# an*
not a ,.r*en.F I *i* not +eel so-eho/ that he /as !ra"in# /ith
)er" stron# +aith. I think that the -a;orit" o+ !arents reall" *o
not en;o" their chil*ren. :h" notJ :hat is the reasonJ It is a
c.rse +or *iso,e*ience. 7o* #a)e chil*ren as the #reatest
,lessin# He co.l* #i)e to -en an* /o-en. :hen +athers an*
-others, an* es!eciall" +athers, *o not /alk in the /a" o+ the
=or*, then that ,lessin# is no lon#er a ,lessin#. Moses /arns the
+athers o+ Israel that i+ the" *o not kee! 7o*Gs /a" an* /alk in
it, then, FLo. /ill not en;o" "o.r chil*ren, +or the" shall #o into
ca!ti)it".F
In these last t/o *eca*es, /e ha)e seen -illions o+ chil*ren
#o into )ario.s kin*s o+ satanic ca!ti)it"Kto *r.#s, illicit se<,
the occ.lt an* )ario.s t"!es o+ c.lts. That is ca!ti)it" ;.st a
s.rel" as i+ an in)a*in# alien ar-" ha* co-e into the co.ntr"
an* carrie* the- o++ !risoners. :h" *i* these -illions o+
chil*ren #o into ca!ti)it"J The ans/er is #i)en there in the
cri!t.res. 0eca.se their +athers +aile* in their res!onsi,ilities.
The !ri-ar" res!onsi,ilit" +or that state o+ a++airs in -o*ern
societ" rests at the *oor o+ +athers.
:e hear a lot a,o.t ;.)enile *elin>.ents. There are har*l"
an" ;.)enile *elin>.ents .ntil there are +irst a*.lt *elin>.ents. It
takes a*.lt *elin>.ents to ,rin# +orth ;.)enile *elin>.ents.
I !ointe* o.t earlier that one o+ the +atherGs res!onsi,ilities
to his +a-il" /as that o+ a !riest. In Malachi 154, the =or* states
/hat is re>.ire* o+ a !riest5
:hen Fathers Fail 2(
For the !riestGs li!s sho.l* kee! kno/le*#e,
an* the" sho.l* seek the la/ at his -o.th5
+or he is the -essen#er o+ the =ORD o+ hosts.
CK@DE
It is the res!onsi,ilit" o+ the !riest to kno/ the la/ o+ the
=or* an* to inter!ret it to the =or*Gs !eo!le. o the !riest is the
-essen#er, or !erha!s a ,etter /or* /o.l* ,e Fre!resentati)e,F
o+ the =or* to His !eo!le. This a!!lies, as /e ha)e alrea*" seen,
to the +ather as !riest. His li!s sho.l* kee! kno/le*#e. His
chil*ren an* his +a-il" sho.l* seek the =or* 7o* at his -o.th.
He sho.l* ,e 7o*Gs re!resentati)e to the-.
:hat ha!!ens i+ !riests +ail in this +.nctionJ I+ /e t.rn to
Hosea 859, 7o* *eclares /hat He /ill *o to a +a-il", to a nation
or to a ci)ili?ation /hen its !riests +ail5
M" !eo!le are *estro"e* +or lack o+
kno/le*#e Anot scienti+ic kno/le*#e, ,.t
the kno/le*#e o+ the /a" an* the /or* o+
the =ORDB5 ,eca.se tho. hast re;ecte*
kno/le*#e, I /ill also re;ect thee, that tho.
shalt ,e no !riest to -e5 seein# tho. hast
+or#otten the la/ o+ th" 7o*, I /ill also
+or#et th" chil*ren.
CK@DE
That is a )er" !o/er+.l /or* to +athers. 7o* sa"s, in e++ect,
FI e<!ecte* "o. to ,e the !riest o+ "o.r +a-il". 0.t ,eca.se "o.
ha)e re;ecte* the kno/le*#e that "o.r +a-il" nee*s, I a- #oin#
to re;ect "o.. I /ill no lon#er acce!t "o. as !riest. An* /hen
"o.r !riestl" -inistr" on ,ehal+ o+ "o.r chil*ren is no lon#er
acce!te* ," Me,F 7o* sa"s, Fthen I /ill also +or#et "o.r
chil*ren.F
That is +ri#htenin#H To think that 7o* /o.l* sa" to .s, as
!arents, FLo.G)e so +aile* in "o.r res!onsi,ilit" that IG- #oin# to
+or#et "o.r chil*ren. I a- ;.st #oin# to ,e to/ar* the- as i+ the"
29 Fatherhoo*
/ere not there. I a- #oin# to /rite the- o++. The" are o+ no
-ore conse>.ence or si#ni+icance ,e+ore Me.F I /o.l* sa" that
this nation o+ o.rs, this ci)ili?ation o+ o.rs, is +ille* /ith 7o*-
+or#otten chil*ren. :h"J 0eca.se their +athers *i* not kee! the
la/ o+ the =or*.
=et -e sa" it this /a"5 The +ather /ho re;ects the
kno/le*#e o+ 7o*Gs la/ loses his ri#ht to ,e a !riest to his
+a-il". :hen the +atherGs !riestl" -inistr" is no lon#er
a)aila,le, 7o* sa"s, FI /ill +or#et "o.r chil*ren.F That is a )er",
)er" sole-n tho.#ht.
In closin#, I /ant to t.rn to the last t/o )erses o+ the Ol*
Testa-ent. I *o not kno/ /hether "o. ha)e e)er re+lecte* on
the +act that the last /or* o+ the Ol* Testa-ent in the #enerall"
.se* translation is the /or* Fc.rse.F It is a )er" sole-n tho.#ht
that i+ 7o* ha* no -ore to sa" to -an a+ter the Ol* Testa-ent,
His last /or* to h.-anit" /o.l* ha)e ,een a c.rse. Thank 7o*
+or the Ne/ Testa-ent /hich sho/s the /a" o.t o+ the c.rse.
This is /hat 7o* sa"s in these last t/o )erses o+ the ,ook
o+ Malachi, Malachi 85(-95
0ehol*, I /ill sen* "o. Eli;ah the !ro!het
,e+ore the co-in# o+ the #reat an* *rea*+.l
*a" o+ the =ORD5 an* he shall t.rn the heart
o+ the +athers to the chil*ren, an* the heart
o+ the chil*ren to their +athers, lest I co-e
an* s-ite the earth /ith a c.rse.
CK@DE
I a- i-!resse* ," the tre-en*o.s insi#ht o+ !ro!hetic
re)elation, in that /ell o)er t/o tho.san* "ears a#o Malachi
/as a,le to +oresee the #reatest an* -ost .r#ent social !ro,le-
o+ o.r *a". :hat is that !ro,le-J It is *i)i*e*, stri+e-torn
ho-es. Fathers an* chil*ren o.t o+ relationshi!. The chil*ren
re,ellio.s, the +athers ne#li#ent. An* the !ro!het /arns .s i+ this
state o+ a++airs *oes not chan#e, it is #oin# to ,rin# a c.rse on
:hen Fathers Fail 24
that .nitI /hether it ,e a +a-il", or a nation or a ci)ili?ation.
7o*Gs :or* +aces .s /ith ;.st t/o alternati)es in o.r c.rrent
sit.ation to*a"5 /e -a" either restore +a-il" relationshi!s an*
s.r)i)eI or /e -a" allo/ +a-il" relationshi!s to *eteriorate an*
#o the /a" the" ha)e ,een #oin# the last *eca*es. I+ /e *o the
latter, /e /ill !erish .n*er 7o*Gs c.rse. Those are the
alternati)es.
In a )er" si#ni+icant sense, the *estin" /ill ,e settle* ," the
+athers. It is the +athers /ho- 7o* hol*s res!onsi,le. 0eca.se
7o* co.l* tr.st A,raha- to ,e the kin* o+ +ather that He
/ante*, He sai*, FHeGll ,eco-e a #reat an* -i#ht" nation.F 0.t
the contrar" is also tr.e. :here +athers +ail an* *o not +.l+ill
their res!onsi,ilities, a nation can no lon#er re-ain #reat. I
,elie)e that is the )er" crisis that con+ronts o.r nation to*a". Are
the +athers #oin# to ret.rn to 7o* an* +ace their res!onsi,ilities
to their +a-ilies in the si#ht o+ 7o*J Or is the !resent -oral an*
social ,reak*o/n, /hich ori#inate* in the +a-il" an* is
*estro"in# the +a-il", #oin# to contin.e an* co-e to its .lti-ate
conse>.ence, /hich is a c.rseJ
It /ill ,e the *ecision o+ the +athers that *eter-ines the
*estin" o+ the nation. 7o* re>.ires the +athers to t.rn to the
chil*ren. Then He !ro-ises the chil*ren /ill ret.rn to their
+athers.
A0OUT THE AUTHOR
erek Prince /as ,orn in In*ia, o+ 0ritish !arents. He /as
e*.cate* as a scholar o+ 7reek an* =atin at Eton Colle#e
an* Ca-,ri*#e Uni)ersit", En#lan*, /here he hel* a Fello/shi!
in Ancient an* Mo*ern Philoso!h" at Kin#Gs Colle#e. He also
st.*ie* He,re/ an* Ara-aic, ,oth at Ca-,ri*#e Uni)ersit" an*
the He,re/ Uni)ersit" in @er.sale-. In a**ition, he s!eaks a
n.-,er o+ other -o*ern lan#.a#es.
D
:hile ser)in# /ith the 0ritish ar-" in :orl* :ar II, he
,e#an to st.*" the 0i,le an* e<!erience* a li+e-chan#in#
enco.nter /ith @es.s Christ. O.t o+ this enco.nter, he +or-e*
t/o concl.sions5 +irst, that @es.s Christ is ali)eI secon*, that the
0i,le is a tr.e, rele)ant, .!-to-*ate ,ook. These concl.sions
altere* the /hole co.rse o+ his li+e. ince then, he has *e)ote*
his li+e to st.*"in# an* teachin# the 0i,le.
His *ail" ra*io ,roa*cast, Keys to Successful Living,
reaches -ore than hal+ the /orl* an* incl.*es translations into
Ara,ic, Chinese, Croatian, Mala#as", Mon#olian, R.ssian,
a-oan, !anish an* Ton#an. He is the a.thor o+ o)er (3 ,ooks,
o)er (33 a.*io an* %93 )i*eo teachin# cassettes, -an" o+ /hich
ha)e ,een translate* an* !.,lishe* in -ore than 93 lan#.a#es.
DerekGs -ain #i+t is e<!lainin# the 0i,le an* its teachin# in
a clear an* si-!le /a". His non-*eno-inational, non-sectarian
a!!roach has -a*e his teachin# e>.all" rele)ant an* hel!+.l to
!eo!le +ro- all racial an* reli#io.s ,ack#ro.n*s.