FATHER AND SON RELATIONSHIPS
By Apostle Tina Baker
God is bringing us into a time when we will no longer be star struck...but we will be able to be in true relationships with one another. There is a price for this! This is not cheap relationship. When Paul found Timothy in Acts 16, it says he was a disciple (he was already teachable, trainable!). It also says he had a good report among others. Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. There must have had something special about him...but the foundation of that was good character! Verse 3 says, "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek."
It cost Timothy something to become a son. Not only the pain of circumcision, but the actual changing of who he related to as his father. Who he identified himself with had to change! He had to trust Paul completely. This is not a casual, I will leave you the minute you do something I don't like, relationship. (I am not talking about leaders who are abusive, or in sin) There are those who are never willing to be "cut on." They will not become true sons. Sonship costs you something.
Later Paul calls Timothy, "my own son in the faith" (I Timothy 1:2), and "my dearly beloved son", (2 Timothy 1:2). What a special relationship! In Phillipians 2:19-20 Paul says, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state." Wow! The great Apostle Paul says he had no one else who was likeminded! This relationship is NOT CHEAP!
Oh God I am so stirred up in my heart...even as I write this....that God is indeed restoring these kinds of relationships in His church! Life long relationships. Priceless relationships. God has and is granting these in my life and my heart is leaping for joy even at this moment!
What freedom this brings! People hear this message and think it brings bondage...but what a LIE! What healing and deliverance comes through true divine father/son (non gender) relationships. I would not trade it for anything! God is manifested in this.
The hearts of the fathers MUST be turned to the sons and the hearts of the sons MUST be turned to the fathers. Because this has been lacking, the land has been suffering under a curse. But it is turning! Our hearts are turning! We must learn how to turn! We must be willing to have our hearts turned! Whether it is our "father heart" turning to sons...or our "son heart" turning to fathers...we must be willing to turn!
Blessings to you all,
Apostle Tina Baker
1701 A South Lee Highway
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: 423-559-9813
http://www.houseoffire.org