The Fatherly H.A.T. of a Prophet

Interpretation is everything – so is preparation. Our children are not always with us and with modern technology and information overload, even when they are with us, they may not be with us. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could definitively tell the future to our child to protect them and encourage righteous productivity? A prepared child is confident and more likely to make the right decisions consistently. This is especially true if the expectations engrained by a dad’s forth-telling and foretelling come to pass. Some popular and unpopular things must be divulged. Fatherhood is a prophetic calling.

Warn them and give them hope. Verbal communication is necessary. Grace-led fathers in tune with the FATHER are anointed to proclaim and predict which lend to their children a clearer vision of situations and circumstances. His attitude and communication is “thus sayeth the LORD” but spoken in vernacular commonly understood to his child. Fatherhood often requires relaying what will happen and a dad’s words imbed themselves in the heart mind of his child. Dad, what is said is left to interpretation and will translate into how a child sees as his/her potential or destiny.  When dad says ‘Mark my words…’ – they will.

One of the hats a dad wears is the mitre of a prophet, either righteous or false.  It may be unpopular but wisdom dictates that dads stand on revealed truth so that his authority is legitimate and earnestly transferrable. Dad’s words speak to, underscore, italicize and embolden a child’s potential and possible outcome if they walk in righteous integrity. Really to operate properly as a prophet in the home dad needs to consistently hear and agree with truth, then foresee/discern the outcomes and relay it to his child before he or she needs it. Here he becomes either the early warning system or the dream-killer.

We have all heard the statement that the truth hurts. The truth about the truth is that the truth heals and the truth protects. Plus, lies and even well intentioned misinformation are way more damaging and devastating than the truth – everyday. Ultimately, dads must relay the truth and to encourage faithfulness, warn of dangers and foster hope. The goal of the prophet is to heighten awareness of what can and will happen based in ‘if-then’ scenarios. They denote signs/signals, visions of what to watch out for, what to look for and what to look forward to; thus he is giving his child wisdom spectacles with bifocal lens, where warning and hope are clear.  

 The Fatherly H.A.T of a Prophet:

Honor – Speak up regardless…often the honor in being prophetic is delayed. A prophet may not have honor in his own home immediately. Dads need to be informed, discerning and steadfast in relaying truth, whether he feels they are listening, receiving or absorbing the wisdom or not. When applicable they will hearken or recall what you have shared. It may require hog pit cuisine to help the prodigals to think clearly; however, whether obedience and seriousness is immediate or stale-dated our kids are worth the investment

Accountability – Help create a relationship with forecasted truth for your child. Dad, do you study patterns in history…biblical, family, and your child? With great expectations, do you relay what GOD has said will happen, what is happening and the outcomes of wise or foolish action to your child? Are you praying specifically about your child’s future? How are we displaying faith and how relevant is GOD’s Word and promises in our homes? Do we honestly expect our children to meet their potential while obeying GOD?

Training – a practical way to help our children picture a productive and honorable future is through prayer, watching the news together, doing a relaxed Bible Study and periodical vision-casting.  Be clear about GOD’s intentions, HIS boundaries and HIS empowerment. A dad taking every chance possible to encourage faith in his child is operating as a prophet.

 It may be a good idea to talk about the pros and cons of your child’s future:

Ø  In the car or during a commute

Ø  During meals

Ø  While checking homework

Ø  While doing chores together

Ø  When times are tough and money is tight

Ø  When they are being inquisitive

The Fatherhood H.E.A.R.T. of an Archangel

When dads are encouraging archangels, they are message-driven, purpose-driven, reverent to GOD and mindful of the angels stewarded to them. They even call themselves fellow servants with others. Relationship by relationship and action by action a dad writes either confirmation of GOD’s message of love, acceptance and peace or amends it by the flesh, sin, bad habits or even abuse. One of the hats that a father should wear involves recognizing the message – the big picture and where their child may fit in. This requires faith, study, hope and love. An archangel is an authoritative messenger responsible for messengers.

 Authority requires wisdom and its foundation should be love. It is not just recognizing the message. It is realizing that our children are messages in and of themselves. They are special-delivered, packaged bundles of joy with an encrypted message. The message is based on what is in them –their purpose, WHO placed it there, WHO sealed them, WHO will deliver them and to whom they are sent to bless, encourage or warn. It take the right mindset and heart-set. Wouldn’t it be powerful if dads encouraged their children with the heart of an archangel?

What is the H.E.A.R.T. of an archangel?

Honor of an Archangel: Dads help their child to honor their gifting and calling by honoring it unconditionally. To honor a father as archangel is to recognize the special message from GOD that he is – submitted and committed to GOD; especially as he recognizes the special message that his child is. It is also doing things beyond their presence and awareness to allow for victory. Dads help clear the path of purpose well ahead of their child, so their child can win

Encouragement of an Angel: “Be not afraid” or “Be of good courage”… as dads we must encourage our children to be positive, faithful, hopeful and loving messengers. It is life altering to have a positive father who sees the best in you and reminds you of what makes you valuable.

Accountability of an Archangel: TO GOD, HIS message and the unique message in himself and those in his charge Accountability Question: What message is your child…what message do you hope that your child give to the world? What are we doing to help them deliver that message?

A major part of dads accountability is “stealth availability” – doing things behind the scenes for their benefit.

Reconciliation of an Angel: Peace on Earth and Good will towards men. Dads model forgiveness and hope. Dads are to supply and point toward peace consistently. Though intimidating externally, a father can be the encourager of his child not by ignoring difficult circumstances but by helping them believe that their destiny is greater than their difficulty. Dads who themselves are reconciled that all thing ultimately work together for good, normalize this spirit for their child. What is your message of forgiveness and hope?

Training of an Archangel: Dads are make the message of GOD's love and power second nature by clear communication, suggestion, action, direction. Dad let your child know that he/she is a special message from GOD and that many others will learn about GOD by seeing what is special about them…ultimately those angels you are raising will have angels to raise - Teach them the big picture and to nurture and protect the message so that it is clearly delivered. Good teachers have good lesson plans

The Fatherly H.A.T. of an Archangel - Part 2

Yes, our children are “angels”. Angels are to understand authority, accountability, responsibility and they speak a clear and specific divine message. We are to train them in that direction. JESUS said there is order and structure in the in the realm we cannot see  - both righteous and evil (Matthew 12:22-28). In the invisible realm there is hierarchy. There are nine levels of angels: from highest to lowest ranking they are seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions/dominations, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels and angels. An angel is a spirit being – some are non-corporeal and some have a physical body. Often an angel is a human being. You see, the word angel is a transliteration of the Greek word angelos, which simply means messenger. Not all messengers are non-human.

 



The Angel Dudley in The Preacher's Wife

Actually all who believe are called to be messengers. We are assigned signs with GOD’s signature. The message is spiritual, though. GOD is good is the message. Why HE is good is the delivery. In the Book of the Revelation, the angels of the seven churches are understood to be commissioned human messengers. Positive or negative angels are messengers. They uniquely carry GOD’s message. They convey a message about GOD, family, values, culture and priorities. We are to be familiar with GOD’s message to know our message. HIS message is in HIS Word. An angel’s messages are usually short, direct and sweet. They make their presence felt without being overbearing

H. A. T. Principle

Honor Due: When dad is an archangel, he honors GOD and his children by being mission driven, structured and orderly, valuing GOD’s message and realize their child is a message that lives beyond himself. He honors and displays humble authority.

Accountability Question: Dad, what is your special message about GOD’s power and love? What have you told your child about GOD and the spirit realm? What is your child’s assignment from GOD? Who is making sure that that you deliver this message to your child?

Training Up - Practical Application: Find out the way they should go by inquiring about a spiritual curiosity. Have regular study and discussions, story time, story-telling with your child depending on age. Encourage the awe and awareness of the greater spiritual realm, and the pattern of structure and order throughout life. Every discussion should not be spiritual but discuss spiritual things that you have learned. Keep it short and sweet – a verse or a doctrine or a principle. Guess what? To talk about it and simplify it, you have to know it

The Fatherly H.A.T. of an Archangel - Part 1

Picture a toddler learning and anxious to walk. As she ventures about the home in a wobbly, unstable, unbalanced way, behind her is her father with his hands under but not touching her arms. She is unaware but safe. The home is a safe place to fall, especially since it has been child proofed. Dad, you could say, is angelically protecting his angel. This continues throughout life. Our child’s walk is a message.

They are precious. It is interesting that we call our children angels. It speaks to how special they are. We are made lower than angels according to Psalm 8. Our kids are angels – and actually higher if they believe. And since they are, fathers are to be archangels. The hat of an archangel is one of the most important, yet least recognized hats worn by a father. It is a hat of light. We tend to picture innocence and infants with wings when we hear the word angel but the word carries so much more meaning. In the Bible there are no instances of angels as babies. Every single instance in which an angel is depicted in the Bible, the angel resembles a man or multi-winged and multi-faced being – most often a man. The people who encountered them in the Bible were usually fearful of what they saw and were calmed and reassured by the angel. There was extremely high respect [some would say visual intimidation] but always reassurance. This definitely sounds like a father.

Accountability Question: Dad, based on your size you may or may not be intimidating; however, do you dwell on being respected so much that you produce fear in your children? Do you reassure them that you are there to bless them? Are you an archangel for your angel?

Practical Application: Let your children know your power but always reassure them that the power GOD vested in you will be used to consistently protect them and help them do the right things, the right way for the right reasons