God Wants To Heal Fatherless Sons

This is indeed the season of sons & daughters returning to fathers. If you have been a son or daughter & have a broken relationship with your spiritual father, reconciling that relationship will bring healing.

Perhaps in the past, you may have had a spiritual father in words but not in heart/actions. Don't be dismayed. There are REAL fathers out there...maybe not in surplus...but ones with huge hearts who can heal your brokenness. But fathers can only invest into those whose pride is removed & allow that investment to come to them.

The spiritual fathering relationship is more than getting some counsel from time to time, or being another number in a network, or just another stop in a preaching circuit. THAT IS NOT FATHERING. A spiritual father invests into the life & purposes of their sons & daughters. They do this unreservedly & not based on the return from the son or daughter. They see their hidden potential & see it fully healthy & functioning. There are many claiming sons & daughters with no real relationship & the motive is not for the betterment of the person but to add numbers to their own tribe. The motive is wrong so the actions are also. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth as many are getting only a portion of fathering without full investment.

All spiritual fathering relationships are required to have the expectations in them understood by all involved. They have safeguards in place as well to make sure things do not get off base.

If Jesus could only father the 12, Paul had less, and Timothy was instructed to look to find them...then fathering is limited in the number you can truly be effective with.

In the past decade, spiritual fathering has become another buzz word. I have seen many claiming sons who never spent any time investing in them but “absorbed” them already matured to claim they have sons. Or they absorbed them into their network without really helping to perfect them in the faith. To me, this is having the rewards & affirmation of peers, over the reward of seeing a son or daughter blossom.

Relationships change as seasons of fathering are completed. You can have 50-60-100 sons but you probably are only truly fathering a handful into the very depths of fathering at any one time, because if done right, like natural fathering, there comes a day when they stand on their own and have grown up. You will always be their father but it will change in function.

I've personally witnessed sons & daughters who have been sent (not went) & are doing great things for God. They recognize the investment that has been made in their life & they reconnect through reciprocity because of the motion of God in their ministry. I am also seeing many prodigals or those who got disconnected in the process return home.

God leaves space for this to happen. As a father, who loves deeply, I can attest that when you keep your heart connected to your spiritual children, no matter how you were treated, God will bring a holy conviction for things to be done right.

Maybe you're waiting on some specific ones today. Perhaps you're waiting with faith and expectation for their heart to turn. My prayer is that it won’t take calamity like I've witnessed.

See, once the spiritual fathering relationship is started, the father’s heart is always there for their sons & daughters. Once I start a relationship, I have already decided that I will give the investment needed, the time required & the privileges I will give.

From my experience, most of the time, sons & daughters are coming from an orphaned spirit. Perhaps their relationship with their natural dad is skewed. Perhaps they have been spiritually rejected, deemed of no value or pushed aside. These things are the second things I begin to press into to see them get healed & whole.

Without these things complete in them, then all other perspectives & perceptions are really out of focus. THERE MUST BE HEALING.

These areas are probably the reason for the relationship. IDENTITY is also a large part of this second step. Without a proper identity, you may never function correctly as function comes from identity not identity coming from function.

This reversal is a hard one for most sons & daughters as they have always performed to have a place in the ‘pecking order’. For them to see the value of who they are to God takes time.

This is the real heart of fathering. Patience. Long suffering. Right perceptions. This step is about helping the person to become whole in the midst of their confusion, perceptions, & self determined value.

The third step is the step of RELEASING POTENTIAL.

Giving opportunities for that potential to come forth & walking out life together. It is about helping with mistakes together & learning together. This is where ministry truly begins to happen & the person’s ability to rise above their past & into the future becomes present in their life.

What I'm sharing is really a broad stroke of the paint brush. There are many moving parts in the Father/Son relationship. Some of these steps occur at the same time. Some will need to be done in a set order. Each relationship is different & requires truly knowing the heart of God for the person & having vision for who they are to God.

Spiritual fathering is an art form more than a taught way of ministry. You cannot necessarily read about it in a book & do it but it comes from a heart that has been formed over TIME.

God wants to HEAL fatherless sons.

Every Blessing,

Russell Hylton

Leaguership

Check out my newest book, "Five-Fold Fathering" at www.russellhylton.com

New Book Release!

 

NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Dear friends,

My first book is now available on amazon. You can order here:

https://www.russellhylton.com/books

"LEAGUERSHIP - A League of Likeminded Leaders", has been a labor of love and is the culmination of years of experience and research in the field of leadership.

As you know, effective leadership is critical to the success of any organization, church, business or community. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just starting out in your ministry, church or career, my book offers practical strategies and insights that can help you lead with confidence, inspire your team and achieve your goals.

From the power of communication and collaboration to the importance of resilience and adaptability, "LEAGUERSHIP" covers the leadership journey God began in me nearly twenty years ago that I believe are essential for successful leadership.

I am confident that this book will be a valuable resource for anyone who wants to become a better leader and make a positive impact in their organization. Order yours in paperback or kindle.

Also, our new website is LIVE! Check it out here --> www.russellhylton.com

Every Blessing,

Russell Hylton

Leaguership

Something To Point To

You know & others know if what you have Is real.

Jesus chose Lazarus to be His EVIDENCE. When the haters came (and they always do), He didn't have to rely on Lazarus' preaching, singing or instagram reels. All he had to do was POINT to Lazarus & all Lazarus had to do was just sit there & BREATHE.

Lazarus was the EVIDENCE of Jesus' power.

What can people point to in your life that proves there is a reality to everything you claim to be real in your life?

Perhaps your faithfulness or fruitfulness? The evidence will be the things that are WORKING in your life.

I believe that I should be my own BEST CUSTOMER!

• You must practice what you preach.
• It must work in your life first.
• You can't ask others to do what you're not willing to do yourself.
I PREACH SALVATION by grace through faith in Jesus because I know it to be true.
I TEACH LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES because they are working for me.
I TEACH TITHES/STEWARDSHIP because it is working for me.
I TEACH FATHER/SON APOSTOLIC COVERING because it is working for me.

If people can get a hold of it & work it and stay with it...IT WILL produce the kind of results that they want!

It is vital to have a spiritual covering! On this side of the resurrection, everything God will do THROUGH you will be EMPOWERED through ALIGNMENT.

Do you have something to point to? Until you have your own evidence, you will need evidence of those who are birthing you into your double portion.

Leaguership
Russell Hylton

Dear Young Preacher

The need to prove your worth can stem from a lack of affirmation.

When you recognize this & you're willing to process it, you will realize ultimately that your worth comes from Christ IN you...not the opinions of other people.

Obviously, we all desire someone to believe in us. (e.g., parents, friends, employer, teachers, pastors, mentors, leaders, family, etc.)

But what if you never have the affirmation of those people? Can you still walk in confident humility, reach for your goals & be your best without their support? Can you reach down within yourself & tap into your God placed seed of value?

As a parent, it is my responsibility & desire to prepare & promote my child to discover their God-given greatness! I affirm my child with positive reinforcement, discipline & opportunities that cultivate their self-esteem, tenacity & awareness of God's DNA in their life. Parents desire their children to exceed their own limitations by enabling them to see farther & go further.

This is also one of the reasons we are in desperate need of SPIRITUAL FATHERS. Sons need Fathers/Mothers in The Kingdom of God who will LOVE them, HELP them, PREPARE them, BELIEVE in them & SHOW them the way.

In the United States - 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Consequently this crisis has affected our children in the following ways:

• Poverty

• Teen Pregnancy

• Behavioral Problems

• Child Abuse

• Substance Abuse

• Incarceration

• Child Obesity

• Crime

• Education

These are mere "natural" effects. But what about the Spiritual effects? The one I above mentioned is the "Need To Affirm" ourselves. See, when you haven't been affirmed by a father, you'll spend a lot of your energy trying to PROVE who you are by the THINGS you do. You end up deriving your worth based on WHAT you do rather than WHO you are.

I have determined to be a Spiritual Father...even when there have been times that I felt like walking away from that role. One of the qualifications for being a FATHER is that you are also a SON. Sonship births Fatherhood. (Spiritually speaking). If you can't or won't be a SEATED SON then serving in the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual Father is beyond your reach.

One thing that a Spiritual Father does is that they remain on the porch. They don't go chasing after sons. They make a path for sons to find their way to & from home. (Launching Pad / Home Base) It's under the covering of a Spiritual Father that ministries are birthed & sent. The DNA of a Father must be in the sending & birth of any qualified ministry. This is the way God builds generationally. Apostolic Alignment stems from this principle. Without it, at best we masquerade a bastard ministry under the sheer veil of a renegade zeal.

Be yourself.

Allow others to brag on you.

Be comfortable in your own skin.

Don't name drop.

Take care of unfinished business.

Honor...always.

Receive correction.

Be patient.

See, when you know WHO you are & WHOSE you are, you're able to settle in your own skin. You won't need to SHOWBOAT by bragging on your ACCOMPLISHMENTS, trying to get more FANS on Instagram or name dropping WHO you know. When you know WHO you are & WHO your FATHER is...you can sit on the back row & be comfortable without being asked to be seated in the VIP section. :)

There is great PEACE & FREEDOM in processing this in your life. In fact, I think it's one of the things you'll have to master on your journey.

Blessings to you friends!

You are LOVED!

You are VALUED!

You are IMPORTANT!

Remain humble, submitted & willing to serve wherever & whenever. You're right where God wants you! Make the most of every assignment! It's all rolled up into one journey of faith!

Rooted & Established - 2020 Leadership

What Kind Of Son You Are Depends On What Mind Of Son You Are

The spiritual principle of sonship is an essential key to walking out your purpose in the kingdom of God. 

David had 20 sons...many of them missed sonship & in the process...missed out on their true callings. 

Sons like Absalom, who responded to conflict with violent retribution or Adonijah, who chose arrogant self-promotion over humility...never achieved their God-given destinies because they made bad decisions.

That’s why you need a spiritual covering. It’s essential. 

• “Spiritual DNA” is critical to your identity as a son.

• There are Scriptural foundations for spiritual mentorship or “parenthood.”

• You can avoid common pitfalls that have derailed destinies.

• A true son restores sonship to a broken world.

Ultimately, it’s up to us to choose what kind of sons we will be. Will we be sons of promise that choose honor, humility & communication? Or will we be sons of destruction that choose offense & insecurity? 

Staying under a covering has launched me into the destiny & purpose I was made for.  The challenges of learning how to be a son has shaped me into becoming a father. 

I’ve learned from my spiritual fathers:

• What to do & what not to do. 

• To sit still, on purpose, so that patience can have it’s perfect work. 

• To listen to what’s being said, even when they’re not speaking. 

• To wait to be “sent”...rather than “went.”

• To work on my areas of weakness. 

• To represent correctly. 

• To honor. 

• To serve.

• To Be hospitable. 

• To celebrate wins. 

• To flow seamlessly. 

• and so much more!

I cannot claim a spiritual father only when it’s convenient to me. I must learn to abide under their covering seasonly, dispensationally & continually. It’s life-long...& it brings long life. 

Check out more articles on fatherhood & sonship at russellhylton.com 

#FatherSon 

#ElijahElisha 

#MosesJoshua 

#PaulTimothy 

Father's Day Video Message - What You Can Expect From A Father

Where You Sit Determines What You Get

Jesus had 5 Distinct Levels of Relationship:

1 - John the Beloved
3 - Peter, James & John
12 - Disciples
70 - Sent out two by two
Multitude - Followed Him everywhere He went

Each level of relationship had its own lateral & vertical depth.

LEADERSHIP (i.e., mentorship, coaching, Father/Son connection, etc.) is much the same. (1, 3, 12, 70, Multitude, etc.) ... not in matters of hierarchy but in matters of relational equity.

Relational equity = a relationship in which time and emotional investment has been made that renders an increased value from which to draw.

As a Pastor, I have relationships with many people. However, I would have to say that each relationship is different based upon the individual. I guess it could be called “tiered” in some aspects. I have relationships with my staff, ministry leaders, volunteers, parishioners and acquaintances. The development of each is a process which requires trust, time and shared interests.

Read more here

The key is knowing how to effectively lead each level. These relationships can be modified over time. However, the principles of how you interact with each remain the same.

Where you SIT determines what you GET.

10 Things About Sonship

1. The Bible teaches that a Father's duty to his son is to REFINE his temperament, POLISH  his skills & TEACH him wisdom. #Sonship

2. Most men who struggle with FATHERHOOD do so because they either failed at #Sonship or were never exposed to positive, paternal influence.

3. We live in a generation where many men neither appreciate nor understand the VALUE of a father or the PRIVILEGE of #Sonship.

4. #Sonship is a position of high HONOR & not something to be ashamed of, rebelled against or taken lightly. Sons are HEIRS!

5. 53% of the men in our prisons didn't have a father at HOME. So they never learned to be sons. They were robbed of their #Sonship.

6. Mature Sons respect their Fathers' wealth of wisdom gained by experience. They glean from their Fathers' hits & misses. #Sonship

7. Our first call in Christ is to be BROTHERS. We aren't called to control one another. Father/Son connections are God's doing. #Sonship

8. Thru correction, a father ADJUSTS his son’s life to receive blessing. Without this adjustment, he falls prey to a bastard spirit. #Sonship

9. Submission is a SEED sown in the SOIL of #Sonship.

10. Dear sons, spiritual #Sonship is not easy -  the only thing harder is being a spiritual Father. So be patient with yours. 

In Alignment, Out of Alignment

When you've been down the road enough, you become aware of patterns and behaviors. I've seen just about everything you can imagine & can usually discern which way the water is flowing. Although I can't read people's minds, their behaviors are pretty predictable.

I shared this morning, in our 2020 Leadership Class, that everything we do must come under the covering of our spiritual authority. (i.e., decisions, plans, intentions, etc.) It's not that God doesn't speak to you but He will use your spiritual authority to CONFIRM what He has already spoken. UNTIL THEN...you receive counsel, remain steadfast, unmoveable & abounding in the work of The Lord. (And you keep doing that regardless.)

However, we live in a culture (sadly, even in the church world) where people do WHAT they want, WHEN they want, the WAY they want...and THEN desire a "blessing" after the fact. It DOESN'T work that way.

In EVERY move I've made, whether it was in ministry, work, family, moves, major purchases, etc., I've sought counsel from my covering BEFORE I had discussions, made decisions or put one foot in front of the other. Nothing was done in secret. That's called total transparency and it can afford you the greatest BLESSING you've ever experienced.

The reason I feel so strongly about this is because I know it works. It's in order. It's in alignment and it speaks volumes of a submitted heart. I deeply desire the blessing of my leaders. Their covering is not only sustaining it's protecting.

The Scriptures teach us that "wisdom is in a multitude of counsel." Obviously, you can get the opinion of your family & your friends. But there's nothing like the voice of your spiritual authority - the same leadership you gave the right to speak into your life...in every area. The same people who have stood with you, prayed for you, interceded on your behalf & have spiritual insight & wisdom.

The same leader I needed when I was down...I need when I'm up. I cannot disregard their voice just because it's not what I want to hear.

May you always be found in spiritual alignment.

Do You Know Your Generational Connection?

God is getting His church ready for His coming.  The church is being "BUILT" for His appearing.  One of the understandings of the Hebrew word "build" (banah) is to obtain children.

God is a builder.  He builds three ways:

1. Revelationally
2. Generationally
3. Relationally

Could it be that the method the Lord is using to build up Zion (Psalm 102:16) is the obtaining of children, or the establishing of generations? The Bible is a book of generations. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.)  

In the Old Testament, a history of generations was necessary for ministry in the PRIESTHOOD. Today, few people can trace their spiritual heritage through generations. Some may be able to point to a pastor, a leader or a church that was significant to their growth but not many, today, can go back through generations and list their ancestral father-to-son connections and spiritual inheritance.

It is God's plan that the church be reconnected in it's proper generational connection for the purpose of reestablishing true spiritual authority. 

Each generation should be BUILDING on the 

next so that nothing is lost in the grave.

Did Jesus have any natural children? Isaiah said He was stricken for the transgression of the people and cut off, leaving no natural children to carry on His generations. Yet the Scripture speaks of His offspring in numerous places. 

The CHURCH is His offspring and we will usher in His coming as the BODY represents the HEAD.

Notice that in Matthew's Gospel 42 generations are recorded in the lineage of Jesus.  For Jesus' right to minister as the Son of Abraham and the Son of David, He would have to show a GENERATIONAL CONNECTION.

The good news for us is that even if we cannot trace our spiritual lineage, if we are a believer, we are the seed of God and included in His family plan!

To establish GENERATIONAL CONNECTION there must be GENERATIONAL ORDER.  

God is a God of order.  Everything He does is systematic and exact.  For example, when we look at the faithfulness of Abraham, we find that he was a TITHER.  (By the way, tithing is not law.  Tithing was instituted 400 years before the law was ever given.)  Because Abraham was a tither...he was blessed.  Because we are considered Abraham's seed, we receive those same blessings when we tithe.

You obtain the PROMISE 

when you follow the PATTERN. 

Abraham only had one son of PROMISE.  He was dependent on Isaac not only to be in POSITION to receive the inheritance, but also to be able to PASS it on to other generations.

Abraham could have many promises from God but only through a lineage of SONS could they be achieved.

I believe the reason God made those promises to Abraham is because He knew that Abraham would command his children and his household after him!

Friend, the promises of God in our ministries are not dependent on our GIFTS and TALENTS but they are dependent on our willingness to put our ministries and churches in order...and that order is Spiritual Fatherhood.

When we flow in the APOSTOLIC order (the succession of spiritual authority) of Father/Son relationship we are able to trace back to the fact that somewhere in our lineage, a Spiritual Father entered into a higher relationship with God THROUGH FAITH that afforded us the opportunity to be GENERATIONALLY CONNECTED.


Do you know who YOUR spiritual father(s) is?

More to come...

The Value of my Spiritual Father - Ray Hylton

Today, my father, Ray Hylton, celebrates his 73rd Birthday.  One of the things I have valued most in my life is the role my father has in my life naturally and spiritually.

Serving with him in ministry has been a pure delight. As my father, pastor and spiritual father, I've gleaned so much from his wisdom, tenderness, love, care, manners and teaching. 

When I need ENCOURAGEMENT, he's there to say, "You can do this. I believe in you."

When I need CORRECTION, he does it in love, integrity and privacy.  He's corrected me many times, when I didn't want it and when I needed it, and I'm so thankful that my heart wasn't hardened to receive it.  It has made me a better man.

To have the BLESSING of a spiritual father is IMPACTFUL! Something as simple as a word of encouragement has given me a new level of determination to pursue God's will and call on my life.  I honor my dad as a spiritual father in the faith.  Not only is he a great leader, he is humble enough to encourage me and others to live for God with all of our hearts!

A VERBAL BLESSING from your spiritual father has a tremendous impact in your life, no matter how old or young you are.  I have had several spiritual fathers impact my life. Some were seasonal and some were merely positional.  I've gleaned from all of them.  Mostly, I would like to thank my father today for imparting BLESSING, WISDOM, DIRECTION, ENCOURAGEMENT and STRENGTH into my heart.  I have learned several things from him...and mostly what it means to be a TRUE SPIRITUAL FATHER.

SPIRITUAL FATHERS 

BLESS INTO FULLNESS

True spiritual fathers will BLESS and ENCOURAGE the call that God has on your life. They are concerned with identifying God's purpose, gifting and unique calling in their sons and blessing them into that fullness.

I've also learned that a TRUE FATHER will cover you, steer you and help you both naturally and spiritually.  They are sensitive to the times and seasons of your life and know how to speak to those seasons.  No matter how old I am, I will always need the undergirding of my spiritual fathers.

Not only will a spiritual father help you succeed they will also have an eye to DISCERN when their son may be slightly veering off the right path.  When a parent is motivated by love, they can speak CORRECTION and WISDOM into their child's life and teach them from lessons they themselves have learned.

I am so grateful for the moments spiritual leaders have spoken into my life, making me aware of things I may not have seen or realized in the moment.  Some things are TAUGHT...some things are CAUGHT.  If we listen with our eyes, ears and our heart, we'll learn what to do even when it's not being directly communicated.

SPIRITUAL SONS 

GIVE BACK

As a spiritual son, I also realize that not only does my spiritual father play a role in my life, but I also play role in his.  As a son I have the OPPORTUNITY to show HONOR, RESPECT and LOVE to my spiritual father.  

I enjoy the moments where I get to encourage him and serve him.  This can be done in ways as simple as carrying his bag or helping him when the opportunity arises.  Also respecting his OPINION and being THOUGHTFUL to have a LISTENING EAR shows him that he is NEEDED and VALUABLE in my life. 

I also think it's very important to always ACKNOWLEDGE the role and IMPACT a leader has had on your life and thank them in practical ways beyond your words.  Unexpected GIFTS, NOTES, a TEXT MESSAGE to them know you love them, are thinking about them and are appreciative for their life can minister JOY to their heart.

Spiritual fathers are a GIFT from God.  Spiritual sons can likewise be a gift back.  TREASURE and CULTIVATE these relationships.  As the generations LOVE and HONOR one another, God releases a blessing and together the Kingdom is advanced forward.

Today, I give honor to my pops...Pastor Ray Hylton.