It was early on a Saturday morning. There were a lot of places these dads could be at that hour but they chose to be here with other men of their church to hear about a new initiative for dads. The church did not need painting, there was no furniture to move or yard work to be done. This was about encouraging and equipping them as the dads they are called to be.
There has been little resourcing and training of men in churches for the most important role in life – to be the Heavenly Father’s representative in the home and family. On that Saturday morning, there was a presentation titled “A Father’s Legacy is the Sum of His Choices”. After the talk, men broke out into five groups of ten each to initiate a Dads Becoming Heroes small group study. Men were encouraged by the commitment of the leadership team that pulled the morning event together, challenged by the ‘next steps’ the study presented and empowered by newfound fellowship with other dads. What a blessing for the fathers, their families and their church!
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. … I am the only (prophet) left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” … The Lord God said to him, “Go back the way you came, … Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal. – 1Kings 19:13-15&18. It is interesting that this cave encounter follows one of Elijah’s greatest ‘successes’ in ministry – He had just exposed the 450 prophets of Baal when God consumed his offering; he slew all the false prophets; and, his prayer for rain was answered after a 3½ year drought. Yet, when he heard of Jezebel’s call to have him killed, Elijah feared her and hid in a cave. God met him there and told him to “go back the way you came,” he was to face his fears with faith that God was with him as He always had been. Why? Because God had a remnant of 7000 men he knew nothing about. Today, the noise of this world can stir up fears that isolate men in a similar kind of cave. The call is to face those fears head on in the power of the resurrected Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to rebuke them and step boldly forward knowing why we are here – to glorify the Father by being His representative in the home and family.
The core group of dads that orchestrated that Saturday morning happening glorified the Father as they stepped forward in the Spirit of Elijah to encourage and equip other dads on the journey to become faithful fathers. There is a remnant of dads in every church seeking encouragement and equipping for the journey. If you want to be part of a fathering initiative in your church, please contact us HERE.
Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for the blessing of being a dad. I confess I have allowed the noise of this world to stir up fears and cause me to question ‘what I am doing here.’ Forgive me. Equip me in the power of the resurrected Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be a present-day Elijah force to be the dad You call me to be and encourage others on the journey to become faithful fathers. Help me see clearly ‘what I am doing here’ and step boldly forward with enthusiasm for You every day. Amen.
A faithful father strives to be the father the Lord calls him to be and encourages others on the journey.
