This document discusses the difference between spiritual sons and slaves (hirelings) in the church. It argues that the five-fold ministry gifts are meant to turn ordinary believers into sons, not just equip them. Thirteen characteristics are provided that distinguish sons from slaves. Sons build the house of God for generations, honor authority, and desire to please the father. They learn and grow under their spiritual father. In contrast, slaves only maintain the house and are concerned with their own benefits and appearances. The purpose is to build sons in the local church, not just slaves, in order to strengthen the body of Christ.

1. AGAPE IN AFRICA
MINISTRIES
SONS AND “SLAVES”(hirelings)
The purpose of the five (5) fold ministries (ascension gifts) is to equip the Saints for Ministry, BUT I believe
these gifts are for more than just equipping?
THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY GIFTS ARE TO TURN ORDINARY SAINTS (Believers) INTO SONS! ! !
 In the Household of God; “And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain
forever” (John 8:35)
 God builds long term success
 Phil 2:19-22. Timothy (son) in the house of the Lord. Paul had many people whom he was discipling, but
no one was like Timothy (spiritual son)
 A son serves a father (Jesus=The Father). Timothy had the mentality (spirit) of a son.
 Sons serve! Slaves serve! But the difference is attitude of the person who is serving. When pressure or
fire comes, the slaves (hirelings) will flee, not a son.
 A son does not look for a pay cheque or immediate rewards or for what he can benefit from what he
does, because he works (invests his life) in the house for an inheritance.
 God builds His house upon sons! Sons are the building blocks/material of the house.
 Abraham says to God to use his servant Eliezer (Gen 15:2-4), but God says: “No!” he is not a son.
 Son ship is a mentality (spirit) God builds upon sons and NOT hirelings (slaves)
THIRTEEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL SON
1. SONS BUILD THE HOUSE, SLAVES (hirelings) MERELY MAINTAINS
Raising up sons is not just performing a job! I am investing my life, building for generations to come!
Slaves (hirelings) never initiate anything. They do what they are told. People are in the church either
as sons or just to perform a job. A son does not wait for others to do something, but when he sees
something that needs to be done, he does it. A slave (hireling) will say; “I only do what is in my job
description.”
2. SONS HOLD THE FATHER'S HEART AND THE SUCCESS OF THE FATHER’S
WORK/MINISTRY AS THEIR OWN.
In Luke 16:12 faithfulness over that which is another's, and then you will be faithful over
your own (1 Cor 15:24,28)
If you reason, that the Ministry (local Church) is not your responsibility, then God cannot give you your
own.
If you are faithful over that which is another's (your father’s) then God can give you your own.
Slaves (hirelings) take/grab, but sons INHERIT
A son does not just leave and go out on his own, but he is send out with the blessings of his father in
the ministry (John 3:34).
This is also the principle of the double anointing: “Having the Spirit without measure”

2. 3. SONS ARE ALWAYS FAMILY ORIENTED, BUT SLAVES (hirelings) ARE ISSUES ORIENTED
(Ministry Issues)
Issues will divide. Sons are more concerned about the family well being (relationships).
Solomon with the two mothers: False mother was ready to divide, but the real mother was concerned
about the well being of the child.
Some people in the local church are more concerned about the issues, than the well being of the family!
4. SONS USE THE LANGUAGE OF FAMILY, SLAVES (hirelings) USE INDIVIDUAL TERMINOLOGY
Servants are more concerned about the Ministry issues, than the relationships in the church.
Sons say: We, Us, Ours, but slaves (hirelings) say: I, Me, Mine, They, And Them; Slaves (hirelings)
say: “They made this or that rule or policy.”
The language of a son will tell that he is concerned about the family, but the language of the slave
(hireling) will give him/her away.
5. SONS HONOUR HEADSHIP, AND COVERS THE NAKEDNESS OF THEIR FATHERS’ MISTAKES
Slaves (hirelings) trade (take personal advantage) in exposing the mistakes of their leaders.
NOAH (drunk): even leaders make mistakes
Slaves (hirelings) will take advantage of the weakness of the leaders over them.
Love covers a multitude of sins
Sons will protect the father against the enemies.
Ps. 127:5b…" enemies at the gate." Some will attack/make a deal with the enemy; Sons speak with the
enemies at the gate.
6. SONS NATURALLY HONOURS AUTHORITY; SLAVES (HIRE-LINGS) CONSTANTLY QUESTION
THE CHAIN OF COMMAND
Slaves (hirelings) will object to someone who is put over them in authority, especially those whom they
do not like.
7. SONS WILL WANT TO SHARE THEIR LIVES, WITH THEIR FATHER’S DOWN TO THE 3RD
GENERATION
The mentality of the son is: I was not here first, but my father was first. The vision of the house was
established before I got here.
Sons want to see the father's vision fulfilled, but the slave (hireling) will want to change the vision, to
establish their own.
8. SONS BIND NEW PEOPLE TO THE FAMILY AND THE FATHER’S VISION; SLAVES (hirelings)
BIND NEW PEOPLE TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN VISION
In a storm (test) it’s when you discover where people are bonded. Acts 20:28-30: Wolves will draw
away people after them.
9. SONS FOCUS ON THE WELFARE OF THE FAMILY; SLAVES (hirelings) FOCUS ON THEIR OWN
APPEARANCES TO IMPRESS THE PEOPLE
When you have not been fathered, then you are insecure and normally you will have a very poor self-
image.
Acceptance by the people is very important to the slave (hireling).
A father gives you assurance of who you are! VALIDATES. Slaves (hirelings) work for approval and
acceptance. Slaves (hirelings) want to impress with appearance.
Sons feel totally validated by the relationship they have with their father in the Lord.

3. 10. SONS SHARE THEIR INNER CONVERSATIONS (The talk inside your heart) SLAVES (hirelings)
WILL ONLY TELL YOU WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW
A relationship has to be built on total transparency and trust.
Do not try to make something look good or better by exaggerating.
11. SONS ARE SECURE AND CAN HANDLE CORRECTION / DISCIPLINE; SLAVES (hirelings) SHIFTS
THE BLAME ONTO SOMEONE ELSE (Heb. 12:7,8)
If you cannot receive correction, then you are illegitimate and not a son.
A slave (hireling) is afraid of rejection, and interprets correction as rejection.
Discipline/correction is done for them and not to them.
Correction by the father is the proof that he wants you to improve and become better
The spirit of rejection demands rejection.
12. SONS GROW UP BEFORE THEIR FATHER, BUT SLAVES (hirelings) COME INTO THE HOUSE;
FULL-GROWN
You can see them grow and their potential developing
You can see a son develops; not an overnight process
Slaves (hirelings) normally come into the house already full-grown.
Slaves (hirelings) know it all, you cannot teach or tell them anything.
This will help you to define (discern) a ”Timothy”! TEACHABILITY
The people that we are building in the local church must be SONS.!!!
13. SONS HAS A DESIRE TO PLEASE THE FATHER (Do the will of the father)
Sons realise the importance of doing the will of the father, because by doing this, they discover that
they are learning the right ways as well as to come to maturity.
Sons learn what it means to work under “cover” (spiritual authority) and to make mistakes, but not to the
detriment of the vision. Sons have room for mistakes. Sons honour their father
Adapted from a teaching by Larry Stockstil
For more and other related teachings on spiritual fathering and spiritual son ship, please contact:
Dr Thinus van Dyk
Agape in Africa Ministries
PO BOX 11843,
SWARTKOP, 0051
South Africa
E-mail: agape.sa@telkomsa.net
Zambia: agapecps@zamtel.zm
EQUIPPING THE SAINTS IN AFRICA FOR THE END-TIME HARVEST!
Luke 10:2 "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore beseech thee the Lord of the harvest to
send out labourers into His harvest."
John 4:35b…”Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”