Guest Blog: "Raising Jeremiah", Dr. Ulf Spears, Strategic Leadership International, President

Raising Jeremiah
Dr. Ulf Spears
When I was a child I heard the voice of God calling me into his kingdom and I received Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of eight along with being called to ministry at the age of eighteen. I knew that without God in my life I would not be able to make it due to the challenging environment I had already experience in my home and neighborhood. Yet, to my surprise, the call on my life and the challenging environment were the perfect combination to press and fashion my life toward the Lord’s purposes. As I began to move towards those purposes by reading the bible, I realized that I was not the only person called by God’s at a young age; Jeremiah the Prophet was called generations before me and laid a foundation for what I would possibly experience, overcome and accomplish in ministry. With this in mind, here are some training points for parents as they raise young prophets, taken from Jeremiah 1:1-17:

1. What is the Word of the Lord over your children’s life? In Jeremiah 1:5 God tells Jeremiah about the intimate knowledge He had of him before he was born and how He had set him apart as a Prophet long ago. As parents, this inside knowledge about your kids calling and destiny can prepare you ahead of time for what is to come along with how to overcome it.
2. Identify and Reduce Doubt and Excuses from your Children’s Calling: Jeremiah 1:6 identifies doubt (disbelief, lack of faith and being unsure) due to their lack of life experience, training and knowledge needed to be successful “…I cannot speak”. In addition, Jeremiah 1:6 highlights excuses as another training topic while raising a young prophet “for I am a youth”.
3. Implant Obedience Principles in your Children’s life: In Jeremiah 1:7, obedience (to carry out instructions or orders) is uncovered as a point of emphasis when training a young messenger “…for you shall go…whatever I command you”.  Parents can undergird this principle and lay a foundation for obedience to the Lord by teaching them to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1).
4. Reduce Fear and Train your Children in the Word of God: Jeremiah 1:8 continues by pinpointing fear as another training opportunity “do not be afraid of their faces” and says He would remedy it by the promise of His presence and deliverance. Parents can teach their children to trust in God by getting them acquainted with His word (2 Timothy 1:7) that He has promised to put in the young prophets mouth in verse nine of Jeremiah one.
5. Instill Submission in your Children in Preparation for Authority: In addition, Jeremiah 1:10 focus on the training point of authority “I have set thee over the nations and kingdoms” and highlight the need for parents to instill submission as a precursor to healthy authority.  
   
6. Enroll your Children in Prophetic Training Classes: In chapter 1 of Jeremiah verses 11, 12, 13 God continues to unfold the training points that parents should keep in mind when raising a young prophet which is prophetic vision (supernatural insight, awareness, given by revelation-visions are for guidance and direction to God’s servants) “Jeremiah what do you see?”  Parents are encouraged to enroll their young prophets in training classes, sessions and modules with quality trainers and teachers (Dr. Adia’s Petersons material on training young prophets are recommended for preparation of character, integrity, skill, knowledge and practice Jer. 1:17).
7. Reduce Intimidation in your Children’s life: Finally, intimidation as seen in Jeremiah 1:17 “do not be dismayed by their faces…” is another training point and parents are a key developer of a healthy, strong and confident soul for the success of their young prophet.

Parents, I believe that if you keep these training points in mind as you raise your young prophet; they will be more prepared to be transferred into the hands of Lord and other trainers for further development. You can do it: Raise Jeremiah according to the word of the Lord.

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 About Dr. Ulf Spears
Dr. Spears has worked for over 15 years in the fields of education, nonprofit, business, and leadership development. He serves as the president of Strategic Leadership International, an organization that provides leadership training to leaders and organizations through consulting, coaching, training, and mentoring. Dr. Spears is a speaker and educator providing practical, academic, and spiritual perspectives that address issues affecting human, social, business, and spiritual development. He has a passion for empowering leaders and organizations to be innovative, creative, and proactive industry pacesetters. As a result, he serves in the role of consultant and advisor, providing trainings that challenge, inspire and develop leadership skills, habits, and qualities in the areas of change, strategy, and management.

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Dr. Ulf shares about his past, growing up and accepting Christ and how it shaped his future.