There is a lot of talk today about spirituals sons and daughters. Many younger followers of Christ are being mentored by older followers of Christ. This is a scriptural process outlined in the Bible. A good example would be Timothy and Titus who were considered to be "spiritual" sons of the Apostle Paul. The other side of that would make the Apostle Paul a "spiritual" father to Timothy and Titus (and others as well). Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus were letters of instruction, training and encouragement causing them to grow up in the Lord and ministry. But the greatest attribute of these letters was Paul's impartation of his heart to his spiritual sons.
I think one of the greatest and clearest examples of the purpose of a spiritual father is demonstrated between King David and His natural son, King Solomon. This natural example gives us a spiritual picture of the true purpose of a spiritual father. At the dedication of the temple Solomon spoke these words: "Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.' (I Kings 8: 17-19) Did you catch that? God put it in the heart of David (father) to build the temple. God commended David because it was in his heart. However, Solomon (son) was the one God chose to actually build the temple. Solomon could have never built the temple had it not been in the heart of his father David. But Solomon had to receive his father's heart to succeed in construction of the temple.
A true spiritual son is one who receives the heart-impartation from his spiritual father. A true spiritual father is one who is willing to impart his god-given heart to one who becomes a spiritual son. Thus God's heart is imparted and expressed throughout the generations. Remember...learning something from someone does not make you their spiritual son (or daughter). Not even being trained by someone makes you their spiritual son (or daughter). Receiving their heart does.
Fathers, what has God placed in your heart that you can impart to a son willing to receive? You must come to the realization that sons exist to accomplish what you cannot! But God still placed it in your heart. Your responsibility is to impart. What you have received from God into your heart, you must release to a son who is willing to receive. This makes you a true spiritual father. And whoever receives you heart is truly your spiritual son.