After living through many of the things I discuss here, I have the privilege of sharing what I have learned while dealing with and confronting the orphan spirit. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you can’t see your own defaults and devices.
It takes great love and patience to take the time to point out a brother’s mistakes. It also takes a truly mature disciple—one secure in their identity—to receive constructive criticism.
Signs of an orphan spirit
- Orphans are not teachable. They say they won’t make our mistakes.
- Orphans are not broken. They don’t walk with a limp or live fully surrendered. They think they just need to try harder.
- Orphans are proud and arrogant. They think their social media contacts reflect their value. They can tell you about their achievements in the time it takes an elevator to reach the second floor.
- Orphans have no respect for authority. They don’t recognize godly, delegated authority.
- Orphans are loners, can’t be trusted, and don’t make good friends. They don’t recognize the safety of family or understand the Lord’s purpose in creating the Body of Christ.
- When an orphan joins a team or brand, it is to benefit themselves. They see everyone as a rung on their ladder of “success.”
- Orphans read their Bible to preach to others what they themselves don’t live out.
- Orphans want to lead but have never been fathered. They don’t know how to father others.
- You don’t have to be an introvert to show signs of an orphan spirit. Most orphans are extroverts and quite successful by human terms and measures.
Why discuss these things?
Why not let it pass and allow them to come to maturity on their own? First, why shouldn’t our past suffering bring redemption to others? Why must others also come to this understanding late in life? Surely the Body of Christ should be growing progressively ready to be His Bride and meet her Bridegroom.
What we are talking about here is the essence of a true relationship with Christ. The opposite of an orphan is a son. Scripture says that the sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Himself said He would not leave His disciples as orphans, and He promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord was saying that His Spirit would father them and keep them.
This is where delegated authority comes in: the Lord uses mature fathers in the faith to guide His disciples.
I am not talking about the copycat father-son control and submission required by the religious system. We don’t need more orphans of the carnal religious system. Sonship is always voluntary, and we all need to listen as the Father assigns each of us to someone. There is no need to label a relationship and announce it in public. If it is real, all will see and recognize it.
I have the honor of fathering sons and daughters all over the world—Native, white, Black, Hispanic, or Asian. The Kingdom doesn’t recognize racial, caste, or other divisions. Some came for a time; others I can’t seem to shake. But I love all of them.
The greatest pain in this is betrayal. After investing years of time in discipling them and giving from your own limited finances, you see everything you taught forgotten at the first opportunity to make more money. Wow. At first, I took it personally, and it took me a while to get over it. I had to surrender them back to the Lord and see my investment in them as His investment. As soon as I did that, I was able to forgive them and release them to Father God.
As we come to the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, there is no doubt that the forecast has black clouds. The trigger points for a national collapse are everywhere. In His Kingdom, only real and tested father-son relationships will endure and prosper through the coming days.
Our hearts—and all of creation—long for the revealing of the sons of God.
