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| You train the people to bring you the world |
2 Kings 2: 1- 14 (NKJV)
One of the cardinal
points of Jesus's ministry is how He increased his ministry exponentially and perpetuated
it. Jesus spent 33 years on earth and not all the years did He use
to preach but his ministry has lasted thousands of years and it’s still strong and
permeating every part of the earth. Every believer should have this same
effect. God doesn’t intend that our ministry die with us like a one man
business. Recently when I attended a church service a pastor was sharing his
testimony and he mentioned the name of the late Archbishop
Benson Idahosa, and I have heard a number of men who a prominent in our time
mention his name. I didn’t know that man but I am awed because if these great
men are mentioning him as their mentor, it says a lot about him; that is a great legacy.
If we want our ministry
to grow exponentially then we must follow in the footsteps of
our master Jesus Christ, he respected people and used them to perpetuate his
ministry.
Elijah
and Elisha
Elijah transferred his
anointing or ministry to Elisha but it is not known whether Elisha did the
same. Elijah’s action made him duplicate himself twice in Elisha thereby
launching a more anointed and powerful ministry.
Today there are men of
God who are great and when they die their followers or associates cannot even
keep their church members because they don’t have half the stature of their
leader. While a man of God lives he can bring up people who can even be better
than him. Jesus assured as that we can do greater than what he did. This is one
of the secrets to church growth.
Men of God today are
struggling to expand their ministry because they are not duplicating themselves
in their followers. All your fasting and prayers without training people would
amount to nothing when you don’t train people to become like you. Today men of
God run the ministry like a family business and they don’t want any outsider to
come in to partake of their anointing. Your may be great today, but tomorrow
when you are gone that is the end of you. Even if you live a church behind it’d
be empty. A man who would have the largest ministry is that person who is
prepared to duplicate himself in others.
What
are the conditions for duplication?
The
vision and mission; you have to let your followers know
about God’s vision for your ministry in addition to the general one Jesus gave
us – go into the world to be disciples of all nations. Jesus’ ministry was a worldwide
ministry and that is why you have no choice not to duplicate yourself in
people. If you don’t do it, you always have a local ministry.
The
knowledge of God; the bible says grace and peace are
multiplied to us when we receive the word. You have to share the word of God in
its entirety. Anointing without the word is like a car without brakes. Don’t anoint
without keeping the person’s head straight.
Teachable
Followers; you have to carefully select people who are hungary
and ready to learn; people who are broken by the Holy Spirit. You can’t shove
the Lord via somebody’s throat; God himself does not force himself on people. I
respect and congratulate churches that are running schools for their members,
especially ministry schools. Even if you can’t afford to run a school, sponsor
as many as possible to go to a seminary. It should be one of any ministry’s
number one priorities.
Anointing
transfer; you have to constantly pray asking
God to transfer your anointing in double proportion. Laying on of hands with
the oil is very effective. When Elijah left for heaven he gave Elisha double
anointing, Jesus also promised his disciples the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
the ultimate perpetuator of your ministry on earth. You have to let him rest on
your followers or members like how Moses let the Spirit rest on the elders who
helped him to judge Israel. Most people do this for a few people like the way
Elijah transferred only to Elisha; we all know now that it was a mistake
because there were other prophets who could have benefited; Elisha ended Elijah’s
anointing because he did not have any successor. Jesus did the opposite which
is evident on the day of Pentecost; everybody there received the Holy Spirit. Let’s
not be selfish with the anointing.
Provide
the platform; empower your people to function
because the purpose of the unction is to function. We are in the end of days,
support people to enter into the ministry. There are so many people called who
can’t find their way in and though there are men of God who can help them, only
a few are doing it. Equally there are those who are in ministry who are
frustrated and crying because of their financial problems and deficiency in
knowledge, I pray that God give some men of God the vision to rise up and help
these group of men. Are we the body of Christ?
Why the selfishness?
Socialization;
every person within contact must be affected. It should start from your
immediate family, to your community, church members and so on. When you are not
able to affect them move to a place where you can be useful. Jesus moved when
he saw that his people did not want to accept his ministry.
Imparting
the original would not make your ministry die
Are you imparting the
original thing? The original thing is the knowledge, anointing, support and
platform. Don’t just seek somebody to serve you. Raise people to become more
than you are, that is the mark of a truly great man. The selfishness is too
much. Give people the opportunity whether they would use it to support your ministry
or not; freely have you received free should you give.
Culture
of a teacher
Keep the culture of the
teacher. You may have a small church but if you have trained people who are
doing wonders all over the place, the Lord would credit your commission into
your heavenly account.
Further
notes
Acts 10:34-35
(NKJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I
perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation
whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
2 Kings 2 (NKJV)
2 And
it came to pass, when the Lord was
about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha
from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please,
for the Lord has sent me on to
Bethel.”
But
Elisha said, “As the Lord
lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down
to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came
out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
And
he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the
Lord has sent me on to Jericho.”
But
he said, “As the Lord
lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to
Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came
to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
So
he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But
he said, “As the Lord
lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them
went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and
stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the
Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and
struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them
crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said
to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha
said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless,
if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if
not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they
continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with
horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a
whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my
father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he
took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He
also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and
stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of
Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is
the Lord God of Elijah?” And when
he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha
crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from
Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they
came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him
Exodus 1:12 (NKJV)
12 But the more
they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread
of the children of Israel.
Scriptures copied from www.biblegateway.com
