The Prime Leader Replicates Himself

“But beholding the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are untaught and uneducated men, they marvelled. And they recognized them, that they were with Jesus” – Acts 4:18

It probably is more common to find leaders who want to remain the cream of society, separated from the average man and intent on keeping things that way. These leaders make the effort to make sure they remain on top of the” food chain” in their organizations with a wide gap existing between them and the rest of the people. Common as it is, it remains an ineffective way of leading people. Until you make leaders, you are not yet a leader. Leaders make leaders, their philosophy rubs on to those around them and they intentionally ensure that. This takes an attitude of security in the leader, knowing that his identity is not threatened by those around him becoming more like him and more able to do the things that he does. He knows that “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his lord.” – Matthew 10:24,25a.

Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:15, “I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his lord does. But I called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I made known to you.” This is the attitude of a leader. He showed them all things that the Father showed him. Wow! No wonder he was confident to leave them in charge; eleven men with whom he had walked for three years. In that period Jesus had imparted all that was necessary for them to take the reigns and establish God’s Kingdom in the whole world. The only missing ingredient was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised them would come to empower them. No wonder Acts 4:18 reads, “But beholding the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are untaught and uneducated men, they marvelled. And they recognized them, that they were with Jesus”

Consider David’s mighty men. They were a bunch of men who had nothing much to look forward to in life. I believe they never imagined they would be recorded as mighty men whom people would continue to read about until today (2 Samuel 23:8-39). “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel, a son of a mighty man, great in deeds; he killed two lionlike men of Moab. And he went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a day of snow.” – 2 Samuel 23:20. Does this not sound like David who affirming himself in God said, ” Your servant has struck both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, for he has reproached the armies of the living God.” David the giant slayer raised mighty men who also became giant slayers.

Success without a successor is not success at all. This is not only in reference to a biological heir, but every vision should be large enough that there are people who have been raised to run with it just as well or better than the original visionary. Those who had vision that were not of God were made examples by Gamaliel the Pharisee when he said, “For before this there was Theudas, who said he was someone important, to whom about four hundred men gave their support: he was put to death, and his band was broken up and came to nothing. After this man, there was Judas of Galilee, at the time of the numbering, and some of the people went after him: he was put to death, and all his supporters were put to flight.” This is what happens when there is no anointing or empowerment given to disciples. When the vision is not God given, not effectively imparted and not birthed in love.

The sign of life is replication. Multiplication is the mark of progress. In Genesis 1:28a we read, “And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply.” In John 15:2 Jesus said, “Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.” Every tree produces fruit after its kind. The tree that does not produce fruit is not fulfilling its purpose. “And seeing afar off a fig tree having leaves, He went toward it, if perhaps He would find anything on it. And coming on it, He found nothing except leaves, for it was not the season of figs. And answering, Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit of you any more to the age. And His disciples heard. And passing along early, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. And remembering, Peter said to Him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” Mark 11:13-14, 20,21. God is interested in fruitfulness. Leaders ought to produce leaders.

Affirmation: I allow others to learn from me. I know that their competence does not affect my security, significance or self worth.

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