“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me… the elders of Israel…..that they may stand…with thee. And… they shall bear the burden of the people with thee…” (Num 11:16,17).

If you see a man reaching for responsibility, promote him! That man will be a blessing to the Lord’s work. If you see a man reaching for authority, be on guard! That man will damage the work of the Lord.

a. Leadership Is Not Lordship.

“Feed the flock of God… Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet 5:3).

God made mankind to exercise dominion (see Genesis 1:26). For this reason, in the heart of most men there is the desire to rule.

Ruling according to the biblical model is quite different from the way most leaders in the world exercise their authority. Hence we need to understand the Bible model for leadership.

Using dominion as Jesus did was legitimate. “..I do always those things that please the Father” (John 8:29). He used His leadership position to teach, bless, heal, break bondage’s, cast out demons, forgive sins and heal the broken-hearted (see Luke 4:18). All this pleased His heavenly Father.

“For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus did not exercise dominion as a self-serving dictator. Jesus saw His role as a servant-ruler.

His disciples did not understand this. They thought leadership would mean a high position in which they would receive praise and honor.

“Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a special request of him.

“And he said unto her, What do you want? She said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom.

“Jesus replied… Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant;

“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your slave: Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:20-28).

The Lord did not want His apostles ruling OVER. Rather He wanted them serving UNDER the people, bent low, washing their feet – like a lowly slave. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet – like a lowly slave.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).

The Apostle Paul affirmed this in his writings. “But now in Christ Jesus ye… are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph 2:13,20).

This teaches us the leadership (apostles and prophets) are foundational ministries in the church. The foundation of a building is under it, in a supportive role – not over it, dominating and holding it under dominion.

The ‘chief cornerstone’ was the top-stone (or head-stone) in the pyramid. This place is reserved for Jesus alone. He alone has any right to rule in the church as the ‘chief cornerstone.’

Any church leader who tries to take the place of Jesus is in danger of operating as an ‘anti-christ.’ In the New Testament, the Greek word for ‘anti-christ’ not only means ‘against Christ’ but in some passages ‘in the place of Christ.’ Those trained for leadership must understand this important principle.

Centuries before Christ, the Israelites tried to make their deliverer, Gideon, a king. He wisely responded, “…I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you” (Judg 8:23).

1) The Parable of Jotham.

I recommend you read the parable of Jotham (a relative of Gideon) in Judges 9:7-21.

In his parable, none of the ‘fruit-bearing trees’ or vines would accept the summons to rule over the people. Only the thorny, fruitless ‘bramble bush’ responded to the call to be a ruler. Note how the ‘fruitful vine’ responded in Jotham’s parable: “Then said the trees unto the ‘vine’, Come thou, and reign over us.

“And the ‘vine’ said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judg 9:12,13). The ‘vine’ refused to rule over others.

Jesus had the same attitude. He was the true ‘vine’, and He too refused to be made a king (see John 15:1). “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king he departed again into a mountain himself alone” (John 6:15).

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “..Let this mind be in you, which was also in christ Jesus:

“Who being in the form of God, thought it no something to be grasped after to be equal with God:

“But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a slave, and was made in the likeness of men:

“And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Therefore, “Let nothing be done through strife or conceit; but in humility of mind let each think of others as better than themselves” (Phil 2:3-8).

2) Paul – An Example.

Being an apostle of Jesus brought no honor or praise. Paul described his leadership role in these words. “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place.

“And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

“Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day.

” I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you” (1 Cor 4:11:14).

The Corinthian church and their leaders had a wrong understanding of their role in this present world. They thought they were to be like gentile rulers (see 1 Corinthians 4:8). Paul used stinging words of sarcasm to correct their wrong ideas.

b. The church Leader – a Burden-Bearer.

The Scripture uses the oxen (water buffalo) as the symbol of the church leader. “For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?.

“Or does he say this referring to we who are leaders in the church?  For our sakes, no doubt this is written…” (1 Cor 9:8.10).

The oxen was chosen as the representation of the church leader because of its patient endurance in the labors of harvest. The steady, enduring strength and selflessness of the oxen has made it the most loved and revered of all animals used in agriculture.

As such, the oxen illustrates the biblical role of the church leader – a burden-bearer, one who joyfully takes the responsibility to see that others are fed and cared for.

It is obvious from Scripture that those who faithfully fulfill their leadership role bear many burdens like the oxen. Paul described his ministry in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 in these graphic words:

“….. in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

“Of the Jews five times received  I forty stripes save one.

“Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

“In journeying’s often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own country men, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.

“In weariness and painfulness, in watching’s often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting’s often, in cold and nakedness.

“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” None but the sincere church leaders want these kind of burdens and responsibilities. such are God’s oxen.

Seek out these kind of men and train them for leadership. Observe these biblical principles for training leaders:

“… for then thou shall make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success” (Josh 1:8).

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel… and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

“And… and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone” (Num 11:16,17)

a. The Anointing Is Essential

This is probably the most important (but most neglected) principle in leadership development.

Without the power of the Holy Spirit (the anointing) coming upon the leader, he has no chance of succeeding. Jesus never sent anyone to represent Him that He did not first empower.

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1).

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also… And he said unto them. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:1,18,19).

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promises of the Father, which saith he ye have heard of me.

“For John truly baptized in water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:4,5).

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Jesus did not begin His ministry until the Spirit of the Lord descended upon Him at His Baptism in water by John the Baptist (see Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32).

Jesus began His ministry by saying: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the  captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach a year of liberation [or Jubilee]” (Luke 4:18,19 – cf. Leviticus 25:1-54).

The anointing was essential for Jesus to fulfill His ministry (as outlined in the preceding verses). It likewise is essential for you.

Jesus commanded His disciples that they should “be baptized in the Holy spirit” (Act 1:5). Paul commanded “.. be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18).

See the section of the Leaders Training Guide that deals with “The Baptism In The Holy Spirit” for more teaching on this vital subject.

b. Anointed Leaders Should Train Others

Let us not miss the vital principle involved in the above scriptures. the key leader was anointed and passed his anointing on to those he trained.

In contrast to this, the author has noted that often the training Seminaries are staffed by those who failed in the ministry. Those who went out to pastor a church or to evangelize and failed in the process, are often brought to the Seminary to train those who leadership potential. Such an approach is doomed to produce other who fail.

The law of Harvest found in the Bible is clear. “And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind..

“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind...” (Gen 1:12, 21).

We reproduce what we are. If failed leaders train, their students will be failures. successful leaders, who carry a strong anointing of the Holy Spirit on their lives, should be involved in the training of leadership. They will reproduce others who will carry a strong anointing and be successful.

This was true of those Moses trained, God said, “And… I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them…” (Num 11:17).

This was true of Elijah and Elisha, “Elijah said unto Elisha. Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said,  I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.

“And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you…

“And it came to pass… there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

“He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan… and smote the waters, and said. Where is the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted.. and Elisha went over.

“And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him they said, The Spirit [anointing] of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2 Ki 2:9-15).

This was true of Jesus and His disciples. “The Comforter… is the Holy Spirit…” (John 14:26).

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father…” (John 15:26).

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart; I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

c. Anointing Is Shared.

The anointing transferred from Moses to the leaders who were to share in his ministry. The anointing transferred from Elijah to Elisha who was to share his ministry. The anointing transferred from Jesus to His disciples who were to share in His ministry.

The same principle still holds. The trainee shares in the anointing of the trainer. Hence, those who do the training should be those who carry the strong power of God upon their lives. The laws of Harvest will work. They will bring forth after their kind.

I knew an evangelist who had a dynamic miracle-healing ministry for the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. I noticed that in almost every nation in which he ministered, the one who served as his interpreter would have the same anointing (ministry) as this evangelist. Two weeks of working with the evangelist caused the anointing to transfer. After the evangelist left, the interpreter would carry on in the spirit and power of the evangelist.

d. Who Transfers The Anointing?

God said, “And… I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them…” (Num 11:17).

It is under the guidance and sovereignty of God that this takes place. God is the One who chooses the recipients and directs the key leadership in this blessed transfer. “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb 5:4). It is by divine appointment.

It seems in the early Church, they spent times of fasting, prayer and ministry to the Lord so a proper atmosphere was created in which God could speak (Acts 1:14; 13:1-3). Out of such times, the Holy spirit came. The anointing came. The workers went out empowered by the Spirit and successfully fulfilled their ministries.

May we clear those steps to the Upper Room once again and pray and press into God’s presence until the power of the Spirit comes. Then we will be ready to go forth proclaiming and proving the resurrection of Jesus.

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).

Next Week

Transfer the Burden

“…and show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do” (Exo 18:20). The Apostle Luke began the Book of Acts with these words: ‘The former treatise have I made… of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).

a. Get Them Involved.

It is not enough to teach the trainee. The trainer must immediately involve the student in DOING the TEACHING!

If you teach the student “soul-winning” – then immediately send them out to win souls. If you teach them how to heal the sick and cast out devils, immediately send them out to do this. This what Jesus did.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power  against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying… And as ye go, preach saying:

“The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received freely give” (Matt 10:1-8).

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:1, 2, 6).

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, wither he himself would come.

“Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

“And into whatsoever city ye enter….heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them. the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in the sight ” (excerpts from Luke 10″1-2).

b. Short-Term Training Is Best.

None that the training was short-term with both the twelve apostles and the seventy disciples that Jesus commissioned. He demonstrated what they should do, and then sent them out to do the same things He did. “Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).

The longer the training program, the less effective the graduates. Training should be kept to six months maximum – then the trainees should be sent out full time to do the work. If necessary, they can be brought back for further training a year or two later.

c. Keep It Practical.

The short term training should be 50 percent TEACHING and 50 percent DOING. What is  taught should be immediately put into practice  (doing). Don’t train the head, train the hands. Keep the emphasis on Practices (practical training).

The author has spent much of the last thirty years traveling in over one hundred nations of the world. He has observed the training programs that produce good results and those training programs that produce no (or negative) results.

The Church in three nations is getting outstanding results. These are Korea, Brazil and Chile. In these nations, the above principles are being utilized. the churches are exploding in growth and the leaders are very successful in winning thousands of people to Christ.

The training is Bible-centered, short-term and practical. Academic are not emphasized. Dedication and commitment to Christ, purity of character and an emphasis on practical training (immediately doing what is taught) – these are the commonalities of the training programs in these  three countries.

It is biblically based – and yields biblical results.

Next Week

Transfer The Anointing

What training should we give church leaders? “And teach the people God’s ordinances and laws…” (Exo 18:20).

Those familiar with Church Seminaries and Bible Schools are acutely aware that most teach every subject but the Bible. The Theological Seminaries too frequently become “Cemeteries” – where hundreds of potential church leaders’ spiritual life is buried.

A basic choice was presented Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:

“….the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge….” (Gen 2:9). Eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge would produce sin and death. Despite this biblical warning, the Church returns continually to this tree for the training programs.

What is the result? the Apostle Paul put it simply: “Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth” (1 Cor 8:1).

Training programs that do not use THE BIBLE as the primary reference work produce arrogant, spiritually dead, impotent leaders whose only achievement after graduation is to pastor a church that gets smaller every year.

That which has no life cannot and will not grow. the tree of knowledge only produces death.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye are in error, because you do not know the scriptures…” (Matt 22:29). the Scriptures keep us from error and produce life.

“… the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

It is the words of God the Father and God the Son (Jesus) recorded in the Bible that bring life to us.

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life…” (Rev 22:14).

a. Academic Achievement Is Not The Goal.

Training programs based in intellectual achievement with emphasis on academic degrees will not produce the leadership needed to win lost souls to Christ or build growing churches. the greater emphasis on academics, the less capable the leadership. Teach the Bible. Train church leaders in the Bible. Let the Bible be the center of your training curriculum.

The question was asked about Jesus. “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15).

The Jews marveled at Jesus’ knowledge of the Scripture because they knew Jesus had no academic credential to commend Him to the religious or secular world.

We should learn from this example. Academic achievement is now the goal. Knowledge of the Scriptures and the power of God is what the church leader needs (Matt 22:29).

b. Look for “Leader-Laborers”

The early apostles were not known for their academic achievement. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Not one of Jesus’ apostles graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Pharisees or Sadducees. His standard for church leaders was this: ‘The harvest truly is great but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). The effective church leader is one who has proven he knows how to work hard. He has callouses on his hands. He has learned the discipline of strenuous productive labor.

By contrast, the Seminary graduate is often arrogant, too proud to work, lazy and unproductive. Such are not fit to represent Him who washed His disciples’ feet. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet”  (John 13:14). Find a “leader-laborer” and you will usually have a productive church leader.

That is why Jesus chose fishermen like Peter and John, professional people like Matthew the publican and Luke the physician. They had practical skills and knew how to work hard. Such can be taught the Bible and be fruitful leaders.

Next Week

Show them the work to do

2,500,000 Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt into the wilderness.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

“And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did…. , he said, What is this … Why do you sit judging the people without others to help…?

“And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I teach them the statutes of God, and his laws.

“And Moses’ father-in-law said unto him. The thing that you do is not good. You will surely wear away, both you, and this people… for this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself alone.

“Do what I say, I will give you counsel, and God shall be with you: bring the causes [needs] of the people unto God.

“And teach the people God’s ordinances and laws, and show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

“In addition, choose out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

“And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every difficult matter they shall bring unto you, but every simple matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for you, and they shall bear the burden with you” (Exo 18:13-22).

Clericalism is trying to do the work God has called you to accomplish, by yourself, without the counsel or help of others. It is placing yourself OVER others instead of seeing yourself as the servant of others. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt 20:27; 23:11). Those who stay in the trap of Clericalism will fail to fulfill the true purpose of a church leader.

Clericalism can only be solved by using the principles of multiplying ministry utilized by Jesus and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament.

The solution to clericalism is to build a team. Invest your time and resources in the team. Let the team help you with the work God has called you to do.

You will succeed in team-building if you follow the principles given to Moses by God and his father-in-law, Jethro. Without these, Moses would have failed. without them you will fail as a church leader.

If you follow the biblical alternative to “Clericalism,” you will be effective in helping Jesus build His Church. We will examine the five principles given to Moses. In these, we will find our solution to the problem of Clericalism.

A. FIVE PRINCIPLES GIVEN TO MOSES

1. Train Others To Help

“I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee….” (Num 11:14,15).

Moses was asking God to kill him because of the problems resulting from clericalism. Clericalism was killing Moses.

It will kill you!

To help him with this problem, god was talking to Moses (Numbers 11). In Exodus 18, Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) was also talking to Moses and saying the same thing.

When Moses listened to God and Jethro, here is what he found out.

The solution to his problem began with training others.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men… whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them…” (Num11:16).

“In addition, choose out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: with you….” (Exo 18:21,22).

The scripture verses which follow teach us that the leadership gifts were given to the Church to train the members to do the work of the ministry.

This was the purpose of Moses’ ministry. He just didn’t know it.

The leader’s job is to train and equip the members of the church who have leadership potential.

these members would then do the work of the ministry.

“When Jesus ascended up to heaven. He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For training and equipping the saints, so that members of the church would do the work of the ministry, and thus build up the body of Christ spiritually and  numerically…” (Eph 4:10-12 pph).

a. Each One – Teach One.

Paul teaches in the above verses that the primary purpose of a church leader is to train others.

Paul explained this to young Timothy. His job as a church leader was to train others. He was to take the training he received from Paul and pass it on to other faithful men. these in turn were also to teach still other faithful men.

“And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).

Following Paul’s principles of training others would set off a chain reaction of multiplication that would cause the gospel to be spread quickly over the whole world.

The following chart shows what would happen if you would take ONE year training him.

The second year, you and the one you trained would each train one other. If you kept this process up for thirty-three years, look what would happen.

This illustrates the Bible principle of “EACH ONE-TEACH ONE”

EACH ONE – TEACH ONE

At End Of              No Of Persons Trained

Year 1                                              2
Year 2                                             4
Year 3                                             8
Year 4                                            16
Year 5                                            32
Year 6                                            64
Year 7                                          128
Year 8                                          256
Year 9                                          512
Year 10                                     1,024
Year 11                                     2,048
Year 12                                     4,096
Year 13                                     8,192
Year 11                                   16,384
Year 15                                   32,768
Year 16                                   65,536
Year 17                                 131,082
Year 18                                 262,144
Year 19                                 524,288
Year 20                              1,048,576
Year 21                              2,097.152
Year 22                              4,194,304
Year 23                              8,388,608
Year 24                            16,777,216
Year 25                            33,554,432
Year 26                            67,108,864
Year 27                          134,217,728
Year 28                          268,435,456
Year 29                          536,870,912
Year 30                       1,073,741,824
Year 31                       2,147,483,648
Year 32                       4,294,967,296
Year 33                       8,589,934,592

If each one would teach one, at the end of 33 years, more people would be trained than the population of the world. If we would do things the Bible way, we would experience biblical results.

“And there went great multitudes with him… And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Luke 14:25, Acts 5:14). This is God’s desire, for multitudes to follow Jesus.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes…” (Rev 7:9). Yes! The Lord wants multitudes saved. “The Lord…is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). He has given us principles to insure this result.

b. Fruit That Remains.

In 1959 the author was ministering in the country of Nicaragua, Central America. the question was asked an elderly and wise church leader: “How were you able to plant five hundred churches in Central America in thirty years?” In response he told the following story.

“I went to Guatemala in 1929 as a missionary. Immediately I set out to visit villages where no born-again believers could be found. I preached and healed the sick for six nights. Every night I invited the sinners to come and receive forgiveness from Jesus for their sins. Many came every night.

“I would baptize the new believers in water and go on to the next village, to repeat the process. I thought I was winning about one hundred souls to Christ every week. That is the number I was baptizing.

“I would write to my home church who supported me and tell the story of all my success. it was unbelievable! I was winning over five-thousand souls each year to Christ.

“After two years and one hundred village crusades, I decided to go back and visit all these villages a second time.

“I went to the first village and to my amazement, all my converts had become ‘reverts’ – they had all reverted back to their pagan practices and were not living their lives by the Bible. There were no church meetings and no one leading or teaching the new believers. Those I had left in charge had no continued to follow Christ.

” I went to the second and third, the fourth and fifth village. It was the same in every one. My heart was broken. What I thought had been two years of successful ministry had produced no remaining fruit.

“The words of Jesus were ringing in my ears:

“‘You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”‘ (John 15:16).

” I had no remaining fruit. What must I do? I set my heart to seek the Lord with a time of fasting and prayer. During that time the Lord spoke clearly to me. He said, ‘I have not sent you to evangelize Central America by yourself. I sent you to train others.’

” The Lord showed me two important principles. First: Train others to take leadership responsibility! Second: Work where God is working!

” I immediately set about organizing a Bible School training course of six months’ duration. about fifty students came and completed the first course.

” Shortly after that, I heard reports from the jungle areas of miracles of healing taking place. People were having visions of Jesus and as a result of the healing miracles, were being converted by the scores.

” Then I remembered. ‘Work where God is working.’ Immediately we took the trained workers to that area. A great harvest of souls resulted. The trained workers started churches in each of the villages and cared for and taught the new believers. This produced ‘remaining fruit’.

” I have followed those two principles since 1931: (1) Train others and (2) work where God is working!

” Today we have five Short-term Bible Training Institutes in which over a thousand workers have been trained. The five hundred churches are the remaining  fruit of those Central American young people we trained. they went out to the places where we heard God was working. We worked with God and great  fruitfulness resulted.”

By 1989 (30 years after I first met that dear missionary) that Central American church movement had grown to several   thousand churches.

c. Find The Leaders.

And the LORD  said unto Moses, “Gather unto me seventy men … whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them ….” (Num 11:16).

A lot of time and effort is wasted training those with no leadership gift. The Lord’s instruction was clear, “Gather seventy men… whom thou knowest to be elders [leaders]…”

How can you recognize a leader? Observe how many followers there are. If no one is following, you do not have a leader.

When you go out to the field to bring in a herd of fifty dairy cows to be milked – you only have to find the “lead cow.” If you start her toward the milking-barn, the rest will follow. so it is with leaders of people. You must find men and women others will follow, and train them.

This is what Jesus did. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

“And when it was day, he called unto his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named Apostles. And he came down with them…” (Luke 6:12, 13,17).

Jesus spent most of His time preparing the twelve apostles to carry on His ministry. He followed this principle of training others – who would teach others also. That is the ministry of leaders – finding more leaders and training them.

Next Week

Teach the Bible