Apprenticeship VS Impartation II

God instituted the process of transfer of spiritual skill called APPRENTICESHIP or in modern tongue MENTORSHIP. This is a method of TRAINING that transfers not only knowledge, but SKILL. It has being his style from eternity past. Let me say something here: Jesus was never God's Plan B regarding the redemption of man, He was God's original plan. The lamb was slain before the foundation of the world - Revelation 13:8. So you can say that Jesus was with the father undergoing mentorship - John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.That why even on earth, He also passed through that mentorship process under His mother and her husband and tutelage of the scribes and teachers at the temple - Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom (skill) and stature, and in favour with God and man.

So i agree with the author of what you saw online everything he wrote and allotted 99% are all tentacles of Apprenticeship. But i will love to put honour as first. Because with honour, the apprenticeship process won't go full cycle. Elijah's first servant didn't end up with the Mantle, Gehazi also missed out as well as Judas Iscariot and many other cases like Demas with Paul.

1. HONOUR.

Without honour the entire process will be null & void. Let me explain further. A lot of pastors can be in the same training meetings with a mentor, watch the man modeling the life, and even have the man lay hands on them, but they won't get 'IT'. So honour is Number 1 (in my own ranking). Honour is of the heart (reverence), but only God sees that. For there to be a transfer or downward unto the apprentice, the Mentor needs to know (man looks at external countenance) and the primary way he knows is through service & seed. A wise Mentor will test this using various means.

JESUS: That was the first thing Jesus did to Peter was to ask for his boat, he was just a stranger then he obeyed and he received a boat-sinking miracle with James and John witnessing. Healed Peter's Mom-in-Law, mesmerized Nathaniel with Word of Knowledge etc, turned water into wine etc. He did all of these before commencing the training process. All these acts revved up respect, honour from the disciples. The bible said John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples BELIEVED IN HIM.

2. APPRENTICESHIP:

I used apprenticeship because in apprenticeship, there are, in order of occurrence: SERVICE, MODELLING, TRAINING, & PRACTICE.

Remember how apprentices in those days used to live with their master (serve the man's personal needs: SERVICE), follow him to work, he does let them touch anything. They continue service even at the workplace running errands such as: bring that tool, go and buy food from the restaurant etc.

When they are not running errands, they sit and observe the mentor (MODELLING).

Then, when he has satisfied the mentor that he has served well with a good attitude (this teaches humility to the trainee because without humility knowledge can't be passed on, nothing can enter a full container). The mentor starts to TRAIN him as well as MODEL, till he is comfortable with him. He starts assigning small tasks and watch and observe him and graduates him.

JESUS: Used this model, so this is the KEY 🔑 TO IMPARTATION.

Mark 3:14

And he ordained twelve, that they should BE WITH HIM, and that he might SEND them forth to preach.

'....to be with him' that the KEY TO IMPARTATION.

Even when the disciples wanted to replace Judas one of the criteria was those that has being with them from the beginning (apprenticeship)

Acts 1:21

Wherefore of these men which have COMPANIED with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.

Our society today makes this a problem but it is still is the key. So apprentices shouldn't run away from the trainer.

3. LAYING ON OF HANDS:

The truth is that we got this confused in the body of Christ. We associate this to transfer of mantle or anointing etc, especially from Mk 3:14. The truth is that the Greek word for Ordination has NOTHING TO DO WITH LAYING ON OF HANDS. The bible never said Jesus laid hands on his disciples to commission them or give them authority; HE USED WORDS! He sent the 12 & the 70; 2 by 2 with words of instructions as He gave them authority. They went and things happened as if He was there.

Why?

There was HONOUR, He has MODELLED, they have been TRAINED, and it was time for PRACTICE to go full circle.

Another word ordination is commissioning - "SEND FORTH".

The doctrine of laying on of hands is associated with TRANSMISSION of healing anointing, casting out devils. In other cases, Holy Ghost Baptism and commissioning Deacons or in the Old Testament the 70 Elders Moses commissioned to service (Old Testament Deacons). In other case, Joshua also had Moses lay hands on him to commission him before the people. The bible said he PUT HIS HONOUR on him - Numbers 27:20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel MAY BE OBEDIENT. And he did it public so he can command respect from the people.

Remember the deacons, the 7 of them were already FULL of Holy Ghost & faith, doing miracles etc before hands were laid on them. This means they were already imparted through apprenticeship before they were commissioned. They were also already anointed before their commissioning, in fact it was a criteria for there selection as a deacon.

Acts 6:3-6

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

SO LAYING ON OF HANDS SHOULD BE SEEN AS COMMISSIONING.

The Bible even warned against laying hand suddenly on anyone. This warning isn't in respect to healing, conducting Holy Ghost Baptism etc because those are the things Jesus came to die for so it should be done as often as the opportunity presents itself. Rather it is talking about commissioning people into ministry etc. When you commission someone of questionable character as a deacon, pastor, minister etc he goes and messes up, you will be deemed to have enabled his sins.

As i end, i will also like to conclude on an earlier thought. Anointing comes from God but needs a man as channel. Even Elisha focused on following his Master and the Chariots of fire swooped him up, Elijah didn't give him the Mantle the bible records that it fell off because Elijah has fulfilled all the criteria.

God is the one that calls one and anoints one even before one was born.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

MY POINT IS THAT AS WE UNDERGO OUR MENTORSHIP PROCESS, WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT GOD IS THE CALLER, AND THE ONE THAT EQUIPS US WITH HIS ABILITY AS AN ASSET AND RESOURCE TO SUCCEED IN MINISTRY. HE IS THE LORD OF THE HARVEST AND THE ONE THAT PAYS THE LABOURER. AS WE SERVE, HONOUR OUR MENTOR STILL DO IT ALL FOR THE LORD. NEVER LOSE FOCUS ON THE MASTER, JESUS CHRIST. DON'T REPLACE HIM WITH MAN.

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#apprenticeship #impartation #honour #holyspirit #layinghands #anointing #spiritupon