APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: MANY INSTRUCTORS, ONE FATHER: PART 1

One of the very first commands that God gave to mankind was not to go to church every Sunday, but rather it was, "Be fruitful, and MULTIPLY, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Gen 1:28). This is God's desire for every living thing he has created. He desires for every person to multiply what He has placed in him. This does not simply infer physical procreation but extends into the spiritual realm where God expects us to bear spiritual sons and daughters. The Apostle Paul speaks of travailing in birth not for a physical children but for spiritual children, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal4:19). Paul was a man and could not possibly have been talking about physical children. Paul was referring here to his spiritual children.

One of the principles which the Roman Catholic Church rightly took up and used but in the end abused was their system of having priests who were also known as "fathers". This is supposed to be the norm in the church of Jesus Christ worldwide but sadly it is one of the most lacking areas. God expects primarily the five-fold ministers i.e. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers to raise up spiritual sons and daughters whom they equip to fulfill the work of the ministry and even take up their mantles when they depart to be with the Lord. Notice that the Apostle Paul referred to Timothy as his spiritual son, "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is MY BELOVED SON, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church" (1Cor 4:17). The reason Paul took up Timothy as his son in the faith was for him to have a trustworthy heir to the ministry and a faithful delegate whom he would be able to assign to minister and coordinate different churches in his absence. Paul knew very well the principle of discipleship and reproduction. He instructed Timothy and expected him to likewise train and disciple faithful men who would likewise disciple others, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2Tim 2:2). Paul's earnest desire was not only to have spiritual children but spiritual grandchildren. God requires both your physical and spiritual wealth to reach the hands of your grandchildren, "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children" (Prov 13:22). The true failure in ministry and indeed in any aspect of life is one who does not groom a successor for his ministry. There can be no success without a successor.

Even from the pages of the Old Testament we discover that men of God at different times in history groomed and discipled successors for their ministries. Moses discipled Joshua to take over leadership of the Israelites after his departure, He even went ahead to lay hands on him to confer the anointing upon Joshua’s life, "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses" (Deut 34:9). When we go to look at the life of the prophet Elijah, we find God instructing him to anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat as prophet in his room (1Ki 19:6). This was an instruction which Elijah obeyed and henceforth went out and found Elisha plowing with a yoke of oxen, he took his mantle and cast it upon Elisha. At this point Elisha became a spiritual son to Elijah. He began to travel with Elijah wherever the man of God went. He humbled himself to a point where he was referred to as, "Elisha the son of Shaphat, which POURED WATER ON THE HANDS of Elijah" (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha knew very well the principle that one who humbles himself shall be exalted. I believe he was an avid student of the book of Proverbs and read among the writings of King Solomon, Proverbs 27:18, "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so HE THAT WAITETH ON HIS MASTER SHALL BE HONOURED." This was the secret for Elisha to receive the double portion of the spirit his master possessed. Whenever Elijah tried to shake Elisha off, he would consistently persist. God requires some people in his Kingdom who would be violent enough to take his anointing by force (Mat 11:12). This kind of violent faith is what prompted Elijah to ask Elisha the great question, "Ask what I shall do for you?" to which Elisha replied that he desired a double portion of the spirit that rested upon Elijah. Elijah gave him a condition that if he would be present and see Elijah being translated to heaven, then he would receive his request. Inspite of the discouragements that Elisha received from the sons of the prophets, he persevered and received the mantle from Elijah. The sons of the prophets also acknowledged that there had been an impartation of Elijah's anointing, "And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH DOTH REST ON ELISHA. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him" (2 Kings 2:15). A time will surely come when you have patiently waited on your master and you will surely be honored to perform the same great works that you have seen manifested in his life and ministry. At this point a case in point come to mind of one of the leading women of God in this nation, Prophetess Imelda Namutebi, who was a humble servant and served as a “housegirl” to Pastor Robert Kayanja (founder & Pastor of Rubaga Miracle Centre, Kampala) and his associates with whom he was staying in the first years of his ministry. The humility and patience which Namutebi endured have reaped great dividends as she is currently the founder and Pastor of Liberty Worship Center, one of the largest churches in Kampala.