Philippian 2:19: But I hope and trust in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy to you, so that I may also be encouraged and cheered by learning news of you.
20: For I have no one like him [no one of so kindred a spirit] who will be so genuinely interested in your welfare and devoted to your interests
‘I have no one like him’, this was a big statement coming from a man with few sons, many partners and co-workers in ministry. ‘I have no one like him’? . I wonder what other sons of Paul would have thought when they read this letter he wrote to the Phillipians. I mean, he testified that Epaphras was a faithful minister, the praying matcho????????
‘Likeminded’ in this scripture means having similar spirit. There is nothing as frustruating as committing an established work into the hands of someone who doesn’t have the same spirit and mind as you do.
Apostolic work requires that you plant and then commit into the hands of someone who can build. If you have ever been privileged to start something new, you will never want to see it die, not for a day or a second (I am a living witness). The heart of the builder must therefore in sync with the heart of the planter.
I celebrate every Apostle who gets to read this, whether of church or a para-church. It’s like birthing a child and watching him grow everyday as you pour yourself into him. The pain of birthing is not as bad as watching what you have birthed go bad.
The best gift you can have in ministry is not money but the gift of men.
Although Moses was a great leader, he had to have help, men who were counselors and advisors, who could bear the burden of the people with him. It was necessary that they had the same spirit and oneness of mind and purpose.
Numbers 11:16-17: So the Lord said to Moses: Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Isreal, whom you know to be elders of Isreal……..Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the SPIRIT THAT IS UPON YOU and WILL PUT THE SAME UPON THEM.: and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
If the people who give responsibilities don’t have your spirit, they can’t bear the burden of the people with you, instead they will add to it( this is the main diagnostic test for true sons???????? some ministerial wisdom here)
Timothy had the same spirit, the same genuine interest. He was Paul on the pulpit not Timothy. He preached the same message, had the same affection for souls, he had the same zeal and diligence. Just give it to Timothy and go to bed kinda thing.
Having similar spirit, oneness of mind with the one you follow( whether Father or mentor) does not happen in a day. You would have to follow the way Timothy did: 2Timothy 3:10: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine( the man or woman’s teachings), mannner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering , love, perserverance, persecutions, afflictions…”
This verse is a whole mesaage on its own.
If you can pay attention to these things in a man’s life, his spirit will catch up with you. His vison will become clearer to you.
However if you are an Apostle primarily, but you are in the phase of building not planting, (i.e to strengthen the work a man has started) wisdom demands that you discern each phase correctly and discharge responsibilities accordingly. You don’t plant where you are to build and you don’t build where you are to plant, conflict abounds in such places. When you build another man’s vision, God will send men who will build yours by the time you start planting. He won’t use the people you have built, hence don’t look for reward in such places. You will reap what you sow not where you have sown.
There are helpers you will have in ministry that you would reckon ‘only God could have sent such men’. They are loyalists, faithfulness on two legs. Men who see the vison in your heart before you say it. Such was Timothy.
May God send you such men! Men that will build your walls and carry your vision in their hearts in Jesus name! Your ministry will never lack helpers and
May you fulfill your call!!!!
