Jesus, the Master Trainer, used apprenticeship. Jesus took twelve men and called them to be with Him.

To be successfully apprenticed to leadership in a particular area, one should look for a person with apostolic abilities. An apostle is a leader who can demonstrate all five heart motivations in his life. He should be able to demonstrate the following:

• the ability of an apostle to create
• the sensitivity of a prophet to discern
• the skill of a teacher to instruct
• the care of a pastor to love
• the zeal of an evangelist to motivate

1. The ability of an apostle

You should look for a person who has demonstrated the ability to create what you want to learn to create. For example, if you want to learn how to move mightily under the anointing, you want to be mentored by a person who can himself move mightily in the anointing.

How to find this person: Look at the accomplishments of the person. Was he given what he has, or did he build it himself? Is he currently modeling the behavior you want to cultivate?

 

2. The sensitivity of a prophet

Your discipler must be able to sense what God wants to put into your life, where you are at this time, and the unique abilities God has placed within you. He will then minister to you out of this discernment, starting where you are and taking you the next step.

How to find this person: Sense his heart. Is it sensitive and discerning? Is he able to touch true heart issues and bring them forth?

 

3. The care of a pastor:

Growth occurs most quickly in a loving atmosphere. A pastor creates such an atmosphere of love in his surroundings. He desires to bind up the wounds you have experienced throughout life.

How to find this person: Does your heart feel accepted and loved when in his presence? Can you find others who have been healed by his touch?

 

4. The skill of a teacher:

Can this person share with you step by step the actions you must take to reproduce in your life what he has in his? Can he lay these steps out in order, understanding where you are and your personality, meeting you there, and taking you where you want to be?

How to find this person: Has he taught others? When you interview those who have been taught by this mentor, are they satisfied with their experience? Did it implant in their lives the ability to reproduce the skills of the mentor? Has the mentor written things out in detail? Is it clear and concise, and in a step-by- step fashion? Have you heard him teach? Is he a good teacher?

 

5. The zeal of an evangelist:

Does this person have a passion to pass on to the next generation the gifts God has grown within him? Does his heart burn with the desire to reproduce himself? Does he see it as a ministry, the extending of the Kingdom of God, to impart the gifts he has to others?

How to find this person: This person will be eager to spend time with you, imparting his gifts to you. You will not be viewed as a bother, but as one in whom he is investing.

 

6. Ask, Seek and Knock

It may take some asking, seeking, and knocking to find such a person. You begin by asking God to lead you to him. You also ask others who might know. Especially ask people who are in the field in which you want to obtain mastery. Ask, "Who are the leaders in this field?" Listen closely to their answers. Seek out the people they suggest. If they can't help you, ask who they know who might be able to. Continue this process until you discover the right person. You may find that it takes two or three people to mentor you, who together have the combined heart motivations represented in Ephesians 4:7-11.

Also, keep your eyes and ears open. You will have serendipitous encounters through conversations, the mail, phone calls, and so on. God is active, giving you what you have asked for. Ask and you shall receive. When you ask in faith, you put out a spiritual magnet which draws the answer (or right people) to you. So keep your eyes and ears open and listen in faith, and see what (or who) God sends your way. And enjoy the journey along the way, for life surely is a journey.

 

7. Becoming a skilled mentor yourself

One goal each of us should have as we grow older is to develop the abilities to successfully apprentice the younger generation. It is therefore recommended that each member of The Body Of Christ set a goal to become an outstanding mentor as described above. We challenge you to become one of those to whom the    next generation may look. If not us, then who?                           Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ"                (1 Cor. 11:1).

One goal each of us should have as we grow older is to develop the abilities to successfully apprentice the younger generation. It is therefore recommended that each member of The Body Of Christ set a goal to become an outstanding mentor as described above. We challenge you to become one of those to whom the    next generation may look. If not us, then who?                           Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ"                (1 Cor. 11:1).

One goal each of us should have as we grow older is to develop the abilities to successfully apprentice the younger generation. It is therefore recommended that each member of The Body Of Christ set a goal to become an outstanding mentor as described above. We challenge you to become one of those to whom the    next generation may look. If not us, then who?                           Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ"                (1 Cor. 11:1).

One goal each of us should have as we grow older is to develop the abilities to successfully apprentice the younger generation. It is therefore recommended that each member of The Body Of Christ set a goal to become an outstanding mentor as described above. We challenge you to become one of those to whom the next generation may look. If not us, then who? Paul said, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ"  (Cor. 11:1).