Developing Young Leaders (Multi-generational Strategy)

Dr. Jorge Lopez, 11/06/2010
We often talk about being called but we seldom talk about being sent.
Joh 20:21  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."
This message seems to be very relevant to me.


Have we ever thought about how the Father sent Jesus? He was first sent as a baby. He was then a young man who was a carpentry until he was 30? He could have made caskets and crutches. He did not ministry until he was 30. There is a period being called and being sent.
Abraham was called to be the father of many nations at 75 but he was sent when he was 100. During the period, he tried to do things with his flesh, when he was 86.
Moses was called to be the delivered of Israel as a baby. At 40, he was arrogant and thought he could deliver the Israel one Egyptian at a time. When he was sent at 80, he said he could not even speak.
David was called at 17 and sent at 30.
Joseph was called at 17 with dreams but he was sent at 30.
Paul (according to Rom 1:1) was called to be an apostle. He always put “servant” before his calling.
Eph 4:1 we read Paul urged us to live a life worthy of the calling before we are even sent.
Everybody is called and sent. Not everyone is called to be an apostle or pastor, etc. But everybody is called. The problem is not everybody goes to the process of being sent.
A call is the “what” the sending is the when authority is given.
Acts 9:10 vv Ananias was asked to minister to Paul.
Act 9:20  And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
Jesus called the disciples and they performed miracles. It doesn’t mean we don’t do anything between the call and the sent.
There is a lifelong call and many calls in between.
Five things to do between the call and the send.

Commitment to relationship

Act 9:26-28  And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.  (27)  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.  (28)  So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
The word that defines Christianity is relationship. Sometimes the commitment to relationship may take 30 year.

Commitment to friendship

Act 11:25-26  So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  (26)  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Act 9:29-30  And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.  (30)  And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.kkkkkkkkkkkkk

Commitment to stewardship

Act 11:28-30  And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).  (29)  So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.  (30)  And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Paul was trusted with the money. If Paul and Barnabas spend the money on something else, then they are not ready for ministry

Commitment to fellowship

Act 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Commitment to leadership

Act 13:1-4  Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  (2)  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."  (3)  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  (4)  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
We need to what the characters of our young leaders.
Some people give gifts to get and not to give,
Paul did not have it easy. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was well educated He had the right character. It took time.
We need to be patient.
Don’t be a lone ranger. Even Long Ranger has a Tonto.
We need to pray to ask God to send those who are ready. If not we will see a lot of failures.