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Twenty Reasons Why a Son Must Be an “Allos”

The purpose of having a son is to produce another person of the same kind as you. God’s unique plan for sons is that they should be another of the same kind. Actually, God’s unique plan for all creation is that all parents should bring forth species of the same kind.

There is an important Greek word “Allos” which means “another of the same kind”. This is in sharp contrast to “heteros” which means “another of a different kind”. Heteros is used to describe something or someone who is similar but a little different.

One of the strong delusions of sons is the delusion that, “I am something special, new and original that the world has been waiting for.” The deception is that “I am better than my fathers and I am going to do something very different from what the fathers could do.” But our aim must be to love the Lord and to do whatever He wants us to do. Our aim must not be to be special or unique in any way. We must desire to learn from the fathers God has put in front of us. Why do you despise everything your father stands for? Why do you want to be so different and so special? Is it not the pride of life that drives this need to be totally different from everyone ahead of you? I have come to see that I am not different from any other minister. I am not some rare species whom Christ has chosen for the end-time move. Such thoughts only lead to error. I am a member of the Lord’s army. I am so glad to be one of the many who are trying to serve the Lord.

Do you want to be a teacher in the house of the Lord? God has been raising up teachers for many years. If God is going to give you a teaching gift, you will simply be another teacher of the same kind. Do you want to raise up a great church? Don’t start your ministry in deception. Your church will simply be another church of the same kind.

Thoughts of being unique and totally different from everything that has existed before, only leads to delusions. It is time to learn from fathers who stand right before you. God wants to raise up more shepherds like the fathers of old. Shepherds who humbly received and learnt from experienced fathers! I use the word “allos” to mean another of the same kind. I believe that sons must aspire to be at least another of the same kind. There are many good things about your father and you can at least learn those good things and perhaps do even better.

1. A son must be an allos because it is GOD’S PLAN as revealed in the creation. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... Genesis 1:26

When the Lord created man, he created something that was like Himself. He said that let us make something that is like us: another of the same kind. We were all created as alloses. There are many similarities between man and God because we are made in His image. God is a Spirit and the Father of

2. A son must be an allos because it is A GOOD THING. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind... and God saw that it was good. And God created... every living creature ... after their kind... and God saw that it was good. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind... and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12, 21, 25

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good... Genesis 1:27, 31

Human beings are also spirits living in bodies. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit make up the Trinity we know. Man as spirit, soul and body also makes up a triune being. When men walk in their creative and inventive elements they are clearly exhibiting the likeness of God. Allos: another of the same kind!

It is a good thing to be another of the same kind. Almighty God created things to produce after their kind. The grass produces another of the same kind, the herbs produce another of the same kind, and the whales produce another of the same kind. Even man produces another of the same kind. The Lord God saw that another of the same kind was a good thing! Instead of being preoccupied with producing another of a different kind, let us do what is good.

Do you want to be a good singer? Aim at something you can achieve. Desire something that you can lay hold on. Desire to be an allos of someone who is already a great singer.

3. A son must be an allos because everyone is an allos of someone else. If you are not an allos of your father you will be an allos of someone else. People who claim they are not following anyone are simply following someone they have not acknowledged. Everyone that is great in ministry is an allos of someone else. Everyone who is a great worship leader is an allos of some worship leader somewhere. Everyone who is a great evangelist is an allos of another evangelist. Every great man of God is an allos of some man of God somewhere.

Every anointing is the allos of another anointing. The anointing that came on Peter, James and John was simply an allos of the anointing that was on Jesus their master. The anointing that was on Elisha was simply another of the same kind of what was on Elijah.

Recently, I was having breakfast in a hotel in South Africa. Here came a famous Christian singer whose music and CDs were played all over the world. As we sat together, one of my pastors, Pastor Oko asked him a question, “Who has influenced you in your music ministry?”

He answered, “Oh, Andrae Crouch has been my greatest inspiration.” I immediately understood why this fellow was doing so well. He was a shameless allos! He was proud to be another of the same kind. I have noticed that all those who do well in any field, are alloses who closely follow after someone of the same kind. Whether it is preaching, singing, healing, or to pastor, the principle is the same. God is producing another of the same kind and He continually says that it is a good thing.

4. It is a good thing that a son must be an allos because it makes him humble. It is a good thing to be an allos because it is a humble thing! It is a good thing to have to humbly learn from those ahead of you.

It is a good thing for the young to show respect to those who have made a way for them.

When sons are humble, the blessings of God pass on to the next generation. Not only will there be one great man of God for this generation, but there will be another of the same kind for the next generation. Not only will there be one great singer, but many of the same kind. Everywhere those gifted voices are needed to help the anointing flow, there will be an allos.

5. A son must become an allos because it will make him a great person. Decide to be a great man of God; decide to become a great worship leader. Become a choir leader or a shepherd people will not forget. How can you do this? The answer is simple: become another of the same kind. Let us not become mystical about the formula to greatness in God. Let us not beat about the bush. Let’s go directly to God’s method of producing another of the same kind. If it is great, another of the same kind will also be great. If it is anointed, another of the same kind will be anointed. If it is powerful, another of the same kind will be powerful.

I believe that God has called me to serve Him. I am not special and I am not different. I am simply another of the kind that God has raised up already. I want to find someone with a similar calling and follow hard after him. It won’t be long and we will be going home. I don’t have much time for trial and error. I cannot afford any time for experiments. I may be in the middle of an experiment when the Lord calls me. I need to get straight to the point. I need the anointing and I need it fast! I need to preach well and I need to preach well now! I need to heal the sick and to raise the dead and I want it to happen within the time the Lord has given me.

How about you? How many years of experimentation are you going to dabble with until you become humble enough to become another of the same kind? Churches that work are pastored by pastors of a certain kind. Churches that grow are pastored by men and women of a certain kind. Since that is also your vision, why don’t you become another of the same kind? Allos is the way to the anointing. Allos is the key to greatness in God. Allos is the open door for you to enter the things of the kingdom. I cannot pretend. What I do is what I have learnt from others. What I teach is what has been taught by another of the same kind. How I minister is what I learnt from someone else.

I have no shame about pressing hard after others of the same kind. God said it was good so it must be very good. If it is good for God, it is good for me.

6. A son must become an allos because there is nothing new under the sun. When you become an allos, you discover the truth that there is nothing new under the sun. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. This is a fact that you must accept. You have nothing new to offer and your life will not really introduce anything special. Like most ministers, I once thought I was introducing something new. I thought I had some new gifts and ideas, which no one else had ever had.

ANOTHER (ALLOS) reapeth.

John 4:37

With time, I discovered that all that I was doing had been done before. Every single thing I am doing and saying I have found people who said them before I did.

The truth about my ministry is that I am simply following hard after others I genuinely admire. I want to be like them and I am not ashamed to say so! I like their spirit! I like their flow! If I can be another of the same kind, I think it would be a great achievement for me.

7. A son must become an allos because you become something that is already SUCCESSFUL AND WORKING. You are free from the disadvantage of experimentation. You are free from years of wasting time as you discover principles that have worked over and over again.

8. A son must become an allos because it saves you from the difficulty of having to create a new name. Making a name is not easy. That is why names are sold for lots of money. A good name is one of the most valuable things on earth. Becoming another of the same kind means you are another with the same kind of name. When you do not mind the association, you can truly benefit from being an allos.

9. A son must become an allos because it makes you understand your place in the team. It takes humility to admit that you are just part of a team. When people are impressed with your ministry, it is not easy to reveal that your message is not original. When people are impressed with your style it is not easy to reveal that you learnt everything from someone else. Thank God for the humility that becoming an allos gives. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and When people of the same kind work together, it is possible to truly play as a team: “One soweth and another reapeth”. When people are not of the same kind, it is very difficult to work together. Conflicts in church leadership are caused when people with different visions work together.

If I have ambitions for wealth, my decisions will be different from someone who has ambitions for bearing fruit. There will be continuous conflict because we are of different kinds.

Transferring pastors from one church to another is much easier when pastors of the same kind work together. When another of the same kind takes over a church, there is great encouragement for the church. Both pastors realize they are transitional servants of the Lord with a “limited lease period” in which to please the Lord. No one is there forever and no one is there for personal gain. Each pastor wants to do his best for the Lord in his season. One plants the church, and another of the same kind waters it. Because they are of the same kind, they all recognize when it is time for the change. However such changes in church structure do not work where there are people with different ambitions.

Paul and Apollos were alloses: they were of the same kind. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation, and another (ALLOS) buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon

1 Corinthians 3:10

Paul did not mind laying a foundation for another to build upon. He did not mind starting up and allowing someone else to continue the work. Paul planted the church and another of the same kind (Apollos) watered it. When you are an allos you will understand that you are just part of a team.

10. A son must become an allos because it makes you dependent and sheep-like. The sheep nature is different from the serpent nature. It is the nature of snakes to be independent and solitary. This is the very opposite of how you must be if you want to walk with the Lord. To be another of the same kind, you will have to depend on someone, you will have to learn from someone and you will have to follow someone.

11. A son must become an allos because it gives you access to methods and formulae that have worked for your kind. When I decide to become another of the same kind, all I need are the methods which are used by my allos. What worked for him will work for me. I simply copy the systems and techniques that have produced results in my allos. Since I am going to be the same kind, the same kind of methods that worked for him will surely work for me!

12. A son must become an allos because it makes him a member of a particular group. A unique group of people who are of the same kind, have many things in common. You can now fellowship freely because you have similar challenges and similar experiences. Whenever I meet allos pastors, I can relax and enjoy their company. I can share my challenges and be encouraged by others with similar experiences.

13. A son must become an allos because that is how you will find your way in the ministry. Many who are called to the ministry do not know how to walk the road of ministry. They know God has called them but don’t have a clue as to how to progress. Many men of God do not know how to climb into higher heights in ministry. They see other men of God accomplishing great things but don’t know that they can do the same!

The road to accomplishing the same things is clear now. Don’t try to be unique, special or different. Just become an allos. Become another of the same kind. Use the techniques they used.

Follow them very closely.

Preach what they preached.

Pray in the same way that they prayed.

Seek God in the same way that they did.

Have the kind of close relationship with God. You will surely become another of the same kind.

14. A son must become an allos because it helps you to move faster into new areas of ministry.

Becoming an allos quickens your rate of advancement in life and ministry. Because you are following a well-chartered road, you have the benefit of those who went on before you.

You will not be slowed down by the things that slowed others down. You will overcome obstacles faster because your kind will give you tips on how to overcome them.

People go faster when they do not have to experiment with things.

One day, I was going somewhere with someone. He was in his car ahead and I was in mine. When he got into traffic, he called me and told me not to come the way he had gone because there was too much traffic. I ended up getting there faster than he did because he saved me from having to go through his problem. It is common sense to receive inputs from someone just ahead of you. Becoming an allos is actually the art of using common sense

thousand to flight...

Deuteronomy 32:30

15. A son must become an allos because it will help you when you encounter difficulties. Have you ever wondered why doctors are calm in the face of apparent emergencies? It is because they have seen many other situations of the same kind (allos). When you meet an allos problem or crisis, you are calm because you know this kind. You overcome it faster because you have been taught about this kind of situation.

16. A son must become an allos because an army of multiplied force is created thereby. The joint effort of people of the same kind produces greater results. Bible teaches that two are better than one. It goes on to say that a threefold cord is not easily broken.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Two of the same kind are better than one! Three of the same kind, are not easily broken. The multiplied strength of allos is phenomenal. When people of the same mind walk and work together, great power is released. How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten One of a kind shall put to flight a thousand but two of the same kind shall put to flight ten thousand.

17. A son must become an allos because that is the natural way to increase. The natural way that all of creation multiplies is by producing another of the same kind.

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind...and God saw that it was good. And God created...every living CREATURE...after their KIND...and God saw that it was good. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind...and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12, 21, 25

The natural way that the church will grow from glory to glory is to produce pastors of the same kind, leaders of the same kind, and shepherds of the same kind. I do not dispute that there are other ways to move forward. But I can share what I see in the Bible. Allos! Allos! Allos! I want to be like the fathers God has given me. I want to be exactly like Him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

18. A son must become an allos because it is the key to the anointing.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another (ALLOS) Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

In the Scripture above, Jesus calls the Comforter, another of the same kind. The word another in this verse, is the Greek word allos. This means another comforter of the same kind. Jesus could have used the word heteros which would also have been translated another. But heteros would have meant a help of a different kind.

The Holy Spirit (Comforter) is the anointing. When Jesus promised another comforter of the same kind, He was promising another anointing of the same kind. The same kind of anointing with which He had ministered would be available to the apostles.

Most pastors would hasten their progress in the ministry if they would understand this simple truth. There is no new and special anointing that God wants to give you. He is simply going to give you another of the same kind. Even the apostles were promised another of the same kind. The world’s system teaches that the way to be qualified is to go to school. But the biblical pattern of becoming anything in the ministry is to become an allos. Becoming an allos is the natural way by which God produces ministers. Pride and presumption often keep us from becoming alloses.

The ministry is a very difficult thing. It takes a lot of grace to even please God. Humility is the greatest achievement in the ministry, yet it is so elusive. Most of us follow after human indicators of greatness. But Christ has shown what true greatness is. To humbly follow a man, to be obedient and to bear fruit in humility is no mean task. God does not require much from us. He expects us to become an allos of something that is working.

Elijah, Elisha and John-the-Baptist

Elijah had two well-known alloses: Elisha and John the Baptist. The Bible is clear on this fact. Elisha asked for a double portion of the anointing that was on Elijah and he got it (2 Kings 2:9). Jesus described John the Baptist as Elijah. He actually said, “This is Elias, which was for to come” (Matthew 11:14). Whenever you have another of the same kind of anointing, it produces the same kind of works. A closer look at the ministries of these two alloses will show you how true this is. This revelation should inspire you to get an allos anointing. Six Reasons Why Elisha Was an Allos of Elijah 1. Elijah prayed for the bringing back to life of a little boy (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha also prayed for the raising up of a dead boy (2 Kings 4:32-37).

2. Elijah made miraculous utterances (1 Kings 21:28-29) and Elisha also made miraculous utterances (2 Kings 8:12). 3. Elijah had sixteen miracles in his ministry whilst Elisha had thirty-two miracles in his ministry. 4. Elijah caused a famine for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17) and Elisha also prayed and there was a famine for seven years (2 Kings 8:1-2). 5. Elijah multiplied the meal and oil for a widow (1 Kings 17:8-16) and Elisha also increased the oil of a widow (2 Kings 4:1-7). 6. Elijah dried up the river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8) and Elisha also dried up the river Jordan (2 Kings 2:13-15).

Eleven Reasons Why John the Baptist Was an Allos of Elijah

1. Elijah was anointed with the Spirit and power (2 Kings 1:9- 10) and John the Baptist was also filled with the Spirit and with power (Luke 1:17). 2. Elijah lived in the desert at a point (1 Kings 17:3, 19:4) whilst John the Baptist was also known to dwell in the wilderness (Luke 1:80). 3. Elijah had a peculiar appearance (2 Kings 1:8) whilst John the Baptist was also known to dress in camel skirt (Matthew 3:4). 4. Elijah ate strange food from the mouth of ravens (1 Kings 17:4) whilst John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). 5. Elijah confronted the king of his day, King Ahab (1 Kings 18:17-18) and John the Baptist also confronted the ruler of his day, King Herod (Matthew 14:3-4). 6. The king desired to kill Elijah (2 Kings 1:9) and the king sought to kill John the Baptist also (Matthew 14:3-5).

7. Elijah preached righteousness (1 Kings 18:20-24) and John the Baptist’s main message was repentance (Matthew 21:32). 8. Elijah was hated by the king’s wife, Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1- 7) and John the Baptist was also hated by Herod’s wife (Matthew 14:3-10). 9. Elijah was very influential in the land (1 Kings 18:25-41) and John the Baptist also had great influence in the land in his day (Mark11:32). 10.Elijah and John the Baptist were linked in prophecy (Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3). 11.Elijah will be the forerunner to the second coming of Christ (Malachi 4:5-6) and John the Baptist was the forerunner to the first coming of Christ (Malachi 3:1).

19. A son must become an allos because it is the key to the art of teaching and preaching. Hear another [ALLOS] parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: Matthew 21:33

Jesus taught the Word of God in the most beautiful and anointed style ever known to man. His stories are remembered by little children long after they stop reading the Bible. His teachings are relevant two thousand years after He gave them. The teachings of Jesus are read by more people, quoted by more authors, translated into more languages, set to more music and represented in more art than any other teachings. As someone said, comparing the teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle to those of Jesus is like comparing an enquiry with a revelation!

Years ago, I told my beloved that I wanted to be a teacher of the Word like Jesus. I thought to myself, “The teachings of Jesus are not easily forgotten, even by children.” I decided to become an allos. Years ago, before I became a pastor, I decided to teach and preach with stories. Jesus told so many stories. He would say: “A certain man had two sons...” “A certain man made a great party...” “There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple...” “A certain rich man died...” “A certain man went up from Jericho...” “There was a certain rich man which had a steward...” “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth bountifully...” “A certain noble man went into a far country...” I decided that I wanted to be a teacher like Jesus. I didn’t want to be anything new; I just wanted to be an allos.

The key to becoming a great preacher is to become another of the same kind. Just find a preacher whose ministry touches lives and become another of the same kind. Learn how to preach by becoming the same as he is. Preach in the same way, teach in the same way and you will be very successful. Don’t try anything new because there is nothing new. Learn how to honourably “copy, photocopy, photograph, replay, rewind, repeat” what is good until it becomes a part of you. You will find yourself becoming an allos. The reality is that whether you do this deliberately or not, you are becoming the allos of somebody. So why not choose to become the allos of somebody you admire?

20. A son must become an allos because it will help him to recognize the principle of allos in many other areas of ministry. When you understand the principle of allos you understand that it is at work in many areas of life and ministry.

When you understand the principle of allos you understand that it is at work in many areas of life and ministry. Just as you are another of the same kind, you will recognize that many things are just one of a kind.

Dear friend, there is nothing special about you. There is nothing special about the problems you encounter in ministry. Someone has experienced it before and you are just the next one to discover it.

In the book of Revelation, John saw a terrible beast (problem) rising out of the sea. He was amazed at the strange and frightening appearance of this beast.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Revelation 13:1-2

But this was not the end. He suddenly saw an allos! Another of the same kind! The Scripture describes how he saw another beast of the same kind emerging from beneath the sea.

And I beheld another (ALLOS) beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon

Revelations 13:11

It is important to recognize problems of a similar nature when they arise. This will help you to calmly deal with the problems.

I once preached at a church in which the people were really blessed. The pastor of the church was also happy with the message. However, a few days later, this pastor told me that he was not happy about certain things I had said in his church. I was taken aback because he had initially said that he was very happy with the message.

This pastor continued to take up the issue, explaining that certain people among his pastors and congregation were not happy with my preaching. I came to realize that there was a political spirit at work in that congregation. The church was run on the strength of rumours, criticism and gossip. The different groups and factions always had an opinion about what was going on in the church. It was a church fraught with division, politics and infighting.

On another occasion, I preached in another church elsewhere. After the message, the pastor was very happy and congratulated me. He went on to say that he would have liked me to preach that very same message in his church at a larger Sunday service. He wanted the whole church to hear it. But I explained that I would not be available for that service.

The next day however, this pastor called me up and rebuked me for things that I had said in the message. I was taken aback but I apologized immediately for the wrong things that I had said. He explained that after I left, some of his leaders had voiced their objection to parts of my message

But I had already noticed similarities between this church and the other political church I had been in. I was therefore not too surprised by what had happened. It was an allos of the other political church where I had also been rebuked for my preaching. I was just having another of the same kind of experience. The pool of Siloam was surrounded by ill people with similar problems.

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another (ALLOS) steppeth down before me.

John 5:7

by Dag Heward - Mills

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