THE BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MENTORSHIP, DELEGATION AND SUBMISSION

Genesis chapter 1




Today we are walking in: The Benefits and Responsibilities of Mentorship, Delegation, and Submission




Today we look to the word-LEADER- H5057 nagiyd-- leader, ruler, captain, prince; excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.



The Torah Testifies.............................

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The prophets proclaim...............



Isaiah 55:4 - Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader H5057 and commander to the people.








The writings bear witness.............



2Chronicles 32:21 - And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders H5057 and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword




IN the beginning Elohiym created את the heavens and את the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruach Elohiym moved upon the face of the waters. And Elohiym said, Let there be light: and there was light. And Elohiym saw the light, that it was good: and Elohiym divided the light from the darkness. And Elohiym called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And Elohiym said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And Elohiym made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse: and it was so. And Elohiym called the expanse Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And Elohiym said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And Elohiym called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and Elohiym saw that it was good. And Elohiym said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and Elohiym saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day. And Elohiym said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for appointed feasts, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And Elohiym made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And Elohiym set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and Elohiym saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. And Elohiym said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open expanse of heaven. And Elohiym created great dragons, and את every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and את every winged fowl after his kind: and Elohiym saw that it was good. And Elohiym blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And Elohiym said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And Elohiym made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and את everything that creeps upon the earth after his kind: and Elohiym saw that it was good. And Elohiym said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So Elohiym created man in his own image, in the image of Elohiym created he him; male and female created he them. And Elohiym blessed them, and Elohiym said unto them, 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 moves upon the earth. And Elohiym said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and את every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creeps upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given את every green herb for food: and it was so. And Elohiym saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 1:1-31 את CEPHER
The Interdependent Nature of Authority


The Benefits and Responsibilities of Mentorship, Delegation, and Submission


Authority is a team effort rather than a solo activity. Although each individual has a personal authority, the nature of authority is such that people’s purposes are interrelated and function interdependently in corporate life. It is a foundational principle that we need each other’s authority to fulfill our own authority.


Every Person on Earth Yields to Authority


In teaching 5, we saw that nothing the Creator made can exist without submission to some authority because, by its nature, authority involves both dependence and interdependence. First, everything depends on the Creator to exist because everything in life flows from Him and is maintained by Him. Second, the lives of living things are naturally interwoven for their existence and growth. Third, we all need to submit to the personal authority of others in order to function in life, and we all naturally yield to others’ authority. I used the everyday example of submission in which we trust the dentist’s authority to safely and effectively work on our teeth. There are hundreds of other examples, such as needing to stop at red lights or yield to other cars when we are driving. Much of common courtesy is actually a form of submission to others for their benefit.


Although interdependence is a natural state of life, the give-and-take of genuine authority has often been lacking. Misuse and abuse of authority have given rise to misconceptions about leaders and followers and the characteristics of submission, causing people to steer clear of situations in which they feel they are “taking orders” from others. Compounding this mind-set is the fact that many people have felt overwhelmed by circumstances in their lives that have made them feel powerless.


Again, because many of our parents, teachers, employers, and other authority figures did not understand authority and misused it in relation to us, we are afraid to submit to others and therefore find it difficult to release our own true authority. Consequently, many of us have dreams, goals, and gifts trapped inside us.


Despite their past experiences, those who resist genuine submission and the concept of delegation rob themselves of the benefits and opportunities connected with interdependent relationships. They unfortunately restrict themselves from experiencing Yah’s purpose and will for their lives by their attitudes about what they perceive as “authority.”


A Time to Delegate, a Time to Submit


At various times in your life, you will be called upon to delegate to others based on your authority. At other times, you will be called to submit to others based on their authority. This is just a part of life. It is not something you need to be uncomfortable about, whether you are on the giving or receiving side.


Some people are as uncomfortable about directing others as they are about taking orders because they don’t want to feel as if they are “bossing others around.” Not wanting to exercise false authority is a commendable attitude, and their concern would be valid if delegating were the same thing as acting like a tyrant or having the “boss spirit.” It is not. Instead, delegation is a natural aspect of legitimate authority. We need to recognize this truth, because the role of directing and mentoring others may be an integral part of fulfilling our own personal authority. Therefore, understanding true delegation and true submission will free all of us to experience the Creator’s purposes and plans for our lives.


As we survey the topics of delegation, mentorship, and submission in this chapter, let us keep in mind the following foundational points:


1. Our Ultimate Authority is Yah; we are to submit to Him and His purposes for us.


2. We “submit” to or live according to our inherent domains—the authority, dreams, and gifts Yah has given us—instead of trying to be someone we aren’t or to succeed with improper motivations.


3. We submit to others’ Yah-given authority in relationship and community.


4. To function properly either in the role of delegator or delegatee, it is vital that we clearly know our own self-worth. We must know that we are of great value to Yah and that He has given us special gifts and abilities to contribute to corporate life, or we may be overly influenced by other people’s opinions or demands and be unable to fulfill our authority.


Let us now look at what it means to delegate authority and submit to authority, as well as the responsibilities and benefits connected with each role.


Principles for Delegators and Delegatees


We were all created in the image of Yah, and He Himself is a delegator. He has delegated authority to each of us for our individual purposes and pleasure in life. Yah “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). Similarly, part of Yah’s delegation of authority is to give people the ability to release the authority of others through mentorship and the pursuit of common goals.


Human delegation is therefore the transfer of authority. It is taking the permission you have from the Creator to use power and sharing it with someone else. Delegation gives the other person the right to function in that authority.
The following are essential principles for delegated authority.


Authority Is Legitimate Only If It Has Been Delegated


Unless authority has been given to you, you don’t have it. It cannot be seized and still be legitimate. Authority is given for specific reasons and purposes, and these can’t be carried out if someone is unauthorized. This is why all authority must come from Yah as the Ultimate Authority, and why any authority we administer as human beings must be Yah-given, as well.


Authority Is Given so that It Can Be Shared


Authority is not given to be kept but to be distributed. The authority you have received from Yah was bestowed on you to share with others to achieve positive results. While this principle is true for anyone in his personal authority—all gifts and abilities have been given to benefit not only ourselves but also others—it is especially applicable to those who have areas of oversight or power to delegate to others. Delegation of authority is the transfer of legitimate power to enable others to exercise or operate in their authority. Perhaps the highest form of delegation is that which empowers people to empower still others for the benefit of all. Anyone who hoards his authority and refuses to delegate it is violating a natural principle of authority. Like the manna that was hoarded by the Israelites, authority that is not used for its intent becomes corrupt. (See Exodus 16:13–20.)


Yahusha Hamachiach perfectly exemplified the principle of shared authority. He always delegated His authority for the purpose of benefiting others. As Yah’s Son, the Word made flesh, He seems to have progressively received authority from the Father. But whatever authority He received, He always used and delegated in service to others. Here are some examples:


Yahusha’ obedience up to the time of and including His baptism by John brought His Father’s affirmation: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). He was one in purpose with the Father.


After Yahusha overcame the temptations of HaSatan, He “returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). He was given both authority and power for His ministry.


Yahusha manifested that authority and power: “Yahusha went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23).


After Yahusha had demonstrated that He had the power and authority of the Father, He delegated it to His disciples: “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1).


Yahusha delegated authority to still more of His followers: “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1).


Through His obedient life and sacrificial death, Yahusha qualified for “all authority.” After His resurrection, He said to His followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20). Note that in response to all authority being given to Him, He told His disciples, “Therefore go.” He immediately delegated His authority. He didn’t control, hoard, or sell it. He didn’t say, “All authority has been given to Me; therefore, I will use it all Myself.” He distributed it.


Yahusha promised additional authority to His followers: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).


Yahusha was constantly transferring authority to fulfill His purpose, to release the purposes of others, and to benefit the community and the world at large. We who have been given authority are to do the same.


Authority, whether it is personal or corporate, is always to be used to serve, benefit, or improve others. Paul wrote of “the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down” (2 Corinthians 10:8). If someone is a legitimate authority, it shows by how much his authority benefits people’s lives. If someone in a position of authority doesn’t help others, he is not exercising genuine authority but merely power.


Authority Should Not Be Delegated Based on Favoritism


Delegation of authority should not be motivated by partiality or favoritism. This is in keeping with the nature of our Creator. “Yah does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34–35). Paul wrote to his mentee, Timothy, “Do nothing out of favoritism” (1 Timothy 5:21). And we read in the book of James,
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Yahusha Hamachiach, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as
lawbreakers.(James 2:1–4, 9)


You don’t give authority just because you like someone but because his unique gifts, talents, and personality correspond with the tasks or supervision that needs to be delegated for a certain project. In this way, you are being responsible for the authority that was delegated to you.


Authority Should Not Be Given to the Untested


Authority and its accompanying power should never be delegated to someone who is immature or someone who is a novice in the area of oversight. Instead, delegated power must be invested in increments and installed as a result of trust that the delegatee has earned over time. Before delegating authority, therefore, you should first evaluate a person’s maturity by learning how that person has functioned under authority in the past. Does the person work well with others, or is he always fighting direction and openly or subtly contentious? A person cannot receive from an authority he doesn’t submit to.


The one receiving the authority must also allow the delegator to lead and support him. Paul wrote, “If [a person’s gift] is leadership, let him govern diligently” (Romans 12:8). In other words, let the person whom Yah called to be the visionary or overseer be the visionary or overseer. The delegatee shouldn’t give him a hard time. If the delegator is forced to become something he’s not because of the resistance of those whom he’s trying to delegate to, it is going to cause problems for the whole organization. Let him remain in his authority.


Those who are untested in regard to submission make potentially dangerous leaders. Why? We come to trust someone as a result of assessing that person’s attitude toward power, fame, popularity, pride, and so forth. All these attitudes are dangerous for someone in a position of leadership and need to be dealt with before a person is given authority. We have witnessed the tragic outcomes in nations throughout the world after someone has been thrust into authority or has seized a leadership role for which he was not qualified.


Remember that Yahusha Himself was tested and proven trustworthy in three areas before He began to fully embark on His life’s purpose. These tests occurred during His temptation by HaSatan in the desert right after He was baptized by John. (See Matthew 4:1–11.) Anyone in leadership must pass these same tests:


1. The appetites test. This test includes drink, food, and sex. HaSatan wanted Yahusha to gratify His hunger more than any other considerations, including His relationship with Yah the Father. A person must be able to manage his physical desires before being given authority and power.


2. The fame and popularity test. When HaSatan challenged Yahusha to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, the courtyard below was filled with a quarter of a million people who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. The whole point of this test was to see if He would desire instant fame rather than be obedient toward Yah and receive “all authority” at the right time, after His sacrifice and resurrection. (See Matthew 28:18.) If a person hasn’t passed the test of popularity and desire for instant fame, he shouldn’t be trusted with authority.


3. The power test. HaSatan told Yahusha that if He would worship him, he would give Him all the power of the kingdoms of the world. No one should be given power until he doesn’t desire power for its own sake.


The three qualifications established by Yah, therefore, for one to be trusted with exercising authority, as well as delegating it to others, are control over one’s appetites, a willingness to go through the process of submission and obedience to earn trust and respect rather than seeking instant fame, and a desire to serve rather than a desire to wield power.


Note that even though Yahusha had already been affirmed by Yah the Father as His Son because of Yahusha’ submission and obedience, Yah still tested Him. After passing the tests, “Yahusha returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). He received the empowerment of increased authority. And He never used His authority for personal gain, for destroying anyone else— including His enemies—or for fame. He used it for the redemption, advancement, development, and protection of other people. Yahusha is our clear example that the ultimate purpose of authority and power is service—serving the interests and needs of others. It is never self-serving. Such an attitude toward one’s authority is so crucial that the testing is necessary.


True success in life, therefore, requires submission to legitimate authority. The spirit of genuine submission and humbleness will always bring favor with Yah. Likewise, a person’s success as a delegator will depend on his own ability to submit to genuine authority, to learn from it, and to serve. It’s only when we learn submission that we can become true leaders.
We can decide whether we want to succeed or fail in Yah’s eyes by our attitudes toward authority.


Delegated Authority Must Be Preceded by Preparation


Before you delegate authority to someone, you must prepare and train him. The delegatee first needs to be taught the true purpose and responsibility of authority. People must be prepared to receive power since the use of power is the highest form of responsibility. Until a person understands the danger of power, as well as its benefits, he should never be given authority. This is why a prerequisite for using the power of authority is the quality of humility. Humility is a consciousness of one’s vulnerability. You cannot fully trust a person who doesn’t know his own weaknesses or is unwilling to counteract or compensate for them. The delegatee also needs to be trained in the various aspects of his future oversight responsibilities.


An essential role of someone in a position to delegate authority, then, is to know when a person is ready to receive authority. Authority must not be delegated prematurely.


Delegated Authority Should Not Be Abandoned


Authority and power should be delegated in installments and never abandoned. The delegator continues to be answerable for them even after sharing them with someone else.
Authority is always responsible for the authority it delegates. When Yahusha gave authority to His disciples, He did leave not them on their own to figure out what they were supposed to do next. He said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18), and “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).


Those to whom you delegate authority may be in charge of various areas, but you are still responsible for those areas in the end. This is why you need to monitor, assess, and regulate delegated authority on a consistent basis. Delegation always has an accountability factor. If I delegate authority to someone, I must remain conscious of the fact that what I gave that person was on loan to me, as well. So, even though I delegate authority, I am using borrowed power. Again, everyone under authority is answerable to the Ultimate Authority.


Delegated Authority Is Always Delegated Authority


Likewise, if authority has been delegated to you, it isn’t a license for you to begin to function totally on your own. Always remember that your authority is a trust that has been given to you and that you are responsible to the one who gave it. To put it simply, authority is synonymous with responsibility. The need to report to your delegator is built-in. We can respond constructively to the authority of others as we recognize their own inherent Yah-given authority.


Delegated Authority Should Be Authentic


A delegator should never attempt to force a delegatee to violate or neglect his personal domain of authority and thus be rendered unauthentic. In other words, we shouldn’t make people operate in domains that are not natural for them; we shouldn’t expect orange trees to yield apples. A person is given gifts by His Creator to be used “in proportion to his faith” (Romans 12:6), so a leader needs to allow people to use their true gifts. Let people be themselves, not images of your own making. The benefit will be happier, more productive delegatees instead of complaining, contentious ones.


Delegated Authority Is Protected by the Delegator


Just as the Creator supports and protects us as the recipients of His authority, the person who delegates authority is responsible for protecting the one to whom he delegates it. The delegatee should be allowed to carry out the authority he has been granted. However, he must also be given the assurance that he may, when needed, refer to or appeal to the delegator, who should make it a priority to offer assistance, wisdom, direction, and encouragement. If problems arise, they are ultimately the delegator’s responsibility.


Delegated Authority Can Be Recalled


The one who is in authority should never be afraid to recall delegated authority when necessary. Authority is a privilege and not a right. It is permission to use someone else’s power. Someone who is functioning outside of his delegated authority is illegal and cannot be fully trusted. Yahusha told a parable in which a rich man discovered that his manager had squandered his resources, and he told him, “You cannot be manager any longer” (Luke 16:2). Even though the manager ended up redeeming himself in the eyes of his employer, Yahusha was telling us that authority can be withdrawn for misuse. If someone disappoints, he can be dis-appointed.


Since delegated authority is always borrowed, the person who distributes it is responsible for how, when, and to whom that authority is delegated, and he will have to give an account for it. Sometimes, the delegator has to remove someone from a position of authority for the very reason that he is accountable before Yah and it’s the responsible thing for him to do for the protection and benefit of all those involved.


There were a number times in the history of Israel when the people were misrepresenting Yah as their Source to such a degree that they, in a sense, had to be temporarily recalled from this function until they returned wholeheartedly to Him and to their assignment of revealing His nature and purposes to the world. Even during their periods of “recall,” Yah was working in the lives of individual Israelites to continue His purposes, but the nation was not functioning as it was intended to.


To return to an earlier example, if I am the leader of a nation and give you authority as an ambassador to another nation, then the power, or backing, to carry out your assignment comes with it. What gives it authorization is the fact that I gave it to you. And you have to use that authorization for the specific reason it was given, or it’s a misuse of power. In this case, I can recall you from that other nation and hold you accountable for your lack of representation. If you change your attitude, I may send you back to finish your assignment. If you refuse to represent my policies, I can take away your assignment and give it to another who will carry it out.


Benefits of Genuine Submission


When it is our position to submit to the authority of others, how should we think about our role? Again, submission is a voluntary and natural act as part of the interdependent nature of authority. It is not the same thing as surrender, in which a person succumbs to another through manipulation and fear.


Genuine submission is one person’s willing and conscious yielding to another person’s Yah-given personal authority. The Scriptures say that Yahusha was “faithful to the one who appointed him” and that He was honored for submitting to His life’s mission, even to the point of paying the ultimate sacrifice for us.


[You] who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Yahusha, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all Yah’s house. Yahusha has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but Yah is the builder of everything.(Hebrews 3:1–4)


Let us fix our eyes on Yahusha, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne
of Yah. (Hebrews 12:2)


The first Adam did not submit to Yah, but Yahusha, the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), did. We are to focus on Him as the “author and perfecter” of our faith and authority. He is qualified to be the Author and Perfecter because He submitted completely to the authority of Yah the Father.


Let’s return to the scene of Yahusha’ baptism in order to highlight the benefits of submission to Yah and those to whom He has delegated authority. Remember that Yahusha submitted to John in accordance with the authority John had received from Yah to baptize.


As soon as Yahusha was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of Yah descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Yahusha was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by HaSatan. (Matthew 3:16–4:1)


From this account, we can glean these benefits of genuine and faithful submission:


Heaven, or the presence and resources of Yah, opens over your life. You have access to the privileges of true relationship and connection with Him.


You are “introduced” to others by Yah Himself. You don’t need to scramble for self-promotion, because Yah will bring promotion to you as you faithfully follow in His ways.


You are confirmed by Yah Himself. Yah the Father called Yahusha “my Son, whom I love,” and as we pattern our lives off Yahusha, we will be affirmed in a similar way as a member of Yah’s family. Yahusha said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister” (Matthew 12:50).


You receive a special anointing of Yah’s Spirit available only to those under submission.
You become prepared and equipped by Yah’s Spirit for tests and trials.


You sometimes receive greater honor than the person to whom you submit. As Yah in the flesh, Yahusha was greater than John the Baptist and all other people, although the manifestation of this greatness depended on His submission to authority. As you submit to earthly authority, you may also find yourself becoming “greater” in influence or accomplishments than the one you submit to. This is not always the case, and it would not mean that you have greater value than the other person. It would mean that that your personal authority naturally extends to a wider or deeper domain in life.


Do the above benefits change your perspective on submission?


Entering into a Mentor-Mentee Relationship


The give-and-take of authority and submission may best be exemplified by the mentor-mentee relationship. A mentor is someone who invests his time, energy, and genuine interest in the life of another for the purpose of enabling that person to fulfill his personal authority. The mentee may initiate the relationship, and he voluntarily submits for the sake of learning and growing as a person.


I mentioned earlier that when you know who you are in your Yah-given authority, the first thing you look for is the authority that Yah has placed in your life to benefit and protect you and to release your own authority. If you are wise, you make a careful search for someone who is very effective in a domain that is like yours and, after prayerful consideration, ask to enter into a mentoring relationship with him or her. (It is usually best, for a number of reasons, for men to have male mentors and for women to have female mentors.) This person may be a family member, a civic leader, a leader in your community, or a member of an organization in which you are involved.


Unfortunately, people rarely will go to others and ask to be in such a relationship in order to learn what they know and to see firsthand how they function in their authority. Yet it is the people who have the humbleness of heart to seek a mentor-mentee relationship, rather than those who try to push or manipulate their way to the “top,” who become true leaders.


Examples of Mentorship


A famous example of mentorship is found in the Scriptures and involves the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Yah had told Elijah that Elisha was his authorized successor.


[The Lord said,] “Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”...So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him....Then [Elisha] set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.(1 Kings 19:16, 19, 21)


Elijah’s cloak, or mantle, was the symbol of his prophethood, and by putting it around Elisha, he was demonstrating that he would pass along his authority to Elisha.


Note Elisha’s attitude. He wasn’t like most people, who want the position before the qualification and experience. He was willing to become Elijah’s full-time attendant and to observe him as he fulfilled his calling as prophet. He was not afraid to submit his life to Elijah for fear of having his life ruled and controlled by Elijah or his own future forfeited. That kind of fear comes from misunderstanding authority, which, in its true form, releases and frees a person to fulfill his purpose.


The greatest example of a mentor is Yahusha Hamachiach, who mentored the small group of twelve men from among His disciples whom He had chosen to train as His apostles, or those who would have special authority in establishing His ecclesia on earth after He returned to Yah the Father. The word apostle comes from the Greek word meaning “a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Hamachiach” or “a messenger, one sent on a mission.” Yahusha trained and then delegated authority to these men, who would be ambassadors and messengers of Yahusha’ mission to bring the kingdom of Yah to the earth. Their mentorship relationship would last for three and a half years, before Yahusha’ death and resurrection.


These men submitted to the mentoring of their Master Teacher. They spent large amounts of time with Yahusha, observed His way of life firsthand, and endeavored to imitate it. They were able to ask Him questions and benefit from His knowledge and wisdom for the purpose of personal transformation. He asked them questions and tested them to see if they understood who He was and the truths and principles He was teaching. (See, for example, John 6:5–13.)


Selecting a Mentor: Assessing Attitudes and Qualities


Mentorship should not be entered into lightly. When making a decision on whom to approach as a potential mentor, and even when you are considering taking a job, or aligning yourself with an organization or individual who can influence you and the direction of your life, refer to the following checklist first. It will save you time and help keep you from heartache and even abuse.


Submit yourself only to someone... who loves you.


-who will receive no personal gain from your submission. who is committed to your success more than you are.


-who has passed the three crucial tests of (1) the appetites, (2) fame and popularity, and (3) power.


-who is secure in his leadership and ability.


-who is or has been where you want to go.


-who has access to those whom you need to know. who is willing to teach you everything he knows.


Key Characteristics of Mentorship


What will being a mentee or delegatee mean for you? The following is a list of the general characteristics and benefits of mentor-mentee relationships and delegated authority:


Identification/Identity: the association of yourself and your name with the respected authority


Accountability: follow-up of your delegated authority and actions and evaluation of your progress


Responsibility: a solemn trust to carry out and show evidence of the delegated authority


Credibility: authorization to work on the authority’s behalf and, in some cases, to succeed him


Representation: the authority’s endorsement and certification of the decisions and actions you take on his behalf, as well as the benefit of his defense and help on your behalf


Counsel/Advice: the knowledge and wisdom of the respected authority gained from years of experience and study


Protection: the safety of being able to appeal to the decisions and problem-solving responsibilities of the authority


Physical Resources: the supplies and support needed to carry out your authority


Personnel: access to people, through the respected authority, who can assist you to accomplish your responsibility and fulfill your personal calling


A Person with Genuine Authority Can Open Doors for You


As you can see, when you submit to an authority, you identify with him and receive many benefits from your relationship, including credibility. This is where the power of mentoring comes in. In fact, a person in authority can transfer to you in a very short time what it took him an entire lifetime to achieve.


Consider the case of Moses and Joshua. Shortly before Moses died, he transferred leadership of Israel to Joshua, under Yah’s guidance. None of the people argued about it or nominated someone else for the job instead; Joshua was accepted as Moses’ successor. “Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:9). In effect, Moses transferred forty years of leadership to Joshua in about forty seconds. Similarly, Elijah’s anointing as a prophet of Yah was transferred to Elisha when it came time for Elijah to leave this earth. This transfer was represented by the symbolic act of Elisha receiving Elijah’s mantle, or cloak. In fact, Elisha desired and received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. Other prophets recognized this anointing and said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” (See 2 Kings 2:8–15.)


Many people believe that submission means restriction, and so they compete with authority or try to make themselves look equal to someone in an authority role. Frankly, the dumbest thing you can do is to compete with true authority. Submission to authority opens doors that you don’t have to push. A person with genuine authority can help you progress quickly in accomplishing something that could take you ten years to achieve on your own.


Again, when you submit to authority, you receive everything the person can give you—friendships, resources, experiences, the lessons learned from his failures, and access to influence and fruitful environments. John the Baptist had many followers as he prepared the people for the coming of the Authorized Dealer, or the Messiah. People went to him “from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan” (Matthew 3:5). So many people came that he had a massive campaign. Yahusha could have thought, I’m going to attract some of John’s crowd and start My own ministry with them. Instead, He submitted, and John’s followers legitimately became His.


John saw Yahusha coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of Yah, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’...I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of Yah.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Yahusha passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of Yah!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Yahusha.(John 1:29–30, 34–37)


If you submit to and receive from one who has true authority, you eventually will receive his credibility. John willingly transferred his whole school of followers to Yahusha. He stated, “The reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel” (verse 31). Yahusha rightfully “inherited” John’s followers at the outset of His ministry, and some of them became His closest disciples. John’s former disciples were already in tune with the message that they needed to align their lives with the Creator Yah and that the kingdom of Yah was coming to earth.


Yahusha didn’t have to strive or promote Himself to accomplish the purpose for which He had come. As He followed Yah the Father’s ways, Yah provided for Him. Many people are working too hard because they haven’t entered into submission and received its benefits. Submission reduces stress, saves time, and eliminates work. When you submit in a genuine way, you work smarter, not harder.


“No Trespassing!”


When people truly understand authority, delegation, and submission, life runs much more smoothly for them, and their relationships are characterized by order and peace. They function in their areas of personal authority, respect others’ authority, and don’t trespasses on the authority of those around them. In this way, both harmony and effectiveness are achieved.


Part of the Lord’s Prayer is, “Forgive us our debts [trespasses], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who trespass against us]” (Matthew 6:12). Could the greatest Example of authority have been calling our attention to the need to stay in our realms of authority and not trespass on others’ authority or interfere with their personal callings?


The only way to fully experience Yah’s plan for your life is to understand the interdependence of your personal authority with the personal authority of others and to carry out that interdependence through mentorship, delegation, and submission.