Twelve months after serving on his team at Cairo, having observed what the Holy Spirit had accomplished in my area of ministry, Pastor Dave said to me, “How is it that you see leadership ability in the many people I walk past in our church?” I said, “It is my belief that every believer has been divinely endowed with leadership potential. Regardless of the measure of their potential, my part is to invest the Christlikeness that is within me, in them, that they too may choose to follow Christ as His successors.”

Friends, the most precious gift we can offer to any person is the whole measure of the likeness of Christ within us. Following the apostle Paul’s example, my desire in life has been to influence every believer with whom I have close association to want to “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). The power of this imitation-appeal is not based on the use of right words, but from ‘being’ a transforming model of Christ. Christ took upon Himself flesh that we may ‘see’ His Godliness. We in turn must take upon ourselves His likeness so that others may see Him in us… seeing enough of Christ that will persuade them to want to believe in Him and follow Him.

Multiplying my Christlikeness in others is my life’s passion. While this is a joyous work, it is anything but easy. Imparting Christlikeness is the most demanding aspect of my life–demanding the willing sacrifice of everything that is selfish and worldly–demanding obedience and undivided loyalty to Him–demanding righteous living so that the fruit of holiness may be the convincing proof of my ‘new’ life in Christ.

Friends, my primary business with every church has been to raise up as many leader-successors as possible, not followers. I’ve never been in the business of entertaining followers, but developing Christlike leaders who dedicated themselves to following Jesus. Jesus is the Sovereign Shepherd and we are His sheep! The sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him as His developing successors (Jn. 10:27).

In partnership with the Holy Spirit, every believer I have been privileged to influence to succeed me was duly commissioned to raise up their successors who would do likewise with others. Paul said to his successor, Timothy, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (2 Tim. 2:2).

Four-years ago, I nervously stepped out of my fears to launch “Dancing on Water,” a website platform that would serve courageous ‘Voices for God’… echoing God’s Truth that inspire and encourage disciples in their walk and service to Him. Since that time, in 2020, God has entrusted into the care of DOW six uniquely gifted voices… boldly speaking out for Him. These voices range in age from a youthful 14! How blessed I am to find myself at ‘this place’ in the twilight years of my life, celebrating the satisfying fruit of my discipleship endeavours… witnessing my successors raising up their disciple-making successors!

This blessed outcome did not result from ‘my’ plan and power, but God’s perfect power, working in accordance with His perfect plan, through this imperfect person! Throughout the years of service to God, I chose to see myself no better than a ‘bent stick’ in His hands. The wonder of this perspective is seeing God straighten-out and restore a myriad of bent lives using a bent instrument like me… All glory to Him!

Standing at the ‘Article 200’ milestone, I am excited to announce a change in my role on the Dancing on Water team. As from today, I am devoting myself to mentoring and coaching the increasing number of ‘special voices’ the Spirit entrusts into our care. DOW supports these special voices with an ‘open’ hand… permitting the Holy Spirit to raise them up and, in time, reposition them as founders of their own ministry platforms… thereby multiplying DOW’s heart and passion.

When you have time, sample the available resources that are ‘freely’ on offer at dancing-on-water.com. Bill’s Blog category is a storehouse of 200 articles. Guest Author category introduces you to our expanding line-up of special voices, speaking out for God. Discipleship category contains downloadable, foundation-level discipleship resources. And, finally, our Worship category contains a delightful range of worship centred articles that will draw you closer to God.

NOTE: Your Christlikeness has not been gifted to you solely for your benefit, but has been entrusted to you for investing in the lives of believers, and ‘not-yet’ believers. Don’t be like that servant who buried the talent assigned to him by his master, instead be like the other two servants who made wise investments of the measure of talents entrusted to them (Mat. 25:14-30).

Opportunities will abound for you the moment you believe that every person is in need of such an investment. However, success in multiplying your Christlikeness is proportionate to the degree of Christ-attraction of your life. There is nothing in the universe that is comparable in power to Christ-attraction power. Jesus says to His successors, “You are the light of the world… let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Mat. 5:14,16).

Friends, until Christ returns, multiplying His likeness in others remains the primary purpose of my new life in Him. Nothing else matters more to me.

Bill Download your free copy of “Growing-Up Into His Likeness” here