BEWARE OF BEING CLONED: FOLLOW CHRIST, NOT MEN

In Christianity, cloning is a figurative term that describes the intentional, systematic process by which a student (mentee) replicates the character, habits, and mindset of a teacher (mentor). It happens between the congregation and the pulpit, but also between junior and senior ministers. This spiritual or leadership cloning focuses on the transmission of intangible DNA, including values, speech patterns, mannerisms, decision-making processes, and internal convictions.

​When a mentee desires to be "cloned" by a spiritual father or mentor, the process usually involves three distinct stages. First is the observation or blueprint, when the mentee moves beyond just listening to instructions. They study the mentor’s life "in all facets," noticing how they handle pressure, how they treat others, and how they manage their private discipline.

​Secondly, there is the replication, which is the active "cloning" phase. The mentee adopts the mentor’s methods and rhythms. In many traditions, this is referred to as mimesis, where the goal is to produce a result identical to the original through disciplined mimicry.

​Thirdly is assimilation or integration, when eventually, the mentor's external behaviors become the mentee's internal nature. The "clone" no longer has to "try" to act like the mentor; they naturally respond to life situations using the same spiritual and intellectual framework.

There is a dangerous subtlety in discipleship when mentorship shifts from impartation to imitation, and from guidance to cloning. God never designed the Church to produce replicas of men, but reflections of Christ.

Paul said clearly: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:1

This is the boundary. Follow men only to the extent that they follow Christ. The moment imitation of a leader replaces transformation into Christ, error has begun.

Many believers today are being unconsciously cloned, not just spiritually, but in speech, dress, gestures, tone, emphasis, and even personal convictions.

While impartation is scriptural (Gal. 4:19), cloning is not. Paul travailed “…until Christ be formed in you.” Gal. 4:19

The goal is Christ formed in you, not your leader reproduced in you.

THE DANGER OF CLONING

Cloning produces:

Dependence on personality instead of Christ

Loss of spiritual originality and identity in God

Transmission of both strengths and hidden weaknesses

Blind loyalty that ignores truth and Scripture

Even the apostles refused this pattern. When men saw Peter and John:

“…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Not that they had been with a man, but with Jesus. That is the mark of true discipleship.

 

THE TRUE PATTERN: CONFORMITY TO CHRIST

God’s eternal agenda is clear:

“…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29

Not conformed to a denomination, a prophet, a pastor, or a movement, but Christ.

And how does this happen?

“…we all…beholding…are changed into the same image…” 2 Cor. 3:18

Transformation comes by beholding Christ, not by copying men.

Peter reinforces it:

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

Christ is not just a Savior. He is the pattern.

 

FOLLOWERSHIP WITH DISCERNMENT

Ephesians gives us the final authority:

“Be ye therefore followers of God… and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us…” Eph. 5:1–2

Not followers of men, followers of God.

So, follow your leader’s faith, not their personality

Follow their obedience to Christ, not their preferences

Receive grace and impartation, but guard your identity in Christ

BE WARNED!

If you are not careful, you may:

Speak like your leader but lack Christ’s nature

Act like your leader but lack Christ’s Spirit

Represent a ministry but misrepresent Christ

Such may unknowingly inculcate their leaders' bad character or even be demonically ensnared through the transfer of demons residing in their leaders. Common ones are love of money, opulence and affluence affinity, sexual immorality, and anger.

God is not raising copies of men. He is raising sons in the image of His Son.

Honor spiritual leaders. Learn from them. Receive from them. But never replace Christ with them.

The ultimate testimony of your life should not be: “I look like my leader,” but “I have become like Christ.”

Because in the end, true maturity is not measured by resemblance to a man, but by conformity to Christ.

In addition, follow your leaders, mentors, and fathers with your eyes open and your discernment sharpened. Refuse to be a clone of any man, no matter how strong their personality, knowledge, grace, and gifts are.

You can imbibe their Christ-like qualities, but be careful not to acquire their vices and pattern of life that are alien to Christ. Samuel was a true and successful prophet from the Lord who failed in family life. The children of Israel requested a king because the sons of Samuel were sons of Belial, just like the sons of Eli were.

There is the possibility that Samuel acquired a dysfunctional family life from Eli, his mentor and spiritual father. Nothing is wrong with mentoring and spiritual fathering. Still, everything is wrong with mimicking the questionable character of some mentors or following a mentor or spiritual father who is not following Christ. When you embrace cloning and not true discipleship, you become an embodiment of both their virtues and vices.

The truth is that the Bible does not promote “cloning” in the sense of copying personality, mannerisms, or identity. What it presents is the impartation of spirit, doctrine, and pattern in God, not personal duplication.
 

 

THE INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE OF INTIMACY WITH GOD

Believers must move from the outer court of service to the Holy of Holies of union with God. It is a room in our hearts where only God enters and resides. It speaks of presence: being with God, not just praying to Him; trusting Him with all of our heart, knowing that He sees and hears us; and surrender: letting go and yielding to His love. Prayer, worship, and God’s word create the space. The more you yield, the more the intimacy grows.

​1. The Distinction Between Ministry and Presence

​The greatest danger to a minister is when believers turn "sacredness into a profession instead of a relationship." We often mistake working for God for walking with God. Service is quite different from friendship, or a servant is different from a friend.

​“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name have done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23

Jesus dismisses those who prophesied and cast out demons in His name, saying, "I never knew you." The word "knew" here is the Greek “ginosko”, implying experiential intimacy. It is possible to have a successful "public" ministry while remaining a "private" stranger to the Father because of a lack of intimacy and relationship.

​The apostolic factor here is that ministry is the overflow of intimacy; it is not a substitute for it. If your secret place is dry, your public altar is merely a stage. You must dwell and not just visit the secret place of the Most-High.

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2. The Protocol of His Presence "Panim" (The Face)

​In the Hebrew economy, intimacy is linked to the word Panim (Face or Presence).

​"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." Exodus 33:11

The depth here, in the Moses pattern, is that Moses refused to lead the people unless the Presence went with them. He wasn't satisfied with a "Promised Land" (blessing/provision) if it meant losing the promiser or presence of God.

​Many seek the hand of God (provision/power), but the apostolic mandate is to seek the face of God. Intimacy is found when you desire the Giver more than the Gift. Such clamors on being transformed in the inner man rather than displaying the power of God in healing and deliverance.

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3. The "Yada" Experience: The depth of union with God.

​The primary Old Testament word for knowing is “Yada”. This is not intellectual information; it is the same word used for the physical union [sexual intercourse], between a husband and wife (Genesis 4:1).

​"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings..." Phil. 3:10

​The apostolic weight is that believers must notice the order. Paul puts "Knowing Him" before "Manifesting Power." Contemporary ministers often reverse this, displaying power before knowing Christ, because the gift of God is without remission.

​However, the truth is that you cannot carry the weight of His glory if you have not been consumed first by the fire of His intimacy. Intimacy is the "womb" where spiritual authority is conceived.

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4. There are three barriers to intimacy for the minister

First is the symptom, the apostolic correction, and religiosity

Seeking God only when a sermon is needed, seeking God for His delight, not for your "notes." And noise, which happens when a soul is cluttered with the opinions of men.

There is a need for the discipline of silence and solitude. Now I can understand why Paul had to go to the Arabian desert for over three years.

Ministers must not presume or think that past experiences will suffice for today.

 

5. The ultimate goal is to become a "Friend of the Bridegroom."

​John the Baptist did not define the height of ministry by the size of his crowd, but by his proximity to the Voice or the Master.

​"The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice." — John 3:29

​Our ultimate assignment is not to be the "Star" of the wedding, but the "Friend" who ensures the Bride (the Church) is united with the Groom (Christ). You cannot introduce people to a Christ you do not intimately know. You must know Him intimately before you can introduce Him to others.

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The Call to the Deep

“Deep calleth unto deep…” Psa. 42:7 

​Intimacy is not a feeling; it is a yielding. It is the systematic dismantling of the self until there is no "you" left, only Christ.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 

As ministers, our authority is not found in our titles, but in our several encounters with the divine.

 

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES OF THE SECRET PLACE

To the minister, the "Secret Place" is not just a location; it is a spiritual jurisdiction. It is the governing center of your life and ministry. If your public output exceeds your private intake, you are not living in faith; you are living on vapors that will soon disintegrate.

​The secret place is a personal, intimate space with God, away from the world’s noise, where we have solitude, pray, and fellowship with the Presence of God

Here is an apostolic guide to the disciplines required to maintain the fire on the private altar.

​1. The discipline of apostolic worship and adoration of God “Proskuneo.”

​Many ministers enter the secret place with a "to-do" list or “God give me mentality”. True intimacy begins with total surrender and worship.

​Our body, soul, and spirit must be physically and spiritually involved in bowing, eulogizing, and lifting holy hands in humble adoration of God. “Proskuneo” (Greek) means to kiss the hand or to prostrate.

​We must transition from being a "user" of God's power to a "lover" of His Person. We must spend the first 15 minutes of our secret time in silence, acknowledging His Lordship without asking for anything. This kills the "executive or proud spirit" that tries to treat God like a business partner or equal.

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2. The discipline of holiness, “Hagios,” which means “consecrated separation.”

​The secret place requires a "wall" around it. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus says, "Shut your door."

​This is the discipline of digital and mental fasting. You cannot hear the "still small voice" while the roar of social media and congregational demands is in your ears. You must shut out everything if you want to connect with the Throne Room to hear the still small voice of God.

​Dedicate a specific watch or a time frame of the day when you shut down, or put your phone in another room. This creates a "sanctified vacuum" that the Holy Spirit is invited to fill.

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3. The Discipline of eating the Word of God “Lectio Divina.”

​As a minister, you must not be tempted to read the Bible only for "sermon points." In the secret place, you must read for sustenance, to know and be transformed into the image of Christ in an ever-increasing splendor.

​"Your words were found, and I ate them..." (Jeremiah 15:16).

​We cannot have apostolic depth if we do not stop scanning chapters. We must start "ruminating, or meditating" on scriptural verses. We do that by taking one verse, and reading, studying, meditating upon, and becoming a doer of it, praying it, and breathing it until it moves from your mental mind into your spirit man.

​The goal is to move from information to inhabitation, where the Word becomes flesh in you, and you live it before you preach it to others.

“… of all that Jesus began both to do and teach…” Acts 1:1 

 

​4. The Discipline of Glossolalia (The Spirit’s Grocery List)

​Praying in the Holy Ghost is the "recharging station" of the apostolic office (Jude 1:20).

There are several functions, levels, and types of prayer; we must know the secret place applications. The place of petition is where we ask for needs. We must keep this brief; He knows our needs. Intercessory prayers are when we stand in the gap for others or labor deeply, laboring for the souls of the flock.

Praying in tongues is for edification, where we build our spirit man. A minister who does not pray in the Spirit for extended periods is like a soldier going to war with a blunt sword. You are sharpening your spiritual sensitivity.

 

​5. The Discipline of Holy Imagination [Theophany]

​Intimacy involves seeing. We are called to gaze upon His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). We must use our "sanctified imagination" to fix our eyes on Christ. See Him seated on the throne. See Him in His majesty.

​What you gaze upon, you become. If you gaze upon the problems of your church, you become stressed. If you gaze upon the King, you become radiant. Remember, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

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6. The Discipline of "The Journal of Encounters."

​Do not let the "Rhema" (the spoken word) of God fall to the ground.

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that read it.” Habbk. 2:2 

​The apostolic stewardship is that every time you enter the secret place, have a pen and notebook ready. When God speaks to your heart, record it. This isn't for a book or a post; it is a testimony of friendship.

​If God speaks and you don't record it, you are telling Him that His voice is not valuable enough to preserve.

​The Next Step

​Intimacy is a journey from the outer court (Praise) to the inner court (Word) and finally into the Holy of Holies (Silence/Union). Only then can you see and hear supernaturally in the glory place.