10 Days to Better Spiritual LeadershipSample

The book of Acts is the story of people who established the church and led the missionary enterprise. We cannot fail to note that even the office of deacon required people “full of the Holy Spirit.” These officers were to be known for integrity and judgment, but preeminently for their spirituality. A person can have a brilliant mind and possess artful administrative skill. But without spirituality he is incapable of giving truly spiritual leadership.

Behind all the busyness of the apostles was the executive activity of the Spirit. As supreme administrator of the church and chief strategist of the missionary enterprise, He was everywhere present. The Spirit did not delegate authority into secular or carnal hands, even when a particular job has no direct spiritual teaching involved; all workers must be Spirit-led and filled. Likewise today, selection of kingdom leaders must not be influenced by worldly wisdom, wealth, or status. The prime consideration is spirituality. When a church or missions organization follows a different set of criteria, it essentially removes the Spirit from leadership. As a consequence, the Spirit is grieved and quenched, and the result is spiritual dearth and death for that effort.

Selecting leaders apart from spiritual qualifications leads always to unspiritual administration.  The Holy Spirit does not take control of anyone against his or her will. When people who lack spiritual fitness are elected to leadership positions, He quietly withdraws and leaves them to implement their own policies according to their own standards, but without His aid. The inevitable result is an unspiritual administration.

The church at Jerusalem listened to the apostles’ instructions and selected seven men who possessed the one necessary qualification. As a result of their Spirit-filled work, the church was blessed: the men selected to distribute food and earthly care were soon seen as the Spirit’s agents in dispensing heavenly blessings. Stephen became the first martyr for Christ, and his death played a large role in the conversion of Paul. Philip became an evangelist and was used by the Spirit to lead the great revival in Samaria. Leaders who are faithful in the exercise of their gifts prepare the way for promotion to greater responsibilities and usefulness.

The book of Acts clearly demonstrates that leaders who significantly influenced the Christian movement were Spirit- filled. It is reported of Him who commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high that He Himself was “anointed . . . with the Holy Spirit and power” (10:38). Those 120 in the upper room were all filled with the Spirit (2:4). Peter was filled with the Spirit when he addressed the Sanhedrin (4:8). Stephen, filled with the Spirit, bore witness to Christ and died a radiant martyr (6:3; 7:55).

In the Spirit’s fullness Paul began and completed his unique ministry (9:17; 13:9). Paul’s missionary companion Barnabas was filled with the Spirit (11:24). We would be strangely blind not to see this obvious requirement for spiritual leadership.

These early leaders of the church were sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. Because they had surrendered their own wills to the Spirit’s control, they were delighted to obey His promptings and guidance. Philip left the revival in Samaria to go to the desert, but what a convert he found there (8:29)! The Spirit helped Peter to overcome his bias and meet with Cornelius, which led to blessings for the Gentile world (10:19; 11:12). The Spirit called Paul and Barnabas as first missionaries of the church (13:1–4). Throughout his busy life, Paul obeyed the Spirit’s restraints and constraints (16:6–7; 19:21; 20:22). The leaders of the church at Jerusalem submitted to the Spirit. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” was how the council articulated their judgments (15:28).

The Spirit intervened to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. The Spirit’s great purpose is missions. Should that not be ours too?

The Spirit is moving among Asian churches, giving them a new missionary vision and passion. Japanese churches have sent missionaries from Taiwan to Brazil. While the number of North American and European missionaries remains static, the heavenly Strategist is awakening the Asian church to her missionary obligations. Recently, more than three thousand Third World Christians have obeyed the call of God to missions.

Paul counseled leaders in the church at Ephesus on how to understand their office. “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). Those leaders did not hold office by apostolic selection or popular election but by divine appointment.

They were accountable not only to the church but also to the Holy Spirit. What a sense of assurance and responsibility, what a spiritual authority this teaching brought them, and brings to us!