Spirit-Filled Leadership
Acts 4:23-32
Rev Dr Devadosan Sugirtharaj
Introduction
- Today Fathers Day. Being a Father is one of the leaderships God has given in our lives. We are leaders in different times in different places. God wants us to be a Spirit-Filled leaders.
- Leadership is vital in the life and mission of the Church. However, the definition of leadership is different from the world. Christian leadership is not based on money, power or status, authority over people.
- Christian leadership is a called ministry based on God’s grace to be formed in godly character with godly skills to serve Christ and His body, the Church, to raise disciples and equip them for God’s mission.
- Christian leadership is a dynamic influential process of men and women called by God to serve the Church locally and globally toward God’s purpose.
- John Stott: The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power, but love, not force, but for example, not coercion, but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.
Context of the Passage
- After Peter and John healed the disabled man at the entrance of the temple by the power of the Name of Christ Jesus, they were interrogated and persecuted verbally and physically and then they were released due to unproven accusations.
- They came to the Church and told about all things that happened to them and they prayed together and the whole place was shaken. These were the Spirit-Filled leaders in the church and they brought great changes in the world.
Word Study
- Leadership is mentioned in the New Testament in different Greek terms. They are
- Doulos (130 times) means a slave, a bondservant, a servant ( 1 Cor.7:21)
- Latreuo means to serve for hire for religious service (Acts 7:7)
- Diakoneo means service, ministry, office, aid, support.(1 Tim.3:8-13)
- Leitourges means volunteer service, performing a work by the prayer of other ways (Phil.2:17)
- Pais means a servant, attendant, minister ( Mattew.12:18-21)
- Oiketes means a domestic servant (1 Peter.2:18)
1. Spirit-Filled leaders are committed in prayer to God. Acts. 4:23-24
Let us look at the passage read today. Acts 4:23-32: When Peter and John visited the apostles and the church and reported to the miracle of healing and also the suffering followed it, they started to pray together. Look at verse 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. They were committed to prayer.
Prayer is not a ritual or religious act to show off yourselves. It is an expression of dependence on God. The leaders of the church prayed because they wanted to bring their problems and needs to God first, they wanted to have the proper perspective on circumstances and issues, they wanted to receive God’s wisdom, power and comfort, they wanted to experience peace of God and also to activate their faith.
Paul encouraged his leaders in the church to commit to prayer in their lives. Without prayer, we cannot see the work of God. 1 Timothy 2:1-3. God calls us to pray with all kinds of prayer. Prayerful lifestyle pleases God. When we pray, as we learn from the word of God, we see and experiences that God’s hand is with us in our problems and crisis. Look at the verses: Therefore I [a]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [b]authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and [c]reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Biblical Example: The man of prayer, Daniel, prayed three times a day. Though he knew that he faced opposition and challenges, he did not give up the prayer and God honoured him. Daniel. 6:10. Look at verse 10: 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Sermon Illustration: George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer life. Once while on his way to speak in Quebec for an engagement. he informed the captain that he needed to be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon. As the captain related the story, he said “’It is impossible,’ he said. ’Do you know how dense this fog is?’” “No, he replied, ’my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of life. I have never broken an engagement in 57 years; let us go down into the chart-room and pray.’ He knelt and he prayed one of the most simple prayers. When he had finished his prayer, he told the captain: Get up, Captain, and open the door and you will find that the fog has gone.’ “The fog indeed was gone, and George Mueller kept his engagement.”
2. Spirit-Filled Leaders are competent in the word of God. Acts.4:25-26
Peter and John reported and prayed together with the church and prayed. Look at the prayer. They quoted from Psalm 2 in the prayer. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise and the rulers band together against the Lord and his anointed one.[a]’[b]
They were committed to the word of God and also competent in the knowledge of the word of God. As we meditated last week, the spirit-filled church is committed to the Apostles’ teaching, that means the word of God.
When Paul clearly articulates the characteristics of a Christian leader in the Church in 1 Timothy 1:7-9, one of the characters is to have the competent in the word of God. Look at verse 9: holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Because the word of God is essential in our life and mission. Without it, we become wondering or deceived in this world.
Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Biblical Example: Matthew 7:24-29: Building the House on the Sand and Rock: Jesus’s parable. If a leader does not build his leadership on the word of God, his leadership may clamour for some time but eventually will be faded away. However competent in God’s word makes leadership like a house built on Rock.
Sermon Illustration: Reza Karkah, a former Muslim, became a Christian while living in Iran, a criminal offence there which is punishable by death. For that very reason, he fled to the United Kingdom seeking asylum as a refugee. An immigration hearing was scheduled to determine if Mr. Karkah’s claim of conversion is true. At that hearing, a judge gave him a test with 150 Bible questions. The reasoning goes, if he is truly a Christian, he should have a certain knowledge of the Bible and be able to pass the test. If he does not pass, he is faking conversion as a pretext for immigration.
3. Spirit-Filled Leaders have a conviction in the power of God. Acts.4:27-31
The third characteristic of Spirit-Filled Leaders has a conviction in the power of God. Let us look at Acts.4:27-31: 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
In challenges and crises, Spirit-filled leaders depend on the power of God. When they pray, God will demonstrate his power through them. When apostles prayed, the place was shaken and also they spoke the word of God with boldness. No matter, how weak we may at times we feel, we rely on the power of God and his power will manifest through our lives.
Ephesians.3:20:20 Now to Him who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Biblical Example: Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh and prayed to God. God gave strengthened him through his power. 2 Corinthians.7-10. Look at verses 9-10: 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Sermon Illustration: A young boy travelling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a man who happened to be a seminary professor. The boy was reading a Sunday school take-home paper, and the professor thought he would have some fun with the lad. “Young man,” said the professor, “if you can tell me something God can do, I will give you a big, shiny apple.” The boy thought for a moment and then replied, “Mister, if you can tell me something God can’t do, I’ll give you a whole barrel of apples!”
4. Spirit-Filled Leaders are confident in the providence of God. Acts.4:32
The Spirit-Filled Leaders are confident in the generosity of God for everything and then they are generous to the Kingdom of God ministries. Look at Acts.4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
God’s people trust God for everything and his providence. God holds all things in His power. His authority, will and power govern our lives and he will meet all our needs. He is our provider. Christian leaders have the conviction of God’s providence and so they are generous to give back to God.
2 Peter. 1: 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
Biblical Example: Exodus.36:1-7: When the people of Israel were dependent on God and experienced God’s provision in the wilderness, they responded to God with a generous heart. Look at Exodus.36:6-7: So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.
Sermon Illustration: One of my friends is the director of YWAM in Norway. He is an Australian. God called him to go to Norway as a missionary of YWAM. He had $1700 at that time and without it, he couldn’t imagine surviving. One Sunday morning, he went to the church and in the middle of the service. God asked him whether he trusted him or not. He said: Yes, Lord and I trust you. Then God said to him: Then give all your $1700 to the woman sitting on the third row. He said: Lord, it is the only money I had. I don’t that lady. But the Lord told him: Do you trust me? He said: Yes. The Lord said: Then give. So he obeyed and the lady gave testimony in the church that she prayed for $1700 and God provided to her. When he told this to me, he said that God meets all my needs and I still give everything that God asks to give.
Questions for discussion and reflection
- Christian leaders are made by God. What are the styles of leadership you engage or see in the family, community and church? What are the characteristics and traits of Christian leadership? How do you know the difference between godly and ungodly leadership?
- Christian leaders are committed to prayer. How is your prayer life? As a father or mother, how do you commit yourself to prayer? How do you lead or participate in prayer in your family and the church? A leader without prayer is not a leader at all. What ways do you pray or participate in prayer ministry in the church?
- Christian leaders are rooted in the word of God. If you are a leader, how do you lead your life with God’s word? Stare about how your bible reading, study and apply God’s principles in your daily life and work.
- Christian leaders have the conviction of God’s power. Amid crisis and needs, do you believe that God can demonstrate his power in your life and church? What are your testimonies do you have about God’s power manifested in your life?
- Christian leaders are confident in God’s providence. Our Lord is Jehovah Jireh. What are your needs? Do you pray to God for all your needs? When God provides all your needs, are you generous to God’s ministry? Christian leaders depend on God for everything and are generous to give everything to God’s mission. In what ways do you show your generosity to God’s ministry in our church and this world? Time, Talent, Treasure are three ways to show your generosity. Share about life testimonies about the ways you are generous to God’s mission.