The Virtues of Servant Leadership

“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles (Acts 1:21-26).

The number of apostles had been fixed firmly by Jesus. The New Testament Church was to be the gathering of Gentiles grafted into the chosen nation of Israel… “You, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” (Romans 11:17). Just as Israel had twelve tribes descended from twelve patriarchs, the Church is built on a foundation of twelve apostles, with Jesus as the cornerstone… “You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20). Only God knew who Judas’ replacement would be, and as Peter and the apostles seek God’s will the Spirit of Truth reveals the virtues of servant leadership.

Servant leaders walk closely with Christ. The new apostle had to be… “one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us”. True Christian servant leaders spend much time with Christ because He is the model of servant leadership worthy of imitation… “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). In the simplest terms, the life of discipleship is becoming more like Christ, and the secret to such a transformation is found in intimate fellowship with Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). This spiritual counsel comes from Paul, God’s choice to replace Judas as His apostle.

Servant leaders witness earnestly for Christ. The apostle was to be a messenger of the gospel. In the same way, all maturing disciples become increasing reflections of Christ and His gospel to the lost world around us. As we grow in the faith, our words and actions increasingly align with God’s word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31), and we are increasingly filled with His Holy Spirit… “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As we grow up in the faith, God’s grace works in us through His Word and His Spirit to set us apart from the world and to make us powerful witnesses to the world.

Servant leaders wait patiently on Christ. The apostles prayed and waited for the Lord’s answer. When we are seeking the Lord’s will, the first step is always to pray because prayer puts our heart in the correct position before God. Prayer moves our focus from our need and fixes our sight on the Lord who is more than willing and able to meet our deepest need… “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). The apostles waited by casting lots, an Old Testament instruction from God… “Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel” (Leviticus 16:8). New testament disciples wait on the Lord by abiding in His word, because the Bible gives the maturing disciple direction in life… “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Through prayer and Bible study, we give God every opportunity to reveal His good, pleasing, and perfect will in every situation.

As we grow up into Christ, we become more effective and productive disciples as we develop…

The Virtues of Servant Leadership.

The Resilience that Restores Us

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ (Acts 1:15-20).

The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to present a powerful comparison between two of the disciples here. If we look closely, we see Peter who denied Christ, and Judas who betrayed Christ juxtaposed against one another. Peter would assume a position of servant leadership, exhorting the disciples and preaching the gospel with great power. Judas would lose his position among the disciples and suffer a humiliating death. The Spirit reminds us that much like Peter and Judas, we fall to temptation and sin from time to time, but He also shows us the grace and mercy that makes the difference between the fates of these two characters. Imperfect but diligent disciples are encouraged here by the resilience that restores us.

Peter stood up but Judas stayed down. The disciples were gathered back in the upper room. With one heart they were devoted to prayer. Out of this sweet, unified connection with God came a remarkable thing. When Peter stood up he was recognized in the natural as the one who had betrayed Jesus, but now the Holy Spirit prompted him to speak and the disciples to listen. He had been transformed from cowering doubter into confident believer by the grace and mercy of Christ… “Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’” (John 21:15). Christ had offered the same grace and mercy to Judas at the last supper, but Judas could not get back up because of his unbelief. The Spirit still compels us to come humbly to Christ when we sin… “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Because of Christ’s mercy, we can stand up after we fall.

Peter declared God’s Word but Judas dismissed it. The Spirit compelled Peter to declare the word of God, empowering the disciples to see the current events from heaven’s perspective. Reciting God’s word, written by David so long ago, reassured the disciples that God was aware of and in control of their current circumstances. God had and was working out His perfect plan in their lives… “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Judas had heard the same word of God, spoken from the lips of Jesus Himself, but the description of his terrible end here shows that he did not believe in the grace and mercy offered in God’s word. Compelled by the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up because He knew and wanted all to know God has got this!

Peter was restored to God’s work but Judas was replaced in it. In responding to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, Peter was restored to the place of leadership that Christ had promised him… “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). God has a purpose, a place, a position for every one of us… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We are being prepared for and walking in this divine work while we are living in a fallen world, fighting with a fallen nature. We are engaged in a continuous battle between the flesh and the spirit, but we have the promise of God’s grace working in us… “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), and God’s mercy working for us… “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Trusting God’s grace and mercy keeps us from falling away from fellowship with Him and participation in His divine work.

As we grow up into Christ, we will overcome temptation and keep moving forward through…

The Resilience that Restores Us.

The Precursors of the Spirit Filled Life

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers (Acts 1:12-14).

The Spirit compelled Mark to record in his gospel, that these eleven disciples soon… “went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20). The Spirit later inspired Paul to note that these apostles became the foundation of the Church that has spread to nearly every corner of the earth today… “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19-21). Surely the success of the apostles was the result of the Holy Spirit’s power working in and through them, but here we also discover some important characteristics of their little community of faith. Today, the Spirit reveals three characteristics we should pursue in our own hearts and promote in the local church or other Christian ministry. These are the precursors of the Spirit-filled life.

Obedience to the word of God. Jesus had instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit… “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). It was not easy for the disciples to wait. There was the fear of being arrested because of their association with Jesus. There was excitement and the urge to tell the world that they had seen the risen Christ! But these faithful disciples obeyed His command and “they returned to Jerusalem”. Their obedience placed them in the right place and position to experience the fulfillment of their Master’s promise. The temptation to forge ahead under our own power or to use the methods of the world are always before us, but the experience of the first disciples and our own experience as we mature in the faith confirms the truth that obedience results in the anointing and blessing we need to be productive witnesses for Christ.

Unity in vision from God. These disciples had only one picture before their eyes. The vision of the risen Savior outshone everything else. They did not envision building great churches and ministries. They didn’t know what a church building or a hymnal looked like! They had no organizational structure or strategic goals in mind. They were “with one accord” and what brought them together in unity was their unforgettable encounter with the resurrected Christ and His commission to go into the world and make disciples… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). To this day, the desire to introduce others to Christ and to help them grow as His disciples should be the one vision that unifies Christian churches, homes, schools, and ministries. Keeping these institutions together in unity requires Spirit-filled individuals like you and me to be sold out to the vision of the Great Commission.

Prayer that keeps us connected to God. The first disciples had one activity. They “were devoting themselves to prayer”. Through prayer their focus was redirected away from earthly circumstances and their eyes, ears, and hearts were set on heaven… “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Jesus had promised that the power they needed to become His witnesses would not come from anywhere on earth, but from heaven… “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The Spirit-filled life is a fruit of staying prayerfully connected to Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of God in heaven.

As we grow up into Christ, we experience increasing fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power as we practice…

The Precursors of the Spirit-Filled Life.