The Heart of a Servant Leader

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel (Acts 6:8-15).

Seven men were chosen to serve the widows, but one stands out. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to draw our attention to Stephen, who had captured the interest of the community of believers and provoked the anger of the religious leaders. What was different about Stephen? His heart to serve the community of believers had taken him far beyond ministering to the widows, and he was zealously sharing the gospel message with as many people as he could. The opposition wasn’t angered by the… “great wonders and signs” that confirmed his message. They were provoked by the unbeatable… “wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking”. As we examine the character of this young deacon, I believe the Holy Spirit will encourage us with more truth about the heart of a servant leader.

The servant leader’s heart is compelled by a love for the lost. Stephen did not seek a high-profile position in the new community of believers. Instead he humbly accepted a position of service among the needy, but he sought out every opportunity to share the gospel. He understood and was compelled by the truth that we have one great commission… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). When our heart is compelled by the truth that the gospel makes all the difference in the eternal salvation or condemnation of people, like Stephen, we seek and use every opportunity to serve others and to share the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

The servant leader’s heart is full of grace and power. Because he was obedient to Christ’s command to be a witness wherever he was called to serve, Stephen placed himself in a position to be used by God. The Lord’s grace went to work in his heart, transforming Stephen’s will and conforming his works to the will and work of God. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that this same grace is at work in the heart of every humble, willing disciple… “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). As he served the widows, Stephen preached the gospel and it was confirmed by wonders and signs, but these were outward signs of the supernatural grace and power that was quietly working in his heart. This same grace works in our heart through faith, humility, and obedience.

The servant leader’s heart is intimate with Christ. In Stephen, the council saw the face of an angel. I believe it was a reflection of the glory of Christ that came from much intimate fellowship between this young man and His Savior. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that reflecting the glory of the Lord is something He wants all of us to do… “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). What do people see in our face? The more time we spend with Jesus, the more they will see His glory in us.

As we grow up into Christ, like Stephen, we seize every opportunity to share His gospel as God’s grace nurtures within us…

The Heart of a Servant Leader.

The Character of Christ-Like Servant Leadership

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:1-7).

The community of believers was growing as a result of the apostles and disciples’ obedience to God’s unbeatable plan. The disciples were… “increasing in number” despite external opposition from the Jewish leaders. Now they were faced with an internal issue. Some of the Hellenist, or Greek speaking widows were being neglected when food was being distributed to the poor. This called for some wise action on the part of the apostles, who must continue to be devoted to God’s plan by preaching the word. They urged the disciples to search among themselves for seven special people. The Holy Spirit led them to choose seven outstanding men who would become the first deacons, or servant ministers in the local church. These men had good reputations because they were full of the character of Christ-like servant leadership.

Servant leaders are full of the Holy Spirit. It’s not natural to serve others because serving others means putting the needs of others first. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to exhort disciples to this spiritual calling… “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ are to embrace and reflect His servant character… “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7). As we are filled with the Holt Spirit, He conquers our fleshly nature and helps us put on the servant leadership character of Jesus Christ.

Servant leaders are full of wisdom. These new servant leaders would have to be filled with wisdom as they assumed the responsibility of managing the community’s offerings to meet the community’s needs. They would need the kind of skill that comes from seeking God’s perspective in order to know how to discern and meet the real needs of those they were serving. This kind of wisdom is not natural, it is spiritual… “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). This spiritual wisdom is available to all true disciples that ask for it in faith… “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6). When we feel the call to serve but lack wisdom, we can ask in faith and trust that God will fill us with His wisdom for the task.

Servant leaders are full of faith. The Holy Spirit compelled Luke to make a special note here that the first deacon chosen, Stephen, was… “a man full of faith”. We already noted that being full of wisdom requires asking in faith. It’s also true that believing in God’s provision for our individual needs as well as for meeting the needs of others requires faith… “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). As we humbly and faithfully serve others, God moves through us to supernaturally meet their needs and He gets all the glory.

As we grow up into Christ, we can move on to higher levels of Christ-like service as He develops in us…

The Character of Christ-Like Servant Leadership.

The Plan that Cannot Fail

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus (Acts 5:33-42).

The Jewish council was enraged by the success of the apostles. They had filled Jerusalem with their teaching and God confirmed their message as… “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles” (Acts 5:12). The most alarming result was a growing community of those who believed that Jesus is the Christ… “more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). The Jewish elders believed the only way to stop this movement was to kill the apostles. But the Lord moved a God-fearing and respected leader, Gamaliel, to stand up and speak some important truth. Through Gamaliel’s words, the reaction of the council, and the response of the apostles the Holy Spirit exhorts us to seek and follow the plan that cannot fail.

The plan of God cannot be overthrown. Gamaliel shared two recent examples of men who claimed to be the Christ. They gathered large numbers of followers but perished along with their plans and their movements. Because mankind is fallen and controlled by a sinful heart, without the grace of God working through our heart, all of our plans are imperfect and destined to fail… “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). But when we are born again we have the grace of God at work in us, conforming our will to His perfect will… “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He gives us the mind of Christ… “’For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). As we discover and pursue His plan, God grants success and victory… “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Let’s seek and be devoted to God’s perfect plan today.

The plan of God may bring suffering. The council had the apostles beaten and they repeated their charge to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. There were two contrasting results of the apostles’ proclamation of Jesus Christ. There was the advance of God’s kingdom evidenced by signs and by increasing numbers of new believers and the increase of opposition that produced suffering. The apostles rejoiced that they suffered for Christ. The Spirit moved Paul to encourage us to share in Christ’s suffering too… “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). Suffering for Christ is part of becoming more like Him.

The plan of God is worthy of wholehearted devotion. Plans that originate in God’s heart are good, guaranteed, and glorify Him… “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). God gets the glory and we get the blessings when we are wholeheartedly devoted to His perfect plan.

As we grow up into Christ, we learn to set aside our personal plans and give ourselves to…

The Plan that Cannot Fail.

The Blessings of Obedience

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:27-32).

The apostles were brought before the Jewish leaders again to answer for their disobedience. They had been strictly charged not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. They answered even more clearly than before… “We must obey God rather than men”. Disciples like you and me are consistently faced with the same choice, to obey God or men because we live in a fallen and unbelieving world. Jesus said obedience is evidence of true love… “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He went on to say that there are wonderful blessings for obedience, the best of which is growing intimacy and fellowship with the Father and His Son… “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Today we see that the apostles experienced three wonderful blessings as the result of their choice to obey God rather than men, and we are encouraged to follow their example so that we might also enjoy the blessings of obedience.

Obedient disciples receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to more than 500 followers just before His ascension… “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). Those who obeyed His command received the fulfillment of the promise on the day of Pentecost… “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). As Christ’s disciples, we have this same promise… “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself’” (Acts 2:38-39). As we increasingly obey the Lord we can expect His Holy Spirit to fill and lead us more and more.

Obedient disciples receive boldness to witness. Despite being commanded not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ, the apostles were fully engaged in healing, delivering, and sharing the gospel in His name. There was no fear in their hearts because their obedience reflected the love for Christ that filled their hearts and Christ’s love drives away fear… “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Their obedience led to boldness because they were so filled with the Holy Spirit’s power there was no room for any fear in their hearts… “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Our increasing obedience leads to increasing boldness and confidence in serving Christ.

Obedient disciples experience success. The Jewish elders confirmed the Lord’s anointing and blessing on the ministry of the apostles with the words… “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. Obedience places us in position to receive God’s blessing as we serve Him… “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). Our increasing obedience yields God’s increasing blessing on our efforts to serve Him and to share His glorious gospel.

As we grow up into Christ, listening to and obeying His precious word, we increasingly enjoy…

The Blessings of Obedience.

The Words that Promise Life

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people (Acts 5:17-26).

Once again, the message of the apostles stirred up strong reactions among the people. Many were healed and delivered through the supernatural signs the Lord granted to confirm the preaching of the gospel of life. Many believed in Jesus Christ and were added to the number of disciples in the community at Jerusalem… “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). Jesus taught that the gospel was and still is a message of hope beyond despair and of life beyond death, and it convicts and prompts a response from all who hear it… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Today we are exhorted by the words of the angel of the Lord to the apostles to boldly proclaim to our generation the words that promise life.

The Sadducees did not believe in life after death… “There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection” (Luke 20:27). How sad and hopeless to hold to such an empty belief in a fallen world where we are confronted by death all the time. There is the death of a shattered dream, a fractured relationship, a broken promise, as well as the ever-approaching end of this physical life. To believe there is no life after death is to be captive to despair fueled by the lie that we are prisoners of our circumstances and of this material world. Peter and the disciples recognized that the gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ offers hope beyond every trial and life beyond every death… “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). In Christ, maturing disciples know that death is not the final word, and we look forward to ultimate victory and eternal life in glory!

The Angel of the Lord brought life to the death of the prison. Don’t miss the wonderful example of life breaking into the death of the prison cell. The apostles’ gospel ministry had been shut down with their arrest and imprisonment, but the angel of the Lord raised them up and set them free to continue sharing the gospel. Jesus brings life to any dark, dead-end situation… “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). As our faith in Christ grows we learn to anticipate life beyond the seeming terminal trials we may face today.

The disciples were set free and called to preach… “the words of this life”. All truly born again disciples have experienced new life in Christ and we know that the difference between eternal life and death is possessing the Son of God through faith… “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). As our fellowship with Jesus grows, His life fills us and we are compelled to share… “the words of this life” with others.

As we grow up into Christ, we are transformed by and compelled to share with others…

The Words that Promise Life.

The Heart that Invites God’s Power

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed (Acts 5:12-16).

The disciples were sold out to building an attractive community and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. They had a new stewardship attitude toward material possessions. Today the Spirit shows us that the apostles had something more going on… “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles”. The power of God was working through the apostles to heal the sick and deliver the oppressed. The ultimate result was… “more than ever believers were added to the Lord”. The apostles were fulfilling the Great Commission and God was faithfully fulfilling His promise to confirm their preaching of the gospel with supernatural signs… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation… And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18). The Lord has not changed and He still works through us to attract people to Jesus if we imitate the apostles and serve Him with the heart that invites God’s power.

The apostles had a heart to serve. The apostles did not form an exclusive community. They were actively engaged with the people around them. It began with Peter and John’s encounter with a crippled man on their way to worship in the temple and it grew to where the apostles were meeting publicly and serving their sick and oppressed neighbors. God saw their serving hearts, filled them with His power, and Jesus got the glory for every answered prayer… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:12-13). Even today, our serving heart invites the power of God to work through us to attract others to Christ.

The apostles had a heart of unity. The Spirit compelled Luke to note again that the disciples… “were all together in Solomon’s Portico”. They had a unity of purpose. They wanted to be together in public, among the people, where the Lord could use them to meet the needs of their neighbors and share the gospel with them. The Spirit inspired the writer of Hebrews to teach that unity and fellowship among believers strengthens faith and encourages good works… “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). A heart for unity with other believers will lead us to fellowship in a local church or ministry where God’s power is at work.

The apostles had a heart for the lost. There may be many reasons for people wanting to see God’s power, but there is one clear reason why God intervenes in the lives of people to demonstrate His power. God’s love for people compels Him to show up when we need Him… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus clearly explained that He came into our world to seek and save the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). God still manifests His presence and His power through the heart that beats with a compelling love for the lost to draw sinners to Jesus Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace transforms our impotent, selfish heart into…

The Heart that Invites God’s Power.