Acts 6

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We see a connection between the leadership of man, the work of the Holy Spirit and the expansion of the church. Difficulty had obviously arisen in Jerusalem as the apostles needed to spend more and more of their time negotiating the challenges of an ever-increasing and diversifying body. They could either clamp down and bring control by their own means, OR they could enlist some of the other gifted people in their community who walk with God.

They choose to release and empower other godly men to serve in the community. This decision releases the resources of God’s people, the word of God spreads and the number of disciples increases rapidly. Some would hear this logic and think that this is simple secular logic or business thinking and it shouldn’t belong in the church.

Actually, this is a clearly Spiritual approach to church life. Consider the key description of the men chosen to offer leadership among the disciples. Verse 3 asks the people to choose men who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Wisdom is a natural quality that you would look for in leadership. Being full of the Spirit, on the other hand, is essential. Here is why.

When people serve out of a fullness of the Spirit, they are functioning as vessels for Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and when we serve out of that Spirit, it is as if Jesus Christ himself, through his Spirit is serving and shepherding his body. So when a church releases more Spirit filled servants to minister, it increases its capacity to be agents of Jesus’ shepherding care. In that way (look at Ezekiel 34), God entrusts more people to the care of that Spirit-filled and Spirit-led community.

That is why we must continue that Christians find ways to serve the Body of Christ. To be filled with the Spirit of Christ is to be filled with a Servant-Spirit. Communion with Christ requires alignment with this Servant-Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-4, 42:1, John 13:15-16).

Do you desire more from your relationship with Christ? Seek communion with Him in serving others. Are you weary in your service to others? Ask for Christ to fill you with His Spirit. Don’t know where to start? Ask God and the Holy Spirit will lead you.