WEDNESDAY February 8, 2023
Qualifications of Leadership
“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men
of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts 6:3-4
Remember, there was an issue with the Jewish Hellenists. The widows were being neglected in the daily distribution, and the church was asked, “What are you going to do for our widows?” These women needed to be ministered to physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The main leadership, the twelve, saw problems arise with church growth. Notice, they did not go outside of the church to look for people to solve the problem. They sought leadership from among them––from within the church.
As a pastor, there is no possible way that I could meet everybody’s needs. When I first began the ministry, I used to set up the chairs, vacuum, set up the PA system, and do all the janitorial work––everything. My wife would take care of the nursery, and I would help her in-between services. As the church grew, we began to pray for leaders. We did not hire people from the outside; we prayed for God to show us those who were spiritually qualified to take care of the needs from within.
You see, every position in the church has to be done with the right heart attitude––as a service to the Lord. Ministry is not about hiring a professional. There are churches who will hire professionals, even though they are not anointed by the Lord. The problem is they do not have the vision of the pastor, and the church will sometimes fail to grow.
Every person on staff has come from within our church. I prayed and asked the Lord, and He showed me the person whom He has anointed to work in the ministry. It is never those who are asking and seeking a position. The Lord places a call on that person’s heart before it happens. As we wait upon the Lord, God speaks to the leadership of the church, to that person, and it is confirmed. That is biblical.
True leadership is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you.
~J. Oswald Sanders~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
