Key Verse: Verse 3 - "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."
Key Words: full of the Holy Ghost
Spiritual leadership requires Spirit-filled people. Other qualities are important, but to be Spirit-filled is indispensable.
The book of Acts is the story of people who established the church and led the missionary movement. We cannot fail to note that even the office of deacon required people be filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leaders should be known for their integrity and judgment, but primarily they should be known for their spirituality.
“Madame Chiang Kai-shek once told the story of a young Buddhist monk who sat outside his temple two thousand years ago, hands clasped in prayer. He looked very pious and he chanted ‘Amita Buddha’ all day. Day after day he intoned these words, believing that he was acquiring grace. One day the head priest of the temple sat next to him and began rubbing a piece of brick against a stone. Day after day he rubbed one against the other. This went on week after week until the young monk could no longer contain his curiosity, and he finally blurted out, ‘Father, what are you doing?’ ‘I’m trying to make a mirror,’ said the head priest. ‘But that’s impossible!’ said the young monk. ‘You can’t make a mirror from brick.’ ‘True,’ replied the head priest. ‘And it is just as impossible for you to acquire grace by doing nothing except chant ‘Amita Buddha’ all day long.’”
I’m afraid today that many leaders in our churches are like the young Buddhist. They have a good chant, but display very little true spirituality. I trust this is not the case in your life.
What to do:
✞ Spirituality is not simply in what we say, but in what we do.
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