God-up Leadership, Part 3: Serving in the Body Today

We’ve seen that the church is an organic and growing, spiritual reality with Christ as its foundation. Jesus Christ made his heavenly Father the source and center of all he did. Today Christ is the head of the church, the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 11:3:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ… and the head of Christ is God.

Leading others in the church without Christ as the head is artificial and spiritually powerless. This “top-down leadership” is like a robotic glider where an organization may seem to “fly,” but is actually a lifeless imitation of the beautiful grace that God designed in a soaring seagull.

God-up leadership involves each believer walking by the spirit and lovingly serving one another. We will look at how God-up leadership can work in the church today by seeing believers in the Book of Acts who walked by the spirit and took on needed leadership responsibility.

Serving in the Body

With God as the source and Christ as the head, how does the church use its spiritual liberty to grow and care for itself today? By serving in love.

Galatians 5:13:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty…by love serve one another.

Ephesians 4:15,16:
…may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Each believer, each member of the body of Christ can serve in their own way and help to keep the spiritual unity of that one body. This requires lowliness (knowing we are nothing without God), meekness (willingness to listen and obey God’s direction with Christ as the head), longsuffering (patience toward others), and lovingly supporting one another.

Ephesians 4:2,3:
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Leaders in the Body of Christ

Some believers will rise up to take on leadership roles in the body. This begins in the local church where God’s Word is lived among a small group of believers. Some of these leaders will mature spiritually to take on the five ministries listed in Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:11,12:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

These ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers visit local fellowships and stay in touch with the local leaders to help them stay spiritually on track. They teach and show by example how local fellowship leaders can give direction and care for a church group.

Some believers will lead by taking the oversight of God’s people.

I Peter 5:2,3:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

These leaders are “bishops” (literally in Greek, “those who look over others”) who work closely with the local fellowship leaders. The King James Version of the Bible calls these local fellowship leaders “deacons” (literally in Greek, “those who run to serve others”) because of their heart to serve. The church at Philippi needed both bishops and deacons.

Philippians 1:1:
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

In I Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul gives qualifications for both bishops (verses 1-7) and deacons (verses 8-13). Paul asked Titus to set up elders in every city in Crete so that they could look over and care for the believers there. He also set qualifications for their service (Titus 1:6-9). The main point here is that God will provide local fellowship leaders, overseers to work closely with them, and ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) as needed. This can happen when believers have the love and desire to serve.

Each Member Walking by the Spirit and in Love

Genuine “God-up” leadership requires that each member of the body keeps Christ as the head by walking in love and walking by way of the spirit of God within. This gift of holy spirit in Christian believers is called “Christ in you.”

Colossians 1:27:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Ephesians 5:2:
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us.

Galatians 5:25:
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Jesus Christ set the pattern of walking by the spirit and walking in love. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of (literally in Greek, “under the power of”) the Devil. He could do this because God was “with” him.

Acts 10:38:
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power [holy spirit power]: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

The Greek word translated “with” in this verse shows accompaniment and togetherness. Jesus Christ always did the will of the Father. The Father was always with him. When Jesus Christ was about thirty years of age, he received the gift of holy spirit. That is how he could walk by the spirit and show forth God’s power. Jesus Christ kept his heavenly Father his “head” (I Corinthians 11:3).

Walking by the Spirit to Serve

Today, with “Christ in” us, each member of the body of Christ can lovingly walk by the spirit of God within them. The Book of Acts shows believers who walked by the spirit and took on various leadership responsibilities to build up and support the body of Christ.

At the opening of the Christian church on the day of Pentecost, the twelve apostles were filled with the gift of holy spirit and spoke as God gave them utterance.

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled [overflowed] with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Their speaking in unknown tongues got the attention of the crowd in the Temple, and then Peter taught many of the people there how to be born again (Acts 2:6-41). As the church began to grow in Jerusalem, Peter boldly confronted the religious leaders there with the truth. He could do this because of the gift of holy spirit that he had received on Pentecost.

Acts 4:8:
Then Peter, filled [overflowing] with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.

Peter, John, and the other apostles set a clear example of walking by the spirit out of their love for God. They got together with the believers and prayed to boldly speak the Word of God. These believers, who had received the gift of holy spirit, spoke the Word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31:
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled [overflowed] with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

As the number of believers grew, there was a need for local leaders. The apostles asked the believers to choose seven men who had proven themselves to be honest and who were spiritually wise. This pleased all the believers, and they chose seven such men.

Acts 6:3-5:
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, [completely] full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man [completely] full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

Stephen was a man of great spiritual depth and believing. When he spoke God’s Word, the opposing religious leaders could not withstand him.

Acts 6:10:
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Philip was another of the seven men who had been chosen. He walked by the spirit to know how to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch.

Acts 8:29:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Years later, Philip was still walking by the spirit. He served as a leader in Caesarea where he had four daughters who had the gift of holy spirit and prophesied.

Acts 21:8,9:
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Peter continued to serve as an apostle, one of the ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11. He was a leader who walked by the spirit. That’s why he was ready when three men came from Cornelius to get him.

Acts 10:19:
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Peter was later examined by other leaders in Jerusalem about his visit to Cornelius. He explained to them how he walked by the spirit and knew to go with the men that Cornelius sent to him.

Acts 11:12:
And the Spirit bade me [Peter] go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.

Barnabas was another leader filled with the gift of holy spirit. He had great believing and won others to the Lord.

Acts 11:24:
For he [Barnabas] was a good man, and [completely] full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Agabus walked by the spirit and had the ministry of a prophet. He came to Antioch and foretold, by the spirit, of a coming famine. This information helped the church prepare and care for those believers in need.

Acts 11:28:
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

A group of church leaders in Antioch served the Lord and set aside anything that would distract them from their service. Walking by the spirit, they received revelation on who to send out to preach and where to send them.

Acts 13:1-4:
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work whereunto I have called them.
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

As they moved forward and walked by the spirit, Barnabas and Paul encountered a false prophet on the island of Paphos who tried to obstruct their service. Paul “set his eyes” upon this evil man and knew, as he walked by the spirit, how to overcome this spiritual evil and minister God’s Word there.

Acts 13:9:
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled [overflowing] with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

Even in the midst of persecution, Paul and Barnabas preached the Word. The disciples at Iconium were joyful and walked by the spirit.

Acts 13:52:
And the disciples were [completely] filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

As leaders in the church, Paul and his companions walked by the spirit to know where they should go. At times, they knew spiritually where not to go as well.

Acts 16:6,7:
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed [spiritually tested if this was right] to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Later, Paul stopped in Tyre for seven days on his way to Jerusalem. The disciples there walked by the spirit and warned Paul not to continue his journey to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:4:
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

From Tyre, Paul traveled (still on his way to Jerusalem) to Ptolemais and Caesarea. There he met with the Prophet Agabus, who continued to serve and walk by the spirit. He gave Paul the needed information about what would happen if Paul went to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:10,11:
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

God-up Leadership

God, our heavenly Father, did not design the church to be ruled by the will of men and women. It has a spiritual head, Jesus Christ, who directs the church, his body. As each believer walks by the spirit with “Christ in” them, every need will be supplied so that the church is built up in love. Believers will grow and take on leadership responsibility as bishops and deacons, or as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

God is the head of Christ, and Christ is the head of the church. We are complete in Christ. With Christ as the head, we have every need fully supplied and we increase as his body.

Colossians 2:9,10:
For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him.
…[Christ] the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered [fully supplied], and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

For any church group to grow, they must submit themselves to the will of the Father. It takes “God-up” and not “top-down” leadership. With Christ as the head, where each believer is walking by the gift of holy spirit and church leaders serve in love—the church will grow and increase with the genuine increase provided by God!