Holy Spirit and Leadership of the Church

There are so many Bible passages that deal with the Holy Spirit’s role in the supervision and leadership of the church, but one of the key statements is easily overlooked – “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us…” (Acts 15:28) After sufficient deliberation, the Jerusalem Council, officiated by James, laid out a series of policies regarding abstinence and holiness for the early church and the growing number of disciples in Gentile lands. It was the first actual “ruling” set by a body of elders designed to govern the whole body of Christ. I am impressed with the humility exhibited. They did not say, this was an executive official ruling, rather they confessed that it “seemed good to us” or was the best plan available under their particular cultural circumstances.

But James added that it “seemed good to the Holy Ghost” and us. What blessed unity, “the Holy Ghost, and us!” The elders held a united conviction that they were moving in the right direction. And they felt an assurance that they had found the will of the Holy Spirit. True leadership is little more than that, finding the will of the Spirit, communicating it, and putting it into action. God has called us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. It would be ideal if we were 100% yielded to the Spirit but such leaders are few and far between. You would be blessed to meet one or two in a lifetime. Most leadership operates in the realm of “seeming” – “It seemed good to us…” Walking in the Spirit and being humbly yielded to the Spirit, we greatly increase the likelihood that what seems good to us is also what seems good to the Holy Spirit. I am writing about the reality of leadership and not a lofty ideal. Many times I have had to move forward with a plan or action trusting that what seemed good to me is what I believed to be the Spirit’s wish. But I must also confess that what seems good at the moment is not always what proves good after the passing of time.

What does it mean to cooperate with the Spirit regarding leadership?

1. Jesus is Lord of the Body, but the Holy Spirit is His Administrator

Listen to Him. Follow His guidance. The Holy Spirit is like the nervous system of the body. Just as my own head sends impulses to the farthest appendages of my fingers and toes, a good leader sends the same signal to the church body that he receives from the Administrator. When I prepare a sermon or counsel a church member or pray over an issue, I only move forward if I sense that it “seems good to the Holy Ghost” and to me. A leader must be Spirit-led. Christ’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him. We must watch for both red and green lights. At times we need to stop and wait. Other times we proceed with caution. Pushing your own will through is almost always embarrassing, if not disastrous. Waiting on the Lord and cooperating with His voice leads to success.

2. Biblical leadershipis not likerunning a business, Christ’s church functions in the supernatural

Anyone with a brain or a business degree can sit behind a desk and give orders. If you can drive a car on a busy Indian highway without a collision, you’ve proven fitness for leadership. But spiritual leadership is much more than driving a car, or standing at a pulpit. The Holy Spirit operates in the realm of the supernatural. We war against supernatural spirit beings. The Holy Spirit sees and knows things that we know not. Natural leaders and supernatural leaders differ because of one thing, the anointing. Judas was a natural leader and was given charge of the money bag. Peter would have been sent back to his fishing boat by most hiring agencies. But Peter ended up as leader of the early church, while Judas hung from a tree. Tall, handsome Saul was elected to leadership by the people, but David was in training out in the pasture for supernatural service by the Spirit. What “seems” good to the natural eye is seen differently through the Spirit’s eyes. The Jerusalem Council felt they had supernatural guidance on church matters.

3. The Holy Spirit gives the apostolic/pastoral leader the blueprint for his church or ministry

Moses was instructed to build the Tabernacle exactly as it was revealed to him on the Mount (Exodus 25:40, 26:30). David saw the pattern of the Temple by the Spirit (1 Chronicles 28:12). I am not speaking about a blueprint for a physical structure but rather a strategy for building the kingdom of God. The Spirit reveals the big picture. John was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day and a panoramic view of the ages and the last days unfolded before his eyes. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:6). Divine purposes cannot be fulfilled without human or earthly instruments. Our cooperation with the Spirit is essential to the birthing and implementation of His will. We are laborers together with God.

4. He then brings individuals qualified to accomplish the work

Bezaleel was skilled in all manner of craftsmanship – “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:3). Where God guides God provides. The Spirit had been preparing Moses’ associate long before the Tabernacle was ready to be built. God’s plan to prepare a habitation among His people. Moses saw it in the Spirit and Bezaleel created it by the Spirit. 

5. When the Holy Spirit is in charge everyone speaks with one voice

When a purpose or vision seems “good to the Holy Ghost, and to us”, everyone joins together in harmony and peace. Oh, there will always be a few fleshly people who demand things to go their way, but when the majority reads from the same page or walks to the beat of one drum, a sweet rhythm is established. As at the Tower of Babel, because the people had one mind and one language “nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!” (Genesis 11:8) Paul urged the churches to “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). When leaders know the plans of the Holy Spirit and rightly communicate them, the people are able to understand the vision and do their particular parts in God’s plan.

6. With prophetic guidance the work is established and prospers

“Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo…” (Ezra 6:14) I am not speaking so much about “thus saith the Lord” prophecy here as simple prophetic and visionary guidance by leadership. The leader can see into the future. He gets a picture of where God is taking the church. As the pastor or leader communicates vision, sheep find great safety and comfort in his words. Being futuristic, what is prophesied must be received with faith. And it must be prayed into existence. If a pastor says we are believing for 200 in attendance by a certain date, or 2,000, his words carry weight in the spirit realm. When a congregation joins with one voice in faith, the entire group begins to prosper. 

7. The Holy Spirit is Manager, we need not micromanage

When Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, Joshua ran to Moses wanting him to forbid them. Normally Moses was a micromanager. He attempted to solve the problems of two-million people by himself, which wasn’t wise. But in this case, he said, “Would to God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29) If something seems “good to the Holy Ghost, and to us” I must remember that church is an “us” arrangement. Yes, there may be abuses. Yes, immature people may operate from a fleshly mind. But the Holy Spirit and a patient, loving pastoral staff can help the discipleship process along. We must trust people enough to give them freedom to step out in faith and do what God is calling them to do. If a pastor micromanages everything his church will soon be micro in size.

8. Everything is conducted in the spirit of love

While emphasizing spiritual gifts we are not to forget spiritual fruit. On the fringe of the high priest’s robe was a bell and a pomegranate. The nine gifts must be balanced by the nine fruits. Romans 15:30 speaks of the “love of the Spirit”. If it seems “good to the Holy Ghost, and to us” it will please the Holy Spirit and edify the people. It is said that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, but also be advised that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is love. If the vision is pressed forward at the expense of love, the vision may be on target but attitudes are wrong. We are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

9. The Holy Spirit is the expressed Wisdom of God

The function of leadership is to walk in and communicate divine wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing, according to Solomon. The leader’s job is to reveal wisdom. A follower’s job is to walk in it. Consider this verse – “Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute” (Luke 11:49). The word of wisdom is the highest of the charismatic gifts. What the Jerusalem Council grasped in declaring what “seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us” was a spark of the wisdom of God. Leaders need the Holy Spirit because He guides into all truth, brings things to our remembrance, and reveals the path to the best outcome.

10.  A Spirit-led leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way

People will follow a leader if they know he is full of the Holy Ghost. There will always be hesitance when they perceive weakness, carnality, and an unresolved mind, and rightly so. We talk about practicing what we preach but I wonder what kind of message would go forth if we preached what we practice? The leader must know the way then go the way. He is the first partaker of the fruits. He leads the way for others to receive miracles by walking in the miraculous himself. And I do not mean to use only male pronouns. If the leader wants others to worship, he must become the lead worshiper, even when someone else is singing. He provokes others in giving through his own generosity and benevolence. The pastor is the Janitor in Chief. It is not necessarily his duty to empty trash cans but if he doesn’t demonstrate cleanliness, no one will follow. 

That a plan of action seems “good to the Holy Ghost, and to us” suggests that we are not leaving results all to the Holy Ghost, nor do we dare to attempt something without Him. We walk with Him; He walks with us. Another word is “the communion of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14). The pertinent question, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) He will not follow our selfish ways, but as the divine Paraclete, He will walk step by step and side by side with those who cooperate with His will. I for one intend to lead with His help. To quote Brother Cho, “Come on Holy Spirit, let’s go bless the people!”