SOME LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES FOUND IN THE BOOK OF ACTS 3

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: Chapter 1—PROCEDURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT

20 “FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS OFFICE.’
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, ONE OF THESE MUST BECOME A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.”
23 AND THEY PROPOSED TWO: JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, WHO WAS SURNAMED JUSTUS, AND MATTHIAS.
24 AND THEY PRAYED AND SAID, “YOU, O Lord, WHO KNOW THE HEARTS OF ALL, SHOW WHICH OF THESE TWO YOU HAVE CHOSEN
25 TO TAKE PART IN THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP FROM WHICH JUDAS BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, that he might go to his own place.”
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES."
Acts 1:20–26 (NKJV)

• Replacement: the traditional or established way of leadership replacement found in the new testament—the furnishing of an equivalent person in the place of another.

• The Apostles were not sentimental in their choosing of another person to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:24-26).
• They considered to choose one of the people who had been with them from the inception of Jesus' earthly Ministry (Acts 1:21,22).
• They wanted someone who was an eye witness of Jesus' earthly Ministry and that of His resurrection and ascension:
  21 “THEREFORE, OF THESE MEN WHO HAVE ACCOMPANIED US ALL THE TIME THAT THE LORD JESUS WENT IN AND OUT AMONG US, 22 BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN TO THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS TAKEN UP FROM US, ONE OF THESE MUST BECOME A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION" " (Acts 1:21,22 NKJV).
• Things stated in the above Bible passage were the criteria for anyone who would be considered to be one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb mentioned in the Book of Revelation 21:14.
• The twelve Apostles of the Lamb are the Disciples, later the Apostles:
  a. They were men who accompanied Jesus Christ in His earthly Ministry (Acts 1:21).
  b. They were the ones with Him, Jesus, from the inception of His Ministry till the time He was taken to heaven (Acts 1:22).
  c. They were eyes witnesses of His death, resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:22).
• Some believers are of the notion that the Apostles missed it by choosing Mathias (Acts 1:26). That they should have waited, that God intended Paul to be the one to take Judas' place.
• But Paul could not have been the right person for the replacement, because he did not fit into the required or demanded criteria given in the passage.
  a. Paul was not there in the earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ.
  b. He was not an eye witness of Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension. In fact, Paul was not born-again at the time, he was still in Judaism.

• After the Apostles considered and carefully chosen those who fitted into the criteria given for whoever to take Judas' place or office—two people were shortlisted: "AND THEY PROPOSED TWO: JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, WHO WAS SURNAMED JUSTUS, AND MATTHIAS" (Acts 1:23 NKJV).

• This shows to us how things ought to be done in the ministry or the church of Christ Jesus today, without partiality or favouritism: "FOR GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM" (Romans 2:11 NLT). - It is pathetic to know that people are bribing their ways to be appointed and posted to suitable places in the church of Christ Jesus today.
• If a pastor wanted to be posted to a big church and a big City, where he or she could get more money; such would have to bribe those who are working in the department—those who are in charge of postings in their denominations.
• If you treated those who are in the department of posting of ministers, well; they would post you to a big church in a big city, where you would have parishioners who can give fat envelopes as seeds and upkeeps.
• The rewards of the people; those who give bribes or incentives to be posted to suitable places, and those who collect the bribe, money, to do such things, are stated in this Scripture:
  13 AND [they] WILL RECEIVE THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, . . . . 14 THEY HAVE A HEART TRAINED IN COVETOUS PRACTICES, AND ARE ACCURSED CHILDREN. 15 THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY AND GONE ASTRAY, FOLLOWING THE WAY OF BALAAM THE SON OF BEOR, WHO LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (2 Peter 2:13-15 NKJV).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is not of God, that is not planted by God, in your body that is working against your health and wellness is rebuked and completely uprooted in Jesus' name.
• The hold is broken totally and the affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!