I. A Leader is a Committed Christian

A) A Changed mind

• In verses 1-20 Peter preaches a message from the O.T. prophet Joel about Jesus second coming, and from verses 21- 37 above our text verse you can see Peter preaching of Jesus Christ death, burial and resurrection and the miracles He performed.
• Then Paul also adds what King David said of our Lord Psalms 16:8…I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
• This is the kind of preaching of Peter is what changes hearts and minds.
• Our leaders today in churches do not stick to this kind of preaching. They are too busy trying to please the people and worry about offending them.   
• What is a changed mind?
• A HEART EXPERIENCE – Acts 2:37a…Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, A changed mind comes from a heartfelt experience that will cause you to do something about it.
  – A changed mind can be for the good or bad.
  – 37b…and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? The decision of what to do starts in the heart.
• REPENTENCE – 38a) Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
• BE BAPTIZED – 38b)…and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
• TAKING THE FREE GIFT – 38c…and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

B) A clean heart

• “…Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
• Baptism is the outward expression of an inward cleansing.
• That cleansing comes only through your faith in Jesus Christ who shed His blood for you for the remission of sins.

C) A controlled will

• “…ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
• When you receive this “gift” of the Holy Spirit, it is more than just a “quickening (being made alive).”
• It means to allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of your life. Your thoughts, speech, walk, and attitude.
• To be committed means for a leader to stay with it no matter what happens.

II. A Leader is a Consistent Christian

A) Not wishy-washy

• As did the apostles, we are to pick men of our church to spread the gospel and here is what we must look for I n them that qualify them for the duty of preaching and teaching…. Acts 6:3…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.
• If these qualifications are not evidenced in the men chosen to rule the house of God…there will be trouble.
• Phillip was a consistent, Godly Christian.
• Members of a church should be looking for someone who will not be “wishy-washy.”
• What does that mean? Not having a set pattern or standard. Letting everyone choose their own bible version when preaching and teaching.  Letting the world dictate your services and what you do.

B) Someone who takes a stand

• Members should be looking for someone who will not be pushed around by others.
• Ephesians 4:14…That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
• Stand up for the sheep and fight off people who attack the church and the Deity of our Lord.

C) Reliable, steady, unfailing

• To be consistent means that you will be “reliable (dependable).” You will do what you say you will do.
• To be consistent also means to be “steady.” Not get nervous and make hasty (hurried) decisions.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 …Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
• Don’t fail the people. Follow through with whatever you do or say.
• When promise to do something, don’t fail.
• Jesus said in Luke 22:32…But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

If the leader fails the people in his faith, the church will also follow and be a failure.

III. A Leader is a Consecrated Christian

A) Full of the Holy Ghost

• A priest in the O.T. had to be consecrated to a holy service when offering sacrifices for the sins of the people.
• In the N.T. a pastor, preacher or teacher must also be consecrated by the filling of the Holy Spirit in his life. In other words… convicted of sin and repentance of that sin.
• In Acts 6:3 we read of Phillip being what… “full of the Holy Ghost.”
• Exodus 31:1…And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2) See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3) And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
• Jesus was God in the flesh and still had to be strong in the Spirit of God…Luke 2:40…And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

B) To be consecrated begins with

• To be consecrated means to be set apart as holy.
• Prayer in forgiveness and cleansing of sin – To be “cleansed” is to be healed or cured or have dirt or disease removed…Matthew 8:1…When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2) And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3) And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
• Prayer in the filling of the Holy Spirit – To be filled, you must be hungry…Matthew 5:6… Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
• Being sincere – Philippians 1:10…That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

IV. A Leader is a Common Sense Christian

• In Acts 6:3… “…full of wisdom.”