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INTRODUCTION
It has been suggested that you take all the Presidential candidates and line them up in a
single row - and just leave them there. They all want to be The Leader.
I have over 2 dozen books specifically on leadership. At least another 2 dozen books about
church ministry with leadership chapters. Plus at least another 2 dozen books which are
biographies or autobiographies of leaders.
A classic I have: Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Still published today. (If curious: Summary sheet on back table)
This Series is appropriate as we are searching for leadership in the nominating process and
encouraging our current church leadership.
Definitions: Leadership is to serve the needs of others. Guiding people to be what God desires
of them. Leadership is always group focused.
Our textbook is the personal diary of a lay leader Nehemiah, first 7 chapters which show us 7
virtues of a Godly leader. Last week we noticed in chapter 1 - We need Godly Leaders who have
Passion and who Pray. Today...
3. We need Godly Leaders...who Prepare 2:1-16
- Our Text shows Nehemiah needed permission from the king, protection in travel,
provisions for supplies, and a personal perspective of the job.
- 2:1-6 Background: King Neb, the Darius, then Temple rebuilt 515 BC, then King
Ahasuerus 486-464, Esther story 479-474; King Artaxerxes 464-424 Then Ezra to
Jerusalem 458; Now Nehemiah to Jerusalem 444.
- The King is the World Leader, Superpower of 444 BC. Nehemiah had important job to the
King - life or death position making sure not poisoned, a most trusted man. Would the
King let him go. He prepared by praying for 4 months, for the courage to talk to the
King.
- v. 7,9 Not only did he need permission to go from the King, and protection by
the King to travel - letters to the governors and a military escort. V. 8 He
also needed provisions from the King for supplies to rebuild the walls. He had thought
out - even naming Asaph the supplier.
- Leaders plan & prepare details. Even visionary leaders who deal mainly with big
picture and casting vision, must know the first layer of details.
- The final preparation recorded for us was his personal perspective of the job -
carefully inspected the walls - 2:11-16
- Nehemiah in his preparations clearly had just one priority, one goal - rebuild the
city walls. Temple had been rebuilt - the place of worship, but the temple, city, and
the people were unprotected - wall must go up!
- Leaders plan. Planning takes behind the scenes work. Not public. Careful thinking,
strategizing, penciling out the process, seeing what if’s.
- For example rebuilding 235 in 5 years took at least 10 years to plan.
- Yet my sister, Janell, in Minneapolis sent me info on I-35 bridge rebuilding, she has
seen the impressive blueprints - amazing how quickly they planned.
- The church is an amazing organization, a living body. Planning is what we do in the
offices and at meetings Monday - Saturday for Sunday.
- Myron Rush in Management: A Biblical Approach: “Planning begins
by identifying the purpose, then the activities to be performed, their sequence, and
the resources required.” Nehemiah did all that. “6 key resources we must
consider for planning: people, space, equipment, supplies, time, and money.”
“Planning is hard work and can be very frustrating...Planning always deals with
the future, which at times can be totally unpredictable.” (80-97)
- One of those frustrating problems was already there coming - 2:10.
- How to have your plans be successful? v. 8 “the good hand of my God was on
me.” Note: Proverbs 16:1,3,9.
- The history of this church can testify to “the good hand of my God...”
Last year I updated the records, it is 4 pages long, and the whole page 4 describes
the last 14 years. God has blessed us continually.
- Leaders prepare on purpose. Pray for that. Watch for that. We want and we need God in
our plans. That is why we pray, search the Bible, work together. Need God’s
wisdom. Proverbs 3:5,6
4. We need Godly Leaders...who Promote 2:17-20
- Nehemiah had to sell the people on the idea of rebuilding the walls. These people
families had rebuilt the Temple and completed it in 515. This was 444, 71 years later.
They hadn’t done anything more for 71 years, a generation has changed. The need
was there, but they didn’t see it or they weren’t motivated to deal with
it. Either blind or demoralized.
- vs. 17-18. Nehemiah’s motivation he shared was: not to be a reproach
(appealed to national pride), God’s hand was on him (appealed to divine blessing),
and the King said it was OK (appealed to political authority).
- Leadership definition by Henry Blackaby — “Spiritual leadership is moving
people on to God’s agenda.” (20) The wall was God’s agenda.
- v. 18 The peoples response: “Let us arise and build.” He
sold the idea. It was a good work for them to do. They believed and worked.
- Keil commentary: “They vigorously set about the good work.” The
people finally had enthusiasm and energy. Ecc. 9:10 “Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all your might...”
- v. 19 Anytime a good idea is given, there is always people to complain. These
enemies were political: rival governors, anti-Jewish. “mocked and
despised“ = ridiculed and criticized…
- v. 20 Is Nehemiah’s emphatic answer... It was a testimony. He could
have flashed King’s order, instead he testified higher: “God is
working. The people said to arise and build - we will arise and build. You are not
part of us. You have nothing to do with this... That’s the way it is!!!”
- Leaders promote on purpose. They cast vision, provide motivation and defend it. They
are to be positive, committed, determined, trusting God through it all, and seeing
God’s hand in it. One person can - with God.
- So important to see God’s hand. God provides us evidence of His work. Godly
leaders can testify to God’s provisions in their life and ministry.
- Promotion is essential - a core value and action to leadership.
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- Loren Wing promoted Awana.
- Walt Wing convinced us we needed pew cushions.
- Walt Williams promoted this new building.
- Dick Wilcox promoted patriotism.
- Gladys Shepley promoted missions.
- Mary Williams promoted Sunday School.
- Wilma Hill promoted the Nursery.
- Leaders still promote on purpose. Like the people did with Nehemiah, those people and
others you saw their passion, knew they prayed, knew they were prepared, believed
their promotion.
5. We need Godly Leaders...who are Proficient 3:1-32
- A skilled leader. Skill in organizing. While the test doesn’t say Nehemiah did
the organized, Nehemiah must have done it. He clearly recorded the labor details. He
was the Chief Foreman, Project Manager
- Leaders use skill on purpose. Skill is the ability to do the job well. Skill in
organizing. Nehemiah did it well, fast, efficiently, and effectively.
- Chapter lists 38 individuals and 15 groups. The individuals were probably the section
foremen. The listing might have been to give honor to these people who stepped forward
in courage to rebuild and defend their city. There are people from 8 different
communities outside of Jerusalem who came, that took commitment. Also 7 different
occupations of people sacrificed their jobs to work for the Holy City: Priests to gate
keepers, officials to temple servants.
- They rebuilt the walls, 12 gates, 4 towers, and 10 landmarks like pools, a garden, the
armory, the prison, the cemetery of David.
- It takes a lot of people to do God’s work on earth - not just Nehemiah. Not just
the pastors. Not just the boards. Not just the Awana Directors.
- It takes a lot of people to pull of Thanksgiving Dinner and Service.
- It is figured that 90% of the work is done by 10% of people. How about here?
We need everyone doing something. Otherwise the 10% will burn out or wear out, and
this Pastor will pass out or flip out.
- Leaders are proficient with organization skills on purpose. They at least must
recruit, delegate, choose wise co-workers, and trust them. Leaders give workers
responsibility, accountability, resources, and honor.
CONCLUSION
Godly leaders lead on purpose, because they have passion on purpose, pray on purpose, prepare
on purpose, promote on purpose, and are proficient on purpose. Next week 2 more values of
Godly leaders from chapters 4 - 7.
What projects are before us that we need to put our “hands to the good work?”
We have some challenges in 2008, but some great opportunities too. We need Godly leaders who
are seeking and seeing “the good hand of God” on them. Who believe about
this church: “The God of heaven will give us success.”
We often think all our great leaders are in the past. God can raise up great leaders today. We
can learn from the past leaders some amazing lessons.
Three years ago tomorrow’s date we had Walt Williams funeral here. He was one of those
notable leaders at First Baptist Church, Colfax. The amazing thing about him to me was he lead
this church through the building of this 1992 building and many controversies, yet he was
still respected by all who knew him. That is a great testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Quiet Prayer - in whatever role you serve here, spend time in prayer seeking
God’s grace in your life to serve, and God’s blessing on our church. Service is a
response of gratitude for what God has done for us through Christ.
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