Principles of Godly Leadership: Nehemiah #3
This is an exposition of Nehemiah 2:11-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 1, 2015.
Intro:
Do you ever look at the world around us and think, “What kind of impact can I possibly have on this mess?” Do you sometimes wonder if things have already gone too far; that we’ve crossed the line of no return? I came across some notes I had from 20 years ago. I had written down that I was watching television and there was a couple who had been happily married for 5 years. One night the wife said to her husband, “I was born different.” 20 years ago that really got your attention! She went on to explain, “I was born a man.” The husband then explained that at first he was a “little” shocked but that he had come to understand that God had brought this wonderful “lady” into his life because he needed to expand his understanding and be more excepting. The audience responded with tears and enthusiastic applause. That was 20 years ago. We know where we are now. Bruce Jenner gets an award for courage as he “transitioned” into Caitlyn. Just this week Glamour Magazine named Jenner 2015’s “Woman of the Year.” One cannot help but think of Romans Nehemiah 1. After all the discussion about exchanging the truth of God for a lie and God giving them over to depraved minds, the chapter ends with, “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” I wonder have we gone too far?
Or consider the Planned Parenthood videos. You have the medical director of Planned Parenthood talking about how they harvest various organs from the unborn for “reimbursement.” There is talk of crushing the child above or below the desired organ or tissue so as not to damage. Where is the outrage? These atrocities read like the things done in Nazi extermination camps. But the response is to yawn and turn over and catch the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars! I wonder have we gone too far?
At times the task seems overwhelming but then I remember, our God is a mighty God.
God is not dead.
He’s not even sick!
Considering where we are, it would take a miracle to turn this thing around.
But of course, our God is a miracle working God.
He was cup bearer to king Artaxerxes.
Living in luxury 1000 miles away.
Yet he chose to be mistreated with the people God rather than live in luxury in the palace of the king. For 4 months Nehemiah wept, mourned and prayed for the opportunity to return to Jerusalem. Finally a door opened. With courage and boldness he asked the king:
- For permission to return to Jerusalem
- For letters of protection
- For all the materials needed to rebuild the walls and to restore the gates.
God granted him favor and thus he was on his way to the holy city.
That is where we pick up the story.
Text: Nehemiah 2:9-20
Every year business and professional people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on leadership training, seminars, and books. In recent years the church has jumped on the bandwagon. Seminars and conferences are offered to lead church staff through the “latest” innovations on leadership. Of course what the church is doing today is what the business community was doing yesterday! It is sad because we’ve had at our figure tips a very effective course in leadership – it’s called the book of Nehemiah.
The first group of exiles returned in 536 BC.
It is now 444 BC – it’s been almost 100 years and the walls are still down, the gates still in ruin.
The name of God is being disgraced.
The character of God is being maligned.
Nehemiah is burdened.
He returns and in 52 days the job is done!
I think there are some lessons in leadership to be learned from this man.
Again – he’s not a super hero.
His an average man in the service of an extraordinary God.
His life serves to remind us that…
Thesis: Effective ministry, ministry that impacts the community, demands godly leadership.
Godly leadership is that which is born in the heart of God and is implemented through those who walk in obedience to commands, yielding to His Sovereignty.
As we work our way through this text I want to point out three (3) principles of godly leadership.
- Godly leadership prayerfully plans while awaiting the Lord’s timing. (2:11-16)
- Godly leadership enthusiastically meets the challenge set before it. (2:17-18)
- Godly leadership refuses to bow at the whim of the critic. (2:19-20)
Conclusion:
Before we close, are you an obstructionist or a constructionist? When you have disagreement (notice I didn’t say “if” but “when”) are you constructive or destructive in what you say or do? Are you actions motivated by love and concern for the work of God or is are you motivated by self interest? Are you actions meant to help or to hurt? I’m spending time here because God is at work and the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy that work. It is critical that we, as a church, be united, committed to a common task and supportive of one another.
God has called us to an effective ministry. One that makes a difference in this community. To that end we must be willing to prayerful plan while awaiting the Lord’s timing; enthusiastically embrace the challenge and refuse to bow to the whim of our critics.