THE ACTIONS OF A MAN GOD USES
One of the greatest issues facing the church today is the dearth of leadership. There has never been a greater need for God called, God inspired, God equipped leadership. God has however taught us all we need to learn about leadership in the Bible. He has also given us incredible examples of leadership throughout the events of scripture.
One such man is Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah gives incredible insight into the character required to become a man God uses. The book also gives us great insight into the actions and behaviors of a Godly servant leader. Nehemiah’s actions provide a model for the actions of a servant and leader. They provide an excellent challenge for men being ordained into our deacon body, and all those who serve the people of the Living God.
Chapter 2 of Nehemiah recounts the events of how Nehemiah began the rebuilding project. After hearing news that the walls were in ruins and the people of Jerusalem were in “great distress,” God granted Nehemiah great favor before the King Artaxerxes who agreed to his request to move to Jerusalem to undertake this project. King Artaxerxes granted him letters of transit, letters of credit for the materials, and even sent him with a military escort. Read Nehemiah 2: 9-20.
The Spiritual Character of a Man God Uses
In a previous message, we have detailed Nehemiah’s spiritual character. We should not however take for granted the fact that his spiritual character is the foundation of all his actions. His acts of service are merely a reflection of his heart – a heart formed and molded by his love and devotion to the Lord.
We see from chapters 1 and 2 that Nehemiah is first a man who loves God. He seeks out people from Jerusalem to ascertain the condition of Jerusalem and the people of God. He is broken hearted when he hears the news. His love for the people of God is clear. Next, he seeks God passionately and persistently. He fasts and prays for months asking for God to give him a chance to become a part of the solution. He also has a heart of repentance we see clearly exhibited in his prayers.
It is this character which forms the heart of a servant. This spiritual character forms the heart of a man who acts. He does not pay mere lip service but is sacrificial in his willingness to act on behalf of the Lord and His people. The acts of a servant of the Lord are always preceded by the seeking of the Lord.
The Service of a Man God Uses
A passion for God produces a willingness to step out an act as a choice of faith. There is no such thing as a passive, non-acting Christian. Jesus said in John 15 that anyone who abides in Him will bear fruit as a branch attached to healthy vine will bear fruit. The faith of a Christian who loves and follows Jesus is a faith which bears fruit and acts on behalf of the Lord Jesus and His church. James reiterates this point by stating unequivocally, “Faith without works is dead.” The Apostle John commanded us as the children of God to go beyond mere words and to love in “deed and in truth.” As a servant of God, Nehemiah exhibits four ways for us to act in service of the people of God.
1. Be a champion
First, Nehemiah is a champion of the people of God. Verse 10 describes the clear motivation for all of Nehemiah’s commitment to the rebuilding of the walls. He is described as a man “who had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.” Nehemiah left his home and position in the palace to undertake a seemingly overwhelming project. The context of this book shows clearly the amazing risk Nehemiah was willing to take on for this project. The account of his life also makes clear his motivation. He was acting as a champion of the people of God. He was broken hearted over the distress of the people of God and committed his very life to repairing their situation.
A servant of the people of God must look out for the well-being of the people of God. Your heart is to love who the very people Jesus loved. You love them the way Jesus loves them – sacrificially. Nehemiah did not act for his own growth, wealth, or fame. In fact, he risked all to act. To serve the church is to always act for the benefit of the church. Too many people are looking to benefit from the church instead of being a benefit to the church. Too many people are looking to tear down churches when we should be building up the church. Too many people in churches are fighting over what makes them happy and comfortable in the church rather than fighting for what the church needs to be healthy and strong.
Nehemiah was moved by a love for the people. He did not undertake the project which would make him famous or give him a strong position as a leader. He instead was broken hearted over the need of the people of God and was moved to act for their well-being. This is the heart of a servant.
2. Be Responsible.
Next we see that Nehemiah took personal responsibility to see that wall project was planned and begun in a way it would succeed. Verses 11-15 explain how Nehemiah went about inspecting the condition of the wall and making preparations to begin. It is clear that Nehemiah felt personally responsible for this project. He did not delegate this work to anyone. He did not simply read reports prepared by someone else. Instead, Nehemiah went out with only a few men with him so he could see the details for himself.
We see several facts which tell us of the extent of his sense of responsibility. The account tells us with specificity that he inspected all of the issues that needed to be evaluated. He covered all of the ground that needed to be covered. He “left no stone unturned.” He also refused to allow obstacles to prevent him from doing what needed to be done. At one point the rubble apparently made the road impassable for his mount. He found another way to inspect the walls. He would not be deterred just because it seemed to be difficult or inconvenient to complete.
This speaks of the level of personal responsibility that is needed to do real ministry. The needs in every church are overwhelming. The level of attention to detail necessary to operate a church so that it functions with excellence and presents a testimony of Jesus is incredible. Churches that minister well do so because there are lots of people who take personal responsibility for ministry. A church cannot conduct high-impact ministry without people who are willing to take on the responsibility to work, pray, prepare, teach, move chairs, sing, shake hands, greet, deal with struggling people, address conflict, maintain facilities, do set-up, etc.
The church will only go as far as the people are willing to serve it. A church will thrive when servants take personal responsibility. A servant must serve as if all depends upon his or her ministry. Growing up as a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, I remember our pastor Adrian Rogers saying often that the church was everyone’s responsibility. “If you see a piece of paper in the parking lot, don’t call someone. Bend over and pick it up. If you are the first one here in the morning, then turn on the lights and start the coffee. The last one to leave a room should turn out the lights.” Being a large church did not absolve anyone of their personal responsibility to make the church function properly. He would challenge us in worship, “If you do not sing and worship, then there is no worship of Jesus going on in the part of the sanctuary where you are sitting. If you do not pray during the invitation, then there is no prayer cover going on in that area of the sanctuary where you sit.” We learned that it was up to everyone to serve.
After serving in three churches and pasturing for a decade, this is the issue which is most important in every church today. A church rises and falls on the sense of personal responsibility for the church’s ministry in the congregation. Never before has there been more apathy in the body than today. A church cannot impact its community without servants who take on the responsibility of ministry.
3. Be a Pointer.
The third action that Nehemiah modeled as a servant was to point the people of God to the person of God. Nehemiah as a servant of God understood that his most important role was to focus God’s people on the Lord Himself. Verses 17 -18 detail how Nehemiah communicated the plan for rebuilding the walls to the people of Jerusalem. “I told them of the hand of God which had been good upon me,…” The greatest need facing the people of God is to stay focused upon Him. The most important action of a servant of God is therefore to point the people of God to Him.
The people needed encouragement. They needed to know how this project could be accomplished. They needed to know why they should commit themselves to this endeavor. They had questions and fears and doubts. They would also question why Nehemiah was the man they should follow. All of those are answered for us when we have a clear sense that God is at work. God can provision and protect the work He is involved in starting and finishing. God’s people will also follow a person who understands that it is God who is at work. Nehemiah pointed them to the hand of God at work. He did not take credit but understood the need of the people to see God’s presence.
The nature of a servant is submission to the master. Nothing could be more true for a servant of Jesus Christ. The members of our church do not need to hear from me, follow me, or depend on me. Their needs are answered in Jesus. Yes, we are a tool of the Lord and He has chosen to use the church and minister through his people. But He chooses to use those who point others to Jesus. In fact, it is the character of being a “pointer” that qualifies you as a servant whom God can and will use.
4. Be a defender.
The fourth type of action which we see modeled in the life of Nehemiah is his willingness to defend the people of God. Almost from the beginning a triumvirate of Israel haters started to attack the people of God. Verse 10 tells us clearly that “they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.” It is important to realize that any time God moves, Satan or those who oppose the work of God will take notice and came against that work. It is imperative for a servant to defend the people of God.
When Sanballat, et al began to challenge the rebuilding project, Nehemiah stepped right into the fray. He pointed them to the source of the direction and power of the project – God. He defended God’s people with a spiritual focus and power. Since it is a spiritual battle, we must fight with spiritual wisdom and power. He also fought them directly and with strength. He spoke forcefully and with authority. It is clear his intent was to defend the work of God so the people of God could prosper.
As servants in the church, we must use the same spiritual wisdom and power. We must also be willing to directly confront those who would attack the church or the work in the church. First, spiritual wisdom is important. We do not want to attack every person who asks questions, offers a suggestion, etc. Instead, we should depend on spiritual wisdom to consider the nature and motive of the attacker. When folks act because someone is seeking the well-being of the people of God, it is time to act. When you act, do as Nehemiah did. Act based upon the authority of God and with strength and purpose.
In evaluating the life and work of Nehemiah, there are many lessons to learn. One of the most important lessons is to watch how he handles situations as a servant. We can learn how to be a servant and participate in the work of God. Be a champion, responsible, a pointer, and a defender of the people and work of God.
