BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP
“Getting Started”
Nehemiah 1:1-11
In 2016 we had one of the most interesting presidential elections we have had in decades. Perhaps ever. Of course the win went to Donald Trump, a man with zero background in politics but he hit on several things that really spoke to the people and it got him elected. Finances. The economy. Because of his success in the world of finance, many believed he could help our economy. Healthcare. We have had a system that was completely broken and many believed he could offer a better plan.
There were several other areas of course but the central theme in his campaign was that of building a wall-a wall that would stretch across the entire border between the United States and Mexico. It seemed to propel him into the Oval Office-now he is faced with all of the difficulties of building a wall that is projected that it could cost up to $70 billion to build and $150 million a year to maintain.
This morning we begin a new sermon series in the book of Nehemiah called Biblical Leadership. Nehemiah was faced with a very similar situation. This is what was happening. Jerusalem had been in ruins for many years. In 586 King Nebuchadnezzar and his army captured the Jews; in the process Jerusalem was destroyed, the walls were torn down and the temple was burned. The people were taken out and they were forced into slavery. Now, it has all happened again. History had come full circle. They had already been down this path before-now here they were again. Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Now this wall was important. In fact it was more than important. It was necessary. For several reasons.
1. Without a wall they were subject to constant attack’. They ran the risk of losing everything they had worked for. It just was not safe.
2. Without a wall the temple was not really complete. This is really the work of 2 Leaders-Ezra AND Nehemiah. God led Ezra to build the Temple and He led Nehemiah to build the walls. But here’s the deal-if the walls were unfinished, the temple was considered to be unfinished as well. It was all considered to be one project. Without a wall no city in that day was considered to be safe. Robbers, gangs, even wild animals could all make their way into the city and so the people had no peace. Because there was no protection. At this point, remember, the temple is finished-very richly decorated and the greater the value of things in the city, the greater the opportunity or theft.
I would put it this way….
No wall means no city and no city means no temple.
Under King Zerubbabel, when the wall was built previously- get this- this took 94 years. Under Nehemiah’s leadership it was accomplished in 52 days. So this was nothing short of amazing. And that is why I want us to look closer at this book and learn what made Nehemiah such a powerful leader. Because this is what I believe. Our church will only grow as our leadership grows. If I am not growing as a leader, the church will not grow. If our leadership is not growing it basically puts a lid on the growth of the congregation. Today we begin our 19th year as your pastor and worship leader. This church begins their 19th year. So we have now turned 18. And when you turn 18, things change. Right? Here are a few things you can do once you turn 18. Buy a lottery ticket. Open a bank account. Enlist in the Army. Vote. Go skydiving. Jury duty. Buy fireworks.
So in some ways when you’re 18, you’re a bit of a grown up and I want to say to you that it is time for more of you to step into leadership positions here in the church. So let’s look at this man named Nehemiah. Chapter 1 tells us that Nehemiah had been appointed to the office of Cupbearer. The Cupbearer had a great responsibility because he was charged with the job of making sure the king was safe and that no one could poison his drinks. So Nehemiah would guard him from being poisoned. At times he would be required to test his drinks personally before serving it to the king. So not just anyone could fill this position.
The story opens and things are just not right with Nehemiah. He is burdened and for a good reason. Look at verse 3. Then Nehemiah responds in this way verse 4.
1. Leadership begins with a burden. A calling. You don’t simply wake up one day and you’re suddenly a leader. We often say that leaders are born, not made but no one is born made. Leadership must be developed. Not everyone becomes a leader but those who do must start right here. They start with a calling. Nehemiah did recognize that God was preparing him to lead. He had been 1000 miles away, he was comfortable, had a good paycheck... He was able to feed 150 people a day. And here’s this news. And this is his response. The Bible says he sat down and wept. He grieved. He fasted. So the building of the wall didn’t start with mixing cement; it started with a burden. A calling to build the wall but before it all started-he mourned-he fasted-he wept. People weep about a lot of things. Right? Weddings. People cry when their children leave home. We cry over the birth of our children and grandchildren. Cry at sad movies. Nehemiah cried over a broken wall.
Godly leadership begins with a burden. The burden starts in God’s heart and he shares it with someone who then (hopefully) steps into a place of leadership. Now a burden is critical but it is not enough. I am going to guess that everyone here this morning has a burden about something. Burdens have all kinds of sources. We often associate burdens with worries. But this is the way I see it.
Worries come from Satan. That is why Jesus instructed us not to worry. He said don’t worry about life. Burdens on the other hand are from the Lord. God burdens you for someone’s soul. They are lost. He burdens you for a ministry in the church. Jesus said come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest-because my burden is light. Worries are heavy. Burdens are light.
2. Leadership requires preparation. Nehemiah has stepped into this role of leadership and now it is time for him to get prepared. It’s a great thing if you’re completely prepared when you step into leadership but most of the time that is simply not the case. Leadership is a process and the process involves growth.
Illustration of African-American church we worked in when we were first called to the ministry. Pastor asked me to come up and share some words of wisdom with the children. I have no idea what I said that day. They were very spontaneous in that church.
Now I want to say this about this process of leadership. Do not wait until you are completely ready. Because you will never be completely ready. Because leadership comes through experience.
God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
Peter had a temper. Jacob was a cheater. Paul was a murderer. Elijah was really kind of moody. Moses stuttered. Lazarus … well, he was dead.
3. The next step for Nehemiah. He has this burden; this conviction. Now he confesses. Confession is the next step. God does not call the qualified. He does not call perfect people. It begins with a confession. Listen to Nehemiah’s. Vvs. 6-7.
It is one thing to have a conviction. It’s one thing to be concerned. Both are good-but it’s quite another thing to actually confess. Many times we fail to take this step. We may even feel bad about our sin; it’s another thing-to confess it. I see 3 key ingredients here in this prayer.
• It was intense. He prayed day and night. Constantly.
• It was honest. Look at verse six.
• It was immediate. We cannot hide our sin from God.
4. Next Nehemiah begins to gain confidence. He remembers the promise God had made to his people. Verses 8-10. Here he is recalling the words of Moses about the danger of falling away. Now here is what he was getting at.
• If Israel disobeyed they would be sent to foreign land. That had already happened.
• The 2nd part was when the captivity was over God would send them back to Israel. And they were still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled. In his prayer he says the Lord the first part has happened … we disobeyed and we’re in captivity but Lord you made a promise to us that hasn’t happened yet and we believe you will make this happen.
5. Finally there is a commitment. Do you see the progression here? Verse 11.
Calling. Preparation. Confession. Confidence. Commitment.
A commitment to get involved. Nehemiah could have prayed, I sure hope you send someone. In fact I know someone who would be perfect. He sits next to me in the temple every week. But instead he said, here am I lord, send me. The best measure of a leader is not that he or she is willing to stand out front. The best measure of a leader is that they are willing to come alongside you and actually work.
Martin Luther said, “Pray as if everything depends on God. Work as if everything depends on you.”
