Leadership from the Book of Nehemiah

Seek the Lord in Prayer

I have a quote for you that should be somewhat familiar. It say:

“Nothing of Eternal Significance ever Happens Apart from Prayer”

Anyone know who said this?

It was Jerry Falwell!

This is such an important principle. If you want to be a successful leader with anything, you must settle this matter in your mind: “You will seek the Lord!”

This characteristic is evidenced by every significant leaders of the Bible:

Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Jesus, Paul, etc.

Now lets see how Nehemiah went about this! Give brief background to the story of Nehemiah (Babylon, Captivity, Jerusalem in disaster, people in distress, walls in Jerusalem are down…defenseless and broken is Jerusalem, the capitol city of God’s people).

Nehemiah 1:5 ESV

And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Nehemiah 1:11 ESV

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Cupbearer was an honorable position. Required someone that the king trusted. This person would spend a lot of time in front of the king.

Nehemiah 2:1–4 ESV

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah was heartbroken and afraid. As a leader, it is natural to experience fear. However, it is what you do in light of that fear which determines what type of leader you will be. Nehemiah determined he would be one that sought the guidance of God almighty....and it made all the difference.

I love that even before the King in the moment of his fear to speak up, Nehemiah shot an “arrow prayer” to God. He was fearful and needing to respond to the king’s question. In the moment he said a quick prayer which led to his bolster of confidence to speak and ask the king if he could go back to Jerusalem and restore the walls and the conditions of his people.

The King grants this request and provides the means necessary for Nehemiah to go back home.

Over and over again you will find Nehemiah praying and keeping God at the forefront of his leading.

Lead By Serving

People don’t like to managed… they prefer to be led.

The best way of leading people is often to “get into the bunker with them”. Show them how to run the ropes and then in time and due season, delegate them with responsibility. Some people like to lead but refuse to let other people get the chance to help. Things must be done their way or you gotta “hit the highway”. However, this is not really leading well. The purpose of leading is to rally people, point them in the right direction of something and then encourage them to get there/achieve the goal. One way to measure the success of a leader is to see if his followers are equipped and capable of action. Or are they mindless drones just following the queen bee? If we look at the best leader history has ever seen (Jesus), what does He say of Himself?

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Leadership is not about gathering a following. It is NOT about making a name for yourself! Typically leaders are people that we imagine are being served by others. However, Jesus offers a different perspective. Leadership and service are closely linked together.

Let me ask you a question:

“Do you want to be great?”

This is an interesting question. Some of you may hesitate to answer this because if you say, “yes”, then it sounds prideful. But if you say “no”, then that doesn’t quite sound good either, does it?

Maybe if I asked it in a different way, you would answer differently.... Do you want to be a great leader? A great brother/sister? A great friend?

Yes of course we want to be great!

However the world has altered what greatness truly is. We think of it as recognition, fame, financial success, being noticed and appreciated, some good things to write on a resume, etc.

Well hold that thought and we will get back to it in a minute. Lets hop back to Nehemiah and see what it has to say about servant-leadership:

Nehemiah 5:14–19 ESV

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

Notice that Nehemiah also devoted Himself to the work of the wall! He didn’t lay back while the people were under harsh labor! Likewise, he saw the burden of the people and didn’t harshen it by demanding a tax (which he was entitled to) but rather he shared what he had to help feed the people and care for them.

Think about one of the greatest leaders you have been under. You probably loved them because in some way, they showed that they cared for you and they invested in you. This is what a leader does!

Now! Remember the question about greatness? We want to be great right? I think God wants us to be great! But maybe we misunderstand what greatness means. Let’s clear up the mud and see what Jesus defines greatness as:

Matthew 20:24–28 (ESV)

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Similar passage in Mark 9:35-37:

Mark 9:35–37 ESV

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

According to Jesus the greatness that we should pursue is being humble and a servant. Seeking to serve others. And according to this passage, greatness comes from serving people like the child Jesus held. Serve those who cannot or are unlikely to give back. Those who you won’t find or receive recognition from. Then you will find what greatness looks like. It looks like humility, service, love and a commitment to honor God above receiving anything for yourself. Let us also consider the fact that serving does not just mean serving adults. Let us not forget that Jesus LOVES the children. Their simple faith is beautiful to Him and we are to be like them in that manner. Serve the lowly and unfortunate with no expectation for something in return, gather a child in the name of Jesus, be last, and then you will find greatness!

God wants you to be great!

Great Leadership is costly when it is performed in a biblical manner!

Don’t Compromise your Character

When we are in a situation of leadership, you can count on the fact that there will be times of opposition and negative feedback meant to cause harm and damage to those leading.

Another great quote from Christian pastor and author, John C. Maxwell is:

“Everything rises and falls on leadership”

If you want to lead, be ready to be held accountable for the direction you point people.

Let’s see how Nehemiah handled this opposition which would test his character:

Nehemiah 4:7–17 ESV

But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.

Notice Nehemiah’s first response: Prayer!

Notice his second response: Action!

He encouraged the people, reminded them of the Lord, and then took action!

This is an awesome principle: when we seek the Lord’s help, we shouldn’t be lazy and just wait for an answer to fall and hit us on the head. Pray and seek the Lord’s guidance and then take godly action. When you are seeking the will of God, He will lead you!

Now don’t get me wrong. It is important and biblical to “wait upon the Lord”. However, in those times of waiting for an answer, we shouldn’t stop living.

I’ve heard it said: “Be in the will of God today, and that will lead you to be in the will of God tomorrow.” Seek His guidance and be active in a godly manner!

That was a general form of opposition, but I want us to look at one more example from Nehemiah. This time, we will see a direct attack on the character of Nehemiah in the moment of uncertainty and opposition.

Nehemiah 6:1–14 ESV

Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Basically, the enemy wanted to defame the Nehemiah’s reputation in order to stop the work of the walls being rebuilt. They created lies and wanted him to sin by hiding in the temple of God in order to preserve his life. When a “fake attack” was supposed to happen, the enemy tried to get him to be cowardly, but Nehemiah wouldn’t have it. But again look at what Nehemiah does at the end of verse 9. Looks like he is sending another arrow prayer.

In the face of opposition, Nehemiah turned to the Lord and refused to do what was sinful and cowardly. He was not a hypocrite!

Nobody likes a hypocrite! He acted according to how he spoke, and the people respected and were loyal to him.

Finally, let’s look at what Paul says to Titus. Here he is speaking about finding godly men to be the elders of the church. However, as Christian leaders, we would be wise to look at these words and apply them to ourselves in light of being a godly leader to God’s glory.

Titus 1:7–9 ESV

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Let us become godly leaders who not only lead at church or in ministries, but also in secular jobs and all around us. The world is desperate for strong leaders. If we would like to be used by God in utilizing His gifting of leadership, then lets follow the example of His Word:

Constantly seek Him in prayer (even if the moment only requires an “arrow-prayer”)

Lead through serving and caring for the people you minister to. Seek biblical greatness!

Allow you character to be above reproach and use this to the encouragement of others!

Thank you all for being here! May God bless you for your servant-hearts and desire to lead with godliness!