Sermon Tone Analysis

!!! Arise And Build!

All Things Are Possible With God’s Help

!!! Leadership By Example

Nehemiah 5:14-19

 

 

  *Leading By Serving*

 

       In her book, /The Mark of a Man/, Elisabeth Elliot gave an excellent illustration of leading by serving.

She told of a relative who was the dean of a Christian college in the Midwest.

One night some boys in a dorm had been rowdy, smearing the walls with shaving cream, peanut butter, and jelly.

When the dean heard about it, he wondered what action he should take.

He could force the young men to clean it up, or he could order the janitor to do it.

Instead, he proceeded to clean up the mess himself.

Soon doors began to open, and before long the guilty ones were helping him wash the walls.

*/Because he was willing to take the role of a servant, he solved the problem and taught the boys a valuable lesson at the same time./*

As I have read through the Bible time and time again, I have noticed that strong leadership is always crucial to any successful project or organization.

When I think of strong leadership, I think of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Peter, Paul and the supreme leader, Jesus Christ.

*/A very important characteristic of these great leaders is that they exemplified what they taught and believed./*

For instance, Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Paul was an example of what he taught.

Likewise, Jesus, our supreme example, was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

Consequently, we need this kind of leader today; i.e. one who will be a pattern and an example of the things that He teaches.

Now, a leader doesn’t have to be perfect, but s~/he needs to be faithful and have integrity.

Well, there was a great leader, who led by example, that we have been studying.

His name was Nehemiah.

We can see him lead the Jews in Jerusalem by his sterling example.

/(Notice with me please Nehemiah 5:14-19./

/In this passage of Scripture, we will be able to see the example that Nehemiah set for the Israelite people by considering:)/

 

I.

His Sacrifice (vv.

14, 17, 18).

\\ /(His sacrifice was with respect to:)/

 

A.

The Food Allowance.

Nehemiah was an extraordinary leader.

For his entire first term as governor of Judah, which was 12 years, Nehemiah did *not* take any salary or allowance from the people, as was the custom.

Neither did he allow his relatives to take any food allowance.

*/Nehemiah was willing to sacrifice for the good of his people./*

*/Similarly, the apostle Paul refused to take any pay for his preaching, but continued to make tents as his living so that no one could fault his ministry./*

In 2 Corinthians, Paul talked about himself and defended himself.

I think I had better follow the example of Nehemiah and Paul and remind you that 30 plus years ago

 

·        For the first two years of this ministry I worked and received *no* salary.

·        For the next year I still worked and got 10% of every offering over $20.00.

*/Now, there were not many offerings that were much over $20.00./*

But if we raised $100.00 on a Sunday, I got $10.00.

·        In January of 1978, I came on full time and made about $12,000.00 a year including hospitalization, benefits, etc.

·        Twelve years later, I still had *not* made more than $20,000.00 a year, including benefits.

·        During that time I turned down more raises than I took.

Why?

I love the Lord!

I love you!

I love the ministry!

I was and am still willing to sacrifice for the people involved in this ministry.

Any good leader is willing to sacrifice for his people.

*/All great leaders are willing to sacrifice for their people./*

/(Let’s go on to pick up some more valuable information in verse 17.)/

 

Nehemiah gives us some details that enable us to see his sacrifice better.

He didn’t do without his rightful salary because he only had a few servants.

He had 150 people to feed besides those who came to him from other nations.

So, his reason was *not* because of a lack of obligations.

*/He many obligations!!!/*

\\        I did *not* sacrifice because I had *no* needs.

I had a wife and two children who had the same needs as anybody else.

Plus the ministry itself necessitates certain kinds of expenses that I would *not* have had normally.

(Ex.

Before I was in the ministry and in the early years of this ministry, I really had *no* need or desire for nice clothes.

I am a high D.  I was fine with whatever, as long as I was accomplishing what God wanted me to accomplish.

But I soon began to see that appearance makes a */big difference/* to many people.

/(Let’s go on to verse 18.)/

 

Nehemiah gives us some idea of how much food he is sacrificing.

He was sacrificing a whole ox, six choice sheep and a couple of chickens */every day/*.

And every ten days he would treat them to something extra:  all kinds of wine in abundance.

*O What Love!*

 

       Years ago the ship known as The Express of Ireland sank, and many passengers were drowned.

Among those who perished were 129 Salvation Army officers.

When their bodies were recovered later, *not* one had on a life preserver!

Survivors told how these servants of God had reacted with calmness and courage when informed that the vessel was sinking.

There were *not* enough life preservers to go around, so they bravely removed theirs and gave them to people they felt were *not* prepared to meet the Lord.

Some witnesses told of hearing those gallant crusaders say, “We know the Savior, so we are ready to die!”  Prayerfully, the courageous soldiers of the cross remained on deck until the waters engulfed them and they were welcomed into God’s eternal Haven.

No wonder General Booth’s slogan, OTHERS, took on special significance when he sent that one-word telegram to every Salvation Army citadel in the world.

True Christians must make sacrifices for others.

*/Anyone who is integrated into this ministry is making some kind of sacrifice.

Anyone who is in leadership, in this ministry, should be making a big sacrifice./*

It’s all about the Kingdom!!!

We ask all members to make an equal sacrifice of 10% and an equal sacrifice of at least one ministry.

We are now asking $10.00 a month extra to retire the debt on the Plaza, which is to provide ministry to the community.

/(Not only was Nehemiah sacrificial with respect to his people, but if you look carefully at the verses you will be able to see:)/

 

II.

His Sensitivity (vv.

15, 18).

In verses 15 and 18 we can see the sensitivity of Nehemiah.

*/This is the characteristic of a great man and a great leader./*

Nehemiah was sensitive to what the people were going through.

Nehemiah cared about the people.

*/There are many leaders who are dominant, but not many who can be dominant with sensitivity!/*

       */I care about you as people./*

I care about what you are going through and the stress and pressure that you are under.

This ministry is *not* just about giving money and building church buildings.

This ministry is *not* about ministering without regard or respect to your families and obligations.

·        I have established almost from the beginning that 2nd, 4th and 5th Sunday nights would be nights of rest for you to spend with your families.

Now we are off on most Sunday evenings.

·        I have asked, almost from the beginning, that you have only one ministry.

This is to keep you from destroying your family by always being at the church.

·        I have asked that we keep meetings and extra services to a minimum because of the tremendous schedules that most of us keep.