“God’s Leaders in Action”

The New International Version Chapter 2

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.

Introduction: The essence of biblical leadership is built upon the foundation of our relationship with God. A Biblical definition of leadership. Leadership is stewarding one's God-given gifts, abilities, and opportunities, and using them to influence and serve others.

So as we continue our Bible Based Leadership Series, lets consider responding to the call of leadership.

1. God’s leader responds to a call.

God has always called leaders. Leaders must hear God’s calling to lead and respond to that call. Nehemiah understands his leadership as a calling from God (Nehemiah 2:12b). Nehemiah listened and came to see the need (1:1-4).

2. God’s leader cares for the people and their situation.

Nehemiah listened to the voice of the people. He showed care for their situation. Nehemiah identified with the people. He thought in terms of “we” and “us” (2:17, 20). He came to understand and identify with “the trouble (they)we are in” (2:17).

3. God’s leader helps define the reality of the situation.

When Nehemiah said, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned,” he was not describing his personal agenda but assessing the common situation faced by all the people. Unless the reality can be described honestly, progress is impossible. “Nothing is more limiting to a group,” says Peter Senge, “than the inability to talk about the truth.” A leader honors and submits to God’s authority.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible contrasts leaders who honor God by loving Him and doing what He said with those who chose to honor themselves by doing what they thought was best. People prospered under leaders who honored God and sought after Him, but were oppressed by leaders who did not.

4. God’s direction and vision are sought by the leader and people.

Nehemiah was always asking God to provide a vision for him. He understood that a true vision must come from God. It must be a God-inspired and God-revealed vision. Only such a vision is worthy of leadership. The vision must be “what God has put into my heart” (2:12). The vision emerged in the midst of a devastating situation. It would have been easier to give up in despair, but God’s leader always seeks God’s vision, even in difficult times. Our Churches and ministries suffer because there is constant friction between Pastoral leadership and the church’s constitution because the constitution supersedes the Biblical mandates for who is supposed to be casting the vision and what role those whom the vision is shared is supposed to play. When God’s vision for the Church/People are sought after by pastor, leaders and members the whole church prospers.

5. Prayer is essential to know God’s will.

Prayer is the fundamental act for people of God. God’s leaders and God’s people must be in the right place to hear God’s voice. God can speak to us at any time, but if we are not turning our hearts toward God to seek God’s guidance, it is more difficult for God’s vision to reach our hearts. The prophet Habakkuk climbed into the tower believing that God had a vision for him and his people. Habakkuk was willing to wait for the vision but knew that he needed to put himself in a position to receive it. Accomplishing the vision will not be not easy. Divisions and hard feelings, combined with outside opposition, have a tendency to make situations difficult but faith in God’s ability and power will helps us overcome.

Closure: As a leader are you willing to put yourself in a position to hear from God. Then when you hear from God, are you willing to do as He says for you to do.