Intro:

Last week we looked at introduction to the book of Nehemiah and this week we will be introduced to the person… Nehemiah.

But before we get into that… let me ask you this…

In speaking of people with “Natural” Human leadership traits; are they usually born with them or do they have to be developed over time???

Several studies have explored the concept that certain leadership traits may have a genetic or an inherited origination… These studies collectively suggest that while leadership is undoubtedly influenced by environment and experience, certain genetic and innate traits may prompt some individuals to emerge as leaders.

Some people are born with:

an outgoing, energetic attitude

Confidence

The ability to inspire others

Courage

Optimism

There are some who have to work hard at these things, however, for others, it just comes “naturally”… that is just the type of person they have been since they were born… …

I am sure that you’ve heard this phrase before, possibly have even said it before…

“That person is a natural born leader”

But what about Spiritual leadership traits? Are we born with them or are they developed over time?… I believe there are 2 statements that answer this question very well…

God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called…

and…

2. Spiritual leaders are made, not born.

If we could be spiritual leaders because of our own natural abilities or our powerful personalities… then we would eventually be faced with 2 major issues…

We would have a tendency of depending on our own resources and abilities instead of allowing the Power of the Holy Spirit to work through us…

and then… any time there is any sort of success or blessing that comes, we would have a tendency to take credit for it instead of giving God the credit.

“Look at what I did”

“Look at how many people gave their lives to Christ because I am such an awesome speaker”

me, me, me… when it needs to be… all about Him, Him, Him…

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 NKJV

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

This passage emphasizes God's preference for using unlikely people to fulfill His purposes, so that the only One who can be boasted about, is Him!

This doesn’t mean that God cannot or will not use those who would be considered a “Natural born leader”. Because He can and He does… but He must humble them first, so that they know it is Him that is working through them and not just their natural abilities.

This also means that if you feel completely inadequate to be used by God, then guess what… that is the exact attitude that God wants you to have when you serve.

This morning we are going to be looking at…

Traits of a Godly Leader

From our passage today, we will see 3 traits of a godly leader that were very evident in the way that Nehemiah lived his life… and they need to be evident in our lives as well.

Remember… we are all leading someone…

Husbands are to be the spiritual leader to their wives

Husbands and wives are to be the spiritual leaders to their children

More mature Christians (I say more mature, because we all have growing to do and won’t reach full spiritual maturity until we are in Heaven, but the More mature Christians) are to be the spiritual leaders to immature or baby Christians

Godly leaders are needed in every aspect of life… Home, work, church, society… everywhere…

And so, lets see what a godly leader looks like, as we go through this study of Nehemiah…

(Read Nehemiah 1:1-11)

Nehemiah was:

Meat:

The first trait of a godly leader that I want to point out is that we are to be, as Nehemiah was…

1. Above Reproach

Another word for this would be “Blameless”. As the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to young pastors, Timothy and Titus, in their desire to be godly leaders in their ministries and as they were looking for godly leaders to serve with them in ministry, Paul gave them a list of qualities to strive for in their own lives and told them to look for people who exemplified the same qualities…

In each list, the very first quality was to be “Above Reproach” or “Blameless”....

To be above reproach doesn't mean being sinless, as no one is without sin (Romans 3:23), but it does mean living a life that is marked by integrity, faithfulness, and accountability.

It means that there is nothing in one's conduct that would cause anyone to question their commitment to God, their moral character, or their honesty. Such a person does not engage in behaviors that could lead to scandal or undermine their witness for Christ.

In vv. 6 and 11, Nehemiah points out that he is "God's Servant," and if we are going to make the same claim, then our actions need to align with God's will and reflect His character. Being God's servant means that our priorities, decisions, and behaviors should be driven by a desire to honor Him, rather than seeking our own gain or recognition.

Someone who is above reproach will exhibit…

1.1 Moral Integrity

This involves honesty, faithfulness in relationships, and a commitment to doing what is right, even when no one is watching.

Job, for example, was considered a man of integrity, blameless in his conduct… Listen to what God said about Job…

Job 1:8 NASB95

8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Would God be able to give the description for you??

Being above reproach includes having…

1.2 Self Discipline

Or self control… … Someone who is above reproach exercises self-discipline over their desires and actions. They are not easily swayed by temptation, anger, or greed.

1 Corinthians 9… The Apostle Paul compares the Christian life to an athletic race, emphasizing the need for self-control and discipline. He explains that just as athletes exercise strict discipline to win a prize, believers must exercise spiritual discipline to live a life that honors God.

1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB95

27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul didn't want to preach one thing and then live in a way that contradicted his message. He understood that living out the gospel required self discipline and he was committed to ensuring that his actions aligned with his teachings, so that his life would be a credible witness to the gospel that he was preaching...

Here is something to consider…

If your spiritual life is corrupt and undisciplined, how can you expect to be a spiritual leader?

and thirdly… To be above reproach means having…

1.3 A Good Reputation

A person above reproach has a good reputation not just within the church but also in the wider community. Their life is a testimony to their faith, and they are respected for their consistent, godly behavior.

Let me give you a scenario… Think about A Bible study leader who is highly respected in their church for their spiritual insights and commitment to leading Bible studies. This leader is known for their warm demeanor, scriptural knowledge, and dedication to helping others grow in their faith.

However, in their professional life, this leader is involved in unethical and dishonest practices at their workplace... and all of their coworkers know about it…

One day, a member of the bible study group happens to meet a coworker of the Bible study leader at a social event or community function. The coworker mentions that they work closely with the Bible study leader and begins to share their experiences and observations about the leader’s behavior at work.

This newly acquired information is detrimental to the Bible study group, detrimental to the Church that this leader was involved in, and detrimental to the community as it begins to question and lose all respect for any other ministry this church and church leader may be involved in.

This is precisely the reason that Peter says in…

1 Peter 2:12 NASB95

12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

As believers, we are encouraged to have such a good reputation with non-believers that even if they try to accuse us of wrongdoing, they will still see our godly actions and(hopefully) eventually, praise God for it.

The second trait of a godly leader that we see from Nehemiah is that he was…

2. Burdened

We talked about this briefly last week, but today we will get a little more in depth…

In Scripture, a burden often refers to a calling or responsibility placed on an individual’s heart by God, urging them to take action for a specific cause.

Starting with the second half of v.1…

Nehemiah 1:1–2 “... It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel,

2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.”

A couple of things that I want to point out before we move further a head… and you can write this in the margins or on the back side of your outline if you’d like…

Here in chapter 1, Nehemiah says that it is the month of Chislev, which on our calendar would be November or December…

Chislev is Nov/Dec months on our Calendar… I mention that specifically because it will come into play when we get to Chapter 2… … and it may be a good question for a pop quiz… …

Also, I want to mention Shushan the Citadel…

Shushan (or Susa, depending on translation) - was one of the principal cities of the ancient Persian Empire, situated in what is now southwestern Iran. It was an important administrative and political center.

The Citadel refers to - a stronghold or fortified area within a city, typically used for protection and housing important officials.

One commentator labeled it as the winter palace of the Persian Kings.

I mention this fact to point out that… Nehemiah was living a pretty comfortable life…

He had…

The best food to eat (whatever the King was eating, Nehemiah ate it first), along with the best wine to drink.

The safest and best hotel in the city to sleep at… the Kings Palace… which, I am just speculating a moment, but I would have to imagine that his room had to be fairly close to the Kings room, just in case the King wanted a midnight snack or breakfast in bed in the morning…

Nehemiah didn’t really have to worry about anything, he was pretty well taken care of… and yet in v.2 all he is concerned about is the well being of his people and his hometown

His privileged position as the king’s cupbearer provided him with wealth, comfort, and influence—yet none of these material comforts could diminish his concern for the suffering and disgrace of the Jewish people in Jerusalem.

In our nation today, are we so comfortable in our personal circumstances that we’ve lost the burden for the struggles and needs of others around us?

Do you have a strong desire for SOMEONE ELSE to share the gospel in your neighborhood, so that you don’t have to step out of your comfort zone?

My beloved, we cannot become complacent to the fact that there are people around us who need the Gospel of Christ.

We cannot be content to simply enjoy the blessings of knowing Christ while others around us are suffering in spiritual darkness.

Just as Nehemiah could not ignore the needs of his people despite his privileged position, we too must be stirred from our comfort zones.

The Gospel is not just a gift to be kept for ourselves; it is a call to action, to reach out, to speak up, and to share the hope that we have in Christ.

Here is what Nehemiah was burdened about…

Nehemiah 1:3 “3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.””

I will give these to you fairly quickly… but Nehemiah had a burden for at least three things…

First of all, he was burdened for…

2.1 His Nation

NKJV calls them “the Survivors”, but the NASB calls them “The Remnant”… Indicating that there is only a small group of Jewish people there, even though it has been 100 years since they were allowed to return.

The Nation of Israel wasn’t growing and it was in great distress…

But Nehemiah’s burden went even deeper… … He was burdened for…

2.2 His City

His burden wasn’t just for his nation, but it was for his city, his hometown… He was told the walls of the city (Jerusalem) were broken down and the gates were burned… … basically it was all still in ruins…

In ancient times, city walls were crucial for a city's defense and survival. They served as physical barriers against invading armies, protecting the inhabitants from external threats.

Beyond their military importance, city walls also symbolized strength and stability, provided a sense of security for the people, and helped regulate trade and access to the city. Without strong walls, a city was vulnerable to attacks, raids, and instability.

Back then, a city without walls and locked gates was not a city at all…

Nehemiah was also burdened for…

2.3 His God

These men told Nehemiah that the city was in great distress and reproach…

Reproach means that they were facing shame and disgrace.

The broken walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of the people also brought reproach against God. The surrounding nations could mock the Jews and question the power of their God, seeing Jerusalem’s ruin as evidence of God’s weakness or abandonment.

Nehemiah’s burden to rebuild the walls was not just about physical security—it was also about restoring honor to God’s name.

Nehemiah was Above Reproach, He was Burdened and finally this morning, he was…

3. Broken

Nehemiah 1:4 “4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

There is a song that plays on Christian Radio that says…

“Jesus, Friend of Sinners, Break our Hearts for what Breaks yours”

It expresses a desire to have our hearts so aligned with God's, that we cannot help but grieve over sin, injustice, and suffering, and are moved to act with His love and mercy.

When Nehemiah heard about the condition of his Nation, his people… God’s People… … his heart was broken… …

Nehemiah’s brokenness was seen in 4 ways…

3.1 Physically

He says “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down… ” You ever have someone come in and say “I’ve got something to tell you, but you better sit down first”…?? Usually its because whatever they tell you is going to be so overwhelming that your knees might give out, or you may possibly faint… … That is what is going on here…

Nehemiah was so distraught by the news that he fell weak at the knees and had to sit down.

He was broken…

3.2 Emotionally

He said that he “… wept, and mourned for many days...”

What makes us weep for days???

The passing of someone close to us

The ending of serious relationship

Feelings of loneliness

Watching hallmark movies… … …

When is the last time you wept over the lost state of our nation? When is the last time you have wept over the lost state of your neighbors, your family members… your friends??…

Let me be the first to admit, it doesn’t happen enough… … …

Nehemiah was broken…

3.3 Mentally

Along with weeping and mourning, he was also Fasting… His desire to feel God’s presence during this troubling time was greater than his desire to eat food.

Again, what gets us to this point?… … …

Finally… Nehemiah was broken…

3.4 Spiritually

As he was weeping, mourning and fasting… he was also “… praying before the God of heaven.”

We will look at his prayer next week… But I will say this…

Nehemiah begins his efforts by listening… which is a great quality in a godly Leader…

Most worldly leaders start right off by telling everybody what they are going to do and how great it will be… But a spiritual leader will start by listening;

To God’s Word

For God’s Call

and listening for the needs of others.

And then they will start praying and asking God for direction on how to fill those needs.

Closing:

We will see more traits of a godly leader as we make our way through this study, but for today we will leave with these three…

A godly leader is…

Above reproach

Burdened for their Nation, their City and their God…

and A godly leader's heart breaks for what breaks God's heart.