Be a Leader, Not a Boss
Faithful Men's Breakfast - Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 179 viewsTraining future leaders in the church
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Introduction:
The Lord has placed me in different leadership positions throughout my career both in the corporate world and here at Brookside.
I have never felt like I was completely prepared or deserving of the different opportunities that I have had, and I think that God planned it that way so that I would have a dependence on Him.
Because of and through my experiences in my different positions, the Lord has given me a burden for godly leadership in our churches and homes.
I have so much to learn and will continue to always learn, but I believe that we have a generation who is growing up today without the godly example of leadership that they need, and we are losing that generation.
The Millennials have surpassed the Baby Boomers as the larger and more influential generation in the United States at 78 million strong.
We see what happens in if we don’t raise, disciple, mentor, and lead the future generations in the ways of the Lord.
10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.
I believe that we need authentic and real leaders in our homes and churches today, who look to and allow God to develop their gifts, and who lead and influence their families and others to a life dedicated to honoring and glorifying God.
10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.
- if we don’t think generationally.
There is no success if the generations that follow us fall away from the Lord.
A godly leaders convictions - Nehemiah 13:8-24
I try to model servant leadership, getting my hands dirty, and a team first mentality, with everyone on the team playing an important role based on their gifts, skills, and positions that God has placed them in.
We see these examples in Nehemiah as the wall and people of Jerusalem are rebuilt.
One of my favorite leadership “sayings” is “Be a leader, not a boss,” and we are going to look at 4 area’s of being a leader - showing how it’s done, developing people, fixing the breakdown, and Asking (prayer) - in as Nehemiah encounters 4 problems in his return to Jerusalem. Lets begin by reading .
1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. 6 But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.
25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, 31 and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times.
Remember me, O my God, for good!
There is No Success Without a Successor
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.
5 And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
For I was the king’s cupbearer.
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said,
Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, 6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.” 10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man.
At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.
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.
When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after his time with King Artaxerxes, he encountered 4 problems.
Compromising (vs. 1-9)
Eliashib the priest prepares and gives Tobiah a large room in the temple chambers.
Tobiah is an Ammonite and is not permitted to enter the temple.
Nehemiah takes action immediately, throws all of the household goods of Tobiah out of the room, commands that the room be cleansed, and brings back the grain offerings.
Do you see how decisive Nehemiah was?
Nehemiah would have none of the compromise.
Nehemiah SHOWS HOW ITS DONE!
Tobiah had taken advantage of the leadership vaccuum when Nehemiah left.
After Nehemiah’s absence in Jerusalem, order did not continue as he had planned. Nehemiah had to continue to make political and religious reforms when he returned to Jerusalem.
He took immediate action and it did not take long for Nehemiah to take care of the situation.
A godly leader has a long-term and continual job. Leadership is not limited to a small window of time. Being effective as a leader takes continual growth, hard work, and commitment to the long term.
Neglect/Indifference (vs. 10-14)
The Levites are to live on tithes that are given but they weren’t receiving them, so they left.
They went to their fields and towns to try to make a living.
Nehemiah asks, “why is the house of God forsaken?”
So he gets everyone together and appoints reliable men who’s responsibility it was to oversee this business.
Nehemiah DEVELOPS PEOPLE!
Nehemiah develops others to carry on (13:13)
He had disciplined his people to serve the Lord according to the law
When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he learned the people had compromised Gods statutes.
Nehemiah had failed to develop and reproduce his vision in a team of leaders, and everyone drifted.
Leaders need to be developed and positioned to carry on.
Are you a channel of God’s love for those who need it? Do you see bad behavior and sin in peoples lives and lovingly confront,
The pastors and deacons here at Brookside are currently going through the book “Sticky Teams,” and in chapter 9, the author Larry Osborne writes, “I want everyone to view ministry and leadership training as a lifelong process. We can’t afford to stop learning and growing.”
Have you stopped learning and growing? Are you developing others so that they continue to learn and grow as disciples and leaders dedicated to God?
We need to think of leadership training as something to be dripped into peoples lives rather than poured in all at once.
If you think of an avalanche, it is full of power and fury and looks impressive, but 10 years later, you’d never know it happened.
Glaciers are boring. They look like nothing is happening. But changes are slowly happening and beautiful valleys made as the glacier does its work.
Who are you pouring your life into?
Commercialism (vs.15- 22)
The people of Judah are working on the sabbath, bringing food into Jerusalem to sell, so Nehemiah closes and guards the gates.
The traders then hang out around the gates to try to draw people outside of the city to buy, but Nehemiah also shuts this down by telling them that if they camp out around the gate anymore on the sabbath, he will lay hands on them, or remove them by force.
Nehemiah FIXES THE BREAKDOWN AND CLOSES THE GATES, AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE TRADERS TO CAMP OUT, TRADE, OR SELL ON THE SABBATH.
In verse 17, we see Nehemiah confronting those who he felt were responsible for the violation of the sabbath.
As family heads and city leaders, these men were responsible for the attitudes and regulations of the people, and they were irresponsible in allowing the trading and selling of goods on the sabbath.
Nehemiah’s purpose in fixing this breakdown was so Israel could meditate on the Bible and for the people to know God.
There is a valuable principle here in that our time today has no boundaries so that we can sit and read the Bible and meditate.
Our electronic toys are constantly going off, social media has something new coming across, emails are arriving and oh yeah, I need another cup of coffee.
Do you take the time to read over the Word of God and read it slowly and meditate on it?
How can you fix the breakdown of all your God time being sucked away?
Disobedience in marriage (vs. 23-31) - In these verses, we see we see intermarriage with pagans. Men were marrying the women of Israels enemies.
The book of Nehemiah begins and ends with prayer.
Each step of the way, Nehemiah sought the Lord for direction. He began by calling on the Lord to do what He had promised to do for Jerusalem. He ended by calling on the Lord to remember him for good.
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.
He bagan by calling on the Lor
Isn’t it interesting to see, as we do in verse 25, that when our families break down, a nation breaks down?
Throughout the book of Nehemiah, it is clear that Nehemiah knew the scriptures.
Nehemiah used the example of Solomon’s mistakes to teach his people. If one of the kings of Israel fell because of marriages like this, others could too. Nehemiah saw this principle in Solomon’s example: Your gifts and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses. A tendency to sin must be recognized and dealt with swiftly. (HCSB)
A leader must know God’s Word. God’s Word will provide direction for a leader in qualities of leadership that are required as well as positive and negative examples that a leader should follow.
(Forward looking prayer)
The book of Nehemiah begins and ends with prayer.
Each step of the way, Nehemiah sought the Lord for direction. He began by calling on the Lord to do what He had promised to do for Jerusalem. He ended by calling on the Lord to remember him for good.
Do you ask Him to guide and direct you in your Christian walk?
Nehemiah 13
1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. 6 But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.
25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. 27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, 31 and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times.
Remember me, O my God, for good!
Conclusion:
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
After Nehemiah’s absence in Jerusalem, order did not continue as he had planned. Nehemiah had to continue to make political and religious reforms when he returned to Jerusalem.
A godly leader has a long-term and continual job. Leadership is not limited to a small window of time. Being effective as a leader takes continual growth, hard work, and commitment to the long term.
Nehemiah was a man of action.
Nehemiah develops others to carry on (13:13)
He showed how to be a leader by warning, admonishing and reprimanding the ungodly.
When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he learned the people had compromised Gods statutes. Nehemiah had failed to develop and reproduce his vision in a team of leaders, and everyone drifted. Leaders need to be developed and positioned to carry on.
When a family breaks down, a nation breaks down.
26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. 27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
Throughout the book of Nehemiah, it is clear that Nehemiah knew the scriptures.
A leader must know God’s Word. God’s Word will provide direction for a leader in qualities of leadership that are required as well as positive and negative examples that a leader should follow.
Nehemiah 13:25vs 25 When a family breaks down, a nation breaks down.
Nehemiah used the example of Solomon’s mistakes to teach his people. If one of the kings of Israel fell because of the influence of believers, others could too. Nehemiah saw this principle in Solomon’s example: Your gifts and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses. A tendency to sin must be recognized and dealt with swiftly. (HCSB)
He was a great builder who showed the people of Jerusalem how to live a godly life without compromising, in developing people to lead those who may be indifferent in the ways of the Lord, how to fix a breakdown in responsibilities and actions, and how to ask and seek God for direction.
When a family breaks down, a nation breaks down.
Conclusion:
Nehemiah’s life and ministry still speak, for he is clearly set forth in Scripture as a model of capable, godly leadership.
Nehemiah was not a priest or a prophet. He was a layman who put himself as well as his gifts and abilities entirely at God’s disposal.
But Nehemiah was a person who talked with God and walked with God.
Our sinful nature makes it easy to trend towards compromise, failure, and disobedience, so you must keep watch over your heart, actions and habits.
In what areas of leadership do you need to reevaluate, learn, grow, and restore?
Asks - Praying to God. Takes action immediately - shows how its done. Fixes the breakdown - closes the gates. Develops people - He had disciplined his people to serve the Lord according to the law.