LEARNING TO LEAD. Nehemiah 2:9-20

Transcription

1 LEARNING TO LEAD Nehemiah 2:9-20

2 Outline of Nehemiah Nehemiah as Cupbearer (1:1 2:8) Nehemiah as Builder (2:9 7:4) Nehemiah as Governor (7:5 13:31)

3 Nehemiah 2:9-11 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with

4 Nehemiah 2:11-14 me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that

5 Nehemiah 2:14-17 was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates

6 Nehemiah 2:17-19 burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision. And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered

7 Nehemiah 2:19-20 at us and despised us and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king? Then I replied to them, The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. (ESV)

8 HE WAS FAITHFUL BEHIND THE SCENES So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days And I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem (2:11-12)

9 What was he doing? He was silently formulating a plan

10 Leadership Axiom The greater the pressure of the job, the more time is needed away from the job.

11 Time Alone And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do. (2:12, ESV) I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. (2:16, ESV)

12 What was he doing? He was silently formulating a plan He was doing research I went out by night and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. (2:13, ESV)

13 Inspected,שבר) sheber) To examine. A medical word for probing a wound to see the extent of the damage. Carefully studying and then determining what needs to be done.

14 HE MOTIVATED THE PEOPLE Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem (2:17)

15 Four Elements of Leadership He identifies with the people You see the trouble we are in Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision. (2:17, ESV)

16 Four Elements of Leadership He identifies with the people He acknowledges the seriousness of the situation Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned (2:17, ESV)

17 A True Leader Knows It is not seeing the difficulties that prevents actions, but failing to see the resources.

18 Four Elements of Leadership He identifies with the people He acknowledges the seriousness of the situation He calls them to action Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision. (2:17, ESV)

19 Four Elements of Leadership He identifies with the people He acknowledges the seriousness of the situation He calls them to action He gives a personal testimony And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me (2:18, ESV)

20 Nehemiah 2:18 And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work. (ESV)

21 HE STOOD FIRM DESPITE OPPOSITION They jeered at us and despised us (2:19)

22 Nehemiah 2:10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. (ESV)

23 Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king? (ESV)

24 Jeered,לעג) lug) Stammer in one s face, to continually ridicule. To utter words repeatedly.

25 Nehemiah 2:20 Then I replied to them, The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. (ESV)

26 What Is Success in Leadership? It is listening to God-given vision It is having a willingness to follow even if no one joins you even amidst opposition It is boldly acknowledging the risks and costs It is sharing God s vision with others It is issuing a challenge for others to join in with the vision

27 Implementing God-Sized Dreams When God s people catch God s vision mighty things happen in God s name

28 LEARNING TO LEAD Are you ready to be used by God for His glory?