Section 10 - The Leader’s Pitfalls & Rewards

Group Activity: Create a one-page visual summary of the leader’s pitfalls.Study chapter 10-11 in BlackabyStudy chapters 20-22 in Sanders

The Leader Nehemiah

J. Oswald Sanders,Spiritual Leadership,

Chapter 22

Nehemiah is one of the most inspiring leaders in the Bible.His vigorous reforms produced rapid effective change - we can trace this effectiveness back to the quality of his character.

Nehemiah was a man ofGreat Character

1. He was a man of prayerThis was a normal part of life and living - he heard about jerusalem and prayed - 1:4,6, 2:4, 4:4,9, 5:19, 6:14 etc.

2. He was a man of courage6:11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”Fearlessness is often inspiring for the people you lead.

3. He was a man of concern2:10 - shown in fasting, prayer and tears 1:4-61:6 shows his identification with his people,let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

4. He was a man of foresightHe carefully planned his strategy - for example he realised opposition would arise so he got letters before he left for Jerusalem 2:85. He was a man of cautionHe took 3 days upon his arrival to assess the situation, even though he felt the urgency of things - when he started work he did not announce it to everyone, and he set guards from the early days.

6. He was a man of decisivenessHe did not put off making decisions.He had no favourites - rebuking the workers and officials in the same way 5:77. He was a man of empathyHe listened to people - and then took action depending upon their grievance - 4:10-12, 5:1-5

8. He was a man of realism - 4:9But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.He understood the need to know the world and to rely on God9. He was a man of responsibilityHe took responsibility - then followed through on all aspects of it whether easy or hard.

8. He was a man of realism - 4:9But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.He understood the need to know the world and to rely on God9. He was a man of responsibilityHe took responsibility - then followed through on all aspects of it whether easy or hard.

Realism in the arts was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s in spite of harsh opposition from the art community in France. The name of the style is derived from the title of a Claude Monet work, Realism, soleil levant (Realism, Sunrise), which provoked the critic Louis Leroy to coin the term in a satiric review published in the Parisian newspaper Le Charivari.

10. He was a man of administrationCalm in a crisis, fearless initiator, decision maker and persevering leader, resolute against threats - people had confidence in him.

Nehemiah led through Effective Methods

1. He raised moraleHe moved peoples focus away from the impossible and onto the greatness of God2:20 -  The God of heaven will give us success.”8:10 - This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

2. He built a culture of faithFaith builds faith - pessimism destroys faith.As a leader you have to build faith in people’s hearts.

3. He rekindled hopeThe people were downcast when Nehemiah arrived - he told of the vision and provision of God in his life - 2:18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

4. He exercised personal disciplineNehemiah lived the life - he didn’t stop and correct the people but showed them that his conviction was deeply held and to be acted upon.In this he showed that problems could be overcome by decisive action - e.g. The events of Neh 4:10-16 and his follow through.

5. He corrected peopleNeh 5:1-15The poor brothers had been taken advantage of by their rich brothers - Nehemiah addressed this - he listened and sympathised - and then negotiated a successful resolution to the problem

6. He recovered the authority of the WOGThe standard of God’s word was vital - 8:1-8. In this he restored worship and saw true repentance come into peoples hearts and minds - 9:3-5, 13:4-9 - tithing, sabbath rest and forbidden marriage with non-Israelites also returned.

7. He organized wellBefore starting he surveyed people and resources - it might seem to be paper pushing and time consuming but it undoubtedly helped Nehemiah to get the job done well. He established objectives and gave them to key men - in all of this he opened up the potential of others to be used.

8. Nehemiah demonstrates an all roundedness to being a man of God“he faced up to opposition without forcing violent confrontation, took insults, innuendo, treachery, he walked through with much prayer and head held high. When possible he simply ignored his adversaries - he took precautions but never allowed people to deflect him from his task. He always kept faith in God.”

Nehemiah 6:15So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

What do you most admire about Nehemiah - how can you use this to try to emulate him?

What would you like to leave behind by the time your life is done?