GOOD LEADERSHIP FOR SUCCESS

What causes organizations to succeed in their goals and tasks?  One very important thing is good leaders.  And that is what we find today in Nehemiah 6. 

Neh. 6:1-16 

Throughout Nehemiah, we have seen excellent leadership.  Nehemiah inspired the people—Nehemiah prayed for the task and for success—Nehemiah prayed for relief from enemies and for internal problems as well.  And he dealt with what came up. 

Now in ch. 6, the enemies try again to get Nehemiah away from the project, thinking that he was the key to its success.  But Nehemiah would not be swayed by their threats nor their attempts to deceive him. 

What do we learn from this chapter about Nehemiah that are good leadership lessons for us today? 

1.      Nehemiah knew what the task was, and was not swayed by other things that would take him away from the task—yet the enemies tried.

a.       They were very close to finishing—just needed to hang the gates and it would be done.

b.      That is not the time to leave the task—Nehemiah knew that.

c.       In order to succeed in a task, you have to be sure you know the task.

                                                              i.      What is the task for this church?

                                                            ii.      What has God called it to be and do?

                                                          iii.      Though others may get sidetracked at times, leaders should not be sidetracked or not for long.  They are to call others back to the real task.

2.      When Nehemiah got tired and was about to be deceived to leave the task, what he did was pray.

a.       Notice he prayed for strength

 

                                                              i.      He and others needed

1.      Physical strength

2.      Emotional strength

3.      Spiritual strength

b.      He also prayed for God to take care of the enemies so that Nehemiah was not distracted by them.

                                                              i.      Is God big enough to do that?

                                                            ii.      Could that allow us to keep our focus where it should be—on God, and on the task He’s called us to? 

3.      When leaders remain focused—the task can be completed in incredible time

a.       52 days

b.      How long had the people lived in the city without getting the task done?  14 years

c.       Yes there was opposition, but there was no leader helping them work the plan. 

4.      Why did the task succeed now but had not years before?

a.       Of course we have to say because Nehemiah was a great leader who remained true to the task without getting sidetracked on things that were not as important.

b.      But ultimately, the wall was rebuilt because God was in the task.

                                                              i.      Nehemiah kept praying as he led—leaders need to do that.

                                                            ii.      Nehemiah had been given the heart for this task by God.

                                                          iii.      Nehemiah was able to inspire the people because of God’s providing the ok to do it from the Persian king, and the building materials as well.  It was clearly a work of God—not just a work of men.

 

5.      One thing I notice in chapter 7 about Nehemiah, he set up other leaders to watch over the city when the task was completed.

a.       Nehemiah didn’t do all the work—he could not have.  Remember he organized families and individuals from Jerusalem and other places to work on specific areas of the wall.

b.      Nehemiah must have also mentored or equipped leaders to replace him.  He would be going back to Persia in time.  For that to happen, he had to help others be leaders.

c.       Good leaders think of how they can replace themselves.

                                                              i.      SS teachers realize there is a time when they will not be teaching—but they can allow others to teach from time to time, to try out this skill and prepare for teaching.

                                                            ii.      Deacons can mentor and help others grow in their relationship with the Lord, so that if God calls someone to be a deacon at some point, the person already has the spiritual qualifications needed.

 

Who are you mentoring—encouraging—teaching—spending time with who could one day replace you in leadership? 

·         So good leaders know the task God has called them to.  And they keep working to remain true to the task. 

·         Good leaders also are people of prayer—prayer for themselves—for their own spiritual growth—but also for others to develop.  They gain direction from prayer and they get encouragement from prayer. 

·         Good leaders also are preparing someone to replace them in their task. 

·         A church never seems to have enough leaders—one thing that also means is that others need be willing to learn to be leaders or use their leadership skills from other areas in the church as well.  Could it be some of you who are not in leadership here in the church really should pray about more involvement in leadership?