THE MAKING OF A LEADER | LEADERSHIP SERIES 1 | Nehemiah 1:1-4
Mike Prah
“The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” Deuteronomy 28:13 (NIV)
“When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.” Proverbs 28:2 (NLT+GN)
"With honest, sensible leaders there is stability." Proverbs 28:2 (LB)
I. LAWS OF LEADERSHIP
1. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL SOMEONE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR IT
Everything rises or falls on leadership
“A city without wise leaders will end up in ruin; a city with many wise leaders will be kept safe.” Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (NKJV)
Greatest Problem: Where there is no leadership, people do their own thing. There is instability
2. LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE
“If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God … and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail.” Deuteronomy 28:13 (NLT)
“Select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.” Exodus 18:21 (NLT)
Biblical Definition of a Leader:
A leader is someone with God-given ability and responsibility to influence people to accomplish God's purpose
Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” John 10:27 (NKJV)
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. BE AN EXAMPLE to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
3. THE FOUNDATION OF LEADERSHIP IS CHARACTER NOT CHARISMA
"Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)
3 Characteristics of Good Leaders
-
Good leaders have a message worth remembering
-
Good leaders have a lifestyle worth considering
-
Good leaders have a faith worth imitating
4. LEADERSHIP CAN BE LEARNED
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice." Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
“Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (GN)
“The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after He was raised from the dead, and He spoke to them about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 (NCV)
5. THE MOMENT YOU STOP LEARNING, YOU STOP LEADING
"If the ax is dull, and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV)
II. PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
WHY DID GOD CHOOSE NEHEMIAH AS A LEADER?
"The word of Nehemiah … While I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah and some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, `Those that survived the exile are back in the province and they are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates have been burned with fire. When I heard these things I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned, fasted and prayed before the Lord God.” Nehemiah 1:1-4 (NIV)
1. NEHEMIAH WAS SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS ABOUT HIM
"When I heard these things I sat down and I wept and for some days I mourned and I fasted and I prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
Leadership Principle #1: Leaders are sensitive to the needs of people around them
2. NEHEMIAH WAS DEPENDABLE
"… I was the cupbearer to the king." Nehemiah 1:11 (NIV)
Leadership Principle # 2: Dependability is much more important than ability
3. NEHEMIAH WAS AVAILABLE
“I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire? The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him SEND ME to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:3-5 (NIV)