Rebuilding : Lessons from Nehemiah

1. Rebuilding:Lessons from Nehemiah Rebuilding Requires Good Leadership

2. Rebuilding Demands Good Leadership

3. Introduction • Husband and wife committed to God, their family, and each other recognize problems in their marriage. • Can anything be done? • Shaky marriages can be rebuilt. • Even if you have drifted apart. • Gotten too busy. • Neglected each other. • Started behaving badly toward one another. • REBUILDING IS POSSSIBLE!!

4. Introduction • Many things can benefit from knowing how to rebuild: homes, families, churches, schools, businesses, etc. • Nehemiah was a true God-send. • Divine help in an area vital to all of us. • Rebuilding is the theme. • Success through challenges. • The first key is most vital to success… • LEADERSHIP!!

5. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Genuinely concerned for others • “That Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ 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.” {Nehemiah 1:2-4)

6. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Deep heartache and anguish for others are hard to find… • “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’” {Luke 15:4-6)

7. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Elders, or leaders in a local church • Not just bosses who “run things” and have authority • Genuine care for the sheep • Willing to sacrifice for the rest of flock • Parents, spouses • Feel pain for their children/spouses • Spouse cares deeply for mate • Experience anguish of spirit when in harm’s way or hurtful conditions

8. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Walks with God • Nehemiah depended on God. • He prayed often. • He confessed his sins. • He knew the Scriptures and trusted what God said. • Nehemiah 1:4-11 • “Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven.” {Nehemiah 2:4}

9. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Walks with God • Nehemiah took surprising steps to accomplish great things. • He took his pain and sorrow to the Lord in prayer. • Nehemiah 2:2-8 • What things might be possible for this church if you acted on your faith? • What things might be possible for your family/marriage if you acted on your faith?

10. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Understands the problems • Personal investigation; not rumor and hearsay • “And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.” {Nehemiah 2:13-15}

11. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Understands the problems • Head is not in the sand • No blind optimism • Willing to see a clear picture, even if it’s bad! • It’s hard to fix something if you don’t know what is broken. • Needs to know:Where’s the problem? What went wrong? What’s broken; how bad is it? What do we need to fix it? • See it; say it; begin the rebuilding process!

12. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Calls others to the work • Rebuilding calls for “team work” • “Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work.” {Nehemiah 2:17,18}

13. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Calls others to the work • Rebuilding calls for team work. • “Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.” {Nehemiah 7:1,2}

14. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Calls others to the work • Rebuilding calls for team work • Walls were not rebuilt by one man moved by faith, duty, or pride. • Nehemiah was a valiant leader, but was not afraid to seek help from others. • God’s plan is for all members to be serving—real growth! • Ephesians 4:11-16 • 1 Corinthians 12:12-25

15. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Leads the way • Nehemiah did without • Worked and went the extra mile • People he led—did the same later! • “You can’t teach what you don’t know, you can’t lead where you won’t go.” • Lead other people to heaven—better resolve to go there yourself! • Nehemiah 5:14-19

16. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Confronts the evil • Nehemiah confronted, reprimanded, admonished, commanded, and contended • Leadership is not for the timid. • Nehemiah 5:6-11 • Nehemiah 13:6-30

17. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Confront the evil • If dominated by desire for people to like us and be happy • Short-sighted and self-serving desires aid the advance of evil • Must not be harsh and mean-spirited • “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” {2 Timothy 2:24-26}

18. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Maintains the vision • There are many distractions and fears. • Someone must keep his head above the clouds. • Remind us where we are going. • “And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses...Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’” {Nehemiah 4:14,20}

19. God’s Description of a Good Leader • Maintains the vision • Brings renewed courage and strength • Remind us that an awesome God fights for us. • “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” {1 Peter 5:7} • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” {Philippians 4:13} • “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” {Ephesians 3:20}

20. Are there things in your life that show signs of neglect, abandonment, or destruction? Marriage Family Spiritual life Congregation Nehemiah can help you!

21. Have genuine concern for others. • Walk with God. • Understand the problems. • Call others to the work. • Lead the way. • Confront evil. • Maintain the vision.