Nehemiah - A Small Group Leader Lead By God

How many times have you heard a series of messages on the book of Nehemiah?  I have probably heard this book preached more than any other book in the Bible.  It's must be a favourite, especially when gleaning leadership principles.  Leaders attempt to "grow" other leaders.

As I (re)read Nehemiah this time around I realized that there is so much more to see!  If you were a teacher or preacher you could easily spend 12 or more weeks in this book as there are so many applications to teach and apply in our lives.

Nehemiah, like Esther, is another book one ought to sit down and read and reread and let the Holy Spirit teach you, convict you (as necessary) and encourage you.  God wants to use me and you just as he uses Nehemiah.  Nehemiah is really just an "average guy" like us...but with God leading him and directing his steps and answering his prayers, he became all that God wanted him to be for the assignment he was given by God. He was fully equipped (by God) for the task and was very successful despite much opposition from the enemy within and without.

Here are a number of words which hint at the numerous life lessons covered in this book: Prayer, Intercession, Brokenness, Rebuild, Restore, Reinforce, Reconstruct, Repent, Return, Reform, Renewal, Revival, Re ______,  Compassion, Sacrifice, Determination, Leadership, Faith, Dependence on God, Community, Cooperation, Courage, Commitment, Coming together, Working together, Standing firm, Doing our part, Overcoming fear, Overcoming discouragement, Standing Firm, Defending one another, Being wise, Watching out, Listening to God's Word, Obeying God's Word, Covenant, Promises kept, Faithful, Joy of the Lord, Rejoicing, Celebrating, Helping the poor, Giving ....

What I noticed most in my reading this time is the importance of having an intimate relationship with God through prayer.  God placed a burden on Nehemiah's heart when he heard that the walls had not been built and the gates were burned down.  Nehemiah responds. He fasts and prays.  He actually interceded for Jerusalem and their situation for about 4 months before doing anything.  He becomes an answer to his own prayer.  God wanted him to return to Jerusalem and help rebuild the walls.  But ...how could he leave his job of serving the king and queen Esther?  God worked it out and he was actually given a leave of absence and sent to Jerusalem by the king with all that he needed to start the rebuilding the walls.

Nehemiah demonstrates wisdom (from God) as he figures out what should be done and how to do it.  He shares his vision and easily motivates (with God's help) everyone to get involved in the rebuilding project. Nehemiah organizes and leads the project but he also rolls up his sleeves and works along side the people. He leads by example.

When the enemy came to discourage and distract them from their work, Nehemiah was provided wisdom by God to keep the project going, allowing them to keep working and to also being ready to fight the enemy if/when necessary. Everyone worked hard and probably didn't get much sleep but there was tremendous cooperation among the small groups of men and women as they worked on their section of the walls. The walls and gates were (re)built in 52 days. A mammoth project done in record time! God worked with them and through them and answered their prayers as they worked.

The joy of the Lord was there strength! When they finished the project there was more time of rejoicing. Ezra reads the word and explains it to them. Repentance occurs over their past wrong doings.  Action was taken to correct their mistakes (sin). They all renew their commitment to follow God and obey His word.  They (re)celebrate the Feasts of Tabernacles which lasts 7 days but is very similar in activities to the Purim Feast we learned a little about last week.  I think the Jewish people know how to party and hopefully going forward will remember why they are rejoicing!

If we are going to become great leaders we are going to have to become great men and women of  prayer and of the Word and learn to lead by example ... in other words become more and more like Nehemiah who was like Jesus.

This is my goal and vision for us all!  Let's help each other achieve this goal of prayerful, servant leadership in the areas of service that God has equipped us and called us to do.  (see Ephesians 2:10)

By the way, Nehemiah 9 provides a great little summary of many of the attributes of God and his plan of redemption and restoration as recorded in the OT..











    

Daniel and Friends - Great Faith, Much Prayer

It has been a while since I have read the account of Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azarriah or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  I have been blessed and challenged again!

These young guys are amazing!  Because of their integrity, faithfulness, commitment to God and strong prayer life, God blesses them and places them all in very influential and powerful positions within a kingdom of a foreign land - Babylon. These young men remind me of Joseph and how God blessed his life and allowed him to find favour in whatever He did while in a foreign land.

The miracles that we see God do to protect "his kids" also standout.  Their (our) God obviously gets the attention of the king of this foreign land after seeing the miracles God does to protect and save them.  God is recognized as the God of gods.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abendengo get thrown into a fiery furnace because they wouldn't bow down and worship the 90 feet high golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar makes.  They would die if necessary but believed God would save them.  Even if He didn't save them, they would still not bow down and worship this image.  I wonder ... would I be able to respond like these young men?  Would I take such a stand for God? Would my faith be this strong? Would I be willing to die for my faith?  I'd like to be able to say "yes"!  Sure, I know I have said, like Peter, I am willing to die for my faith ... but I am also hoping I am never tested to this extent.  If ever faced with this kind of situation, I trust that I will be given enough grace to have this same kind of bold faith in God regardless of the outcome.

Daniel also takes a bold stand when later in his life, king Darius was tricked into making an edict that forced everyone to only pray to him for a 30 day period or else they would be thrown to the lions.    Daniel ignores the edict and doesn't change his practice of praying three times per day and is consequently thrown into the lion's den. Like his friends, Daniel is protected and delivered. The lions somehow  - actually we know how! - were not hungry that evening and Daniel remains alive. King Darius was overjoyed that Daniel was still alive. Darius ultimately gives a decree that everyone in his kingdom must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.  Daniel prospered  during the reign of Darius and later, the reign of Cyrus.  Wow!  God receives all the glory and was well know to everyone while Daniel lived.  

These are amazing miracles ... not unlike parting the red sea or providing manna daily for 40 years to over three million people in the desert, and more! But we know that nothing is impossible for God.

Some of us may be going through some very challenging times.  As you face your "mountain" and difficult time, continue to put your trust in the One and only God of all creation and His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that we have been given.  Trust Him.  Pray about everything.  Let Him protect you and carry you through. Remain faithful. Remain strong and courageous.  Do not fear. He is able to deliver thee! He has promised to be with you always.  We are praying for you.  Pray for those in your small group. Prayer, I believe and am learning, is the most important work we can do. God hears and answers. Be filled and stay in step with the Holy Spirit. Spend time reading His word. Pray that I do the same!  As the chorus says, "Dare to be a Daniel!"  

The (Spiritual) Battle is On

I must admit that I enjoy reading Chapter 1 of Joshua.  Joshua has been mentored by Moses for 40 years. His faith has increased and He knows that God is on their side as a people.  He and Caleb are the only survivors within their age group and now he has the job of being a leader and taking a large number of people into the promised land.  He will have to "clean house" of all the other little kingdoms who worship other gods. There is going to be a number of battles to be fought and Joshua was going to have to lead the way.  He wasn't feeling very comfortable about his role.  In fact he was afraid and God knew it.  (God knows everything!)

I love what God says to Joshua (and us). "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you (your name goes here); I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous ... be strong and very courageous ... Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not  be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5-9. Two times God says He will be with Joshua (and us) and three times he tells Joshua (and us) to be strong and courageous.  Don't be afraid.  I am asking you to lead.  I will be with you and instruct you and in fact you will see that I will fight your battles.

The people say that they will follow Joshua and also speak a word of encouragement to Joshua..."Be strong and courageous!" Sound familiar!  God encourages them and demonstrates that He is with them by allowing them to cross the Jordan on dry land.  God parts the Jordan just like He did the Red Sea when Moses was their leader. I think their God-confidence level just went up several notches.  The people who were currently occupying the promised land were now the ones who were afraid.

Many battles occur at Jericho, Ai, and many more other kingdoms - 31 in all.

We too are in a battle as we move towards the promised land the Lord has for us.  The world that we live in is currently run by the devil.  We are foreigners in it.  "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" - Ephesians 6:12.

The battles Joshua fought were often ruthless.  The city and people in it had to be destroyed because they were following and worshiping false gods.  We too must be ruthless when we root out the sins in our lives ...even the so called "respectable / acceptable" sins.  These days there are many sins that are done in secret and many sins of omission (i.e. not doing the things we ought to be doing).

Read Colossians chapter 3.  It provides a good summary of some things that we should "put to death" and things that we should "clothe" ourselves with to represent the Lord well.

In Colossians chapter 4 ... Paul also reminds us to "devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful".  Guess who doesn't want us to pray and will do whatever he can to keep us from it.  You're right ... the devil.  He knows that there is power in prayer?  If we are prayer less (a sin of omission) he has us where he wants us..

Moses prayed much.  Joshua prayed much. Daniel prayed much. Jesus prayed much.  Paul prayed much. We ought to pray much. We need to make prayer a priority if we want to be the holy nation that God wants us to be while here on earth. Pray for one another. Pray to be filled with His Holy Spirit.


Don't be afraid.  Be strong and courageous as you set the example for others.  May they see Christ in us and want more of what we have as we let our light shine and reach out in love.  Our goal is to fix our eyes on Jesus and to know Him more and to become like Him in character and deed.


To do this we will have to be found praying and reading the Word and knowing the Word and meditating on it and doing it (applying it) by faith. He will transform us into His likeness as we trust and obey and root out any sin in our lives.  Be ruthless in dealing with sin ... confess it, repent of it and ask God to replace any bad habits with good / Godly habits.

  

Moses A Man of "X" Uses to a Man God Uses

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

When God calls us to do something for Him, our typical reaction is often like Moses.  Who Me!  I can't! Can you get someone else to do it!  We often feel inadequate for the job he has for us.  If that's the way you feel, you are actually the perfect person for the job.  God can use you!  He becomes all we need when we are weak. You simply becomes His mouth piece, His ears and eyes, and His hands and feet. He gives you the words to speak.  He instructs you on what actions to take and He works through you displaying His power so that others will recognize that God is present and is accomplishing the work by His mighty hand ... and that He indeed is I AM and that "He will" do what He says He will do. Mind you, things work out this way only when we spend time with God, talking to Him and listening to Him, as Moses surely did when he was placed in His leadership position.

Once Moses actually saw God demonstrating His power and using him despite his personal weaknesses and feelings of inadequacy, Moses learned to trust Him and depend on Him for whatever was needed.  He becomes one of the greatest leaders in history (in our eyes) but in God's eyes he is recognized as being the humblest man on earth.  Numbers 12:3 - "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth."  It is probably a good thing that God never said that to his face ... as pride would have probably crept in!

Moses became a man that God could use because he learned to completely depend on God and he spent much "face to face" time with God talking to Him and listening to Him and doing what He says.  We also learn that when He failed to follow God's instructions, there were consequences. God didn't allow Moses to enter the promised land because he disobeyed (once) but we also know that we will surely see Moses in His Kingdom when we are called to spend eternity there.

Also remember that before God called Moses to deliver His people, Moses had tried to deliver his people in his own strength and might 40 years earlier.  He failed, he ran away and became a "nobody" in man's eyes and he could hardly put two words together anymore because of spending all his time leading "dumb" sheep.

As leaders of our small groups, we need to learn to spend much time with God and depend on Him for what we have been called to do.  We "can't" but He can through us because He is I AM.  Like Moses and Paul we can learn to say, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." - Philippians 3:14.  James also exhorts us and reminds us to "Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you." -James 4:10