The Character of a Leader - Nehemiah 4

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Today we continue our series on the leadership qualities of Nehemiah, the Old Testament leader who led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.  

We resume the story in chapter 3, verses 8-12, where the record tells us about those who joined the work.  What stands out to me is the diversity of those who helped … including goldsmiths, perfume-makers and the daughters of Shallum.  I see in this that Nehemiah was exceptional at motivating people.  This characteristic appears again in 4:6 where it’s written that “the people worked with all their heart.”  It’s important that church planters and VCP leaders be able to motivate people to a cause … the Cause of Christ.   

Chapter 4 introduces the opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and others.  I appreciate Nehemiah’s response in 4:9. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” We, like Nehemiah, must first trust God and then do our part as well.  VCP leaders and church planters face opposition from many sources … other religions, local or governmental leaders, sometimes even church leaders.  In the face of such challenges, we must pray, trust God, and then discern and practice what the Holy Spirit instructs us to do.  

I appreciate the instructions Nehemiah gave in 4:16-18.  “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other.”  What a great picture of a spiritual worker!  They labor with one hand while holding the weapons of spiritual warfare in the other. Ephesians 6:10-18 provides excellent instruction for us as we prepare to engage in spiritual warfare.  

Lastly, I’d like to point out one additional characteristic of a leader that I see in the fourth chapter.  4:18b tells us that “The man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.”  And 4:20a, “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there.” 

Leaders are responsible for warnings and communication.  Ezekiel 33:6-7 and Hosea 8:1 are two of many scriptures that describe the duty of leaders to sound an alarm or issue a warning to the people.  Sometimes, leaders, these messages are difficult and not well received.  Nonetheless, we are to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) We are held accountable if we fail to do so.   

Leaders motivate and inspire others.  Leaders trust God and also do their part.  Leaders are responsible to communicate warnings to the people that will help protect them. 

 This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.