The Trademark of God's Leaders - Nehemiah - Courageous and Bold

 

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

planters and leaders.

In this podcast we continue our study about the character, or characteristics, of good and godly leaders.

We find much to imitate in the life of Nehemiah. We’ve already identified in our previous episode that

he was a man of prayer. Prayer preceded his actions, and that is an excellent model for us.

In chapter 2, following four months of prayer (that is the interval between the month of Kislev (1:1) and

the month of Nisan (2:1)) it was time for Nehemiah to approach King Artaxerxes. We see in this

encounter that Nehemiah was a man of courage.

We read the following in the second part of verse 2 and in verse 3, “I was very much afraid, but 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?””

I would suggest that courage is not simply the absence of fear. To intentionally, or otherwise, overlook

dangerous or ambiguous situations is imprudent and potentially dangerous. Instead, there are times

when godly leaders must acknowledge our fears, give them to the Lord, and entrust ourselves to God’s

care and protection. In spite of – or in the midst of – fear, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must move

forward.

Courageous leaders are also willing and able to make difficult decisions in the midst of uncertainty or

ambiguity. Reluctance or failure to make a decision when a decision is necessary can sometimes be as

detrimental as the wrong decision. I have often said that “failure to make a decision is actually a

decision by default … it’s a decision to do nothing.” This can result in frustration and discouragement for those who follow us.

I would suggest that courageous, godly leaders should demonstrate these behaviors:

 Prayerfully and humbly seek the Lord for His course of action

 Be willing to face our fears and move forward

 While seeking to avoid mistakes, we cannot be afraid to ever make a mistake. Sometimes there

is an element of uncertainty, and it is necessary to step forward with faith and boldness. If we

have missed the mark, the Lord will gently restore us to the right path.

Lastly, Nehemiah moved forward with boldness. We continue the story in 2:4b-5. “Then I prayed to the

God of heaven, 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.”

Notice that Nehemiah’s first response was to pray. He then made a bold request of the king.

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

The Trademark of God's Leaders- Nehemiah's Intercessory Prayer

 

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

Today we continue this theme of intercessory prayer and its role in the life of a leader. In our last episode we concluded our series on the life and character of Daniel, and we now transition to Nehemiah. This Old Testament leader followed Daniel by approximately 100 years during the period when the Hebrews were still exiled in Babylon although a few had returned to Jerusalem. Nehemiah, like Daniel, made intercessory prayer on behalf of his people. When he heard the report about the situation in Jerusalem, we read the following in chapter 1, verses 4-7.

Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said, “Please, Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments: let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.

Several important things stand out to me in this passage.

 He wept and mourned for days about the situation. It became very personal to him.

 He was fasting and praying before God.

 He was praying on behalf of the sons of Israel.

 He confessed the sins of the sons of Israel against God.

 He also confessed “I and my father’s house have sinned.”

Nehemiah did not merely pray for the forgiveness of “their” sins. He, himself, “owned” the sins of the Israelites. In the last episode I quoted Ezekiel 22:30, and I repeat it here. The Lord, “looked for someone among them who would … stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Once again, I would suggest that leaders are called to “stand in the gap” in intercessory prayer.

Chapter 1 concludes with these words in verses 10 and 11. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

Before approaching King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah was “prayed up.”

Let us be like Nehemiah and Daniel and commit ourselves to a consistent discipline of prayer.

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