"Do you know that we will judge angels? Then we should be able to judge the things of this life even more! So suppose you disagree with one another in matters like this. Who do you ask to decide which of you is right? Do you ask people who live in a way the church disapproves of? Of course not!" Those are Paul's words as he admonishes the Corinthian church. He was correcting a young, carnal fellowship and offering them Biblical correction when they lived no different from the world. They were called to be light and salt in.
It should be sad and overwhelming when we hear of problems within a church fellowship when the actions of those within a community of believers cause sinners in the world to mock Jesus' power to save and change people. Forgetting the directives of Jesus when he preached on the mountain, the message Christians call "The Sermon on the Mount" is found in Maatthew5-7 is to look just like the world in matters of dispute. Jesus' sermon was pivotal for those listening and us today. Jesus separated those who live by the flesh from those who live in the power of his Spirit. The choices in the Spirit will change our lives forever and be the light that can draw all men to The Father through the work of His Son.
Nehemiah is an excellent example of godly leadership. A man who was dependent on his God professionally and personally. A man who prayed to show that dependence then acted in conjunction with his prayer. He stood righteously against his people's enemies while not causing them to blaspheme God with his actions. Lastly, he stood up in his community against unrighteousness that began to divide God's people.
At the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, we see him taking a step of faith against his fear to ask the King for help for his people. When questioned by the king, he says, "so I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king..." Nehemiah did not trust his wisdom but that of God, who He knew was the arbiter of what was being put in his heart to do. Jeremiah 9:23-24, a passage Nehemiah would have been familiar with, directs lovers of God not to boast in their wisdom.
Secondly, he sought out the resources of the king, which we can be assured was a directive from God. We see this when Israel left Egypt and plundered their goods, Exodus 12:35-36. Remember, Nehemiah is praying as he goes. Using the resources of the world, as directed by God, is to understand Haggai 2:8, " 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of Hosts.' " God can get us the resources for His work how He chooses, and often that is through plundering the resources of the world, which belong to Him. Nehemiah knew the king's heart was favorable towards him, "And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me."
Third, Nehemiah was able to encourage those he led. He kept the lines of communication open. He understood he was God's resource to the people. He wasn't their king. This kind of humility is missing in so many leaders today. Sadly in our government, but even worse when it's missing in our churches. Peter says in his first epistle, "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." Nehemiah was a walking example before the people he led, and they followed willingly because he did not exasperate them. The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem began.
Nehemiah deals with their enemies in God's power, not his own. in Nehemiah chapter 4, the plot against God's plan came to fruition, and Nehemiah prayed and acted in practical ways. As the enemy "plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion... we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night." He didn't feel he needed to keep the information from those he led. It says, "we prayed to our God..." They came together as a community to pray, leading to the wise steps of also setting a guard. We know God could have easily sent angels to fight for them. But in this case, it was better to put their feet into the battle where they sought God's direction on their knees. The community has a right to know what is going on so they may pray and seek God's face. There may be times the fellowship may not need to know all that is happening, but when the problem is going to impact them, God's people should know. Leaders are not dealing with children, so treating them this way is not conducive to sound judgment. I will say Hezekiah dealt a bit differently, but those he led still had information, and out of respect for him, they responded respectfully and submissively. Also, I'm willing to abdicate my thinking on this for what Scripture has to say. Matthew 18:15-20 has a lot to say about the process of how to make sin known to the church if it gets that far.
Nehemiah encourages the people not to be afraid while opposing those who dealt contrary to God's law. Nehemiah was trusted by the people. When their enemies came against them, they looked to their leader, who was there for them. God was on Nehemiah's side because Nehemiah continued behaving righteously. God stepped in and fought against their enemies for them by frustrating their plans. The people would see God's favor on Nehemiah, which builds confidence in his leadership. He prepared the people physically to watch out for their enemies. This was not a lack of faith but putting his feet to his faith. He worked right alongside his people, 4:23 "neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand." This action was right after explaining that God would fight for them. A good leader gets his hands dirty with his people. They don't just direct, but they stand alongside. They remember they are equals in God's eyes. It is a gift to lead and a privilege. The gift is not to dictate or be the boss. God is the Boss!
Nehemiah also rebuked those of his people who were attempting to rob some of the other people. "I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these word. I took counsel with myself..." He did not let his anger become a sinful practice. The rich were charging astronomical prices for loans. One of the reasons Nehemiah was angry was the possible gossip that would get out of Jerusalem to the enemies. The work they were doing in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was accredited to a work God-initiated. Their foolish actions would cause others to think God's hand is short to carry out what He called His people to. That is what happens when there are huge fallouts in the churches today. People gossip and spread the story in a thousand different ways. People come to the conclusion that God cannot hold His people together, "Look how they behave. They are no different than us. Why should we walk with the God they represent?" You may say, "well, that's them judging us!" I'd respond, "they have every right to." When we call ourselves lovers of God and behave in ways that represent Him badly, we stand in the place to be judged.
The humility of those being corrected in Nehemiah's day is refreshing. They said, "we will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say... And the people did as they had promised." They honored the leadership of Nehemiah as a cohesive people, respecting his decisions and respecting one another. They took correction and became more like the God they served. They prayed, built, and stood together. They were not thwarted from their Kingdom business.
I'm sure there are places of fellowship where the leaders, the Elders, are about God's business. There are places where wheat and tares grow together, also. There are places of worship where enemies rise to destroy. The question is not if this happens, but that it will and how you handle it when it does. The point is for the leaders to lead as Nehemiah did. He was dependent on God from first to last. He was a prayer warrior. He communicated with the people he was allowed to lead. He did not lord over them, but he was not afraid to point out God's Word when correction was needed. In chapter 6, a conspiracy was plotted against Nehemiah, and his story continues. It wasn't easy, but he persisted in leading as unto the LORD. The final words of the book of Nehemiah are these, "remember me, O my God, for good." Every leader should be able to say that to the LORD.
If the gift of leading, or the qualification of leadership, fits you, then lead biblically. There are biblical examples of how to lead God's people and how not to. I'd encourage anyone who has this gift to search the Scripture to see what God says. This is of most importance to those leading a congregation every Sunday morning. Teach the people to side with The Bible, not you, the man, but God as their leader. Nehemiah is a wonderful example of a man who led through prayer. He led by encouraging the people to offer themselves fully to God. He led by example. He did not fear, so the people were not afraid. He did not take advantage of the people, so he could rebuke those who were. He stood for righteousness so others could learn the same. Leading God's community is not to recreate the wheel but to jump aboard the wheel already written to us in the Holy Word.
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