Lessons in Leadership: Strength to Stand Nehemiah 4:1-9

Full Steam Ahead in Spite of the Naysayers

I mentioned the first week of this series on Nehemiah about being involved in a number of building programs.

I shared that when it comes to building programs how important it is to have a clear and concise vision and to hold fast to that vision, particularly when times get tough.

I remember a building program some years ago when the church I was serving needed expanding. While the present facility was pretty large, it proved inadequate in a lot of ways, besides the church was virtually landlocked.

The church, sensing the need to expand over time bought property across the street as it became available. During my tenure there, we felt it time to start building. We sensed a pretty strong vision for the project and shared the same with all concerned. For the most part everyone was excited about the prospect.

There were a few naysayers though. There was a small minority who were quick to voice a contrary opinion. They worked hard to get others to come around to their way of thinking. They would have been content to derail the whole project.

Along with some much needed renovations, the centerpiece of the project was a new family life center across the street. We were convinced that such a facility would give us the opportunity to do some things the church had never been able to do.

Some of the voices that came forward didn’t see the need. They couldn’t see the vision. Others voiced opposition about having to cross the street in order to get to it. I was quick to point out that they had to cross the street to come and talk with me in the main building.

We stayed the course. We moved full steam ahead in spirt of the naysayers.

The building was built and, in fact, was paid off in short order. It has served that community in a big way ever since.

A War of Words

One thing about building programs, they have a way of bringing out nitpickers and naysayers.

That was certainly the case when it came to the restoration of the walls around under the leadership of Nehemiah.

The primary culprits in regard to that building project were a couple of fellows by the name of Sanballot and . They were quick to express their displeasure with what was going on.

Sanballot was the Governor of and Tobiah was a representative from Ammon. The two were able to get others to come around them.

The leaders mentioned in scripture all come from areas that correspond to regions that stand in opposition to Israel to this very day. It’s interesting how up to date the is and how history has a way of repeating itself.

At first, those in opposition waged a war of words. They mocked the efforts of those re-building the walls. They were quick to ridicule what was going on. They were just sure the Jews would never see the project through.

That sort of stuff has a way of weighing on you. To be ridiculed, particularly when you feel you are in the right is never easy.

In spite of the verbal barbs, the work continued. The people kept at it. They kept their gaze fixed on the task at hand, not those hostile to them. When it came to their vision, they turned neither to the left nor to the right.

They went on with their work, but not before they prayed.

Above all things, they kept their gaze upon the Lord. They sought his strength and protection at every turn.

It Is Always Good to Pray

In the midst of everything they faced, Nehemiah was unrelenting in calling the people of Jerusalem to put their faith in God.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” As we said early on in this series Nehemiah was quick to consider the character of God, the very One who was “great and awesome,”

There is a lesson in leadership here: In staying the course, it is always good to pray, particularly when times get tough and criticism begins to mount.

We should never be surprised at such opposition. In fact, we should anticipate it.

You have heard the old adage, “When times get tough, the tough get going.”

We might turn that just a bit by saying, “When times get tough, those who pray are given a toughness and a resolve that will carry them through like nothing else.”

In the midst of the threats and challenges of life, and let’s admit it we face them all the time, sometimes all we can do is pray.

Prayer strengthens our faith and steles our resolve.

Sometimes things can be so daunting that prayer is our only option. The criticisms that are sometimes levied can be so hurtful that turning to God is the only solace for what ails us.

Life has a way of piling up, just like the rubble of that Jerusalem wall. We figure we will never be able to overcome. Prayer gives us the strength though to deal with things one day at a time, one stone at a time.

Sticks and Stones

The scripture reports that the “burden bearers” were beginning to wear out. The rubbish was too much.

To have naysayers breathing down their necks didn’t help matters. I can’t blame them for running out of gas.

We said it as young children, “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us.” Let’s face it words do hurt.

It comes to us to face them with a deep resolve to stay close to the very One who leads us, guides us, and keeps us safe.

Alert and Well-Prepared

As time went along, the Jews made quite a bit of progress on the walls. Soon the naysaying turned to threats of violence. Sanballat and Tobiah and the others who gathered around them meant business.

Nehemiah encouraged the people to stay at it. As has already been stated Nehemiah was not one to put his head in the sand. He was all about facing the reality of his situation and making the best of it.

There is yet another lesson in leadership here: A leader is alert and well-prepared.

Nehemiah instructed those who were working on the walls to keep one hand on their load and another on their sword.

He positioned people to guard those places where the wall was vulnerable. He made sure the city was guarded around the clock. He left nothing to chance.

Nehemiah’s call was to stand ready. That same call resounds to this day. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

It behooves us to recognize the struggle we are in. It also behooves us to stay prepared and to do everything we can to stand strong.

Paul goes on to write in Ephesians 6:13-17,“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

With all these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Those who were re-building the walls of Jerusalem did work with one arm and held a sword in the other. In the midst of that which challenges us we’d do well to arm ourselves in other ways.

Girding ourselves with God’s truth, shielding ourselves with his righteousness, and striking out with a firm assurance in the gospel of Christ, we will be able to prevail.

With faith as our shield, salvation as our protection, and God’s Spirit as our defense, we will be able to stand strongly in the face of the Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s of our lives.

Only as we arm ourselves with the things of God will we be able to withstand the threats that come our way.

With God as our focus the naysayers of our lives won’t have nearly the impact. The threats that are levied against us aren’t nearly as impactful when we rest in the firm assurance that God is “our strength and refuge, a very present help in a time of trouble.”

So then, what are the threats in your life that do a pretty good job of sapping life out of you?

Maybe there are concerns at work?—possibly with a boss or a co-worker? Maybe there is a family member whose words always seem to hurt? Maybe there’s a friend who acts less like a friend and more like an adversary?

Whatever those are, resting solidly in God’s power to protect and see you through will go a long way toward helping you overcome.

God Our Leader

We’ve talked a lot about Nehemiah being a great leader.

Today we’ve talked about him staying close to God by praying and challenging others to do the same. We’ve talked about him staying alert and being well-prepared.

These lessons of leadership, along with others lessons really do define this great leader.

Nehemiah was a great leader, no doubt. The one thing though that set him apart above all things was his recognition of God’s leadership.

If we are to be the leaders God wants us to be, we’d do well to follow God’s leadership, first, last, and everywhere in between.

Learning that lesson is the most important of all.

When it comes to Christian leadership, great leaders are the ones who let God do the leading.

How is God leading you?