In the first week of July, many of us will attend our Alliance Churches' District Conference on the theme of "REVIVE". I was delighted to found Chuck Swindoll's insight on revival leadership in "Hand me Another Brick":
Tucked away in the old Book of Nehemiah is the first recorded revival. It was what happened at the Water Gate in Nehemiah 8. It is the most exciting experience since the wall was completed.
According to chapter 7, the people were now well ordered, well-defended, and well-governed. But in this community, even though its residents had nice homes and good jobs and were well protected, there was still something missing. Nehemiah sensed the spiritual vacuum as did the people. A timeless truth emerges from all of this: It is not enough to have a well-constructed superstructure if there is little or no life on the inside. How true this is in the church! We’ve all seen beautiful structures and well-oiled organizational machinery, but later found that that was it.
Leaders, take note! Satisfactory buildings and a well-organized operation are essential. But getting your people grouped, protected, and relating smoothly with one another is equally vital. Those “walls” surely must be built, but a true and effective leader makes sure that what happens on the inside of the walls is for real too. Three things happened in Nehemiah’s day to ensure that the walls were put to proper use.
1. Qualified Personnel. Evidently, both the Lord and Nehemiah knew that Ezra would do a better job at getting things going inside that wall than Nehemiah. Here is another example of entrusting the ongoing tasks of a project to others who are more adept and better qualified than you.
2. Established Truth. The Scripture was openly and boldly proclaimed. Often when success comes—be it in business or in the church—there is a tendency to operate on emotional fuel (enthusiasm, good feelings) instead of using the “authentic fuel” of established truth.
Remember that the first major thrust in a genuine revival is the proclamation of Scripture. The apostles, who set the pace for the early church, stayed with God’s Word. Even when growth occurred and vast numbers of people became followers of Christ, those who led this first-century revival never ventured from the written Word of God.
First, there was the reading of God’s Word. Exposition begins here—not with the opinion of man, but with the established truth of God (Nehemiah 8:3). Second, there was an obvious respect for the truth. People listened attentively (Nehemiah 8:5-6). Third, the truth was explained so that all who heard understood (Nehemiah 8:8). Fourth, the truth was applied. Those who heard it responded (Nehemiah 8:9-12).
3. Distinguishing between the Means and the End. It’s the old long-term, short-term distinction. Nehemiah had been chosen to do essentially a short-term job, a means-to-the-end project rather than a comprehensive, end job. His leadership was to prevail over the building of the protective wall—a vital task but definitely not the end assignment. The purpose of the wall was not just to have a wall, but to contain, to protect, and to identify the people of God. Beyond the wall-building project was a goal Nehemiah never forgot.
Discerning leaders know how to distinguish the means from the end. Because they are free from tunnel vision, discerning leaders keep in mind the whole scene, not just their own contributions. Nehemiah made provision for the final completion of God’s full plan. He wisely avoided the “monument mentality.” He entertained no inflated opinions of the brick-and-mortar project. To him the wall afforded the people a useful and helpful environment (the means) for experiences in revival that would have eternal dimensions (the end).
But how would a leader discern insight like Nehemiah? In Nehemiah 8:13-15, there are three specifics about gaining insight. To begin with, it takes time. No one suddenly becomes wise. We should realize there is no such thing as instant insight. You will notice in verse 13 that they came back to Ezra on the second day. That’s a pretty good hint that you can’t gain insight on the first encounter.
To pursue insight not only takes time, it takes the right people. Look again at Neh.8:13. These men came to one individual, Ezra, that they might gain insight from him. I often recall with great delight my days as a pastoral intern. It was between my second and third years at Dallas Theological Seminary. Ray Stedman, pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, had invited my wife, Cynthia, and me to spend the summer of 1961 at the church. One of my goals was to gain a working knowledge of how a church functions. I also had been praying that God would allow me to rub shoulders with some wise and godly men. Without realizing it, I was seeking to gain insight as a young leader.
There’s a third area to be discussed when we consider the pursuit of insight; it takes the right attitude. Verse 13 mentions the “heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites” were gathered to hear Ezra. I’m sure some of them were older than he; some were grandfathers, others were scribes. These men were members of Ezras peer group; yet they said, “Teach us.” They really wanted to learn. Some of the wealth of information that God has for us will come through our peers, but our attitude must be right.
Let’s face it, your average, standard bosses are a dime a dozen. People in authority over others are found in abundance. In every sizable corporation, organization, or military unit, there are those who give orders and outrank the majority. But few of them are leaders with insight, that is, perspective, wisdom, or a depth of awareness. With that single quality at work in your leadership, you’ll be a rare find!
Believe me, insightful leadership is attainable. Nehemiah had it. So did Ezra. But they had no “corner” on this virtue. No one does. It is available to all who are willing to pay the price.
What price would you be willing to pay to become more effective in your leadership? What else do you learn about leadership from Nehemiah?
On the eve of Father’s Day, what stood out to me from Nehemiah chapter 8 was from verses 13-15. “..the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.”
Each father (head of each family) gathered around the priests to not only be instructed on God’s word but they also applied it and obeyed it immediately in building and living in temporary shelters.
As fathers, we are called to protect and to provide for our families..not just physically but spiritually and emotionally. We are called to be attentive to God’s word and obey. Not to earn God’s favor but because by grace, we already have God’s favor.
Oh may we as fathers put before our families a vibrant, joyful and intimate relationship with our Lord, Jesus that they would want for themselves
One thing I’ve always admired about great leaders is their wisdom and ability to discern right from wrong, giving the best advices in all circumstances. As the devotional passage stated, gaining insight takes time and it is a process over year bad year of practice and learning, and I need to be patient through it all. It takes tremendous efforts and time in order to gain insights and become a wiser person. King Solomon did not ask for wealth but he instead asked for wisdom, to be the wisest man in all of his land.
In many ways I do not feel the desire to necessarily be a leader nor do I feel a need to lead specifically. But if God wanted me to be a leader or if God brings me into that role, then I would hope to be a leader as wise as Nehemiah. I would definitely spend whatever time and energy necessary to be a good leader especially if this was something God led me to. The one thing I would like to learn more about leadership is the distinguishing between means and end.
From brother Don
The point which stood out the most to me in today’s reflection is that “discerning leaders know how to distinguish the means from the end.” When we begin to view everything from an eternal perspective, we become more willing to give up any prestige, creature comforts and even the securities of this life. Suddenly we realize that what we are doing is all part of a much bigger picture. In the example of Nehemiah: “To him the wall afforded the people a useful and helpful environment (the means) for experiences in revival that would have eternal dimensions (the end).” I suppose the price to be paid would be giving up our own prideful identity, and finding our true identity as a small member of the larger body of Christ. Each of us has a part to play, none more significant than the other. As Paul points out to the Corinthians: “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor,” (1 Cor 3:7-8 ). This would in turn lead to the humility required of a leader to find the qualified personnel spoken of in the reflection.
It seems as though Nehemiah also exemplified the importance of prayer and repentance through his leadership. He prayed constantly, and was even willing to take accountability for his own shortcomings. This can be difficult for those in positions of leadership, perhaps because of a fear of letting others down, or even of the inevitable criticism and judgement it may incur. But it seems to me that it is absolutely vital, especially for those that would seek to lead others. I think of John the Baptists words to the spiritual leaders of his time: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” (Matt 3:8).
Lord, I pray that we would keep a right perspective, knowing that all we do has eternal implications. Give us humble hearts, doing our part as individual members of one body. I pray that we would bear much fruit for Your glory!
In today’s devotion, another leadership lesson. The message I got was that sure we can establish groups, rules and so forth as leaders, but does it matter if those in our group aren’t quality or are even in tuned with it all? So as a leader we are to also essentially care for the morale and watch for the trajectory of the future. You want to consider everyone in your group and implement things to connect everyone and get them on the same page. I can see this within our church. We seek it out to have only qualified people to run our ministries and then as a church Pastor Bumble and Jenney along with some of the other elders do a great job of connecting us all at RP. Not only this, but they also always turn it back to where it all started which is in scripture. Some of this was a great refresher for me in how to lead and it was nice to now apply that biblically.
The ability sacrifice what is necessary to reach a goal is something I respect in a leader. Whether it is pride, power, status, money, for me I’m willing to give up anything if it meant that a goal could be achieved. Sometimes on productions Im willing to give up my own ego and money if it means a good project. This is how I want to carry myself as a leader, someone skilled yet selfless. Doing things out of the good not for my pride. From a spiritual sense, I want to also be able to establish truths from lies. Along with finding qualified people to help me.
I loved Nehemiah’s ability to pray and plan. Often times I can lead out of emotions and I think I can be more critical in my thinking. I want to learn how to be able to discern God’s word as well. And develop the patience Nehemiah had.
Polished on the outside and empty on the inside. This is a common feeling that many people may have felt at one point. God allowed the people to rebuild the wall which provides protection and an improved image however Nehemiah and Ezra needed to ensure that God had also restored these people’s hearts. No one can truly see what lies within someone’s heart except for God, which is one of many reasons why He should have all of us and be our most important relationship.