Leadership 101 – Part 6

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived Tagged with ,

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul [August-September], in fifty-two days.” Nehemiah 6:15

Context:
The enemy made three final attempts to stop the project, but the wall was completed in 52 days – an incredible accomplishment. The enemy was afraid and lost self-confidence when they realized God was behind it.

Leadership Lessons:

A leader remains focused.
  • The enemy tried to deceive Nehemiah by inviting him to a peace conference 20 miles north of Jerusalem. Their true intent was to harm him.
  • “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”1

A leader responds with truth.

  • The enemy distributed an open letter with false accusations. They charged that Nehemiah was plotting to revolt, and become king.
  • “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you say is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.’”2

A leader maintains personal integrity.

  • The enemy hired a false prophet to disclose a special revelation from God. Assassins planned to kill Nehemiah, and he must seek protection in the Holy of Holies where only the priests were allowed. This would ruin his reputation.
  • “But I said, ‘Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!’”3
A leader allows God to judge.
  • Nehemiah responded by asking God to judge his enemies.
  • “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me”4
A leader knows the enemy within.
  • The enemy had family links to the nobles living in Jerusalem. Two-way communication kept the enemy informed of events within Jerusalem. The nobles praised Tobiah, and reported Nehemiah’s response to him.
  • “For many in Jerusalem were under oath to him, since he was the son-in-law to Secaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehonanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.”5

Prayer:
“Lord, Empower me to be discerning about the tactics of the enemy. Help me to see through deception, refute slander, and unmask treachery. Amen”

Endnotes:
1 Nehemiah 6:3
2 Nehemiah 6:8
3 Nehemiah 6:11
4 Nehemiah 6:14
5 Nehemiah 6:18

© 2013 Designed to Serve

 

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.