Nehemiah 7:1-6

1 After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3 I said to them, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day.[a] And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt. 5 So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there: 6 Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.

It’s here in chapter seven that Nehemiah gives us seven leadership principles. As we consider Nehemiah’s example, we see that life changing leadership requires both courage and grace. Over and over again, in the face of all kinds of odds, Nehemiah courageously led. Instead of caving to the opposition he kept his focus on what God had called him to do. Not only did he face the call courageously, but he did it graciously as well. It is crucial for leaders not only to lead with courage but learn to model God’s grace. Because if we don’t we will never recognize our role in the greater picture. We have all been called to a life of leadership and it is my prayer that as we learn how to lead well that we won’t just listen to the Word but that we will live out the Word. When it comes to leadership lessons Nehemiah reveals that the first leadership principle we need to pay attention to involves having clear:

1. Priorities – Vs 1

In verse 1 Nehemiah establishes three priorities, the first revolves around providing:

1. Physical protection.

Nehemiah posts guards to protect the gates because the gates were the weak link in the walls. So let me ask you where and what are the weak links in your walls, and are you posting watchmen to guard against those weaknesses where you are most vulnerable? As men, the gates of our city are our eyes, and one of the greatest guards we can employ are accountability partners who will ask us the hard questions. Don’t poison your life with pornography, great leaders lead with love, not lust. The antidote to worldly appetites is to develop a hunger for the things of God. Now as men we need to take the lead when it comes to providing for and protecting our families. Part of your mandate as a man is to be a gatekeeper for your family. But as guards, we are not just entrusted with physical protection but also spiritual protection. Later in chapter 13, we see Nehemiah calling the guards to close the gates on the Sabbath. The way to spiritual protection is to make God a priority. So what guards are you stationing at the gate to your heart? What gates do you need to shut so that you can protect your family spiritually? It’s not always bad things that we need to say no to because even good things can get in the way of God things. Something as simple as sports can take the place of the Savior. And before we know it we are raising our kids on a basketball court instead of in Christian community. Instead of the central focus being the cross it becomes a pole, we trade Him for a hoop. But we convince ourselves that it’s ok because after all, we think of all the families we can reach for Christ on that court. But what we forget is that before we go to war we need to worship, look we gather together to praise Him and to prepare our hearts to serve Him. Trading our time in worship for witnessing will never work because you can’t give what you have not received. Many of us are trying to pour out from a position of poverty because we are not spending time in praise. Look if you don’t guard the gates you will raise your kids to believe that other things are more important than the Savior. The second priority is:

1. Praise

Nehemiah appointed singers to lead in worship. Nehemiah understood that there was more to life than work. Our primary purpose is worship, and if we are not careful we will replace it with lesser things. All work and no worship leads to a life of worry. Many of us are living weary worn out lives because there is no worship. Worship provides perspective because it reminds us that God is our number one priority. The problem is that many of us are putting the Savior in second place instead of the preeminent place. So let me ask you are you giving priority to the problems or to the praise? Without worship, our witness will soon represent that of the world and it won’t be long before we are reduced to a city without walls. Worship reminds us of Gods faithfulness and forgiveness, worship reminds us that we can’t walk without Him. The third priority was to:

1. Provide biblical teaching.

Here we find Nehemiah appointing the Levites as Israel’s teachers. It was their responsibility to teach biblical truth and impart the great realities of the faith. Sometimes we think we have learned all we can because we have read a particular passage several times. But I am reminded of the importance of the repetition and serious study because no matter how many times you have read a scripture you can always walk away with new insights because God’s Word is living and active. Are you making protection, praise and the study of scripture a priority? Are you giving time to trivial things or to the truth? Where are you receiving your training, is it from the word or from the world? Are you putting things in their proper priority or do you have a priority problem? Are you courageously leading as Christ has called you too or are you cowering to the culture?

Luke 23:32-49

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. 47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

After the scoffers and the spectators next we see:

• The Seekers

Unlike the indignant and the indifferent, these are the interested. But compared to the scoffers the seeker’s group always seems small. In fact, scripture records only 2 seekers, one a thief who was nailed to the cross next to Jesus, the other was the captain of the soldiers. Two men, a criminal, and a centurion. The centurion witnessed the scourging, the mocking, the spitting, the crucifixion, the indignant scoffers, and the indifferent spectators. He heard everything that Christ said on the Cross, including his powerful prayer of forgiveness and the final cry when Christ voiced the victory. As a battle-hardened soldier there would have been no mistaking Christ’s final cry of victory. Here was a man who didn’t just watch he witnessed the work of God. He may have started out viewing Jesus as just an ordinary criminal, but, as he watched he witnessed the wonder of God. Here was a man who investigated, who as he pondered and processed ended up proclaiming saying, “Surely, this man was the Son of God!’” It’s here that we see even the warrior, the one who was weary of God break down and worship. Is your response to witnessing the wonder of God one of worship? What will be your response, are you going to walk away or worship? Isn’t it amazing that the two who responded to the Redeemer, were the criminal and the centurion, the foreigner and enemy of God’s people. The centurion didn’t just come to a conclusion about Christ he publicly declared his decision. What about you, have you come to a conclusion about Christ? Are you going to proclaim it or keep it private? The last group were the:

• Saved

These are the intimate, the friends and followers of Jesus. They came to the cross but they didn’t come close. They stayed at a safe distance because they were scared. Here are His disciples watching from a safe distance, how like us today, trying to playing it safe instead of being sold out for the Savior. Yet despite the distance, they still witnessed the work of God. No matter how far the distance, no matter how far you have drifted from God you can come to the cross. Jesus is dying to reach you. So let me ask you which group best describes where you are spiritually? Are you an indignant scoffer, angry at the Almighty? Are you an indifferent spectator? Willing to hang around until you feel some guilt, and then you just walk away? Are you an intrigued seeker? Drawn to Jesus and interested enough to investigate Him? Or, are you in the camp of the intently saved? A follower of Christ but one who has grown distant? What will it take to move you closer to Christ? That’s really the question for each of us. The centurion started out as an indignant scoffer who became an indifferent spectator, but as he watched, he became an intrigued seeker, but by his bold confession, he believed. His faith activated his acquittal and gave him access to God. Spiritually where are you at in the process, you can’t be passive. There’s something about the Crucifixion of Christ that caused everyone to witness it, to either move closer to the cross or move further away. The cross compels some and repelled others. The scoffers and spectators walked away from the Cross while the seekers and the saved took a step closer. When it comes to forgiveness don’t sit on the fence. You can’t remain neutral, the cross calls us to make a choice, one that will either resulting in walk away from Christ or worshiping Christ. The Centurion had the courage to come and confess Christ. What about you are you courageously confessing Jesus? He came and died for you, now it’s your move are you willing to come closer to the Cross?

If you’re a scoffer, why don’t you take a step closer and become a spectator?

If you’re a spectator, why don’t you take a step closer and become a seeker?

If you’re a seeker, maybe it’s time for you to become saved.

If you’re saved, it’s time for you to come closer to the cross and surrender.