Page 23 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

Modeling is all about transferring leadership to the next generation. Transformational leadership is all about
empowering rather than coercion or control. Traditional models of leadership by command and control may
have worked in the past, but these models are relics of the past. Nehemiah used many leadership styles, but as
I have already stated, he seemed to model servant leadership above all.

Titus 2. 11 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. “The whole idea of
mentoring may scare us half to death. After all, who are we to put ourselves up on a pedestal and invite
everyone to imitate us? We are to be examples… not of perfection, but of process. We can afford to remove
the veils because we are being transformed: progress is being made. We are to be models with whom others
can identify. Strikingly, our weaknesses rather than our strengths most help others see themselves like us… God
has called us not to model perfection but to model redemption. We are to be living demonstrations, not of how
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good we are, but of how good God is.” For example, II Corinthians 11:30 says, Therefore, I will boast all the
more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 If I must
boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. For Paul, weakness was not taken literally, but he
recognized it, mourned over it, yet gladly lived with it, knowing that the power of Christ rests upon him. God
never calls the strong; he calls the weak, the vulnerable, and the poor to manifest His power in this. He calls the
despised to shame the great of this world. He never calls the righteous, but sinners, that we may glorify Him
who saves after we have come to terms with who we really are.

Level 2: Motivating
Nehemiah had to cast a vision of a more desirable future that would move the Jewish people out of their
complacency. He had to make a spiritual and emotional connection with them to do this. Andy Stanley says, “A
clear, focused vision actually allows us to experience the emotions associated with our anticipated future ahead
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of time. Strong emotions always accompany vision… And the clearer the vision, the stronger the emotions.” In
chapter two, we will find that Nehemiah did two things. He prayed and planned. He prayed that God would
grant him “success.” (1:11) “Success in what? Success in casting his vision to the one man who stood between
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him and his dream.”

“When God puts something in our hearts for us to do, the task always appears to be out of reach. And the
reason it appears that way is because it is! God-ordained visions are always too big for us to handle. We
shouldn't be surprised. Consider the source.” So Nehemiah had to first motivate the king to grant him a leave
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of absence, and then he had to motivate an entire group of complacent Jews to rebuild their city.

Level 3: Mentoring
Mentoring is pouring your life into other people's lives to help them reach their God-given potential. The power
of mentoring is so strong that you can actually see the lives of the people you are influencing change right
before your own eyes.

Level 4: Multiplying
The highest level of influence you can achieve is that of multiplication. A multiplying influencer has to motivate
others to buy into the importance of second Timothy 2:2. And what you have heard from me in the presence of
many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (HCSB) Mentoring and
multiplying are not overnight experiences. And when you get down to these two levels of leadership, it gets
downright painful. Paul describes mentoring and multiplying in the following terms. Galatians 4:19 My little
children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. (KJV)

1. God’s servant waits (2:1)
Nehemiah 2:1 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before
him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence,

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