Page 74 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

Ezra will now become more prominent in the book of Nehemiah as they work together to lead social and
spiritual reforms. Please note that every great leader has qualified leaders who helped them lead. For example,
Moses had Joshua, our Lord, assemble Peter, James, John, and nine other apostles. Paul and Barnabas worked
together, and they had many others who worked with them. Therefore, we are reminded again of the
leadership law, which says it takes teamwork to make the dream work. It is vital for young leaders not to
become threatened by other leaders deciding to join their vision team. “Deciding that people on the team are
worth developing is the first step in building a better team.” 190 Nehemiah wanted to gather the best team
possible, and he realized that this would elevate the team's potential. Nehemiah was more concerned with
God’s agenda than he was with position or the praise of people. Therefore, he was willing to fade into the
background, allowing Ezra to take center stage in the spiritual reformation process.

To help you better understand who Ezra is, let’s take a journey back 14 years ago to the time he led a group of
returning exiles up from Babylon. Ezra is described in this fashion in chapter 7. Ezra 7:1 After these events,
during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra… came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law
of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested
because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him. Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers,
gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied ⌊him⌋ to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. He began the journey from
Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, since
the gracious hand of his God was on him. (Notice this journey takes him about four months to make and brings
us to the fifth month) Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey ⌊it⌋, and teach
⌊its⌋ statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:1-10 (HCSB) Notice how Ezra is described as a person who
learned God’s Word, lived God’s Word, and taught His Word. To be the most effective Bible teachers, we must
always practice this order.

Reading a little further in the Book of Ezra, you will discover that Ezra heard a report; I tore my tunic and robe,
pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated. Everyone who trembled at
the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat
devastated until the evening offering. In the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and
robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh, my God. And I said: My God, I am
ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than ⌊our⌋
heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens. Ezra 9:3-6 (HCSB) After this incident, Ezra will instruct the
Israelites for the next 14 years, trying to lead them back to God’s agenda. This will bring us to chapter 8 of
Nehemiah.

Henry Blackaby says if spiritual leaders “do not clearly understand where their organization is and where it
should be going, they will be unable to lead effectively.” 191 Spiritual leaders have a God-given responsibility to
do all they can to lead their people onto God’s agenda. Ezra and Nehemiah realized that God’s primary concern
for all people is not results but a relationship. Ezra was skilled in the Law of Moses. Therefore, he was well
aware of Exodus 19:4. You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and
brought you to Me. (HCSB). Notice that God’s concern was to bring Israel to Himself. When God’s people enter
into a deep love relationship with God, there will be a deep hunger in their lives to move on to God’s agenda.
Ezra realized that the only way that His people could reach their maximum potential was for them to hear
clearly from God and then respond in obedience. When God’s people begin to hear God’s voice and respond in
obedience, “the church will no longer need their pastor to explain everything to them.” 192 The church will no
longer need the pastor to constantly cast a vision of lostness and the importance of being on a mission with
God. The people will begin to understand the great heart of God and look for ways to join God in His activities
around the world. The people of God will look for ways to demonstrate the great commandment (John 13:34-
35) and look for ways to join God in His great commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) I am not saying that pastors are
unneeded, which would contradict the scriptures, but I am saying that there will be a supernatural hunger in
the lives of the people that they will cry out for spiritual leaders to bring the book out and explain it to them.

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