Moving from a burden to a vision to action is what separates leaders from the others. Leadership is influence. Leadership is empowering others around you to fulfill their God given destinies. Leadership is bringing change to people and circumstances. We need godly leaders.
Nehemiah had a god given burden to see Jerusalem rebuilt and God’s people prospering once again. With that vision he went to Jerusalem to begin the work.
“I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. ” (Nehemiah 2:11–18, NIV84)
The first thing a leader will do is see what is. He did not arrive with loud shouts or proclamations of his vision. Nehemiah came quietly and went at night to examine the walls and the gates. Nehemiah went in person to examine the work that needed to be done.
Next a leader will recognize who is around him to help him accomplish the vision. A leader will unite with the people. In this case Nehemiah knew that the Jews, the priests, the nobles and the officials would be doing the work. A leader will align himself will those present and empower them to do the work. Nehemiah said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” Nehemiah identified with the people when he said “the trouble we are in”. Nehemiah offered to be part of the solution when he said, “Come, let us rebuild.”
A leader will also encourage and empower and bring life to the people. Nehemiah encouraged the people with how God had intervened. Nehemiah reminded the people of the provision and promises of God. That encouragement empowered the people to decide to rebuild and begin working once again.
Godly leaders are created by God to empower the people to accomplish God’s purposes.
Today we need leaders who will dare to dream that God’s Kingdom can once again be rebuilt. We need leaders who can see not only the problems around us but will make themselves part of the solution. We need leaders who will spend more time focusing on the promises and provision of God than on the problems around us. Don’t point out the problem unless you are willing to be the solution.
