The Fruits of Godly Leadership

We are continuing. Today in our sermon series.

Out of the book. Of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was a very effective, very successful leader.

With a vision to rebuild the wall of.

Jerusalem he was. Used by God.

To do an extremely. Difficult task.

And we don't. Find him faltering or stumbling

in his task. We learned early on in the

series as we started the series. He was a cup.

Bearer to the King. Of.

Babylon or Persia rather. And to the king.

Of Persia, the Arctic Xerxes, and when he heard news.

From Jerusalem, that. Things were in bad shape there.

He was very disturbed and so it affected his job.

And the king asked what's wrong with you or why are you sad?

And the long and short of it was well.

It would have. To do with his home country

Jerusalem as home city. And he got the King's support

and the King's blessing and the King's provisions to go back and

do this difficult and arduous task of rebuilding the wall of.

Jerusalem. The wall did get built in this.

If we go jump. Ahead won't read that this

morning and Nehemiah 6 verse 15 it says.

Nehemiah 6:15

They did that project. In 52.

Days that's amazing and. The task of it.

We'll get. Into that a little bit later,

but just just this monumental before we dig.

Into the. The the core of what we want to

talk. About this morning in my sermon.

I want. To make reference to a.

Book I read recently and it'll become clear as I go on.

It's a book by John Maxwell he talks a lot about.

Leadership. In this book about.

This book the latest. Book that, I think it's his

latest book, he said. He talks about High Road

leadership and the. Importance.

That we are leaders who lead from the High Road.

And he? Categorizes leadership into 3.

Basic levels, he says. High Road leadership.

And Middle Road leadership and. Low Rd.

Leadership I. Want to explain that a.

Little bit because that's kind of the.

The template through which? We want to look at what Nehemiah

did. I want to.

First mention. A few words about what is low

Rd. leadership. And John Maxwell explains it

this way, he says. A low Rd.

Leader is a guy. Who will say, you know what, how

much can I get? For as little as possible.

What's the best? Deal I can possibly get with the

least amount of. Cost.

To me. That's a low Rd. leader.

Nehemiah was not that. He did not look.

Out for himself first. He looked out for the people.

I'm not saying with this that there's never a time.

To negotiate a bargain. That's not what this.

Means. But it's it's doing above and

beyond. What is called for?

In the village where I grew up. Where my mother grew up, rather

years ago, there was a farmer who.

Hired a young man to help. Him with a task on the farm.

After the task was done, the. Farmer asked the man, How much

do I? Owe you?

And the young? Said Well, what's it worth?

And the farmer said. What it's worth is.

Too much. And when my mother shared the.

Story with me it. Cringed and she.

Didn't like it either and she shared with me about.

This whole principle. That farmer.

Was a low Rd. leader. In his.

Heart, he was OK. With.

Paying this young guy. Less than he deserved for the

service he had provided. That's what low Rd. leadership

does. And we have plenty.

Of it in our world today. And it's a, it's a skill or.

A temp. It's a characteristic.

We don't have to learn, we just naturally are born with it.

I want. More than is mine.

And I don't care if you have. Less than is yours.

Selfishness is the word for it. There's another level that.

Maxwell talks about it, says Middle.

Road leadership. That's a.

Fair guy. He's a good taxpayer, works in

the community. What's mine is mine.

What's? Yours.

Yours. They're fair minded people, they

don't want to cheat anybody they don't want to take.

Advantage of anyone what's. Mine is mine, what's yours is

yours. They're but they're not other

focus. In terms of sacrificially?

Minded. They're not necessarily.

That which we all should be. But then there's a third

leadership category that Maxwell.

Calls High Road leader. And this is the category unto

itself. They're different, They lead.

Well, with a different motive they come with.

Questions they ask What? Value can I add?

To this person through. What I do with him?

What will my action? Cause him to become.

Better than he is now. How I will?

Contribute to his life how is what I'm planning to.

Do helping him. How can I?

Serve the greater good at my. Cost.

That's High Road. Leadership and the Bible has

numerous Before we dig into Nehemiah, I'll just mention John

the Baptist. He was a very High Road leader.

In fact, when he. Did his ministry preparing the

way for the. Messiah, he literally said.

He must become. More I must become less that's

High Road leadership and and the.

Bible has lots of those. Guys, there's plenty of High

Road. Leader, I mean.

High Road leaders. But there's.

Also a lot of. Low Rd. leaders.

But in reality, it's the high. Road leaders that are truly.

The Great. Giants of History and Nehemiah.

Fits that profile. And thinking about Jesus.

Disciples, even at the. Last Supper.

Come on. They argued a.

Bigger who's? Going to have what?

Position in the government, what Jesus was going to set up

according to their thinking, Jesus going to be the ruler,

he's going to be the king. And I'm going to have this job.

I'm going to have this position and then bickered.

That's low Rd. leadership. Way down there and then he took

high. Road leadership by.

His washing their feet. And then even higher by dying.

For them. There's plenty of low Rd.

leaders, middle Rd. leaders. A lot of them too, but.

High Road leaders, they're. Scarce.

They're not that many. That takes time.

It takes character we all. Demonstrate one of these.

Three now allude to this. More toward the end of my.

Sermon here this morning. We need good leadership.

At all levels. Men of godly character.

Women of godly character. Who demonstrate sacrificial

mindsets and looking at nehemiah when we.

Hold him up to. This template of High Road.

Leadership. He fits.

Very well. And I want to allude to this

toward. The end of my sermon we're saved

by. Faith, we know that, but.

Works are the test of. What kind of faith?

We have. My title this morning is the.

Fruits of godly leadership. The fruits of godly leadership

and High Road. Leaders, they produce fruit.

There's the results. That come out of it.

We're saved by faith. But our fruits will reveal our

heart. Nehemiah's heart was.

Revealed by his actions, the fruits of his life showed that

he was a High Road leader. And no.

Doubt he was. Not the only.

Leader. There was other other leaders in

his time. Had been others.

Before him, there would. Be others coming after.

Him, but Nehemiah. Was a real.

Shiny example and so far we've seen in our sermon series how

God. Burdened his heart to.

Respond to the crisis. In Judea.

He didn't have to. But he did.

Then, through a series of miraculous events, God guided

him and with the King's backing, support and protection, he

traveled. To his homeland saw.

First hand situation and. He, as we heard last night, he.

Sat in the rubble. It was difficult, but.

Toward the end of chapter 2. We find Nehemiah having

meetings. With the officials of the.

Community motivating them for this great undertaking of

rebuilding the wall where last Sunday how Nehemiah had vision

to. Rebuild the wall Pastor Joe

talked about. What Nehemiah did.

And so they would. No longer be a reproach.

And I want. To just allude to chapter.

Two verse. 17 he says. Then I said to them, Nehemiah

speaking. You see the distress that we're

in, how Jerusalem lies, waste, its gates are burnt with fire.

Come and let us. Build the Wall of Jerusalem.

Here you get it. That we may no longer.

Be a reproach, that's. The motive?

That's the purpose and the reason.

And I told him of the hand of my God, which had been good upon

me, and also the King's words that he had.

Spoken to me. So they.

Said they said. They said let us rise and build.

They wouldn't have said that had Nehemiah not come, but now they

did. And this morning chapter.

Three, we'll see how it all. Began to come together.

How things started to move. And the building began.

And we can say. Chapter 3 is the place.

Where the shovel? Went into the ground.

Or we may say the blocks. For the walls.

Started to stack up. I kind of wonder how many

meetings might Nehemiah have had.

With the people of. Jerusalem, the nobles.

The elders, the leaders to get all this.

Going and the way it unfolded is just amazing.

Nehemiah was able. To bring the people together.

And to motivate and inspire them and simply.

The way. Chapter 3 reads.

We see a. Marvelous story of success.

And just the reading this chapter alone in chapter.

Three and the. Service, you say?

Wow, what a boring chapter. Just a doesn't like reading a

spreadsheet. Who likes to read?

A phone book for fun. It's not quite that.

But it's like. Just names and names.

And then they did, and they did and they did.

What's the benefit of? That and I.

Really don't enjoy. Reading it that much, for one.

Reason I can't? Pronounce the names.

Anybody with me? They're so hard to pronounce.

I think. Hebrews or Jews don't have a

problem with that, but I do like reading a.

Spreadsheet or something but. There's.

So much data. So much information packed

tightly into this. This piece of scripture.

And what happens in chapter 3? Could not have happened.

Without this. Strong.

High Road leadership. Style of Nehemiah.

And it's important that we don't take.

Lightly what Nehemiah did. This was a massive project had.

Huge. Implications for the nation much

more than. Just oh, now we got a wall

around. Jerusalem.

It's spoken it. Spoke a message it.

Communicated something and given the.

Context and the timing in which. He did this.

It's. Even more remarkable.

I put it this way a lot. Can be said.

But a person's. Leadership based on the.

Context. In which?

It is exercised. You see, anybody can talk a good

game when there's nothing at stake, when it's all easygoing.

When there's no challenges, anybody can talk a good.

Game then, but. In a time like this.

Makes it. All the more remarkable.

This started not on a clean surface.

There was there was despondency. There was just they were, they

were miserable. Me.

We. Could say they were discouraged

there was rubble everything to not.

Build was there to build very little.

Was there and he brought what was needed and it.

Grew and. Expanded and they did.

The people themselves, they didn't have it.

In him, no doubt. There was.

They were lacking everything. Leadership resources, maybe time

it just. Did not look.

Good. It did not look.

Like this could ever. Happen.

And then of course. Even the neighboring communities

didn't. Want it to happen?

No, no, we don't want you to build a wall.

That was the message. We don't like.

That. So obstacles.

And barriers from within. And resistance from without.

Why bother? But.

They did. I won't.

Read the whole. Chapter I won't do.

That it's it. Is tough reading because I don't

want to just stumble over all the.

Names. That's one reason.

But I compare this chapter A. Little bit like a recipe you

see. If you have just a pile of.

Ingredients on the. Table you taste this ingredient

that doesn't taste very. Good.

It tastes. Just maybe the pepper.

Pepper that doesn't. Taste very good.

It tastes just salt that doesn't taste very good.

But you mix. It all.

Together in flour and. Different ingredients.

You know it's a. Wonderful product.

And that's what this comes out to.

Another illustration I use is like driving down the.

Road and seeing a. Sign I never.

Read a sign for the purpose of. Reading the sign.

I read the sign for the purpose of what it's telling me and so.

That's what chapter 3 does in the book of.

Nehemiah, it gives substance to what happened.

The purpose? Of building the wall.

Was to remove the. Reproach from.

The Jews. So what happened?

Well, let's look at this. The community.

Built the wall. Nehemiah.

Didn't build the wall. The community did, the people.

Did it? Was the.

People, they did. They they built.

The wall and he and I didn't contract out some big

construction outfit some big mega construction business and

hire them and and build a wall. No, it wasn't like.

That at. All it was.

People, ordinary people who get into it.

What kind of people? And as again as I said.

Before in chapter 6 verse 5 they did it in. 52 days.

That's that's. Remarkable.

No. Big.

Machinery. Lots of money.

Nothing. Nothing like.

That we as far as we know. None of that was.

There and again going. Back to chapter.

Two verse 17 says. Come.

Let us build the wall. That we may no longer.

Be a reproach there. Was communal effort done by?

People who are affected by it not.

Being there, Nehemiah had connected with them.

He pointed out to them the. Value of.

It the need. For it, the purpose of it, the

people were motivated. They were.

Encouraged and one biblical. Commentator.

The Bible Illustrator. Put it this way, he says.

The builders here belong. To different.

Parts of the. Holy Land.

And as you go through the chapter, you find from different

parts of the community they came.

From Jericho and Gibeon, Kyle and Miss Pantacoa.

These were not men of. Jerusalem, but they loved the

public interest of religion. Connected with the city.

Of God and as the true. Israelites.

They labored. For its restoration.

So let's start with chapter. Three verse one.

I'll read some. Of it.

Then. Elijah of the high priest rose

up with his. Brethren, the priest.

And built the sheep gate. They consecrated.

It and hung its. Doors they built.

As far as the tower of. The 100 and consecrated.

It then as far. As the tower of.

Hannano, OK. Like what's good about?

That also. Well, guess who's?

Building the priest The high priest, the top religious leader

of the. Land the high priest.

Can you imagine? The head shepherd.

Just think about that his fellow pastors he's met with.

Nehemiah's met with him. They're the.

Spiritual leaders doing the. Sacrifices and giving the

spiritual direction. Leadership in the community.

And. These are the guys who put on

their coveralls, take off their suit and tie, put on the

coveralls. Pick up the tools and they get

to work. They're building.

The wall and it says how much they built for us.

It may not have as much meaning, we don't know exactly.

How much that was? But it was significant.

They get to work. Helping with repairing.

The wall of Jerusalem. Imagine the scene.

These guys who normally are in the temple, they're.

Priestly robes and doing. The things that priests do.

What they all do. Here they are.

Yeah, They're on the wall. They're working away.

High Road leadership. Adding value to.

The community contributing. Their time and energy and

resource to. The project.

You know, so easy. It's often so easy.

Just pass it off. You know it's not my.

Expertise. It's not my.

Profession. It's not my.

Ability, not my skill. Set, not my talent, whatever.

And so we'll let it some, we'll let we'll hire it out to

somebody else. No, they help too.

I want to say. This to us.

Our problems in our community, they're not their problems.

There are problems, but. More so, even there are

opportunities for us. And after this passage.

We find a. Long list of people.

And people groups mentioned they all.

Came to help in Jerusalem with the wall.

Mention a few. More verse 2 next.

To Elias of the men of. Jericho built.

Next to them, Zakhur, the son of.

Emery built. We find individuals and we find

people groups rebuilding the wall.

We give them a. Lot of little details.

No doubt there were. Many, many, many more people

involved in this project. This size to do it in 52 days.

But it's noteworthy. There's a lot of.

Variations in some places only an.

Individual's mentioned. Who did a certain?

Part. In other places, it's groups of

people. Who are mentioned?

That did a part. What we can take from this?

It was a labor of love. It was not like a military draft

where people were forced to come.

And drafted. To work I believe.

With all my heart. It was done by.

Volunteers. I cannot find.

That there was anything was contracted.

If it was, it's not recorded, but what's emphasized is the

volunteer. Work that went into it.

No one sat out or who did not help.

Well, we'll come to one some who did, but.

The majority? They all helped.

There was a small number of people who didn't.

Want to? Let's read that one.

Verse 5. Next to them the.

Tokoites made repairs, but their nobles?

Did not put their. Shoulders to the work of the

Lord. They didn't want to.

We're not helping, not our job. That's beneath us.

Or there may have been other. Reasons why?

For whatever reason, maybe it was a social aspect, we.

Don't want to be? Known for that.

We don't know what the reasons were, but they didn't.

That's the point. We're not going to.

Be part of that. There are always some people who

for some reason. Or other.

Consider it beneath. Them to do so, so they're the

exception. Again, we're not told.

Why? They didn't help, but they

refuse to help. The leaders refuse.

To help. Their people.

Did but the koit? Nobles did not What?

Kind of leadership was that that wasn't High Road leadership.

That was low Rd. leadership. These nobles were.

More of a problem. Than a blessing.

What if? Everybody had decided, oh Yep,

Yep, that's what the KOIT leaders.

Do we'll do the. Same.

Nobody would have. Built the wall we.

Don't want to be? Like the Koit nobles, do we?

They were not. Middle Rd. leaders.

They were not even low Rd. leaders.

They just did nothing. In a sense, they were low Rd.

leaders. And sadly, in our time.

They're just not a. Few who don't want to help.

There's many. Who don't want to help in our

communities? I trust it's not like that in

this church. I'm thankful for all the

volunteers. We have, we have many, many

volunteers. I'm grateful for them, but we

need to. Remind ourselves how critical.

This is in passages like this. You see, some people want to

help as soon as it's. Easy and convenient then yeah,

then it'll help too. But not if it interrupts my

schedule. Let me put it this way.

A person who wants the benefits. Of hard.

Work, but does not. Want to?

Put in the hard. Work that is.

Low Rd. leadership. It's an.

Age-old problem. It was in Nehemiah's time, it

wasn't Paul. 'S day, it's in our day and it's

our community. It's everywhere in Paul.

'S day, there were some people. Who didn't think that they?

Would have should. Work and Paul.

Says to them he says Second Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 3 · chapter mention

Chapter 3. Verse 10 For even when we were

with you, we commanded you, If anyone will not work, neither

shall he eat. Let's be honest here.

How many? Able bodied, healthy people

would not eat. If they would benefit only.

From what they produce. How many able bodied?

People in our world would not eat.

If they would benefit only from. What they actually produce a

principle. To think about is.

Why should an able? Bodied person who refuses.

To help receive benefits from the fruits.

Of the labor of. Others of the volunteers.

The building of the. Wall was for everybody.

But not everyone was willing. Are we people who are glad when

somebody else steps? Forward.

And we don't have. To I get.

It we go through. Seasons maybe?

Illness and whatnot. That is true, but.

What's our character? Are we high?

Road leaders Middle Rd. Leaders or low Rd.

Leaders remember many years ago in our ministry.

Not in this church. There was a young.

Adult. Who refused to help and said a

member God fearing person as far as we.

Knew and so invited this individual.

To come and help with a project. And I want to be.

Free. Literally.

Literally what a. Disappointment.

Thankfully that person did mature and eventually.

Became a productive member. But that was a.

Problem. If everybody did that, then

what? And here's the reality.

It's people who. Do not want to.

Work. It's because.

Of them that. Others have to work more.

There's no such. Thing as there's nothing for me

to do. There's something for.

Everybody to do yes, we have different abilities, different

skill sets, but there's. Something for everyone in the

building. Of the wall there was room for

and there was need for everyone the work itself was a variety

of. Different types of.

Building for instance, there was different the.

Building of the wall. Included different tasks.

The building of the. Wall was not the.

Same everywhere. It says in Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 3:6

Chapter 3, Verse 6. Moreover, Jehoiah.

The son of Pasia and Mashulam. The son of Pasadaya repaired the

old gate. The latest beams and.

Hung its stores. With its.

Walls. These guys worked on the gates.

The building of the gates. And the building of the wall

were different jobs. Both serve the same.

End goal. Both jobs were for the purpose

of enclosing the city for. A protective.

Wall jobs were. Different, yet related.

There's some, there's some more, and next to them, Melatiah the

Gibeonite, Jaden the Maranathite, and the men of

Gibeon and Mizpah. Repair the residents of the

governor of the region beyond the river.

Some people worked on some parts of the houses.

The purpose was to bring the community together.

And our community our. Church Everyone may be serving

or building, but not everyone's doing the same thing.

This same in our church, we have a lot of different tasks.

But everybody. Should be involved everybody.

Should be engaged. Are we?

I trust that maybe you've read Nehemiah chapter 3 and I've

Nehemiah 3 · chapter mention

seen. How many different parts there

were to the wall? A lot of.

Different parts, Some parts. Were much more difficult.

To build than others. I read some.

Commentators that said some. Part some parts.

Of the wall were. Very hard to build.

Others were relatively. Easy depending on where.

Those walls were. More on the Flat.

Plain or more on the. Hillside and so on.

In many different tasks. In fact, I I paged through my

Bible and just started checking how many different.

Workstations and different activities there were.

I counted 41. That's quite a bit.

And maybe they're not even all. Mentioned, but let's look.

At the people themselves, what kinds of occupations did?

They come from. Who were those?

People. There are things in life if a

person. Does not have specialized

training. You can't do them like if you

don't have a degree. From university, you can't be a

doctor or surgeon. No, it doesn't work.

We get that. Or an engineer.

Some. Professionals do require high

levels of. Training.

But there are always. Areas of work.

Where specialized. Training may not be that.

As important as godly. Character specialized training

is good and it's. Fine, but there's always work

for some, for everyone. Some.

We can all do. Something there's always a way

to serve. If we want to serve.

There's never a place in times that, oh, there's nothing for

you to do. Here, there you just get lost.

There's nothing for you to do. Here.

We all can do something. And if nothing?

Else we can pray. I remember years ago having a

conversation. With a man who boasted.

He couldn't get a job. Because he was overqualified.

I didn't like it. I didn't say anything.

But I thought, oh, oh. There's no such thing as being

overqualified. He simply didn't want to work.

No matter. How highly qualified?

An individual, maybe? Everybody is qualified to.

Do a simple job every one of us can serve.

And in Nehemiah chapter 8 we find a very interesting verse on

Nehemiah 8 · chapter mention

some. Of the skilled trades in

Jerusalem, how they were. Willing to help with the wall?

I mentioned. Earlier on how the work?

Was done by volunteers. They came from different parts

of the. Community notice in chapter 3

verse 8 says. Next to Uzio, the son of

Harahaya, one of the Goldsmiths made.

Repairs. What's he a Goldsmith?

Next to Hananiah, one of the. Perfumers made repairs and they

fortified Jerusalem as far as the.

Broad Wall Goldsmiths, Jewelers. What do they do?

They make. Jewels they make.

Stuff out of. Gold doesn't sound.

Like building it with mortar and.

Stone does it. We don't know what all he did.

But he's working on the wall. He's helping build the wall of

Jerusalem. He had a task His his, his

expertise. Was.

Making. Stuff out of gold.

But here he is. Taking time out of what he's

doing and helping. Giving his time and.

Energy to building the. Wall.

That's High Road leadership. There's another guy here.

He's mentioned as a. Perfume maker.

Now that's about as. Far away as I think you can get

from. Bricks and cement.

But here he is. Instead of going to work in the

morning making perfume and contacting beauty salons and.

All that stuff. Instead of selling perfume, he's

working on the wall. A perfume maker building a wall?

Imagine that. We don't know how many.

Project managers have a perfume maker on their team.

It's interesting. To see how.

People from different trades, different skill sets, different

careers, they all came together for one common purpose and one

common cause to build. A wall.

It gets better, you know, some jobs.

Only men do. Right.

Well. Not in our culture anymore, but.

But how many? Women brick layers, do you know?

I don't know of any. There may be some.

I don't know of any and maybe. I think it's because it's such a

back. Breaking work.

But here's a group. Where there women involved,

women helped in rebuilding the wall.

That day and age. The world was very.

Different than it is today, women were viewed different.

Than there now. Women in some ways were more

protecting that they were. Secluded or isolated?

They would not be. Seen in public as much as today

in the Middle Eastern. Culture, and still that way.

It would have been. Strange.

Or maybe. Uncommon for a woman to

actually. Work.

Alongside. A team of men.

Or doing men's work in public like this.

I don't know all the details. But it's mentioned here for a.

Reason it says here Nehemiah. Three verse 12.

Next to him was Shalom, the son of.

Hello hash leader. Of the half the district.

Of Jerusalem, and he and his daughters made.

Repairs. He and who?

His daughters. His daughters.

They were part of the work team as well.

I've no idea how common. Might have been for women to be

involved in. Outdoors work, but I'd like I

said, I think they were not as much.

I do read, however, that women. Would help with with harvesting

the fields and so on. But in public construction

projects, we just don't find it. But if there's tasks.

In God's Kingdom. It doesn't matter who where we

are. Where we're at in life, there's

something for us to do. Just think of it what God can

do. When a high.

Road Leader. Gets to work for God's Kingdom

and High Road. People follow him.

There's a lesson for us today in this.

Commentators mentioned that this.

Project was a massive undertaking by.

Nehemiah and given the time and the context.

When it happened, it was just monumental, all the variables.

That played into this. Was so extreme.

So what are the lessons for us to learn from this passage?

Never underestimate what God can do.

With an individual who's. Completely.

Totally. Sold out to.

Him and is. Willing to sacrifice like.

Nehemiah. Did and take undertake?

This journey and do what he did, never underestimate it.

He was truly a High Road leader. Inspired.

A. Whole community of people.

To take up the task. And.

Clear the rubble to rebuild the wall.

And take away the. Reproach.

Of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a man who was

confident. In his call.

He trusted. God when the task.

Was so huge and the outlook did not look appealing.

Even that there was a position from the.

Outside, he showed. Courage, he showed Resolve.

And he provided excellent leadership.

What happened in Jerusalem was nothing short.

Of Miraculous 1 commentator put it this way, he said.

The Patriots Express. Have expressed their purpose to

build a wall. And they proceeded immediately.

To carry this good. Resolution.

Into effect we know nothing in all history.

Like the scene here? Portrayed, we have read.

Indeed, of ancient. Rome when burned.

By fire being rebuilt by her citizens.

But these were still. Rich and powerful.

We have heard. Two of ancient Carthage.

When? Almost razed to the ground by

foreign invaders being repaired and fortified.

By the patriots of the nation, but these were yet numerous and

wealthy. We know nothing ever like this

in the annals of. The world where the small

remnant of the. Captives of Judah with simple.

Trust in God set themselves. To rebuild the fallen.

Capital while they were. Few in numbers, poor in

resources, and surrounded with a host of enemies frowning on

their enterprise. So what's our problem?

Why are we worried? Why are we?

Thinking, OK, what can we do? We're full.

We need more space. Yes, we do, and it's all good.

And. We as leaders are talking.

About this, but why? Worry.

God will take care of it if we trust Him, if we.

If we do our. Part.

This book is a. Wonderful example of what God

can do with. Surrendered.

Committed followers of his. So what's the take away?

What? Difference does it make for

Unite today? Let's.

Look into our own hearts. Let's check ourselves.

Each one individually. Let's check our motives.

Why are we here? What do we?

Want. What's her objective?

What's her motive? Are.

You and I is. Committed to the work of God in

our own heart and our church family and our community.

Are we serving faithful as God provides opportunity?

Or are we selective choosey? We will never serve God well if

we. Do not surrender.

To him Nehemiah was surrendered. He trusted.

God and we. Have it a lot better than he.

Did we have the? Gift of the Holy.

Spirit in our hearts, working in our hearts.

Guiding our steps in our service for God.

Perhaps you're here this? Morning, you feel the tug in

your heart to surrender and join God's team.

You can. You need to repent, surrender

your. Life to Jesus in Word and deed.

As you seek God's face, He will point you toward a work of grace

that you can do for Him. You're not under qualified,

you're not so untrained. You can't.

Everyone who? Surrenders can do something.

Now as you. Take the High Road.

You will see. What God can do?

Through a faithful. Vessel of his, a person who

honors his name. In a lost.

And needy world as you serve His.

Kingdom May God. Give us grace as.

We seek to. Follow his call.

On our lives and live for His glory.

Let's pray. Lord, thank you for the book of

Nehemiah and the. Lessons it teaches us.

Lord, we ask you to forgive us for being so shallow.

Minded and thinking we know. What's right or what?

Is best and when we don't even. Take time to hear from you.

Forgive us. Lord, thank you for showing us

in. Scripture how you want to work

through US. And as we.

Leave here this morning. We ask.

Help us Lord, to be like your servant Nehemiah, in Jesus name,

Amen.