Sermon Central
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Nehemiah - Master Delegator
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 20, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. But it is a very important chapter full of principles of leadership and delegation. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.
Master Delegator
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MasterDelegator.html
Last time we saw Nehemiah's vision, and now it must become reality beginning in chapter 3, and that's gonna take a lot of help.
Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. It's all names and sounds like the 'begat' chapters in Genesis. But it is a very important chapter.
It is the most detailed description of the layout of old Jerusalem, with intricate details about the placement of each wall and gate. Even archaeologists sometimes use this chapter as a map to help them as they dig in the old city.
The first 2 chapters have been all about preparing to do the work of God. Now the actual work will begin. Nehemiah was given an assignment from God, and YOU should find out your assignment from God as well. You have a life and family to build, a business, a ministry...a church!
Nehemiah could never have completed this great work so quickly w/out a lot of good help he delegated to.
1. Superior Organization.
v. 1, 2a, 4a, 5a, 7a, 8a, 9a... "and next unto him"
This thing is organized like a Swiss watch. Everyone knew their place and what was expected of them.
I believe in following the Spirit's leading, but I reject the notion that we should not organize and plan, but just fly by the seat of our pants. Some might say we organize the Holy Spirit right out of our church. But God doesn't want chaos in His church. He says all things must be done decently and 'in order.'
ill.--look at the organization in creation, from the cosmos of stars down to earth and the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom, and the human body. By the way, when we see organization is suggests there is an organizer. When we see design in the universe it suggests there is a designer.
God believes in organization. If our bodies weren't organized they wouldn't function properly, or function at all. And the spiritual health of the church is dependent upon organization. But the church is special, because we're not just an organization, we're an organism, a living, breathing entity. Some don't like the 'business' of the church. I'm one of them. I hate business. But the reality is that there is business to take care of. I look at it this way--it's not just a business, it's God's business, by far the best business in the world, and it deserves an organized approach! We need to be good stewards, and takes some work!
Just look at the family. There must be a head. Each must play their role in the family. When the home isn't organized God's way the result is poor spiritual health. If dad lets the maintenance go around the house it will eventually fall in on itself. If mom lets the house go to chaos and allows hallways to degenerate into pathways everyone will be depressed. In some houses if there was no microwave or McDonald's everyone would starve, because there's no plan, no organization. One guy said, "If the stove were as hot as the TV around here we'd be in fine shape!" Glad he said that.
Our finances should be organized. Our business should have a plan. And some of us need to clean our desk...we'll find that there's wood under there!
Our personal lives need to be organized and prioritized properly or the result is chaos. When all else fails, read the directions! God's Word instructs us in how to organize and prioritize our lives. We are not supposed to just live on our whims and impulses. We need to live for what is truly important, not just what is urgent. I want to live my life, not have others live it for me. I need to decide what is truly important, and the directions of the Word will help me.
For instance, the Bible teaches that family is to be more important than work. No man ever lay on his death bed saying, "I wish I had spent more time at work." And there's something more important than family, and that is God and His kingdom, His church, and things of eternal value.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What will it take to get some to make God their first priority, to take the Lord's Day off their calendar where no one is allowed to make any plans that day...no touchee! Hands off!
Is God even more important to you than family?
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
