The Driving Force Behind Execution: Nehemiah - Part 1

Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 12 June 2011 10:00

Sermons - Nehemiah: Lessons in Leadership

What it means to execute effectively... (series overview)

• Clear-eyed vision of both current realities and what was needed.
• Gracious hand of God and Him acting on their behalf.
• Corporate agreement and will to act.
• Faithful focus on the task.
• Absolute and on-going dependence on God.
• Broken-heart and passion for God's cause.

Driving force behind Nehemiah's effectiveness => broken-hearted passion for God's cause.

• It breaks his heart - not into bitterness - but into action.
• Desparate prayer is inevitable when our heart breaks for God's cause
  • Sometimes I don't pray because I don't care enough.
  • Sometimes I don't pray because I allow my concern to turn into self-pity or bitterness.
  • Sometimes I don't pray because I am not concerned about what God is concerned about.
• First thing people of God need to do when they want to see God move is to pray.

Nehemiah's Prayer

• Praising God
• Requests God to listen
• Confesses his and Israel's sins
• Reminds God of what He said to Moses about regathering people

Homework this week:

• Allow God to surface the dissatisfaction and concern in your life.
• Ask God to show you His perspective on your dissatisfaction.
• Allow Him to turn that dissatisfaction into desperate prayer.