WEEK 4 – HOW A LEADER PLANS

Lessons on LeadershipFrom the Book of Nehemiah

Why do we plan?

1.God does it

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you' says the Lord, `plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"

Why do we plan?

1.God does it

1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."

Why do we plan?

2. God commands it

.. Prov. 4:26 (Good News) "Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.“

“Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” (NIV)

Why do we plan?

2. God commands it

.. Prov. 16:9 "We should make plans counting on God to direct us."

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (NIV)

Why do we plan?

3. It's good stewardship.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (Phillips) "Live life, then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time. Don't be vague but grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord."

Why do we plan?

3.It's good stewardship.

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (NLT)

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

1. Think it through

Leadership Tip:

“LEADERS MAKE TIME FOR THINK TIME”

.. Proverbs 13:16 "A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn't and even brags

about it!"

.. Prov. 14:8 "The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and

won't face facts."

Leadership Tip:

“FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.”

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

2. Prepare for opportunities

v. 1 "In the month of Nisan the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes the wine was brought to him. I took the

wine and I gave it to the king and I had not been sad in his presence before. So the king asked me, `Why does your face look so sad and you're not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.' I was very

much afraid."

Leadership Tip:

“LEADERS MOVE AHEAD INSPITE OF THEIR FEARS.”

v. 3 "Why should my face not look sad? The city where my fathers are buried, lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire."

"May the king live forever!"

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

3. Establish a goal

.. v. 5 "I answered the king, `If it pleases the king and your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah

where my fathers are buried so I can rebuild the wall.'"

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

4. Set a deadline

Verse 6 "Then the king with the queen setting beside him asked me, `How long will your

journey take? and when will you get back' And I said, `It pleased the king to send me so I set

a time.'"

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

5. You anticipate the problems

v. 7 "If it pleases the king may I have letters to the governors of Trans Euphrates so that they will provide me safe conduct until I arrive in

Judah."

Leadership Tip:

“MANAGERS FOCUS ON SOLVING TODAY'S PROBLEMS, LEADERS FOCUS ON SOLVING TOMORROW'S PROBLEMS.”

.. Proverbs 22:3 (Living Bible) "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.“

.. Proverbs 27:12 (Living Bible) "A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them."

NEHEMIAH’S SIX STEPS:

6. Calculate the cost

v. 8 "And may I have a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the

citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?"

Luke 14:28 "If one of you is planning to build a tower, he sits down first and

figures out what it will cost to see if he has enough money to finish the job."

[Jesus speaking]

Leadership Tip:

“LEADERS ARE WILLING TOASK FOR ASSISTANCE.”

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord and He directs it like

a water course wherever He pleases."

God is a specialist in changing hearts.

v. 8 Nehemiah's conclusion: "Because the gracious hand of my God was

upon me, the king granted my request."

Lastly, Nehemiah gave all the credit to God!

.. Proverbs 16;1 (LB) "We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's

hands.”

v. 9 "So I went to the governors of the Trans-Euphrates and I gave them the king's letters and the king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me."

Leadership Tip:

“LEADERS PREPARE FOR SUCCESS RATHER THAN

WORRY ABOUT FAILURE.”

This week:

In what way can you be a better leader?

Step 1: PRAYStep 2: PLANStep 3: Read Nehemiah 2:10-20