Something more for a Wed.

I am traveling tomorrow so I thought I should put this up tonight!
Theses godless leaders created disunity among the people. Until this point the people had a mind to work and then they shifted to whining and complaining. This is why you can’t allow disunity.

Nehemiah had a plan to have families protect each other displaying the value of connectedness in leadership. We must remember that leading renewal is relational first and foremost.

Nehemiah reminded the people of God’s power, his provision, and his promises. Leaders must remind those they lead that it is God who started this and that God will finish this. Vision should be cast to folks often. Nehemiah remained the people of God’s plan every 28 days. Learn to cast vision and do it often. One of the most powerful vision casting tools is stories. Tell stories of life change. The next most powerful tool is slogans and short sayings. This might sound “cheesy” but it works. The only folks who will complain about vision casting are those who really don’t get it or want it. Don’t cater to complainers.

Nehemiah led the movement of God by example. As a leader Nehemiah had every right to demand that his personal needs be met, but he didn’t. This leadership lesson is all about self sacrifice. Throughout scripture God says that a leader/pastor should be paid so the point here is not that leaders should go with out. The point here is that Nehemiah knew this was about God and not personal gain! Pastors don’t have a job, we have a calling! If you are leading a church as a vocation please quit!

Dealing with Oppression

The oppression gets worse. This should come as no surprise the move when God moves the harder Satan will try to derail things. There is a classic pattern to the disunity of the three godless leaders, they mocked the Jewish people along with their leader, they mocked the quality of the work, and they mocked God. In the church mockers might not be so brash as to mock God but they will do the other two. Leaders who dare lead renewal can expect personal attack. These attacks will be based on some truth so it will sting. Things will be said about personal ambition, about lack of training, about being rebellious, about personal ego, and much more. Get ready. That is why you make sure that it is God not you who is leading renewal.. Even when you know that what you are leading is of God personal attacks will sting. We don’t know how Nehemiah handled all of this we just know he prayed to God and made a plan for families to protect families. Nehemiah had gotten to the place that he could not nor would not give up. The front to personal attack is to stay close to the truth of God’s call and to stay connected to others who share the call. Satan’s greatest tool is isolation. If he can make the leader believe that he is alone then he has won. Pride keeps leaders from reaching out. We think that we can handle the pressure but we can’t. The lie we believe is that true leaders need no one. Leaders must lead from a position where the biggest influence is God but they need others to keep the vision clear. We know that Nehemiah had a team; we know he pulled other leaders into the vision, so we would assume that he made others aware of the attacks.

Nehemiah asked God to deal with those who created disunity. This is not a kind prayer but a straight forward prayer asking God to bring their disunity “back on their heads.” This is a great leadership insight. Disunity is serious and should not be allowed to go on. Leaders who confront disunity must not shrink back from taking a hard stand. This prayer Nehemiah prayed was a public prayer! When leaders pray with that holy boldness those who follow see the seriousness of the calling. In Jewish tradition there was the belief that words had a life of their own. Once this prayer was prayed it had the power and authority of God to come about. This is big stuff.

It is about relationships

Nehemiah had families build the wall as families and to rebuild the walls in front of their own homes. This is a great leadership move in that there was ownership of the project. Leaders often fail to get ownership of the process because they fail to connect the movement of God relationally. God is all about people and renewal is not about the church doing better or growing or whatever. Renewal is about people connecting with God and each other. Families building together created opportunities for conservations, care and deeper connectedness. Remember the process of renewal it is personal renewal then relational. Maybe the key to renewal of the North American church is found in the renewal of families. if the church functioned as a family and the family was an extension of the church then relational renewal would be natural and normal. Remember God was rebuilding a people, the walls were secondary to what God was doing. So often we get caught up in the task of doing chruch that we forget to be the church and the church is a family.


God used all kinds of people to get the wall rebuilt. God does not care about training or background. He cares about heart, attitude, and willingness. In the process of renewal He will use everyone who is willing, not just pastors. Remember Nehemiah was a cup barer to the King. He was not trained in leadership. God equipped him and used him when he gave his life to the cause of God. The most powerful prayer we can pray is "Jesus, I am yours". When we surrender to the Lordship of Christ everything changes.

Moving with the Movers!

The movement of God was lead by the priest! Wow! When God moves in a leader He then will move in the hearts of other likeminded leaders. I love how the scripture says that Eliashib the High Priest and other priest started rebuilding the wall. Everything we lead is spiritual even wall building. They caught God’s vision and made a construction project a spiritual project by dedicating the work as they went. Nehemiah was not a priest but he had a friend named Ezra who was. I am not sure how Ezra influenced the other priest but he did. Here is a big take away; God puts people together for His purposes. With whom has God connected you?


The leaders of Tekoa refused to help! This is disturbing. What impressed me here is that even some godly folks will not get in with God’s plan. The people helped but the leaders missed out. It doesn’t appear that Nehemiah tried to persuade them to get on board. The leadership lesson here is to move with the movers. Don’t waste your time trying to convince leaders to join you, move with the ones God has given you. I have discovered this in the recent church planting experience. There were folks I just knew would buy into the vision and get on board only to have them do nothing. I can’t give time to them I must invest in those who are moving with me and moving with God.

Rebel with a cause

Nehemiah reminded the dissenters that God was in control. Nehemiah reminded the dissenters that they had no claim in the things God was doing. By doing this Nehemiah reminded himself and those he lead about the benefits of joining God. Notice that the three ungodly leaders accused Nehemiah of rebellion. If you are going to lead renewal you will be accused of being a rebel! So what! Pastors should be rebellious for God’s glory. Rebels are folks who are tired of things the way they are! Nehemiah was not a safe man. He was a rebel and leveraged his whole life in leading people to live in open rebellion against the brokenness of that day. Some how we have a concept that pastors are to be safe, passive men; I believe that God wants us dangerous and untamed. God wants us to lead a rebellion against sin, brokenness, and complacency. When people accuse you of of being a rebel, thank them you are like Jesus the true rebel.
One thought, Nehemiah's rebellion was against what was wrong. Make sure your rebellion is not just for the sake of rebellion. We need to be rebels with the cause of Christ not just crazy!

Dealing with disunity...

This was a spiritual experience for all involved and attacks followed. We should never be surprised that unspiritual people will attack the work of God following a spiritual high. Satan is not creative but persistent. I have discovered that attacks always follow a spiritual movement. Why, because Satan wants to bring doubt and discouragement. The root of doubt and discouragement is self-centeredness. If we begin to doubt God and become discouraged we focus on ourselves and not on God and His power.

There is a deeper lesson here. Satan is always looking for people to bring discouragement. He has a pattern. He will start with division in the leader’s mind. If he can get the leader to doubt God’s call or God’s provision he has won. If he can’t win there he will try to divide the leader and his or her closest relationships. Most often that relationship is the spouse. If he can’t succeed there he will move to the children then to other leaders in the church family. Satan is looking to bring disunity and division. The sad truth is that in every congregation Satan as willing folks. Most pastors are tormented by just a few of the same folks. If pastors and other spiritual leaders would rise up, speak the truth in love and disallow division the work of God will progress. We will see later how Nehemiah refused to even meet or talk with the dissenters. That is a great leadership lesson. In the church I recently lead we had great unity of vision but the same folks complained about anything we felt God leading us to do. I so often prayed that someone would stand up to them and shut their mouths. I now realize I was that somebody. The work of God is too important to be surrendered to ungodly people. One more thought, ungodly people can be godly folks who are being influenced by others. Pastors must walk with God and He will reveal the source of disunity. Remember to give people an opportunity to repent and get with God. When confronting disunity be tender but firm. Never let disunity be about what folks like about you or if they like you. You don’t matter. Make disunity about God and His movement. Only a fool will stand against God!

It's all about God's vision

This is so cool. God has leaders ready to help when they are lead by a leader who has the call of God. Most people in the church will respond to renewal when lead by God’s man! There is a leadership lesson here, Nehemiah cast the vision of rebuilding, he had a plan, and he had the correct motivation. When a leader cast vision coupled with a plan, others follow. Many times leaders see what should be and declare it without a clear path. If the path to the vision is vague in the leader’s mind it is a mess in the minds of others. Most visionary leaders are not strategic planners. The scripture doesn’t reveal how Nehemiah arrives at the plan of action but he was surrounded by a trusted team. Maybe there was a meeting we didn’t see. Maybe Nehemiah got the guys together who rode with him that night and they devised a plan.

When Nehemiah cast vision to the officials he did so in a way that was spiritual. What he said brought glory to God. People in the church are not looking for the next cleaver plan they are looking for the movement of God. Nehemiah made sure that the officials knew that God was in this. God got the glory not the leader. Nehemiah knew that renewal follows a set path. He was personally renewed by God’s vision, he led others to be renewed through connecting relationships, then together they renewed their mission, and then the structure of renewal was revealed. Most leaders see the need and want to fix the structure. God never works this way. He renews people then the process!

More good stuff ....

Nehemiah kept the call of God to himself until he knew it was God. This might sound strange after all he had gone through to get to this place of assessment. When God reveals a great assignment a leader is well served to keep the call between himself and God until it is oblivious that it is God not the leader’s personal ambition. We must remember that God will not share His glory. The rebuilding of the walls was about God and His restoration of His people. During my recent decision to follow the call of God in my life I found that I must keep the call secret until I knew it was God and not me. Even when I knew it was God’s call I still dealt with a haunting insecurity. I am sure Nehemiah faced such a daunting task that he kept it to himself until he knew that he knew that it was God. This truth took the pressure off Nehemiah. If it is God’s doing then God is the one on the “hook” not the leader. As a leader I have learned to trust God and not me. Nehemiah kept the call secret and let God take the pressure.

Nehemiah found things were worst than thought. Most leaders underestimate the challenges of renewal. It is harder and will take longer than you thought. The biggest barrier is emotional. What I mean by emotional is that the work on the heart of the leader is much more demanding than the physical labor of rebuilding the wall. A task the size of Nehemiah’s might lead a leader to give up. Because Nehemiah made sure it was God’s doing and not his he refused to be overwhelmed. In starting this new church I get overwhelmed by the size and pace of the task. Even though I have done this before and have led others to plant churches I had forgotten the emotional uncertainty and spiritual intensity of this task. As I prayed over the city I am called to reach and began to build the infrastructure needed for the church I get crazy with the scope and difficulty of the task. Nehemiah was too far into it to give up thus forged ahead and found God’s amazing provision. God’s will is always revealed in the hindsight of obedience.

Nehemiah chapter two ...

The answer to our needs is always God. If God doesn’t move then it doesn’t matter. Nehemiah was in a place that if God didn’t come through then he was doomed. God comes through. One of the greatest lessons a leader must learn is that their lives are an example for others to follow. How we react and how desperate for God we become sets an example for others to follow. Nehemiah’s call was still in his heart alone but his dependence on God in the secret of his call became an example of us to follow today.

When we set out to being renewal to people then opposition will come. Three godless leaders emerge to stand against Nehemiah. These leaders were not worshippers of God and had no interest in seeing the walls rebuilt. In fact the rebuilding of the walls would erode their personal power. Even though they were a part of the community of those living in Jerusalem they were not apart of the community of faith. Through this passage I felt God speaking to me about leaders who might be a part of the church but are really not saved. If a leader is to lead renewal then only the redeemed will respond. If a leader knows that the call of God in his life is based on God’s revelation through his word then those who stand against it might not really be saved. I have seen so many pastors stop leading because of church leaders who are churched but not saved. Resistance to the movement of God is a sign of lost ness or carnality. Expect opposition!

Back in Nehemiah

Let's pick up our reflections back in chapter one .... having fun?

Nehemiah had a broken concern for the state of his people. Most likely Nehemiah had never seen nor lived in Jerusalem so his motivation was not for his home per say. Being Jewish he knew that God dwelled among His people so the state of the people reflected the glory of God. Nehemiah was broken hearted that his God was shamed by the state of the place, the people, and the view of God in the world. Jerusalem was the center place of Jewish worship so the state of the city reflected the spiritual condition of the people. The people were in ruins as was the city. So true for the many churches today, the spiritual condition and lack of cultural influence of the church cast a negative reflection on the glory of God. A leader’s first focus in bring renewal most be on God and His glory not church growth.

When Nehemiah felt the prompting of God regarding the great task he first looked at his own spiritual condition. Personal renewal starts at the heart of the leader. Unless the leader is renewed then the movement of God is thwarted. When a leader encounters God he is changed and from that change God leverages the leader’s heart. God put Nehemiah in a humble place of brokenness so God would get the glory for the assignment God had for him. We must remember that God is always more interested in what He does in us than what we do for Him.

Let's have some fun...

It seems that every leader has written a book based on Nehemiah. Why, because the book of Nehemiah speaks so clearly to the process of leadership. Over the next few day I will follow that well worn path and share with you some reflections I have gathered from reading Nehemiah. I encourage you to read along with me and comment back about what you are gathering. Let's have some fun!
Let’s start with chapter one …
Spiritual renewal always starts with the heart of God. Men do not look for God apart of the Holy Spirit’s prompting. The key was that Nehemiah was seeking God before the call came to rebuild the walls. He had the practice of spiritual disciplines. He was not moved to action outside the previous devotion. Too many leaders think that God will ready them for the task after the call but God uses those who have been seeking a vital relationship with Him all along. This is not the case throughout scripture for we know that God will use anyone for His glory regardless of their personal devotion or belief. This example from Nehemiah is so important for leaders who claim to already be devoted to God. Because Nehemiah was in the habit of listening to God, God could readily speak to him. We know that Nehemiah was a part of a spiritual culture founded by Daniel and his companions. Pastors must remember that we too are a part of a spiritual culture. We stand on the shoulders of godly men who have gone before us. Often pastors forget that we are called to be holy men first and foremost.

Vision idiot!

I was in a meeting two years when a church leader called me a vision idiot! He meant it in a good way, I think. He was correct; I am a vision idiot meaning God has given me the ability to see what should be. Often that ability gets me into trouble and more often compels me into action. I am not sure why God has given me the gift of vision but He has. Everywhere I go I see what should be for the Kingdom of God. I love pushing leaders to follow that vision. More often than not I come across as an idiot. What makes me look most foolish is that I truly believe that God wants to move in a big way in our nation and most leaders are afraid to see what God sees and therefore afraid to act in accordance to God’s vision.
The main reason I left Texas was the vision God gave me for Tallahassee. I really can’t explain all the emotions and struggles I went through before following that vision. All I can say is that the vision was and is compelling. I have leveraged my whole life for it. I have had many sleepless nights thinking about what I have done, but the vision of God for this city drives me. I had that same vision for Victoria Texas and felt that God was done with me there so God gave me a fresh vision. That doesn’t mean that God was done with Victoria, He was just done with me in Victoria.

Here are some things I have learned about vision.

God’s vision is not about me, but it involves me. I am just a tool in God’s plan.
God’s vision is always about what he can do not what I can do; it is always bigger than me!
God’s vision will not go away, God is relentless.
The bigger the vision from God the greater the adversity you will experience.
Prayer makes me aware! God’s vision comes through seeking God.
God rarely brings about His vision in the way I think He should. God’s ways are not mine.
God’s vision is always about people, heaven, and accordance to His word!
God’s vision will keep you up at night!

I could go on and maybe I should. The bottom line is that I will be a vision idiot until I die. I will live in such a way that sees what God sees and then give my life to see it be. I realize that means a great sacrifice, oh well. Recently God has been pushing me about a national movement of His spirit. That is frightening to me because of my inadequacies. I see what He wants to do in North America, but I can’t do it or lead it. I must remember that it is not about me!
I love this question … What would you do for God if you knew you could not fail? I know my answer. Do you?

Getting my butt whipped

My dad was a elementary school principle for over 30 years. During that span of time he administered lots of “correction”. During his days the paddle was the chosen form of correction. He was an expert. I know! I felt his craft.
Dad was exacting but very loving. Every time he adjusted my behavior he followed a pattern. We would discuss what I had done, why I have done it, and then administer the proper punishment followed by lots of love. Every time he did this, which was often, I just loved him more and wanted to be a better boy. His discipline didn’t drive me away from him but to him. Many times my repentance was short lived and I would return to the same behaviors. But dad never gave up on me. He keep guiding me and loving me. As I got older his correction changed from “the rod” to removal of privileges. Even as a grown man dad was still guiding through loving correction. He loved me enough to give me the leverage to self correct through his wisdom and observation. The goal was not about him but me. Dad was not managing his image, he was loving his son.
I really miss my dad!
As of late God has been lovingly correcting me. His pattern is so much like my dad’s. I am experiencing a brokenness and repentance that is causing me to love God more. He cares enough about me to keep working on me. He is using His word, prayer, other believers, and circumstances to guide me. I am not enjoying this season of correction and I will be glad when it is over. However, I desire to love God deeper and allow Him to use my life. I know that life is not about me. I know that my life is about Jesus, but God’s correction is about me.
In the church world we don’t talk much about spiritual correction and we should. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Maybe we could go through this together, just a thought.

Here we go ...

The whole thing on brokenness really comes down to finding my identity. Who am I?
Like most guys I get identity from what I do. I am a pastor therefore I have certain expectations and rituals that pastors have. I am to be holy almost on the boarder of perfect. I must pray more, give more, understand more, and be the best husband. All of this behavior is unrealistic but I find my identity in all of this. Oh, it gets better. I am a pastor of a big church. That means so much more, at least in my mind. One problem, I left the big church to start over. I am now a nobody, a church planter. And to be honest I have lost my identity. That is the point of the brokenness. I fell into one of the oldest traps a Christ follower can fall into, I based who I am on what I do and not to whom I belong. I KNOW BETTER! None the less I got caught.
When I start thinking that I am what I do I negate the power of the cross and the new life Christ has placed in me. My identity is in Jesus. In Galatians 2:20 Paul says “My old self has been crucified with Christ It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This has been one of my most quoted verses. But I forgot!
What has been the result? I feel worthless. I feel stupid. I feel like a failure. All of this is BULL. I belong to Jesus Christ. He is the one who defines me. I am His and He is mine. I know all of this but lately I have struggled. My struggle has affected everyone around me especially Tara. What do I do? Well, it is about who I am. I am Scott a child of God through Jesus Christ. That is enough.

Being broken

I was reading a blog yesterday by Grieg Groeschel the pastor of Life Church in Oklahoma. He said if you are going to lead a church expect to be broken. What? Expect to be broken, I didn’t sign up to be broken, I want to be blessed! The truth is that God wants you in a place of total dependence and it takes brokenness to get us there.
Over the last two weeks I have experienced personal brokenness in a way I have never experienced. I am still reeling from the revelation of God regarding my character. I am so much more into sin management than repentance. God is into repentance. I am learning that God will break me in order to use me. I hate this. Hebrews 12:11 says …

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

I am in a season of waiting for the harvest of righteousness. I think about Jesus being broken for my sins and I begin to understand why He breaks us. If this concept sounds weird then just hang on, it will make more sense as you follow Jesus. I think we are a fellowship of the broken!

Looking at me

I am a good looking skinny man, in the dark! You see when I only look at myself with the lights out I can’t see the real me, all I can see is the man I think I am. In the dark, I am amazing, but when the lights come on the truth comes out.
This past few weeks God has been turning the lights on in my soul. I don’t like what I see. The problem with personal renewal is that it is painful. It is much easier to fool yourself than to face yourself. God doesn’t want us to have it easy; He wants to conform us to the image of His son. So I have had to face myself. Something tells me that I have just begun this process.
Because my desire is for God to use my life for His glory I must enter into self exanimation. An unexamined life is a dangerous life. I am not going into the details of what I have been discovering but I will say God is pulling away years of false beliefs and pride. I can’t say this is fun. I can say that it will be worth it. I am also learning that when you go public about living for God, Satan will test you on that commitment.
Let me invite you into the arena of taking a hard look at yourself. Why? Because I think God wants to do some amazing things through you but there are some things He must do in you. Psalm 51 is a good place to start as a prayer. Ask God to reveal what needs to change. I truly believe that God wants to move in a big way in North America and He will start that movement in the hearts of His children!

Learnings

Tara and I enjoyed a week off last week. We spent time with my brother and sister in Northwest Florida and had a great time reconnecting. I love my family. The older we get the closer we become. It was good to get away and get a fresh perspective. Church starting is difficult and demanding so breaks are needed in order to keep at it. I am so glad that I have a great team in Brian and Jeremy.
Over the next few days I will be blogging about what God has been teaching me during this season of prayer. Mostly I want you to know how I want you to think that I am far more spiritual than I am. God has been revealing my character flaws in a big way. I know that any renewal starts in the heart of the person and then spreads to other relationships. I will write about this all week!