September/October 2003

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TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>September/October 2003</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>"</B><B>LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>"</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> James Russell, Elder </div> <div> To God's scattered Brethren, </div> <div> Greetings from sunny Southern California. Previously we published a poem entitled "How did you spend your dash?" without identifying an author. However, we recently learned that the poem, correctly titled "The Dash" was written by Linda M. Ellis of Linda's Lyrics, http://www.lindaslyrics.com and that Ms. Ellis owns and has registered the copyright to her poem. </div> <div> In the December 1996, "Prove All Things" magazine we wrote of being in the process of setting up a web page on the Internet. That has proven to be a very successful tool and avenue for us to reach out to the conscientious Christian world with God's truth. For several months now we have been delivering live sermons through our Internet web page, www.postponements.com. Two months ago we began making past sermons available on the "pre-recorded" connection, under "live sermons." </div> <div> In just a few weeks we will be gathering as commanded for God's Holy Convocations, starting with the Day of Trumpets that entails the reading of God's law at its appointed time. "And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month" (Neh. 8:2). This Feast is followed ten days later with the Day of Atonement, which pictures being at-one-ment with God! "It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath" (Lev. 23:32). Moses was further instructed about this very important seventh month, "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the Eighth day shall be an Holy Convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein" (Lev. 23:34,36). </div> <div> These are busy Holy Days for all of God's called. Working, sharing and serving along side with others of like mind are action tools for preparing us to be in God's soon coming Kingdom. </div> <div> As the Church of God grows in truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding, we are to freely share this knowledge with others around the world. We have found the leadership lessons of Nehemiah are Godly principles that we can all use to further our understanding of the work God has given to each one of us. When Nehemiah heard about the Jews and Jerusalem, he was very disturbed. ".. Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" (Neh. 1:2-4). </div> <div> As a result, Nehemiah requests the Kings approval to journey to Jerusalem. "Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me" (Neh. 2:7-8). </div> <div> Nehemiah set Seven Principles to work at rebuilding the wall. </div> <div> 1. The Principle of Simplification: We've heard of the K.I.S.S. method. Keep It Simple Stupid! Nehemiah used a simple plan of organization. He didn't randomly assign jobs; he didn't create a whole new organization and he didn't come up with any complex charts. He kept his plans very simple. He organized around natural groupings: the priests, the men of Jericho, the sons of Hassenaah, and so forth. These were natural groups that were already associating together. The point is: don't create a new plan if you don't need it. The simplest way is the best way. </div> <div> 2. The Principle of Participation: It's a pretty simple rule: work with those who want to work! Amazingly, a lot of leaders never learn this simple principle. They spend all their time trying to corral the lazy and the apathetic, instead of working with those who want to work. That's called corralling goats! Nehemiah got almost everybody involved in the building of the wall. He had the clerics, the goldsmiths, the perfume makers– men, women, city and country folks. Everyone was moving bricks and making mortar–except for one little group: The section being repaired by the men of Tekoa. Their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work assigned to them - they shirked their duty. Nehemiah's response was to ignore these shirkers! In every situation you're going to have workers and shirkers! Nehemiah just ignored the latter and focused on those who were willing to work. He didn't lose sleep, or get bitter or waste time trying to corral them. </div> <div> When the Church of God, In Truth first started, we had to learn this lesson. Every time we thought through conversation with someone that they wanted to help serve in the Church; they just seemed to back away and become uninvolved. God showed us that we should not force our will on them, but to continue to get fired up and inspired about those who were willing to get involved and help do the work of serving. Leaders love everyone, but they move with the movers! </div> <div> 3. The Principle of Delegation: When organizing, you should make specific assignments. Nehemiah divided the wall into sections during his midnight ride. "And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work" (Neh. 2:13,16). Nehemiah found out what needed to be done and then set about getting it done. He didn't attempt to do it all himself. He kept it simple and delegated specific assignments. </div> <div> Nehemiah followed these basic principles of delegation: Break down major goals into smaller tasks. Make everybody a committee of one. Develop clear job descriptions. Each worker needs to know what is expected of him (or her). Match the right person with the right task. Delegating is more than just passing off work: you need to understand what the task is all about and what each person is good at, and then organize them all together. Everybody's responsibility is nobody's responsibility. Somebody need to assume specific responsibility. </div> <div> 4. The Principle of Motivation: When you organize any project, help people feel its their project. In Nehemiah you see again and again men making repairs near their houses. If you lived in Jerusalem, where would you be most interested in building a wall? Probably near your house, right? Nehemiah is also saying, Make the work as convenient as possible. He allowed people to work in their area of interest. Good organization allows workers to serve and develop in their own area of talent. </div> <div> 5. The Principle of Cooperation: The founder of Forbes magazine said, "You spell success: "Teamwork." </div> <div> Cooperation is the key principle to good organization. It has been said that geese can fly 72 percent farther when they're in formation, than when they fly by themselves. When we cooperate together, we form a climate of trust and teamwork. In the Bible, the phrase "One another" is used 58 times. It's as if God is saying, "Get the message! Help each other!" There is no such thing as a "Lone Ranger" Christian. We are together in this. We're a team! There is tremendous power in cooperation. In the first 10 chapters of Acts, this principle of unity is repeated 10 times, "there were of one accord...of one heart...unified." Snow is a beautiful demonstration of what God can do with a bunch of flakes. Snowflakes are pretty frail, but if enough of them stick together they can stop traffic! </div> <div> 6. The Principle of Administration: Even after you delegate, you must supervise. Nehemiah daily walked the line, inspecting the work. Nehemiah knew which part each man built, because he personally went out and checked the progress in each area. This allowed him to monitor what was going on. Nehemiah followed another time proven principle: People do what you inspect, not what you expect. </div> <div> 7. The Principle of Appreciation: Good leaders give recognition. Nehemiah knew the names of those working on the wall, and that's a mark of a good leader. He even listed them in his book. He cared enough to recognize these men and women for their work. ["Principles," Adapted from "Pulpit Helps" published by AMG Publishers, Chattanoga TN 37422]. </div> <div> God informs us that His word is, "----- quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). God knew this when He, "Sent forth His servants to call them that were bidden [invited] to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, He sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden,[invited] behold, I have prepared My dinner: My oxen and My fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise" (Matt. 22:3-5). Luke picks up the story. "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto Him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray Thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray Thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his Lord these things. Then the Master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden [invited] shall taste of My supper" (Luke 14:18-24). "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14). </div> <div> We don't know the season [appointed time], of Christ' return to take His bride for marriage, but we do know what is distracting so many of God's people's attention away from being ready and prepared to be chosen for the wedding. If you don't know already, the answer is found in Matthew 23:13. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in" (Matt. 23:13). Finding excuses and following false teachings, such as postponing God's annual Sabbaths can keep one from hearing Christ's servants that are clearly instructed to call those that were invited to the wedding; yet we read, they would not come. "Again, He sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, [ invited] behold, I have prepared My dinner: My oxen and My fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage" (Matt. 22:3-4). </div> <div> Brethren, don't be like the five foolish virgins that missed the wedding because they had to go and "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" (Prov. 23:23). When they returned the instructions for them was to, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately" (Luke 12:35-36). Don't miss out by dismissing God's open invitation to His weekly Sabbaths and annual Holy Days that prepare us for the wedding! </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Church of God, In Truth </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>