The 100 Characteristics of a Real Christian Leader - Part IV: From the Book of Nehemiah
Today we are continuing to identify the 100 Characteristics of a Real Christian Leader. Every person can be a leader. People are not born leaders, they become leaders through consistently doing the right thing. Nehemiah demonstrates the consummate Christian leader. Let’s pick up where we left off in Part III.
41. A Real Christian Leader Gets People Working Together (Nehemiah 3:1-32).
Nehemiah got people with different perosnalities, gifts, skills, opinions, backgrounds, and positions; set before them a goal, and encouraged them to do their part.
42. A Real Christian Leader Uses What is Available (Nehemiah 3:1-32).
The word “built” is used six times in Nehemiah 3 and means “rebuilt.” They had everything they needed to rebuild the walls. The church and every Christian has everything we need to do the will of God.
43. A Real Christian Leader Focuses on What He Has, Not on What He Doesn’t Have (Nehemiah 3:1-32; 4:10).
Nehemiah took what he had and built on that. He looked at the broken walls and saw unlimited possibilities.
44. A Real Christian Leader Understands that Not Everyone Will Agree with or Like What is Happening (Nehemiah 4:1).
You can’t please people. So, you focus on pleasing God. God is much easier to please than people!
45. A Real Christian Leader Knows Satan Will Attack from Within (Nehemiah 4:1-3).
Satan will attempt to use discouragement, fear, worry, and insecurity will happen from within in order to impede the progress. Expect it and move forward.
46. A Real Christian Leader Knows the Enemy Uees Discouragement as One of his Major Tools (Nehemiah 4:1-3; 6:19).
C.S. Lewis said: “If Satan’s arsenal of weapons were restricted to a single one, it would be discouragement.”
47. A Real Christian Leader Prays Against that Which God is Against (Nehemiah 4:4-5).
There is a time when we should pray against something or someone when that something or someone is opposing God.
48. A Real Christian Leader Expresses His Feelings at Appropriate Times (Nehemiah 4:4).
Real men do cry. God wants to use your emotions, under His control, to express your heart.
49. A Real Christian Leader Continues On, In Spite Of (Nehemiah 4:6).
Success is getting up one more time than you fall down.
50. A Real Christian Leader Learns from Critics and Criticism (Nehemiah 4:9).
Leaders take criticism (as hard as it is at times) and turn it into a classroom. There is much to learn from our critics.
51. A Real Christian Leader Makes Necessary Changes (Nehemiah 4:9).
Nehemiah responded to the circumstances and made changes to accommodate God’s work.
52. A Real Christian Leader Realizes Limitations (Nehemiah 4:10).
A leader can admit, “This is bigger than me.” However, he believes passionately, “It is not bigger than God.”
53. A Real Christian Leader Removes Obstacles (Nehemiah 4:10).
Leaders understand that in order to rebuild or go forward, obstacles must be identified and removed.
54. A Real Christian Leader is Flexible when Faced with Needed Change (Nehemiah 4:12-14).
Nehemiah saw where some changes needed to be made. He informed the people, shared why, and made the move.
55. A Real Christian Leader Identifies the Vulnerabilities (Nehemiah 4:13).
Leaders identify those areas of vulnerability, of weakness, of potential problems and deal with them realistically.
56. A Real Christian Leader Prioritizes Family (Nehemiah 4:13).
Nehemiah had the husbands and fathers on the wall closest to their homes, their families. Success begins at home.
57. A Real Christian Leader is an Encourager (Nehemiah 4:14).
A leader is never a discourager. He builds up, not tears down.
58. A Real Christian Leader Doesn’t Walk Away from a Righteous Fight (Nehemiah 4:14).
There are some things worth fighting for!
59. A Real Christian Leader Keeps on Talking to God (Nehemiah 4:4,9).
Nehemiah never stopped talking to God.
60. A Real Christian Leader Builds and Battles (Nehemiah 4:17).
He understands that you must do both simultaneously when doing the will of God.
