Leading withBrokennessAnd Humility

Pastor Lee McFarlandPastor Lee McFarland

““God uses broken thingsGod uses broken things. It . It takes broken soil to produce a takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.greater power than ever.”” -Rev. Vance Havner (1901-1986)-Rev. Vance Havner (1901-1986)

Nehemiah did what nobody had been able to do in 80 years!

HE FIXED A BROKEN DREAM!

“…So the wall was completed… in fifty-two days.” Neh. 6:15

Nehemiah was able to fulfill God’s destiny for his lifebecause he had “servant-leader”

traits…

1. He was broken over the suffering of people.

“Nehemiah: “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Neh. 1:4

Jesus: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matt. 9:36

2. Praying before

starting.

Nehemiah: “With a quick prayer

to the God of heaven, I replied...”

Neh. 2:4 (LB)

Jesus: “But Jesus often withdrew to

lonely places and prayed.”

Luke 5:16

Hustle While You Wait - Shon Bradford

Failure is a beginning, not an ending or

destination!

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

~ Michael Jordan

3. Staying positive and optimistic.

"In the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxeres, when the wine was brought forth, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before." Neh 2:1

Nehemiah: “… Don't be dejected and sad,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Neh. 8:10 (NLT)

Jesus: “You're blessed when you can show

people how to cooperate instead of compete or

fight...” Matt. 5:9 (Msg)

Jesus: “... That's when you discover who you really are, and your

place in God's family.” Matt. 5:9 (Msg)

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling

among us…” John 1:14

“... We have seen his glory, the glory of the

one and only Son, who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Being optimisticdoesn’t mean being

NAÏVE!

Jesus sent out the disciples once, and

told them to be “wise as serpents, and

harmless as doves!”

Jesus: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out

for Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51

Nehemiah: “From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the

other half were equipped with spears.” Neh. 4:16

Jesus – the acoustic engineer: “He got into one of the boats…and asked him to put out a little from shore...”

Luke 5:3

Jesus talking to the disciples, and to me:

“You've observed how godless rulers throw

their weight around, how quickly a little power

goes to their heads…” Matt. 20:25-26 (Msg)

“…It's NOT going to be that way with you! Whoever wants to

be great must become a servant.”

Matt. 20:25-26 (Msg)