Leading in Anxious Times

EZRA: A leader takes time to prepare

Sunday June 6, 2021 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Ezra 7:9-10

"On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." -Ezra 7:9-10

Leading In Anxious Times

Anxious times call for a clear message, a reminder of the calm and steady presence of God. Your leadership at home or at work will affect the people you lead. You don't need a fancy title to be a leader. You can make a positive impact where you are.

How Shall We Lead At Home And At Work In Anxious Times?

To lead in anxious times, set your heart to seek the truth, live the truth, and teach the truth.

Why Should We Seek Truth?

When truth sets you free you can experience a revival.

What Can We Learn From Ezra?

Let's start with the background.

• 1. Ezra was tasked to lead the Jews back to Jerusalem from Babylon.
• 1. Ezra realized that the Jews had not learned their mistakes. They had endured captivity in a foreign place for seventy long years for committing similar sins (idolatry & intermarriage).

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM EZRA

1. To Lead Others, A Lead First Must Be Rooted In The Word

"On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." -Ezra 7:9-10

1. Lay the groundwork
2. Learn the purpose
3. Live by it
4. Lead others

2. Be Rooted In Prayer And Plan

"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions." -Ezra 8:21

1. Focus on "presence" rather than on the "presentation." "At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God." -Ezra 9:5
2. Focus on "Internal Growth." God will take care of the "External Growth."

3. Solving Problems Involves Taking Responsibility

"So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice." -Ezra 9:3-4

1. Ezra was devastated to learn the problem of intermarriage. Ezra pulled his hair in grief and prayed on behalf of his people.
2. Members of the community spontaneously joined him.

The problem of intermarriage

1. The pervasive influence of idolatry.
2. God had forbidden the Jews from marrying people from other nations. (Deuteronomy 7:1-5)

The intermarriages of Jewish people were unsettling for at least two reasons.

1. First, it showed that the people had not learned their lesson. They had endured captivity in a foreign place for seventy long years for committing similar sins.
2. Second, they did this repeatedly. (Ezra 9:1-2; Nehemiah 13:23-27)

4. Be Rooted In MakIng Disciples, Ensuring The Continuity of Leadership Rather Than Dependence On You

"...When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God." -Ezra 8:15-17

1. Ezra invites others to help bring Levites to Israel (Ezra 8:15-20).
2. Ezra involves others and gives them credit for their participation.
3. A certain Levite named Sherebiah is a particular success story for Ezra (Ezra 8:18, 24).
4. Ezra similarly appoints twelve other priests to care for the Temple treasures(Ezra 8:24-30).
5. Ezra's leadership transfers most of his authority to the people.
6. Ezra is an example of raising up many disciples.

5. Be Caring: Identity With The Pain and Suffering of People

Have the patience to sit and listen. Do not be in a hurry to try to fix things.

1. Ezra pulled out his hair and beard.

"So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished." -Ezra 9:3

1. Ezra identified himself with the failures of his fellow Jews, even though he had not committed these sins himself.

"And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens." -Ezra 9:6

6. Be A Coach

Ask the right questions. Give opportunities to others to maximize their potential.

1. Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. (Ezra 10:1)
2. Allow people to come up with their own solution.
3. After the completion of this prayer, the people propose and implement the solution, with Ezra simply endorsing their plan (Ezra 10:2-4)
4. Ezra realized that confrontational top-down rebuke would not be effective.
5. Ezra came up with an alternate plan to bring members of his community into the process.
6. He wanted others to take active leadership and participatory roles.
7. He wanted to create leadership that could perpetuate itself, rather than forcing the community to become entirely dependent on him.

7. Have A Bold Faith

1. Ezra declined a military escort since he wanted to let the King of Persia know God will take care of the people.

"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, 'The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.' So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer." -Ezra 8:21-23

8. Be Grateful

1. Take time to acknowledge God's provision, protection, and guidance.
2. Acknowledge achievements and milestones.

"Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road." -Ezra 8:37

9. Take Time To Rest

1. Take time to rest, refresh, and regroup before we move on to the next thing.

"So we came to Jerusalem and stayed there three days." -Ezra 8:32

10. Celebrate

1. It is important to know when we celebrate, how we celebrate, and why we celebrate.
2. The first is in Ezra 3:10-13.
3. The second is described in Ezra 6:16-22.
4. Provide an opportunity for the people to praise God.
5. So that everyone is aware and everyone can participate. (Ezra 6:19-22)
6. Everyone was involved. (Ezra 6:19-20)

SUMMARY

1. Ezra was given immense authority by the Persian king, but he surrounded himself with people and shared or transferred authority to others.
2. He raised new leaders to take active roles in their spiritual development.
3. He raised many disciples.
4. He broadens the base of the leadership rather than forcing the community to become entirely dependent on him.
5. The people voluntarily gravitated to him for guidance and teaching.

IMPACT

1. People experienced a revival. (Nehemiah 8-10)
2. The people voluntarily respected him as a teacher.
3. Ezra shared the center stage with others (Nehemiah 8:4)