1. By Ron B Smith, Jr.

2. 1. KEEP LEADING IN SPITE OF DISTRACTIONS. (vs. 1-4)

3. Nehemiah's Response: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" (vs. 3b)

4. SEE THE END, NOT AN ENDING!

5. 2.KEEP LEADING IN SPITE OF ACCUSATIONS. (vs. 5-7)

6. Fact: Anyone who sets big goals will be criticized by people who set no goals.

7. Matthew 5:11-12

8. Nehemiah's Response: He discerned their motivations.

9. "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ " (vs. 9)

10. He denied their accusations.

11. He Prayed!

12. "But I prayed, `Now strengthen my hands.’ " (vs. 9b)

13. 3.KEEPING LEADING IN SPITE OF FEAR. (vs. 11-14)

14. Nehemiah's Response: "But I said, `Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!'" (vs. 11)

15. I realized that God had not sent him..." (vs. 12)

16. "He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me." (vs. 13)

17. FOUR LEADERSHIP HELPS

18. FOUR LEADERSHIP HELPS 1.Work On A Great Project "I am carrying on a great project..." (vs. 3b)

19. 2. See God’s Perspective (vs. 2b, 9, 12) "If you lack wisdom, ask God...!" James 1:5

20. 3.Be In Continual Prayer "But I prayed, `Now strengthen my hands.'" (vs. 9b)

21. "Jesus told his disciples... they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1

22. 4.Develop A Courageous Persistence "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9