Conviction: What Do You Do With A Broken Heart?
Leadership Matters, part 1 of 10
The book of Nehemiah is a fascinating journey into the heart of a great leader. From Nehemiah’s heart we see tremendous achievement. As we survey the book of Nehemiah and look at the first chapter, we’ll examine what God did in Nehemiah’s heart, that is, He gave him conviction. Conviction comes from a heart that is aligned with God’s heart. Often times God would break our heart over a matter so that we can develop a passion and conviction on that matter and make a difference in our world. We’ll look at how Nehemiah begins his leadership journey with this burden or broken heart and how he turned that into a motivation to accomplish something great for God.
Download the notes.The Foundational Block Of Leadership
I) THE PROCESS OF BROKEN HEARTEDNESS
1st) Troubled thoughts: We initially ___ASK QUESTIONS___.
“The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.”
(Nehemiah 1:1-2, NIV)
2nd) Confirmed concerns: We actively ___ASSESS THE SCENE___.
“They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’”
(Nehemiah 1:3, NIV)
3rd) Burdened brokenness: We continually ___ACHE INSIDE___.
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.”
(Nehemiah 1:4a, NIV)
II) THE PURPOSE BEHIND A BROKEN HEART
* Meaningful motivation: God may be calling us to ___ACT WITH CONVICTION___.
“For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
(Nehemiah 1:4b, NIV)
III) THE PRAYER OF THE BROKEN HEARTED
Nehemiah’s Prayer:
Three Essentials That Prepare Us To Act On A God-Honoring Conviction
1) ___HUMILITY___: You prayerfully turn the situation over to God.
“Then I said: ‘O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.’”
(Nehemiah 1:5-7, NIV)
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.”
(1 Peter 5:6, NLT)
2) ___CONFIDENCE___: You remember and claim the promises of God.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.”
(Nehemiah 1:8-10, NIV)
“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1:31b, NIV)
3) ___AVAILABILITY___: You have real openness to do the will of God.
“‘O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.’ I was cupbearer to the king.”
(Nehemiah 1:11-12, NIV)
“And [Isaiah] said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
(Isaiah 6:8b, NIV)