Determination: Conquering Your Critics
Leadership Matters, part 8 of 10
The old saying is that “Monuments are never erected to critics but only to those they criticize.”. Every effective leader will face criticism. The job of a leader is to examine and assess each criticism that comes his or her way and evaluate if there is anything valid to the critic or whether the criticism is misses the mark in that persons life. For those times when people criticize without knowing what’s actually going on in our lives, the way to conquer a critic is to be determined in spite of their criticism. In Nehemiah 6 we see how the same people who tried to mock and scorn Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem’s work to rebuild the wall around the city, now attempt to trick and deceive Nehemiah into stopping his work. But Nehemiah refused to let his critics trick or deceive him and maintained a steadfast determination to keep up the progress of building the wall, even when fear had the potential to grip his heart. We will learn how every great leader demonstrates a dogged determination to see the project through and how that dogged determination can be a habit that we develop in our own lives.
Download the notes.Critic-al Information About Conquering Your Critics
I) CRITICS WILL TRY TO ___DISTRACT___ YOU CONTINUALLY
“When Sanballat, Tobiah, Gesham the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet hung the doors in the gates— [They] sent me a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me.”
(Nehemiah 6:1-2, NLT)
* Reason: To take us away from our ___OBJECTIVES___.
* Response: Give your answer and ___STAND BY IT___.
“So I replied by sending this message to them: ‘I am doing a great work! I cannot stop to come and meet with you. Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.”
(Nehemiah 6:3-4, NLT)
II) CRITICS WILL TRY TO ___DISPARAGE___ YOU PERSONALLY
“The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: ‘Gesham tells me that everywhere he goes he hears that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall…that you plan to be their king…that you have appointed prophets to prophesy about you in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.’”
(Nehemiah 6:5-7, NLT)
* Reason: To take us away from our ___OPERATING PLAN___.
* Response: Share the truth and ___STICK TO IT___.
“My reply was, ‘You know you are lying. There is no truth in any part of your story.’ They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could break our resolve and stop the work. So I prayed for strength to continue the work.”
(Nehemiah 6:8-9, NLT)
III) CRITICS WILL TRY TO ___DISCOURAGE___ YOU EMOTIONALLY
“Later I went to visit Shemiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, ‘Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.’”
(Nehemiah 6:10, NLT)
* Reason: To take away our ___OPTIMISM___.
* Response: Protect your honor and ___STAY TRUE TO GOD___.
“But I replied, ‘Should someone in my position run away from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!’ I realized that God had not spoken to him, but… because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin by following his suggestion. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.”
(Nehemiah 6:11-13, NLT)
IV) CRITICS CAN ___DRAW YOU___ CLOSE TO GOD SPIRITUALLY
“Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.”
(Nehemiah 6:14, NLT)
* Reason: It forces us to ___DEPEND___ on God.
* Response: Focus on pleasing and ___SERVING GOD___.
“When the ways of people please the Lord, he makes even their enemies live at peace with them.”
(Proverbs 16:7, NLT)