Hand Me Another Brick Leadership Series: The Leader’s Mindset For Success

May 29, 2018
Dear Visionary Leader,

We have been learning about the rottenness of ridicule and our responses to it. So far, we have learned the enemy will ridicule the feebleness of our people, the futility of our task, the foolishness of our faith and frailty of our work. When the rottenness of ridicule sets in, we must know how to respond, and not react to it. To combat this ridicule, we should consider its cause, its character, its company, its compensation and its conclusion.

Once we understand the rottenness of ridicule, undertake our responses to ridicule, we are now on the road to overcoming ridicule.

I believe there are two proactive steps forward to overcoming ridicule. First, we will desperately need, prayerful supplication. In Nehemiah 4:4: we read Nehemiah’s prayer, “Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.”

This is a prayer not for personal recrimination against them. He’s just saying, “God it is you that they dishonor.” And “God, You’re the righteous judge.” And “God, You get glory to Your Name.” Lord, they have provoked You to anger. When they are despising us, Lord, when they’re laughing at us, Lord, they are laughing at You.

Continued In Visionary Coaching Below.

I want you to notice what Nehemiah did. Nehemiah did not get into a name-calling contest with them. He didn’t do it. And don’t you do it. A bulldog can whip a skunk, but it’s not worth it. Nehemiah just simply told God on them. He just told God about it. Here they are laughing. Here they are mocking. Here they are scoffing. Here they are ridiculing. And you know what Nehemiah says, “Hear it O God. God, You listen, and God You take action!”

In Proverbs 3:34, we read, “Surely He (God) scoffeth at the scoffers. But He giveth grace unto the lowly.” It is God who scoffs at the scoffers.

In I Peter 2:23, we read, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. And when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself unto Him that judged righteously.”

Isn’t that wonderful? Peter was impressed by the way the Lord Jesus reacted to ridiculed. When He was reviled, He reviled not again. And he threatened not. He just told God on them. “Hear O Lord!” We need to do that same thing today. We should carry the ridicule to God in prayer, and tell the Lord about it.

Second, we will need physical perspiration. In Nehemiah 4:6, we read, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” I like this! They did not have a mind to cry or a mind to criticize or a mind to gossip, but they had a mind to work!

In spite of all of the threats of the enemy. In spite of all of the ridicule and all of the scorn, they just started to do what God had called them to do.

Somebody said it couldn’t be done. But with a chuckle he replied that maybe it couldn’t, but he wouldn’t be one who would say so until he tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin, on his face if he worried he hit it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done. And he did it.

We’re not saved by work. We’re saved by the grace of God. In Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of work lest any man should boast.”

We’re not saved by works. Good works can’t save us. Salvation is in the mercy of God, not in the merit of man. It’s in the grace of God, not in the goodness of man. Salvation is not a prize that you receive at the end of the race, it’s a gift that enables you to run the race. The minute I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, in that moment, God saved me. Isn’t that wonderful! It’s not of works.

I cannot work my soul to be saved. This work was done by my Lord. I will work like any slave for the love of God’s dear Son.

The people had a mind to work. Do you have a mind to do God’s work? If so, let’s get started building the walls of grace throughout every nation on earth!

Until The Last Person Has Heard,

Dr. James. O. Davis
Founder/President
Global Church Network
Cochair / Global Networking