3 Things Successful Leaders Have Learned To Resist

In today’s world, no one wants to be told “No.”  Furthermore, no one wants to wait for ANYTHING.  We have a right to our opinions.  We demand our rights.  However, a life with no restraint, no restrictions, no guardrails, no sacrifice, no delayed gratification, no patience, and no discipline is a recipe for complete failure.

This past Sunday Piedmont Church’s senior pastor Ike Reighard observed, “Our ability to choose can override God’s plan for our lives… Our choices today = our lifestyle tomorrow.”

These words were part of the introductory comments from Ike’s amazing message on lessons from the life of Sampson.  The point he made was if we are going to become the type of person or leader God has called us to be, there are three things we must learn to resist.  Many of these ideas originated from a message previously done by Rick Warren which Ike updated for our congregation and the journey we are on.

Learn To Resist Being Self-Indulgent

• Anything left uncontrolled will weaken you and your life.
• Strong people have to discipline their desires.  Judges 14: 1-3 says, “Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. ² Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” ³ But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
• We get to choose our choices.  We don’t get to choose our consequences.  Proverbs 25:26 says, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”

Learn To Resist Bitterness In Your Life

1. Sampson always reacted hot-headed and violently.
2. Sampson’s motivation was revenge.  Judges 15:7 says, “And Samson said to them, “If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.”
3. This world can make you bitter.
4. Resentment is a huge waste.  It zaps you of your creativity.
5. Strong people learn to restrain their reactions.  You learn to respond rather than react.
6. Prov 29:22 says, “A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.”  Do not let people and circumstances determine your response.
7. Strong leaders restrain their temper.  Proverbs 16:32 says, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
8. Alexander the Great said, “I’ve conquered the world but can’t conquer my own soul.”

Learn To Resist Being Careless

• The strength of Sampson was not in his hair.  It was in his vows.
• Your choices can burn you.
• Sin will blind you.
• Sampson tried to live his God-life by himself.  This was his biggest mistake.  Resist doing life alone.

This was a challenging and convicting message.  What is one thing you can resist which will make you a better leader?

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