7 Temptations Leaders Face - 10-08-2017

Refuge Church of Walterboro, SC

Series: Leadership

Message: 7 Temptations Leaders Face

Satan tempts us to create our OWN RULES.

(Genesis 3:1-13) (NIV) 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

11And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Integrity is seeking to do the RIGHT THING no matter what.

(James 4:17)(NIV) If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

Satan tempts us to BUILD ON SHIFTING SAND.

(Matthew 7:24-27)(NLT) 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Build on a FOUNDATION that won’t COLLAPSE.

(1 Corinthians 3:10-15) (NLT) 10Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Satan tempts us to DO EVERYTHING OURSELVES.

(Exodus 18:13-27) (NLT) 13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”

15Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”

17“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”

24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.

27Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.

DEVELOP others and DELEGATE what you can.

(2 Timothy 2:2)(NIV) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Satan tempts us to TAKE SHORTCUTS.

(Deuteronomy 5:32)(NLT) So Moses told the people, “You must be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, following his instructions in every detail.

Great success never happens OVERNIGHT.

(Proverbs 4:26-27) (NIV) 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways. 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Satan tempts us to QUIT TOO EARLY.

(Galatians 6:9)(NLT) So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.

Perseverance is learning not to QUIT every time things get DIFFICULT.

(James 1:2-4) (NIV) 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Satan tempts us to TAKE ALL THE GLORY.

(1 Corinthians 10:31)(NLT) So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Don’t ever forget the GOD who helped you SUCCEED.

(Psalm 115:1)(NLT) Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Satan tempts us to WALK AWAY FROM GOD.

(Job 2:1-10) (NLT) 1One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 2“Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan.

Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

3Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

4Satan replied to the LORD, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

6“All right, do with him as you please,” the LORD said to Satan. “But spare his life.” 7So Satan left the LORD’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.

8Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

10But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Let God LEAD YOU every STEP.

(Genesis 6:8-9) (NLT) 8But Noah found favor with the LORD. 9This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

(Genesis 26:5)(NLT) I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions."