Finish Well 

Global Leadership SummitMay 20, 2014

Oklahoma City, OK

 Harold Dalton, D.Min.

A Time To Die

[ Name ]

Born: Died:

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Nabal as his name is, so is he

(folly, worthless, spoken by his wife)

I Samuel 25:25

Ahab He did more evil in the eyes of the

Lord than any of the Kings before him

I Kings 16:30

Jehoahaz 3 months as King

He did evil in the sight of God

II Kings 23:31

Jehoram

He passed away to no one’s regret

II Chronicles 21:20 (NIV)

Son of Issachar

He understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do

I Chronicles 12:32

Moses

Servant of the Lord

Joshua 1:1

John

“The greatest man who ever lived”

according to Jesus, Matthew 11:11

Stephen

…a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit

Acts 6:5

Barnabas

a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith

Acts 11:24

David

…after serving his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep

Acts 13:36

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Born: Died:

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Lifetime Goal  -  Finish Well

To hear our Lord say…

”Well done”

To “finish well” means to come to the end of one’s life and be able to say with the Apostle Paul: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” II Timothy 4:6-8 KJV

I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and rest. 

II Timothy 4:6-8 The Living Bible

It is Possible !

The sad reality is that an alarming number of Christian leaders do not finish well. It is the work of Satan

to “kill, steal, and destroy.”

       

Everyone Finishes. . .         Too Many Do Not Finish Well (Bobby Clinton)

- Finished badly Saul, Solomon, Judas - Finished “so-so” David, Hezekiah

In some cases the person is forgiven by God and continues to serve the Lord at a diminished level.

- Can’t be sure, left with a question (not enough information)

The reasons for not finishing well are well known and have not changed much

over the centuries.

Seven Deadly Sins  From the 6th century by Pope Gregory the Great

Pride is an excessive belief in one's own abilities.Envy is wanting what others have, be it status, abilities, or possessions.Gluttony is the desire to eat or consume more than you require.Lust is a powerful craving for such as sex, power and money. Anger is the loss of rational self-control and the desire to harm others.Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain.Sloth is laziness and the avoidance of work.

Barriers to Finishing Well        (Making of a Leader, Clinton)

Misuse of Finances        Sexual Misconduct   

Abuse of Power

Pride

Family Problems (spouse, children)

Plateau (stop learning and growing)

Emotional and Psychological Wounding

Secular writers…

How the Mighty Fall, Jim CollinsWhy Smart People Do Dumb Things

Feinberg & TarrantThe Top 10 Reasons Leaders Fail, by Jack StarkHow To Fail In Business “Fortune Magazine,”

April 14, 2014, p. 80-90

PrideChristian and Secular authors list

pride as the most common reason for failure in leadership

PRIDEArrogance – I know everything

Narcissism - It’s all about meRefusal to be Accountable – Don’t

ask any questions

How Does It Happen ?

Consider the passage describing the temptations from the Devil directed at Jesus recorded in Luke 4

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. “ Luke 4:13 NIV, NKJV

(for another season, KJV; another opportunity, Message; a more favorable time, AMP)

What is your “opportune time?”  

-Time of vulnerability, weakness, unguarded moment

-The time you are most likely to fall into sin

Following a spiritual high point or mountain top experience. (Elijah) Period of isolation, loneliness, physical weakness (Jesus) Foolish decisions, open temptation, unguarded heart (David) Marital problems, Argument with wife (prayers are hindered) I Peter 3:7 Others…

Dr Archibald Hart: “Every person has his price. Given the right

person, in the right circumstances, we all have the potential of paying the wrong price for a moment of

pleasure.” (Farrar, p 72)

Pride is the biggest danger

Humility is a great safeguard

Humility

Very high Biblical value, very low cultural value!

I Peter 5:1-7 God resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble

To practice humility

I will admit…

- It is possible for me to fail- I can fool man but not God - My own heart will deceive me- I underestimate the impact of my actions

Sin will take you further than you wanted to go

Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay

Sin will cost you more than you wanted to pay

Farrar, p. 84…

My Personal Safeguards    

Harold Dalton

Don’t copy mine... Create your own.

Very good advice from my wife…

Don’t do something stupid !

Anna

LEGACY

 

When I finish, my legacy lives on.

How long will my legacy endure ?   

Four Generations ?

And the things that you have heard from me among many

witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach

others also. II Timothy 2:2

1. From Me (Paul) to

2. You, My Son (Timothy) to

3. Faithful men to

4. Others

For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me

Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9

Four Generations !

Generations of Godliness and blessings 

Above all else, guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

“Lest I should become disqualified” 

I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

I Corinthians 9:26-27

BenedictionNow to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

[ Name ]

Born: ______ Died: ______

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Finishing StrongSteve Farrar

Multnomah Books

Many helpful books and articles on leadership:Dr J Robert Clinton

Foundational text: The Making Of A Leader, NavPressVisit his website for a full listing of publications. http://bobbyclinton.com/

Home RunKevin Myers and John C. Maxwell

FaithWords, New York