It was an experiment to explore the effects of Twitter on different areas of his life. It was a relief to learn that I shouldn’t experience withdrawal pains if I decide to turn the network off for awhile.

While Michael’s discussion of “The Twitter Effect” was helpful, there was something more. I hadn’t visited his blog looking for these insights. But in a moment of Social Media serendipity, there they were.

Throughout the post, I noticed subtle evidences of some of the top qualities that define “great leadership.” I’ve listed seven:

1. Great leaders publicly acknowledge others. In the first line of his post, Michael let the whole world know that Anne Jackson was his friend and that she had his attention. That probably encouraged Anne and brightened her day just a little.

2. Great leaders are open to the ideas of others. The idea for the challenge was Anne’s. Even though it didn’t initially conform to Michael’s thinking, he was open to considering it. He didn’t just dismiss it outright either. Even after saying “no” to the experiment he reevaluated his position. He determined that the exercise might actually teach him something. He went forward.

3. Great leaders are readers. We hear this statement a lot. “Not all readers are leaders but all great leaders are readers.” For good reason. It’s true. Michael said, “I read a lot.” Granted, it might be occupational malpractice for the leader of the largest Christian publishing company in the world to say he doesn’t read very much. But I think it’s safe to say that he REALLY loves reading.

4. Great leaders are listeners. Michael listened to what Anne had to say. He mentioned, as he frequently does in his writings, the enjoyment of seeking and absorbing information from those around him. That’s not possible if you’re doing most of the talking. (I’ve wrestled with this one.)

5. Great leaders are learners. The Twitter experiment was undertaken to enlarge Michael’s understanding of social media’s influence in his life. This post, like so many before it, reveals his quest for discovery.

6. Great leaders share what they’ve learned. That was the main reason he wrote the post. Michael’s motivation always seems to lean toward helping others learn and grow. I bet this passion for serving others is evident in many other areas of his life.

7. Great leaders live their values. It’s not a role they play. It’s who they are. It’s demonstrated every day through what they say and do…and blog and tweet.

Want to learn about great leadership? Follow great leaders. Social Media has made it easy to sit in the virtual classroom of leaders like Michael Hyatt. It’s expanded opportunities for connecting and learning. Sometimes in ways you weren’t expecting.

Question: Who are you learning from right now? What one thing have they taught you?

Dealing with adversaries is a dominant theme in the Psalms.

Goes with the territory

Sometimes when David talked about his enemies he was referring to Saul’s army that relentlessly pursued him prior to his becoming king.

Other times he may have been alluding to his military adversaries since he often led Israel into battle.  But many of the references to enemies referred to the citizens in his own kingdom who opposed him.

David was the most successful and revered of all Israel’s kings but even the most effective leaders are second-guessed and criticized.

Moses had Jannes and Jambres who opposed him (2 Tim 3:8).  Paul had Alexander who did him much harm (2 Tim. 4:14), and Jesus had the Pharisees who were always looking for a reason to accuse him. (Luke 6:7)

“The ability to endure criticism” is a part of the job description for every potential leader because the more influential the role, the more intense the opposition will be.

The wounds

It seemed like nothing David did was right.  He wrote, “When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.  Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards” (verses 10-12).  Like a modern day president who is the brunt of brutal jokes and unreasonable accusations from people who don’t have a clue, David lived with daily contempt and ridicule.

In Psalm 69 David confessed to feeling overwhelmed by the vicious attacks. “I am worn out calling for help…Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause” (verses 3-4).

Some experienced leaders insist that criticism doesn’t bother them but David confessed that, just as a battering ram weakens the gate a little with each crushing blow, criticism weakens the energy level of even the most seasoned leaders.

The antidotes

In his prayer David asked for a faithful testimony.  “May those who hope in you not be disgraced….may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me” (verse 6).

He expressed appreciation that God understood.  “You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.  Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none” (verses 19-20).

David learned it was lonely at the top but was thankful God understood him.

He prayed God would avenge his enemies.  “May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.  Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them…Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.  May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous” (verse 23-27).

I heard my friend Wayne Smith say, “I know God says not to hate anyone but if that rule ever changes, I’ve got my guy picked out!”

David’s enemies galled him but instead of trying to personally get even (and he could have) he turned them over to the Lord—and then gave some suggestions about what the Lord could do to them!

He concluded by praising God for His goodness.  “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” (verse 30).

One of the best antidotes for dealing with enemies is to count our blessings.  Praise helps keep the big picture and reminds us that God determines the future…not our foes.

Triumph over your enemies

President Ronald Reagan was often the victim of brutal attacks but remained upbeat and positive about the country and his role in it.  He once said, “We’ve seen the American Spirit triumph too often in our lives to stop believing in it now.”

As Christian leaders we’ve seen the Spirit of God triumph too often in our world to stop believing in Him now—regardless of what our enemies might say or do.
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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear, biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church and When God Answers Prayer.

Sermons from Bob Russell’s preaching archives are broadcast every week on the SermonCast Channel.

But, while he provided some encouragement to his nation by provoking the Philistine enemies to anger, he never realized his full potential.

J. Oswald Saunders in his book, Spiritual Manpower, calls Samson, “The Champion Who Became A Clown.”

Samson could have been an inspirational leader, but he was little more than a flash in the pan.  He would do something spectacular occasionally but he never raised an army, never won a battle, never rallied the people of Israel to do God’s will.

In the end he was exploited and ridiculed by his enemies as a buffoon.

The reason Samson’s life ended in such tragedy can be summed up in one word—PRIDE.  Samson’s ego, more than lust, was the source of his downfall.  Samson thought too highly of himself and “Edged God Out.”

Pride undermined Samson’s leadership in five ways.

1. He was too proud to settle for a Hebrew girlfriend. When he saw a pretty woman in Timnah, he insisted his parents “get her for me as my wife.”  Even though the Scriptures commanded him not to intermarry with women from other nations, Samson considered himself above the rules.

2. He was too proud to listen to the counsel of His parents. When his mother and father tried to persuade him to marry a girl from his own people Samson disregarded their counsel.  “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1).

3. He was too proud to accept humiliation at the hands of the Philistines. When the Philistines solved one of Samson’s riddles by cheating and his father-in-law gave his wife away to another man, Samson vowed to get even.  It never crossed his arrogant mind that maybe his trouble stemmed from his disobedience to God’s will.  He burned with anger and set fire to 300 foxes’ tails and set them blazing through the Philistine fields.  He was motivated more by a desire for revenge than by patriotism.

4. He was too proud to depend on God for his strength.  One evening the Philistine armies surrounded Samson while he slept with a prostitute.  He got up in the middle of the night and ripped the huge city gate off its hinges and dumped it forty miles away.  Samson loved to impress people with his strength but he arrogantly violated God’s moral guidelines and became convinced he was someone special in his own power.

5. He was too proud to see that Delilah was his enemy. When she seduced him and begged him to reveal the secret of his strength, Samson was so arrogant he couldn’t imagine any woman deliberately harming him.  He thought he was invincible and eventually told her the secret of his strength.  If she cut his hair he’d be as weak as a kitten.  She did…he was!

The bowing: Man’s part

First Corinthians 10:11 says the Old Testament accounts are recorded as “warnings for us.”

Samson’s disastrous end warns those who are gifted not to become prideful and self-sufficient because, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor” (Proverbs 29:23).

In the Chapel of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the door is so small that everyone has to stoop down to get in.  Visitors can see where the old, larger door has been blocked up.

It’s said that, during the Middle Ages the knights would come to the chapel seeking the priest’s blessing before riding out on their crusades.  Many would proudly ride right through the door on their horses and expect to receive a blessing without ever dismounting from their horse.  So the priests blocked up the old door and made it so small that no one could come seeking God’s blessing without getting off their horse and bowing when they came into God’s presence.

The lifting: God’s part

Not until the very end when he was blinded, chained, and humiliated by the enemy did Samson humble himself before God.  Then God’s strength was poured out on him in power and he “killed many more when he died than while he lived” (Judges 16:30).

Anyone who desires to utilize God-given talents to the fullest would do well to learn from Samson’s example and make 1 Peter 5:6 a theme verse.  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear, biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church and When God Answers Prayer.

Sermons from Bob Russell’s preaching archives are broadcast every week on the SermonCast Channel.

On the other hand a good leader recognizes “the buck stops here” and discerns between wise and foolish counsel.

Twice while hiding from King Saul, David had the opportunity to kill his jealous enemy and both times he was wrongly advised to do so by his closest supporters.

Right decisions may be unpopular

The first incident occurred when Saul entered the mouth of the cave where David and his men were hiding.  Saul entered alone, unprotected, and David’s men, huddled in the dark recesses of the cave, whispered, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’”

David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe but refused to kill the king.

Afterward, he explained to his men, “‘The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.’

With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way” (1 Samuel 24:6-7).

Some time later David and his companion, Abishai, sneaked into Saul’s camp while the king and his soldiers were fast asleep.  Abishai counseled David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear.”

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?  As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.”  (1 Samuel 26:8-11)

Bad counsel can come from good people who are loyal to you and want the best for you.  David’s men were devoted to him but they gave him bad advice, in part because they desperately wanted David to be king.

A good leader doesn’t just blindly follow the counsel of his advisors but responds to God’s will even though it may be unpopular and difficult at the time.

Bad counsel can come from a majority of advisors

There is no record of any of David’s men suggesting he not kill Saul.  King Ahab once had all 400 of his religious leaders advise him to go to war when it was not God’s will to do so.

J. Vernon McGee once said, “Majority opinion sometimes means you’ve got a lot of fools in one place.”

Bad counsel can come from people who insist their advice is God’s will

David’s men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands.’  (1 Sam 24:4) Abishai told David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hands”.  You can get bad counsel from people who quote Scripture and claim they know God’s will because they’ve prayed about it.

David compared what he heard with what he knew about God’s character and concluded if God wanted Saul dead, He would orchestrate it. Therefore, no matter how many of his military leaders advised him to kill Saul, he would not do so, nor would he let any of them attack the king.

Patience should not be mistaken as weakness

David’s men probably felt unappreciated and grumbled that David was weak and indecisive.

But a short time later when Saul was killed in battle and David was crowned king, David’s advisors must have admired the patience, character and wisdom of the new king.

But it took a while to get there.  No wonder David was called, “A man after God’s heart” and was regarded as Israel’s greatest king.
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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear, biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church and When God Answers Prayer.