Finding True Fulfillment Beyond External Success
Summary
There are moments in life when everything on the outside looks victorious—accomplishments, applause, and milestones—but inside, there’s a hollowness that success can’t fill. The story of Samson in Judges 15 is a powerful mirror for us. Chosen by God, Samson was meant to be a deliverer, but he was constantly drawn to the very things he was called to defeat. His life became a cycle of chasing desires, acting on unchecked emotions, and seeking satisfaction in all the wrong places. Even as he racked up victories, he was “winning empty”—externally strong, but internally depleted.
Samson’s unchecked anger and emotional immaturity led to destruction, not just for his enemies but for himself and those he loved. He justified his actions, believing he had a right to vengeance, but vengeance only hardened his heart and isolated him. The more he tried to win on his own terms, the more alone he became, retreating into a cave of isolation—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is the danger of letting our emotions drive us: we burn bridges, build walls, and end up in a place where our own voice is the only one we hear.
Yet, even in the cave, God’s grace breaks through. When Samson finally cried out from his hollow place, God met him with living water. This is a picture of God’s relentless mercy—He meets us in our emptiness, not because we’ve earned it, but because of His kindness. The real enemy is not “out there,” but within us: our pride, our anger, our refusal to confront ourselves. True victory comes not from external achievements, but from surrender—letting God fill the hollow places with His living water.
We are reminded that God doesn’t need something new from us; He needs something surrendered. Our gifts, talents, and victories are just tools—vehicles for God’s glory, not substitutes for His presence. When we misplace our praise, giving credit to the tools rather than the Giver, we end up spiritually malnourished. But when we humble ourselves, repent, and turn to Jesus, He satisfies our deepest thirst. Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily choice to drink from the well that never runs dry. No matter how empty or dry you feel, God’s grace is available—He is ready to fill you, restore you, and set you in motion for His glory.
Key Takeaways
- Winning on the outside can leave you empty on the inside if your victories are not rooted in God’s values. Samson’s life shows that unchecked emotions and the pursuit of personal desires, even when successful, lead to spiritual depletion and dissatisfaction. True fulfillment comes from aligning your heart with God, not just achieving external goals. [56:19]
- Unchecked anger and emotional immaturity are destructive forces that can burn relationships, isolate us, and keep us trapped in cycles of regret. Spiritual maturity requires emotional maturity; you cannot be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Letting the Holy Spirit address the roots of your emotions brings real freedom and transformation. [01:03:18]
- Vengeance and resentment are traps that harden the heart and breed isolation. Justice seeks restoration, but vengeance seeks to hurt and always leaves us emptier than before. God calls us to forgiveness, not retaliation, and to trust Him with the outcomes—only then can we walk in true peace and community. [01:07:14]
- God doesn’t require something new from us, but something surrendered. The miracle is not in the tool (the jawbone, the job, the resource), but in the God who uses surrendered things for His glory. Don’t mistake God’s mercy for His approval; gifts and success are not substitutes for a surrendered, humble heart. [01:17:48]
- The hollow places in our lives—those moments of dryness, shame, or regret—are invitations to cry out to God. When we humble ourselves and turn to Jesus, He meets us with living water that truly satisfies. The greatest enemy is often within, but God’s grace is relentless, and He is always ready to fill and restore us when we surrender. [01:36:12]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[52:23] - Living in Resurrection Power
[56:19] - What Do You Do When You’re Winning Empty?
[58:34] - The Cycle of Chasing Desires
[59:37] - Samson’s Destructive Choices
[01:02:01] - The Danger of Unchecked Emotions
[01:03:18] - Spiritual and Emotional Maturity
[01:05:32] - The Lie of Vengeance
[01:07:14] - Justice vs. Vengeance
[01:09:54] - The Cost of Revenge and Isolation
[01:12:32] - The Cave of Isolation
[01:14:48] - God’s Light in Our Darkness
[01:15:55] - Resentment and Misplaced Praise
[01:17:48] - Surrendering What’s in Your Hand
[01:22:04] - God’s Power in Our Weakness
[01:31:49] - The Trap of Misplaced Praise
[01:36:12] - Living Water in the Hollow Place
[01:44:01] - Repentance and Choosing Jesus
[01:48:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Winning Empty”
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### Bible Reading
- Judges 15 (Main text: The story of Samson’s victories, anger, isolation, and God’s provision in the hollow place)
- Romans 12:19-21 (“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath…”)
- John 4:7-14 (Jesus and the woman at the well: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Judges 15, what are some of the choices Samson makes when he feels wronged or angry? How do these choices affect the people around him?
[[59:37]]
2. According to Romans 12:19-21, what is the difference between justice and vengeance? How does Paul say we should respond to those who wrong us?
[[01:07:14]]
3. In John 4, what does Jesus offer the woman at the well, and how is it different from what she’s been seeking?
[[01:37:55]]
4. After Samson’s big victory with the jawbone, what does he do next, and how does God respond to him in his moment of emptiness?
[[01:31:49]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon describes Samson as “winning empty”—having victories on the outside but feeling hollow inside. What does this reveal about the dangers of chasing success or satisfaction apart from God?
[[56:19]]
2. The message says, “You cannot be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Why do you think emotional maturity is so important for spiritual growth?
[[01:03:18]]
3. The sermon points out that vengeance and resentment isolate us and harden our hearts. Why is it so tempting to hold onto these feelings, and what does it cost us spiritually and relationally?
[[01:07:14]]
4. When Samson finally cries out to God from his hollow place, God meets him with living water. What does this teach us about God’s character and how He responds to our emptiness?
[[01:36:12]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “Winning on the outside can leave you empty on the inside if your victories are not rooted in God’s values.” Is there an area in your life where you feel like you’re “winning empty”? What would it look like to invite God into that area?
[[56:19]]
2. Think about a time when unchecked anger or another emotion led you to say or do something you regret. What steps could you take to let the Holy Spirit address the roots of those emotions?
[[01:03:18]]
3. The message warns against seeking vengeance or holding onto resentment. Is there someone you need to forgive or a situation where you need to let go of the need to “get even”? What’s one practical step you can take this week toward forgiveness?
[[01:07:14]]
4. The sermon says, “God doesn’t require something new from us, but something surrendered.” What is something in your life—maybe a gift, a resource, or even a struggle—that you need to surrender to God?
[[01:17:48]]
5. Samson praised the jawbone instead of God after his victory. Are there “tools” or successes in your life that you’ve been giving more credit to than God? How can you shift your praise back to the Giver?
[[01:15:55]]
6. The “hollow places” in our lives are invitations to cry out to God. Is there a dry or empty place in your life right now? What would it look like for you to humble yourself and ask Jesus to fill you with His living water?
[[01:36:12]]
7. The sermon says, “Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily choice to drink from the well that never runs dry.” What is one daily habit you can start or renew this week to help you stay connected to Jesus?
[[01:37:55]]
---
Close in prayer, asking God to help each person surrender their hollow places and receive His living water.
Devotional
Day 1: The Illusion of Victory Without God’s Heart Alignment
Success and external achievements can mask a deep spiritual emptiness when they are not rooted in God’s values. Like Samson, who won battles yet remained hollow inside, it is possible to chase desires and accomplishments that ultimately leave the soul depleted. True fulfillment is found not in the applause or milestones but in a heart aligned with God’s purposes and values. When your victories are disconnected from God, they become empty trophies rather than sources of lasting joy and peace.
This calls for honest self-examination: Are your pursuits driven by God’s calling or by personal desires that leave you spiritually dry? Aligning your heart with God means seeking His approval above all else and allowing Him to shape what winning truly means in your life. [56:19]
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
Reflection: What is one recent success or achievement you can honestly evaluate to see if it brought you closer to God or left you feeling empty? How can you reorient your heart toward God’s values in that area today?
Day 2: Emotional Maturity as a Foundation for Spiritual Growth
Unchecked anger and emotional immaturity are destructive forces that damage relationships and isolate us from God and others. Spiritual maturity cannot be separated from emotional maturity; they grow together. When emotions are left unaddressed, they become barriers that trap us in cycles of regret and loneliness. True freedom and transformation come when the Holy Spirit helps us confront and heal the roots of our emotional struggles.
This means inviting God to reveal the hidden places of anger, bitterness, or unresolved pain and allowing His Spirit to bring healing and growth. Emotional maturity is not about suppressing feelings but learning to respond to them in ways that honor God and build community. [01:03:18]
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11)
Reflection: Identify one emotion you have been avoiding or expressing destructively. What step can you take today to invite the Holy Spirit to help you process and respond to it in a godly way?
Day 3: Choosing Forgiveness Over Vengeance to Heal the Heart
Vengeance and resentment harden the heart and deepen isolation, while justice seeks restoration and peace. Samson’s story warns against the trap of retaliation, which only leaves us emptier and more alone. God calls His people to forgiveness, trusting Him with the outcomes rather than taking matters into their own hands. Forgiveness is a courageous act that breaks cycles of hurt and opens the door to true peace and restored relationships.
This requires surrendering the desire for personal revenge and embracing God’s justice, which is always redemptive rather than destructive. Walking in forgiveness is a daily choice that frees the heart and invites God’s healing presence. [01:07:14]
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19)
Reflection: Is there a situation or person you are holding resentment toward? What would it look like to begin releasing that bitterness and entrusting justice to God today?
Day 4: Surrendering Tools and Talents to God’s Glory
God does not require something new from us but something surrendered. The power is not in the tools, gifts, or resources we hold but in the God who uses them when we yield them fully to Him. Samson’s jawbone was just an instrument; the real miracle was God’s strength working through surrender. Misplacing praise on our gifts or successes instead of God leads to spiritual malnourishment and pride.
True spiritual vitality comes from humility and surrender, recognizing that all we have is from God and meant to be used for His glory. This daily posture of surrender invites God’s power to flow through our weaknesses and limitations. [01:17:48]
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
Reflection: What is one gift, talent, or resource you have been relying on apart from God’s guidance? How can you surrender it fully to Him today and ask Him to use it for His glory?
Day 5: God’s Living Water Fills Our Hollow Places
The hollow places in life—moments of dryness, shame, or regret—are not dead ends but invitations to cry out to God. When we humble ourselves and turn to Jesus, He meets us with living water that satisfies our deepest thirst. The greatest enemy is often within: pride, anger, or refusal to confront ourselves. Yet God’s grace is relentless, always ready to fill, restore, and set us in motion for His glory when we surrender.
This is a daily invitation to drink from the well that never runs dry, trusting that God’s mercy is not earned but freely given. No matter how empty or broken you feel, God’s living water brings renewal and hope. [01:36:12]
“‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.’” (Isaiah 44:3)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel hollow or dry today? Can you bring that place honestly before God and ask Him to fill it with His living water right now?
Quotes
What do you do when you're winning empty? That's my sermon title for today, winning empty. Because all of us have been there. You're checking off the list. You're hitting the milestone. You're accomplishing the goals. You're saving the money. On the outside, everything looks victorious. People are applauding you. They're liking you. Your followers are going up on social media. But on the inside, you're hollow. You're dry. You're unfulfilled. Have you ever wanted something so badly that you've chased it, fasted for it, prayed for it, planned for it, and when you finally got it, you realize that it didn't fulfill you at all. We've all been there. And all of us have discovered that winning empty never satisfies. [00:56:24] (53 seconds)
And those unchecked emotions and that anger, it has you bound. And our desire at Shiloh is not just to help people get to heaven. We want to help people live free and thrive here on earth. We want people to experience God's best here and now. But too many people are being controlled by unchecked emotions, by unresolved anger, and they don't even know it. Many, even believers here today, you're saved, you're going to heaven, but you're crippled by anxiety, which is caused by anger. Some here today, you're speaking in tongues, you're up here worshiping Jesus. [01:02:26] (47 seconds)
And that depression is just those unchecked emotions or anger turn inward. And there's others here that are stuck in a cycle of addiction. And this addiction is only a desperate attempt to escape pain. You self -medicate to help relieve those unresolved emotions, especially anger that haven't been faced. And you don't find relief. You can't find peace. And we can love Jesus, but still be controlled by emotions that we haven't dealt with. But the truth is we can't be spiritually mature and emotionally immature at the same time. [01:03:18] (47 seconds)
You're seeing things that aren't real. You're feeling things that don't exist. You're hearing voices that aren't there. And that's the danger of the cave. When we have these unchecked emotions and anger. The worst place you can be is alone and in your own head. And that's why we need God's house. [01:13:56] (24 seconds)
We don't come here out of obligation. But because we need God's presence. We need God's word. We need God's people. Amen. His word is a light. His word is truth. His word cuts through confusion. His word speaks to your situation right here and right now. Our Jesus is the light of the world. [01:14:20] (28 seconds)
I love how this scripture says fresh jawbone. See, God doesn't need something new. He needs something surrendered. And if you've been a part of Shiloh this last year, you've heard the word of the Lord. You don't need something new. You need something fresh. You don't need a new wife. You need fresh vision for your marriage. You don't need a new job. You need fresh vision for your job. You don't need a new house. You need fresh vision. You got a world chasing. They've got a world trying to get people chasing new. Let me tell you what happens with new. One laying in litter, it becomes old. [01:20:23] (41 seconds)
let me tell you when the spirit of God moves no weapon formed against you will prosper and this is the word I believe for somebody watching online or in this room today if God but let me tell you if God is standing against you there's nobody on this earth that can help you but on the flip side tell your neighbor on the flip side tell him again on the flip side if God is for you no demon in hell could stop the work that God wants to accomplish through your life come on say it with me me and God we're the majority me and God are the majority I don't care what Trump says I don't care what government says I am know who I am in Jesus Christ come on [01:22:01] (56 seconds)
He was burning through everything in his path. Samson's barren. He's dry. He's lifeless. He's full of strength. He's gifted, but he's completely depleted. And he says, God, I'm about to die. I need you to show up. See, we can win on the outside and still be empty on the inside. And this is the truth. When our values are shallow, our victories will always be empty. [01:34:11] (29 seconds)
And that's why I love the story of Samson. Because in all his failures, we still see one thing, the grace of God. And before Jesus ever stepped onto the scene in the New Testament, here God's showing his heart, how he's slow to anger, how he's rich in mercy, how he's relentless in grace, how he's not willing that anyone should perish. That's who our God is. God wants to fill us to overflowing. And even after Samson broke his bow, went his own way, misplaced his praise, God still met him in the hollow place, in the dry place. [01:35:23] (40 seconds)
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