DOWN BUT NOT OUT
JUDGES: WHEN GOD IS NOT KING • Sermon • Submitted
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· 18 viewsTHE STORY OF SAMSON REMINDS US THAT NO MATTER HOW DEEP WE GO INTO SIN GRACE GOES DEEPER STILL.
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DOWN BUT NOT OUT
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Robert Robinson, the author of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" - "lost the happy communion with the Savior he had once enjoyed, and in his declining years he wandered into the by-ways of sin. As a result, he became deeply troubled in spirit. Hoping to relieve his mind, he decided to travel.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
In the course of his journeys, he became acquainted with a young woman on spiritual matters, and so she asked him what he thought of a hymn she had just been reading. To his astonishment he found it to be none other than his own composition. He tried to evade her question, but she continued to press him for a response.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Suddenly he began to weep. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he said, “I am the man who wrote that hymn many years ago. I’d give anything to experience again the joy I knew then.” Although greatly surprised, she reassured him that the “streams of mercy” mentioned in his song still flowed. Mr. Robinson was deeply touched. Turning his “wandering heart” to the Lord, he was restored to full fellowship."
THE STORY OF SAMSON REMINDS US THAT NO MATTER HOW DEEP WE GO INTO SIN GRACE GOES DEEPER STILL.
THE STORY OF SAMSON REMINDS US THAT NO MATTER HOW DEEP WE GO INTO SIN GRACE GOES DEEPER STILL.
Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.
Judges 14:5 (ESV)
Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes.
After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do.
Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.
After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
|DOWN|HE WENT DOWN PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. |TO TIMNAH | THE LORD HAD ESTABLISHED GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES FOR SPIRITUAL PURPOSES.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
|AT TIMNAH |HE WAS 4 MILES INSIDE OF ENEMY TERRITORY
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.
|HE SAW| HE IS WALKING BY SIGHT NOT FAITH. |ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS| HE IS DOMINATED BY HIS APPETITES. HE THINKS OF WOMEN AS DISPOSABLE PLEASURES, RATHER THAN MEANINGFUL PURSUITS. THIS IS NOT LOVE BUT LUST AT FIRST SIGHT. HE IS CONTROLLED BY LUST RATHER THAN THE LAW OF THE LORD.
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you,
and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.
You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE.
|OF THE PHILISTINES| HE LEFT HIS FRIENDS TO VISIT HIS ENEMIES.
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.”
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU END UP WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE.
|NOW GET HER FOR ME AS MY WIFE|SAMSON SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR WAR NOT PLANNING A WEDDING.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
|HE TOLD HIS FATHER AND MOTHER| FATHERS NOT SONS DECIDED WHO THEY WOULD MARRY.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
|I SAW| WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SAMSON NEVER SPOKE TO HER. HIS DECISION WAS ON PHYSICALITY NOT SPIRITUALITY.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING YOU WILL GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
|NOW GET| INSTEAD OF COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL SAMSON IS COMMANDING HIS WILL. THESE ARE SAMSON’S FIRST RECORDED WORDS.
IN EVERY CHRISTIAN’S HEART THERE IS A CROSS AND A THRONE, AND THE CHRISTIANS IS ON THE THRONE TILL HE PUTS HIMSELF ON THE CROSS; IF HE REFUSES THE CROSS, HE REMAINS ON THE THRONE. PERHAPS THIS IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLDLINESS AMONG CHRISTIANS TODAY.
IN EVERY CHRISTIAN’S HEART THERE IS A CROSS AND A THRONE, AND THE CHRISTIANS IS ON THE THRONE TILL HE PUTS HIMSELF ON THE CROSS; IF HE REFUSES THE CROSS, HE REMAINS ON THE THRONE. PERHAPS THIS IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLDLINESS AMONG CHRISTIANS TODAY.
WE WANT TO BE SAVED, BUT INSIST THAT CHRIST DO ALL THE DYING. NO CROSS FOR US, NO DETHRONEMENT, NO DYING. WE REAMIN KING WITHIN OUR LITTLE KINGDOM AND WEAR OUR TINSEL CROWN WITH ALL THE PRIDE OF A KING; BUT WE DOOM OURSELVES TO SHADOWS, WEAKNESS, AND SPIRITUAL STERILITY. - A.W. TOZER
WE WANT TO BE SAVED, BUT INSIST THAT CHRIST DO ALL THE DYING. NO CROSS FOR US, NO DETHRONEMENT, NO DYING. WE REAMIN KING WITHIN OUR LITTLE KINGDOM AND WEAR OUR TINSEL CROWN WITH ALL THE PRIDE OF A KING; BUT WE DOOM OURSELVES TO SHADOWS, WEAKNESS, AND SPIRITUAL STERILITY. - A.W. TOZER
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.”
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers
You shall not eat it, that all may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
THE GREAT BATTLEGROUND OF OUR TIME IS AUTHORITY.
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
GOD CAUSES SAMSON’S SIN TO WORK FOR GOD’S GOALS.
GOD CAUSES SAMSON’S SIN TO WORK FOR GOD’S GOALS.
GOD PERMITS WHAT HE HATES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE LOVES.
GOD PERMITS WHAT HE HATES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE LOVES.
We clearly see the mystery of God's sovereign purpose being worked out even in the midst of man's waywardness. Human freedom, including our poor sinful choices does not undermine or derail the sovereign workings of God.
GOD PERMITS WHAT HE HATES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE LOVES.
GOD PERMITS WHAT HE HATES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE LOVES.
In this case His ultimate purpose was to begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines. This verse does not suggest that God condoned Samson's rebellion. The writer is saying that God was going to overrule in this situation for a good purpose. God never condoned the sins Samson.
When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decision!
When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decision!
"When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decisions. Of course, we’re the losers for rebelling against Him. Samson should have been going to a war instead of to a wedding, but God used this event to give Samson occasion to attack the enemy.
When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decision!
When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decision!
Because of this event, Samson killed thirty men (Jdg 14:19), burned up the enemy crops (Jdg 15:1-5), slaughtered a great number of Philistines (Jdg 15:7,8), and slew 1,000 men (Jdg 15:15). Samson hadn’t planned these things, but God worked them out just the same.
The sin of Samson must not be attributed to the Lord, but the deliverance of the Israelites by Samson was from the Lord. Remember, scriptural language frequently attributes directly to God what he merely permits.
The sin of Samson must not be attributed to the Lord, but the deliverance of the Israelites by Samson was from the Lord. Remember, scriptural language frequently attributes directly to God what he merely permits.
My conclusion is that Samson was neither directed nor tempted by God to do what God had specifically prohibited in his Word.
The sin of Samson must not be attributed to the Lord, but the deliverance of the Israelites by Samson was from the Lord. Remember, scriptural language frequently attributes directly to God what he merely permits.
The sin of Samson must not be attributed to the Lord, but the deliverance of the Israelites by Samson was from the Lord. Remember, scriptural language frequently attributes directly to God what he merely permits.
God wanted the defeat of the Philistines, but that did not give Samson carte blanche. Moreover, God’s blessing on one or more aspects of a person’s life is no indication that everything that person does is approved. Samson was plain bullheaded about this decision, and he refused to listen to his parents or to God. But neither Samson’s foolishness nor his stubbornness would prevent the design of God from being fulfilled.
MANOAH AND HIS WIFE
MANOAH AND HIS WIFE
Many Christian parents have stood in the sandals of Manoah and his wife. They have, though realizing their own sinful inadequacies, faithfully taught, prayed for, disciplined, and loved a son or a daughter only to see that child willfully turn from the way of the Lord. No one can deny it is anything but devastating. Yet one should not forget verse 4: ‘But his father and mother did not realize it was from Yahweh.’ What we don’t know may yet prove to be our deepest comfort.
Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.
Now, what was the Lord trying to teach him?
WHEN GOD IS KING WE HAVE ADEQUATE POWER TO LIVE IN VICTORY OVER SIN.
WHEN GOD IS KING WE HAVE ADEQUATE POWER TO LIVE IN VICTORY OVER SIN.
His desires, his drives, were not beyond his control. In the Spirit of God there was available to him adequate authority and power to live in victory over every area of life, whatever it might be. There is a lion in our life, as well. Peter writes in his first letter that our adversary, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
THOUGH HE IS A FORMITABLE FOE JOHN TELLS US HIS TRUE STATUS. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN TORN ASUNDER.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
When we chose Jesus Christ, we chose a complete victory in him. The cross has already dealt with the lion in our life. He has been put away; he is no longer a threat. We have everything we need to stand against his pressures and the temptations that he throws against us.
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
In John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" there is an incident recorded in which Christian is walking down the road toward the Celestial City. As he is going through a mountain pass he sees a pair of lions crouched beside the path. He is frightened and intimidated by them, immobilized, unable to continue his journey.
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
Standing there in fear he hears a man calling to him from farther down the trail. The man tells him that the lions have been chained. At first it is hard for him to believe, but as he ventures closer to them he sees for himself that this is true.
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
The lions are shackled. And although they are right by the road, ready to spring, they are restrained so that they can't harm Christian as he makes his way on toward the Celestial City. God has done that for you in Jesus Christ. Satan has been dealt with
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
The lion in your life has already been torn asunder and there is adequate power to live in victory over any area of your life. I don't care how deep-seated, how long-term the bad habits may be in your life. It doesn't matter. There is adequate power to subdue them. Jesus Christ has done that for you.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
Samson drifted into sin one inch at a time. It has been well said that "There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it appears fair, but is filthy; it appears pleasant, but is pernicious; it promises much, but performs nothing.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
The deceitfulness of sin is of a hardening nature to the soul; one sin allowed prepares for another; every act of sin confirms the habit; sinning against conscience is the way to sear the conscience; and therefore it should be the great concern of every one to exhort himself and others to beware of sin."
THE PRICE OF SIN IS VERY HIGH. THOUGH NOW IT MAY SEEMS LOW; AND IF WE LET IT GO UNCHECKED, ITS CRIPPLING POWER WILL GROW.
THE PRICE OF SIN IS VERY HIGH. THOUGH NOW IT MAY SEEMS LOW; AND IF WE LET IT GO UNCHECKED, ITS CRIPPLING POWER WILL GROW.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
WHEN GOD IS NOT KING EVENTUALLY HE WILL WITHDRAW HIS POWER BUT NOT HIS PRESENCES.
There was a point when God withdrew his favor and denied him access to the gift of strength. Pride, presumption, and neglecting your spiritual gifts may result in the same end. What task has God set before you at this point in life? Are you aware of your privilege and, as Paul encouraged Timothy (2Ti 1:6+), are you stirring up your gift into a righteous flame?
She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
How futile it is for the servant of God to try to serve the Lord when out of His will. He loses his usefulness to the Lord, for he ends up grinding corn instead of fighting God’s battles. Samson also lost his testimony, for he was the laughingstock of the Philistines. Their fish-god Dagon, not the God of Israel, was given all the glory.
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.”
And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.
How tragic! But you see, this is how the Lord deals with rebellion in a believer's life. He warns through His Word. He woos by His Spirit. He sometimes intervenes supernaturally with providential circumstances to keep us from destruction.
And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.
He counsels us through godly people who love us, our parents and members of the body of Christ. However, if insist on doing what is right in our own eyes, He will let us go down that downward path.And eventually we fall under the oppressive power of our fallen flesh.
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
God does this because He loves us, and ultimately seeks to bring us to senses that we might escape from the snare of the devil and bring forth the peaceful fruit of righteousness. In the words of the Psalmist,
he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
THE EFFECTS OF SIN ARE BLINDING, BINDING, AND GRINDING.
THE EFFECTS OF SIN ARE BLINDING, BINDING, AND GRINDING.
THE EFFECTS OF GRACE ARE REPENTANCE, RESTORATION, REALIZATION.
THE EFFECTS OF GRACE ARE REPENTANCE, RESTORATION, REALIZATION.
But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
His hair grew with his repentance, and the restoration of his strength with his hair.
REPENTANCE DOESN’T REMOVE YOUR CONSEQUENCES; IT RESTORES.
REPENTANCE DOESN’T REMOVE YOUR CONSEQUENCES; IT RESTORES.
SAMSON’S PHYSICAL SIGHT MADE HIM SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND NOW HIS PHYSICAL BLINDNESS HAS GIVEN HIM SPIRITUAL SIGHT.
And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.”
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Samson wanted to be strengthened so he could avenge himself on the Philistines who gouged out his eyes, but God says, "No. I'll strengthen you so that I can fulfill what I began in your life--to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines--and in spite of your sin I am still going to fulfill My plan."
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
The phrase just this time is translated in the NET as "just one more time." This request implies that clearly Samson knew this would be the final scene of his life! He wanted to go out with God glorifying gusto, not a bad goal for any of God's saints!
And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.
When Samson died, he did more in his death than he did in his life. That is what happens in our spiritual life. When we die to our sinful nature
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
more is accomplished through our new (Spirit enabled) nature than could ever be accomplished through our old (flesh empowered) nature. Samson died physically that day, but he did not die spiritually because in Hebrews 11:32, God sees him as a man of faith.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
SAMSON IS NOT A STORY TEACHING US THE WAY OF LIFE BUT ONE WARNING US HOW NOT TO LIVE. SAMSON FINISHED IN FAITH BUT HE WAS NOT FAITHFUL. DON’T LET YOUR STORY OF FAITH END LIKE SAMSON STRIVE TO END YOUR STORY OF FAITH WITH THESE WORDS
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.