JUDGES 14:1-7 FOLLOW CHRIST
FREEDOM IN CHRIST • Sermon • Submitted
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· 166 viewsDOES ANYTHING EXIST THAT CAN STOP THE PLAN OF GOD
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
THROUGHOUT HISTORY MANKIND HAS HAD THE TENDENCY AND DRIVE TO COPY THEIR HEROS OR ROLE MODELS
HAIRSTYLES WILL CHANGE ACCORDING TO THAT OF THE HERO
DRESS CODES WILL CHANGE ACCORDING TO THE ROLE MODEL
EVEN SPEECHES AND BEHAVIORS WILL CHANGE TO EXPRESS THAT OF THE ROLE MODEL
IN SOME OCCASIONS THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING
IN OCCASIONS LIKE PAUL IN
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
OR BETTER YET, JESUS WHEN HE CALLED THE TWELVE AND SAID, FOLLOW ME
THERE ARE THE CHOSEN IN HEAVEN WHO REVELATION SAYS, THESE ARE THEY WHICH FOLLOW THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH ()
YET, FOR THE MOST PART MANY OF THE ROLE MODELS WHICH PEOPLE FOLLOW TODAY HAVE VERY LOW STANDARDS AND MORALS
OUR COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES ARE INFLUENCED BY THOSE WHO HAVE CHRIST OR ANYTHING GODLY FAR REMOVED FROM THEIR LIVES
IT HAS EFFECTED OUR YOUNGER GENERATION IN VERY NEGATIVE WAYS
AS SUBTLY AS IT CAN, IT HAS BEEN TEACHING THE HEART OF OUR SOCIETIES TO VALUE MATERIALISM AND FOCUS UPON THE PLEASURE OF SELF
THIS IS DANGEROUS BUT THE MORE DEADLY ONES ARE THE ONES THAT PROFESS ONE THING BUT PRACTICE ANOTHER
OR LIVE ONE WAY IN PUBLIC AND A COMPLETE OPPOSITE WAY IN PRIVATE
THIS IS DESPERATELY DEADLY WHEN THE PERSON HAS BEEN USED BY GOD IN MAGNIFICENT AND MIRACULOUS WAYS, BUT THEN LEADS A VERY COMPROMISED LIFE
THIS HAS CONFUSED MANY AS THEY HAVED WATCHED PEOPLE PROPHESY ACCURATELY, DELIVER THE WORD WITH POWER, HEAL THE SICK, BE USED TO DELIVER THE OPPRESSED BUT STRUGGLE WITH ISSUES OF SIN IN THEIR LIVES.
IT HAS EVEN MADE SOME THINK THAT IT IS OKAY TO MINISTER THE TRUTH WHILE LIVING A LIE
HOW COULD GOD USE A CONTAMINATED VESSEL?
THE REALITY IS THAT WE ARE ALL THAT GOD HAS UPON THIS EARTH
AND THAT IS WHY THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
GOD CAN ACCOMPLISH HIS PLANS EVEN THROUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-ABSORBED, DISOBEDIENT, AND DISENGAGED FROM GOD.
THIS DOES NOT MAKE THESE WEAKNESS OKAY TO NEGLECT OR IGNORE
IT SHOULD INSPIRE US NOT TO FRUSTRATE GOD’S GRACE AND STRIVE FOR PERFECTION EVEN AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT
BODY
BODY
I. CALLED AND CHOSEN
I. CALLED AND CHOSEN
WE ARE DEALING WITH A MAN THAT HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY CALLED BY THE LORD
HIS BIRTH WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGEL OF THE LORD TO A WOMAN WHO WAS BARREN
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ADDRESSED HIMSELF AS “WONDERFUL”
THERE IS ONLY ONE WHOSE NAME IS WONDERFUL
HE IS WONDERFUL IN HIS WORD, WILL, WAYS, WORKINGS, REDEMPTION, DELIVERANCE, SALVATION, MY MIND, MY SOUL, MY SPIRIT, MY BODY, THIS CHURCH, MY PRAYER, MY WORSHIP
HE IS WONDERFUL, JESUS CHRIST
SAMSON’S MOTHER STANDS IN GREAT COMPANY OF THOSE WHO WERE BARREN, THEN HAD A FAMOUS SON
EVEN GREATER IS THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGEL TO MANOAH’S WIFE, SAYING THAT SHE WILL CONCEIVE, AND BEAR A SON AND DELIVER ISRAEL OUT OF THE HANDS OF THEIR ENEMIES
SARAH WAS BARREN AND IN HER 90’S AND WITHOUT HOPE BEFORE SHE BROUGHT FORTH ISAAC (LAUGHTER)
RACHEL HAD WATCHED HER SISTER AND HANDMAIDS BRING FORTH CHILDREN UNTIL SHE FINALLY CONCEIVED JOSEPH (MAY GOD ADD) INCREASING
HANNAH SAW HER ADVERSARY AND RIVAL PRODUCE CHILD AFTER CHILD WHILE SHE WEPT OVER HER BARRENNESS, THEN FINALLY HAD SAMUEL (ASKED OF GOD)
ELIZABETH SUFFERED YEARS OF BARRENNESS PAST CHILD BEARING AGE UNTIL SHE HAD JOHN THE BAPTIST (YAHWEH HAS BEEN GRACIOUS)
AND IF YOU HAVE FELT BARREN AND WEPT OVER YOUR LACK OF PRODUCTION
IF YOU HAVE FELT LIKE GIVING UP
GOD IS GOING TO DO A GREAT WORK IN YOUR LIFE
HE WILL FILL YOU WHERE YOU ARE EMPTY
HE WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN BARREN
AND HE WILL MAKE YOU STRONG WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN WEAK
THAT’S WHY ISAIAH SAID,
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear;
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child:
For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS WERE SAID ABOUT SAMSON BEFORE HE WAS EVER CONCEIVED
ONE WAS SAID ABOUT HIS SEPARATION AND ONE WAS SAID ABOUT HIS SERVICE
FIRST, HIS SEPARATION IS SPOKEN OF BY GOD
SAMSON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NAZARITE FROM THE WOMB
THE LAW OF THE NAZARITE WAS CHARACTERIZED BY SEPARATION
IN WHERE THE LAW OF THE NAZARITE IS GIVEN, SEPARATION IS MENTIONED AROUND 16 TIMES
A NAZARITE LIVED DIFFERENTLY, ATE DIFFERENTLY, AND CONDUCTED HIMSELF DIFFERENTLY
IF YOU EVER EXPECT TO STAY UNSPOTTED BY THE WORLD, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT FROM THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN
YOU CANNOT BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO FOLLOW YOU
YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, DIFFERENT FROM THE REST
THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT I KNOW WHOSE NAME IS WONDERFUL
THE DEVIL HAS TRIED THROUGH MEANS OF PERSECUTION TO POLLUTION OF THE PEOPLE OF CHRIST
YOU WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION
YET, NO MATTER HOW MANY ATTEMPTS ARE MADE, NONE HAVE CAPTURED SUCCESS
A DIFFERENT CONVICTION
BIBLES HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED FROM BEING IN COUNTRIES
A DIFFERENT INTEREST
CAN YOU DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
OR WILL YOU JUST BE ANOTHER SPIRITUAL POLITICIAN-ATTEMPTING TO GET EVERYONE TO LIKE YOU
THE SECOND THING CONCERNED HIS SERVICE
GOD SAID, “HE SHALL BEGIN TO DELIVER ISRAEL OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES.”
THIS NEEDS TO BE READ AGAIN AND CAREFULLY
ALL OF THE OTHER JUDGES DELIVERED ISRAEL FROM HER ENEMIES, BUT SAMSON WILL ONLY BEGIN TO DELIVER THEM
HE DID NOT BREAK THE YOKE OF THE PHILISTINES
HE JUST SHOOK IT
HE DID NOT FINISH DELIVERING ISRAEL, HE ONLY STARTED
HERE IS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST JUDGE DOING THE LEAST FOR HIS PEOPLE
HIS BEGINNING APPEARS TO BE GREAT AND PROMISING
BUT, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU BEGIN
IT MATTERS WHERE YOU FINISH
AND SAMSON WASTES GOD’S BLESSING AND POWER
THIS TEACHES ME THAT WE MUST NEVER ALLOW OUR FOCUS TO BE PLACED UPON THE MAN OF GOD
IT MUST BE PLACED UPON THE GOD WHO DELIVERS
THIS KEEPS ME FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES THAT MY HERO OR MY ROLE MODEL MAKES
NO OTHER JUDGE POSSESSES SAMSON’S POTENTIAL
HE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL, SO MUCH POWER
IT IS EVIDENT THAT HE IS CALLED AND CHOSEN
THE BIBLE SAYS THE CHILD GREW AND THE LORD BLESSED HIM
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD BEGAN TO MOVE HIM AT TIMES
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD WHEN THE SPIRIT IS MOVING YOU
ALL OF SAMSON’S GIFTS ARE GOD GIVEN
ALL OF YOUR GIFTS ARE GOD GIVEN
MOVING YOU TO PRAY, LAY HANDS ON PEOPLE, EMBRACE THE BATTLE WITH VICTORY, MOVING YOU TO PREACH, WITNESS YOUR TESTIMONY, LOVE, PATIENCE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS
IT IS RECORDED THAT THE SPIRIT CAME UPON SAMSON AT LEAST FOUR TIMES
I CAN ONLY THINK
HOWEVER, SAMSON ACCOMPLISHES LESS THAN ALL WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE HIM
II. CORRUPTION
II. CORRUPTION
RATHER THAN THE SCRIPTURE RECORDING THAT SAMSON WENT UP TO BATTLE, WE FIND SAMSON GOING DOWN TO TIMNAH
AND THEN A RHYTHM DEVELOPS OF SAMSON GOING UP AND GOING DOWN-THIS OCCURRING 16 TIMES
I CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICING THE BOUNDARIES THAT HE CROSSES GOING UP AND DOWN-NOT JUST CROSSING GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES SUCH AS DAN AND PHILISTIA
BUT, BOUNDARIES SUCH AS SPIRITUAL AND CARNAL, CIRCUMCISED AND UNCIRCUMCISED, PURITY AND POLLUTION, COMPROMISED AND UNCOMPROMISED, LOVE AND LUST, TRUTH AND DECEPTION
THESE ARE BUT A FEW BOUNDARIES THAT ARE CROSSED WHEN YOU GO UP AND DOWN
HE NEVER APPROACHES A PHILISTINE CITY ON MILITARY BUSINESS
HIS EYES ARE SET UPON PHILISTINE GIRLS
SAMSON’S STORY SHOULD ILLUSTRATE THE DANGER THAT COMES WITH GETTING INVOLVED IN FOREIGN RELATIONSHIPS
EVEN THE RICHEST AND WISEST MAN UPON THIS EARTH HAD THIS DOWNFALL,
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
MARRIAGE BETWEEN GOD’S PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROHIBITED
AND THE NAME OF CHRIST HAS BEEN A FORBIDDEN WORD TO SPEAK
YET, SAMSON SAW A PHILISTINE WOMAN AND WANTED HER TO WIFE
THE RELIGIOUS WORLD AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE THOUGHT THAT BY CRUCIFYING CHRIST THE WORLD WOULD BE ONCE AND FOR ALL RID OF THIS NAME
YOU CANNOT MAKE BIG DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU SEE
HOWEVER, BY CRUCIFYING CHRIST, HE WAS NO LONGER LIMITED TO ONE PLACE
SO MANY THINGS ARE ATTRACTIVE TO OUR EYES BUT DEADLY TO OUR SOULS
NOW HE COULD BE IN INDIA AT THE SAME TIME HE IS IN THE USA
MUCH OF THE TEMPTATION NOWADAYS COME THROUGH THE EYE GATE
HE COULD BE IN SRI LANKA AT THE SAME TIME HE IS IN NEPAL
HERE SAMSON FELL INTO THE TEMPTATION AND REQUESTED HIS WIFE
GOVERNMENTS HAVE FORBIDDEN TO SPEAK IN THIS NAME
VERSE 4 HAS BEEN MISINTERPRETED BY SO MANY BECAUSE PEOPLE USE THIS VERSE TO JUSTIFY THE COMPROMISE IN THEIR LIFE
BUT THE MORE THE PERSECUTION COMES, THE MORE HIS PURPOSE EXPANDS
GOD WILL USE ANY OF OUR MISTAKES OR WRONGS TO WORK HIS PURPOSE
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THE MORE THAT THE EGYPTIANS AFFLICTED THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE MORE THAT THEY GREW AND MULTIPLIED
HERE WE FIND GOD USING SAMSON’S SELFISH CHOICES FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES
IT APPEARS THAT GOD HAS PUT AN ANOINTING OF INCREASE IN HIS PEOPLE WHEN PROBLEMS INCREASE
CHRIST PROPHESIED OVER HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD BE WITNESSES UNTO HIM IN JERUSALEM, ALL OF JUDAEA, IN SAMARIA, AND TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH
ONLY 1/4 OF THAT WORD WAS FULFILLED UNTIL GOD ALLOWED HIS PEOPLE TO BE PERSECUTED
ONCE THEY BECAME MORE PERSECUTED, THEY BECAME MORE PRODUCTIVE
GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS AND GOD WILL USE OUR SELFISH CHOICES TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE
BUT, THE ATTACK AND THE FOCUS OF THE ENEMY HAS NOT BEEN SO MUCH TODAY UPON THE OUTSIDE
There are many devices in a man’s heart;
Nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
THE ENEMY HAS BEEN CONCENTRATING UPON THE INSIDE OF BELIEVERS
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS TRIP SAMSON IS FOLLOWING HIS SENSES INSTEAD OF GOD
CHRISTIANS CARRY THE CALL TO BE CHRIST LIKE
I’VE SEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT RECEIVE SO MUCH OF THE BLAME FOR MAN’S MISTAKES AND MAN’S FAILURES
IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU USE GOD OR THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE SOURCE OF YOUR DECISION
BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN PRE-DESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
MOST OF THE TIME WE IDENTIFY OUR OWN EMOTIONS AS THE HOLY SPIRIT
PAUL SAYS,
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
AND SAY THE HOLY SPIRIT LAID THIS ON MY HEART
A MAN CAN LOOK PERFECT ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT IS WHO YOU ARE INSIDE THAT MATTERS
WHAT IS WRONG WITH SAYING, I FELT LIKE THIS.....
MANKIND WILL PLACE EMPHASIS ON THE OUTSIDE BUT GOD LOOKS UPON THE HEART
WE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE DECISIONS AND WORKINGS OF GOD.....BUT,
IF IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN WHAT YOU ARE FEELING IS RIGHT BUT IF IT IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN HE DOESN’T GET THE CREDIT FOR YOUR MISTAKE
REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE CHRIST CANNOT BE CONTAINED
SAMSON IS CALLED TO BE SEPARATED
GOD CAN ACCOMPLISH HIS PLANS EVEN THROUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-ABSORBED, DISOBEDIENT, AND DISENGAGED FROM GOD
HE IS CALLED TO BE A NAZARITE
HE CANNOT TOUCH DEAD THINGS
HE CANNOT CUT HIS HAIR
HE CANNOT TAKE STRONG DRINKS
BUT, HIS ENTIRE LIFESTYLE CONTRADICTS HIS IDENTITY AND THE LORD’S CALLING
OUR SELFISHNESS AND DISENGAGMENT FROM GOD IS ONE OF THE WORST EXAMPLES OF COMPROMISE WHEN GOD HAS GIVEN US SUCH A HIGH CALLING
THIS DOES NOT STOP GOD FROM FULFILLING HIS PURPOSE
DELIVERANCE IS GOD’S BUSINESS AND HE WILL GET IT DONE REGARDLESS HOW MARRED THE VESSEL IS
HE HAS LIVED IN CONTRAST TO GOD’S REQUIREMENTS BUT GOD’S GIFTS AND CALLING IS WITHOUT REPENTANCE
GOD DOES NOT TAKE THESE AWAY EVEN IF YOU ARE ABUSING HIS GRACE
HE HAS TOO MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH AND BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME
OUR CULTURE TODAY TELLS US TO TRUST OUR FEELINGS AND THEIR HEARTS
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING YOUR HEART, IT IS BETTER TO PUT YOUR HEART IN THE HANDS OF CHRIST AND FOLLOW HIM
GOD STILL CAUSES THE SPIRIT TO COME MIGHTILY UPON US WHEN WE ARE STANDING IN AN ASSIGNMENT OF THE LORD REGARDLESS OF HOW DISOBEDIENT WE HAVE BEEN
IT IS WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN HIS WILL OR ON ASSIGNMENT THAT WHEN YOU THINK THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF TROUBLE THAT HE MAY HAVE WITHDRAWN FOR A MOMENT FOR DISCIPLINE
THE SECRET OF SAMSON’S STRENGTH IS THE SECRET OF OUR STRENGTH-THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE HAVE BEEN RE-GENERATED
AND YOU CANNOT FOLLOW YOUR HEART UNLESS IT IS BEING SHAPED BY SCRIPTURE
REGARDLESS OF HOW SELFISH WE HAVE BEEN, HOW DISOBEDIENT WE HAVE BEEN, HOW DETACHED FROM GOD WE HAVE BEEN, AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE BEEN LED BY OUR SENSES
THIS SHOULD GIVE US A GREATER FAITH THAT IT IS NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER BUT BY HIS SPIRIT
AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS LIBERTY NOT THE SPIRIT OF JOHNY WALKER
NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN STOP THE PURPOSE OF GOD EVEN IF THE VESSEL IS SELFISH AND DISOBEDIENT
THIS IS NOT A MESSAGE TO JUSTIFY SELFISHNESS AND DISOBEDIENCE BUT IT IS A MESSAGE TO REVEAL GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
2 TIMOTHY 2:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Essays in Biblical Theology Part Two: The Typology of the Birth and Death Narratives of Samson
The Samson narrative is strikingly structured as a proto-Gospel, having the familiar contours of the evangelists’ narrative framework of the life of Jesus. The Judges account begins with an angelic announcement of a miracle birth (Judg 13:3). It records very little about the Samson’s youth, saying simply, “the child grew and the Lord blessed him” (13:24). The Spirit of the Lord came upon him when he began his public ministry to Israel as an adult (13:25). After a series of journeys and struggles, Samson had a climactic encounter with his enemies in an idolatrous temple, a conflict that resulted in his death (16:30). Finally, those who loved him took his body and provided him with an honorable burial as he was returned to the resting place of his father (16:31).
While there is, of course, no account of a resurrection, there is a display of resurrection power in the Samson account on two occasions. The first is after his triumphant struggle with the Philistines at Ramath-lehi. Samson suffered a terrible thirst, and cried out to the Lord for refreshment, lest he die. The Lord brought forth water from a rock, and “His spirit returned and he revived” (Judg 15:19).40