Partial Deliverance

Judges: A Modern Day Declining Spiral  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  39:48
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Our blessings are many, our victories are few.

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Judges 16:28–30 ESV
28 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.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 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.
Introduction:
Samson’s story is ironic
His potential was the greatest of all the Judges
Called in the womb
stirred as a youth
empowered by extraordinary gifts
granted exceptional opportunities
mentioned more than in other Judge
Despite all his advantages he accomplishes less than all his predecessors
At best there is only a partial deliverance, when there could have been so much more...
What is God revealing to us in Samson’s story?
consider this central idea...
Central Idea:
Our blessings are many, our victories are few.

I. How the Lord has blessed us

We have been blessed from God’s reservoir...
We have been blessed with exactly what is needed to achieve God’s call...
rd. Eph. 3:14-19 then display Eph. 3:20 on monitor
Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:20 ESV
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Make no mistake about it, God’s power is at work in us who have been born again...
Those who have not been born again are called by His Spirit through His Word that you might be born again to do the work of Him who calls you...
In that calling is everything needed to do His work...
Philippians 4:19 ESV
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God blesses us from a place of plenty and infinite possibilities...
Through our life He will put many opportunities in front of us...
Shall we meet them only considering ourselves???
Shall we meet them with partial results???
No God always has something in store for us...

II. The Intention of our Blessings

We have been blessed so that we can be a blessing to others...
1 Chronicles 29:11–12 ESV
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
The ultimate purpose for our blessing is to be a blessing for others...
Genesis 26:4 ESV
4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,

III. Fulfilling our Potential

Samson did not fulfill his potential...
In the 2581 words revealed in chapters 14-16 deliverance is not mentioned once...
In the passage of Samson’s story covering chapters 14-16, me is used 30x’s and my 17x’s...
We need to learn that its not all about us and we are to consider others...
To make the majority of things about us is to miss God’s message at a very high level...
Mark 8:35–36 ESV
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
We are to serve Christ in this body and in our flesh...
Paul recognized that in Philippians...
Philippians 1:20–21 ESV
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
In Christ we are to fulfill our potential...
Let me put it this way, we are to mature; be perfected...
Jesus tells a parable in Mark about the “Growing Seed”...
rd. Mk. 4:26-27; then display Mk. 4:28 on the monitor...
Mark 4:26–27 ESV
26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.
Mark 4:28 ESV
28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
This is maturity fulfilled; This is meeting potential...
It is very important to meet potential because the end of our story will come
There will be a harvest;
there will be a reckoning;
there will come an end...
Jesus finishes that parable with this...
Mark 4:29 ESV
29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
It is the purpose of the Gospel and the blessings...
of God to present us all after fulfilling our potential...
not after a half job for the Lord, not a partial deliverance
The Gospel is at work along with the blessings of God to present us:
Perfected
Mature
Complete
Colossians 1:28–29 ESV
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
It is this Gospel I preach to you this morning
Not that you should get rich only
that is a partial blessing
Not that you should get healthy only
that is a partial blessing
Not that you should become whole only
that is a partial blessing
Not that you should be saved only
that is a partial deliverance
He wants you saved but that salvation ought to produce fruit of other salvation's that fulfills the potential of the Word and the Gifts that God has blessed us with...
Conclusion:

God’s Plan of Salvation

Hear

Romans 10:17 ESV
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe and Confess

Romans 10:10 ESV
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Repent

Luke 13:3 ESV
3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Be Baptized

Acts 2:41 ESV
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Remain Faithful

Revelation 2:10 ESV
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
My Decision Today
Determine right now if you need to be saved.
Do you know if you are God’s Offspring,
those who have been born again?
Do You know that if you were to die that Heaven would be your home?
Do you have that Blessed Assurance
I would like to be baptized today
I would like to renew my life to Christ
What are my next steps?
What are we to do with this message?
How can I put it into use in my life?
Do you want a better reflection of your blessings, seen in your victories?
Come forward to be baptized
Request a Bible Study to learn more
Attend Bible Class to grow and mature
Find a place to serve others
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