Sermon Tone Analysis

Judges, Samson - 2, Rough Draft

Big Idea - The temptation of romance and sex (outside of marriage) will pull me away from God’s purpose for me.

Context

The worst thing I can do for you as a pastor is to speak about the temptations of sex or romance as if I’m not subject to sexual temptation.

Like any other Christ following man - I have to make the spiritual decision daily to choose purity, both sexually and romantically.

The minute you think you are past temptation in the area of sex and romance you have made yourself the most vulnerable.

We are in this fight together.

It is a battle of the heart and mind.

We have church family in this room that battle sexual addiction.

We have church family that battle the lie, If I only could have a romantic relationship with this kind of person, I would be happy, or if I could have sexual a sexual relationship with this kind of person - I would be happy.

The church in America has ignored speaking about the temptations of sex and romance too long.

It is one of our greatest temptations and areas of spiritual failure.

Once a year in Bible college our president would come to the men’s dorm and speak on sexual temptation.

One example he gave of personal struggle was when he was driving his car and up ahead saw a barley clothed long haired, blonde long legged jogger running up ahead.

His senses griped him with the temptation of getting a good look at this beautiful woman.

He fought very hard as he approached the jogger, after he passed buy he fell to his temptation and brief took a look back in his rear view mirror to sneak a peak at her beauty.

It was in that very moment he realized that he had gotten all worked up for nothing.

The jogger was a man.

Transition - As we look at Samson this week we will see that Samson too struggle with sexual sin.

We will also see

Samson’s temptation of romance and sex pulled him away from God’s purpose for him.

Samson’s purpose - , “… he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

***Samson’s purpose - , “… he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Samson’s purpose - , “… he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

We ended our message last week with the fact that Samson had ministered to Israel by being their spiritual leader for over 20 years.

How did a whole building come down with 2 pillars close together pushed?

We ended our message last week with the fact that Samson had ministered to Israel by being their spiritual leader for over 20 years.

Today we will see 2 major sins, Romantic and sexual, that Samson made that deeply effected his life.

These 2 spiritual failures came after 20 solid and faithful years of ministry.

We could say, after 20 years of teaching Sunday School, 20 years of working with children, being a deacon, missionary or Pastor… After 20 years of being the leader of Israel - Samson fell prey to his heart and his physical desires.

Transition - So we see in our first point -

I. Age and a season of long spiritual success does not protect me from sin.

and 16:1-3 sets a strong context for this story

Samson saw a prostitute and he slept with her.

By todays’ standards Samson was not a young man - guesstimate that he was at least 40 years old and could have easily been older.

He wasn’t tricked into sin because of being young and ignorant.

Samson fell into sin because he decided that a desire of his body was more important than the Word of the Lord.

Samson believed a lie - If I sleep with this woman I will be happy.

How heavy were the doors of the city?

I have served God for 20 years I deserve this experience.

Samson rationalized and compromised.

This one compromise led him down a road to not fulfilling the purpose that God had for him - so begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.

We see glimpses of Samson’s ability to fulfill his purpose...

Verse 2 gives us a glimpse of Samson’s potential.

The men of the city of Gad who were enemies of Samson decided at daybreak they would kill Samson.

Samson had different plans, Samson left the prostitute in the middle of the night while it was still dark,

lifted the gate of the city (between 5 and 10 tons)

hiked with the gate on his shoulders to a hill 40 miles away and left it there.

When a city looses its doors/gate it looses its defenses.

When the doors of a city are broken down in war the city is considered taken.

This brought great shame on the Philistine men in the city of Gaza.

Transition - This first act of premarital sex opened the door for another encounter - A romantic encounter - that would lead Samson to his death.

Strory Tell - After Samson slept with the prostitute he sn

How heavy were the doors of the city?

Judges 16:4-5

The scriptures tell us that Samson loved a woman.

A foreign woman who did not love the Lord.

Vs. 4, After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek

Let’s be clear about love.

You choose who you love.

Culture says, You fall into love.

Love is a power that easily overtakes the heart and the will.

The emotion is stronger than my ability to fight it.

You helplessly fall into love.

That is a lie from the pit of hell.

Why?

You fall in love with the person that you choose to dwell on.

The person you chose to spend time with.

The person you chose to believe.

You don’t “fall in love” without making a decision to allow your heart and mind to dwell on infatuation.

You choose what messages you will believe.

Example - If I physically have this woman she will fulfill me.

If I romantically experience the love of this man pursuing me I will be satisfied.

Do not You believe the lie, “Just follow your heart.”

You choose what messages you will believe.

If I have this woman she will fulfill me.

If I experience this love I will be satisfied.

You fall in love with the person that you choose to dwell on.

-When you find yourself developing feelings for someone who is not a Christ follower.

AND when you find yourself thinking unholy thoughts about someone.

By begging God in prayer for the power of His Spirit, you must resist.

Illustration - I had a person who was very close to me, who would meant well, but would give me bad advice.

They would say, just follow your heart.

My heart is not filled with wisdom.

My heart is full of selfish desires.

My heart lies to me about what really is best.

Big Idea - The temptation of romance and sex will pull me away from God’s purpose for me.

When I followed my heart I exposed myself to being manipulated into sin.

When I followed my heart I exposed myself to being manipulated into sin.

Transition - We see that with Samson

You choose who you dwell on.

You don’t “fall in love” without allowing your heart and mind to dwell on infatuation.

You choose what messages you will believe.

If I have this woman she will fulfill me.

If I experience this love I will be satisfied.

I must actively guard my heart from falling prey to trap of ungodly lust or romance.

II.

The enemy is looking for an opportunity to kill me/wreck me.

vs. 5-6

Romance or sex on of the greatest tools.