Lessons from Samson's Life Judges chapters 13-16

click to Read the passage: Judges 13 (a new browser window will open)

click to Read the passage: Judges 14  (a new browser window will open)

click to Read the passage: Judges 15  (a new browser window will open)

click to Read the passage: Judges 16  (a new browser window will open)

13: 4,7 1. The point of instruction--God’s call (like point of salvation).

God placing severe restrictions upon Samson’s life because of the need for a 

deliverer for His people.

This deliverer would have to remain free from the contaminating effects of low 

moral standards in their nation

God has called believers today to be light and to bear the standard of truth.

13: 24, 2. The place of commitment--God’s will (like commitment in salvation).

     25 Responding to the Holy Spirit’s direction and counsel.

God was faithful.

14: 2         3. The pursuit of compromise.

Not focusing on God’s priorities allows compromise to make its appeal.

He made light of God’s involvement in his life. He disregarded God’s standards

for his life.

The world will test our commitment to Christ.

        4. The price of compromise.

14: 3 Causes close mindedness to our source of counsel.

v.6 Causes insensitivity to God’s reminders of His calling.

v.9 Leads to further compromise (dead body)

v.10 Leads to further compromise (wine)

v.12 Builds up pride and pressure to demonstrate controlling abilities (not giving God

                credit)

v.15 Leads to loss of integrity in relationship (entice thy husband.)

He was violating God’s law in pursuing the woman of Timnah (Deut. 7: 1-4).

Loyalty of the godless is not to God.

v.20 Results in a loss of that sought after.

Ch. 15 Results in abuses of God given gifts--uses for self satisfying purposes--one out

from under authority.    explanation for what is happening to some ministers 

today who disobey God and fall to immorality.

Further transgressions ensue.

Example today- misuse of affluent blessings.

        5. The pride of defiance.                                 

                Samson refuses to deal with his flesh.

One cannot build a belief system based upon what God allows or sovereignly

rules over.

Ch. 16 Cannot get back on track after compromise of integrity.

Cannot get back on track after compromise of purpose.

Cannot get back on track after compromise of conviction of heart.

v.1 Leads to impurity, fleshliness- moral corruption.  

Rationalization or just willfulness without regard to question.

v.17 He was not ignorant, he knew the source of his strength, he was willful.

v.5 Further opens the door to the enemy. (entice him …)

v.6 Flirtation with evil ensues.

v.15-17 Reveal God’s secrets to the enemy.    

v.23 Given enemy occasion to claim superiority over God’s servant.

        6. The penalty of rejection.

Compromise strips of integrity.

16: 20 God’s presence departs.

v.21 Powerlessness sets in--God removes His power.

God could no longer use him for His designed purpose (the reason for

powerlessness in  Christian living today).

v.21 Bondage to the enemy follows. (we’re talking about God’s servant.

v.21 Energies consumed by the devil’s game.

v.21 Enemy has no respect for a disobedient servant of God; he is just a castaway to

the enemy.

        7. The point of no return.

16: 21 Due to pride and unrepentance his ministry was gone.

His purpose was unfulfilled.

The opportunities for Godly gain had escaped.

v.21 He was humiliated by the enemy--doing the work of a beast or slave--what a 

tragedy!

His long hair represented his complete abandonment to God given purpose in his

life.

He forsook his calling, his hair was gone, his strength removed.

v.28 Yet God avenged Samson--

Philistines were mocking God--blaspheming God and worshiping a fish god,

dagon.

Samson’s hair had grown back--a symbol of renewal of the Nazarite vow--thus

the return of his strength.

God is faithful to accomplish His cause. Samson was upset by the Philistines

oppression.

God desired him to see the reason for the oppression- i.e. Israel’s idolatry--

worshiping false gods. But he failed--God still brought judgment on the 

Philistines.

Our lesson--often we get upset at God and our Philistines rather than seeing that

our  Philistines are there to make us aware of our rebellion against God and of

our need for  genuine repentance and returning to God’s integrity and standard

                in worship and service.

1 Peter 4: 17  Judgment is first to begin at the house of God.

Having Your Expectations Joyfully Changed Luke 24: 1-6

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v.1 1. Expecting grief to continue but finding exuberant joy.

(they came unto the sepulcher.)

v.2 2. Believing death is so final but finding it isn’t so.

(bringing the spices …)

v.3 3. Believing physical circumstances are so binding but underestimating

heaven’s power.

(and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.)

v.3 4. Believing your ministry is one thing and finding Christ had new plans.

(And they entered in, and found not he body of the Lord Jesus.)

Our ministry is not to take care of Jesus. Oh, yes to love Him, to serve Him, to

follow Him.

Our ministry is to carry forth the message of the gospel, the word of truth to

                free men.  v-9  Matt. 28: 9, 10

We will normally define our ministry incorrectly or too narrowly.

v.4 5. Searching for an explanation but getting new insight.

(And it came to pass, as they were  much perplexed about this, behold two 

                men stood by them, in shining garments;)

The new insight was of the majesty and power of Christ’s glory.

Our focus really is to be on the living Christ, not so much trying to figure 

                out the living Christ.

Rejoice in His greatness.

v.5,6 6. Possession of fear changed to hope.

(And as they were afraid, …He is not here, but is risen!)

The truth of Jesus removes fear and uncertainty’s threats.

Perfect love (Jesus) casts out fear.

That which appears dim, uncertain, hopeless, despairing … is not at all with

Jesus as the hope of glory.

v.5,6 7. Having believed defeat but receiving great victory.

(Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!)

Defeat is not the work of Jesus, victory is.  Oh! hallelujah!

Victory is our possession through Jesus.

It is not ours to work up, to claim even, but is our possession through Jesus.

The Mighty Christ John 11: 43, 44

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v.43 1. The power of His word.

(Lazarus, come forth.)

the same power today

rather than spoken word as in Jesus day, it is in the written word. John 1: 1

44: 7, 8;     45: 21, 22;       46: 9, 10;         48: 3, 5, 12;         50: 2-

v.43 2. The power of personal identity.(Lazarus)

    Jesus personally identifying the one in need.

Otherwise other dead might arise?

Jesus speaks to individual need.

Doctrine of grace entitles a believer to receive God’s blessing not human 

merit.

v.43 3. The power to command death.

(Lazarus come forth)

This is important doctrine to the believers.

v.44 4. The power to restore life.

(And he that was dead came forth,)

v.44 5. The power of liberty.

(Loose him, and let him go.)

v.44 6. The power of restoration.

v.44 7. The power to continue.

Continuing to experience Jesus.

Seeing Things as God Sees Them 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25

click to Read the passage: 1 Corinthians 11  (a new browser window will open)

v.23 1. Seeing His worthiness, our unworthiness.

(For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, 

                That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took 

                bread:)

v.24, 2. Seeing His sacrifice, our redemption.

(my body, my blood)

v.24 3. Seeing His offering, our opportunity.

(He broke it, and said, Take, eat:)

v.24, 4. Seeing His humiliation and suffering, our example.

  25 ( this is my body,)(this cup is the new testament in my blood:)

v.24 5. Seeing His pure love, our rich blessing.

(which is broken for you: )

v.24, 6. Seeing His work, our calling.

   25 (this do in remembrance of me.)

v.24, 7. Seeing His honor, our purpose.

   25 (in remembrance of me.)

What the Son (of God) Has Jon 11: 42-45

click to Read the passage: John 11  (a new browser window will open)

v.42 1. Oneness with the Father.

(And I knew that thou hearest me always:)

v.42 2. What He asks of the Father.

v.43 3. All authority in life.

(And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come

forth.)

v.43 4. The power of deliverance.

(Lazarus, come forth.)

v.44 5. The power of restoration.

(And he that was dead come forth, ...)

v.44 6. The solitary uniqueness of Sonship.

(Jesus saith unto them, ...)

v.45 7. The solitary uniqueness of Redeemer.

(Then many of the Jews, which came to Mary, and had seen the things

which Jesus did,  believed on Him.)

Holding on to the Promises Joshua 14: 6-12

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v.6 1. A Godly man never forgets the promises God made to Him.

(Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of

                Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord

                said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.)

v.7 2. The prompting of the heart of a God fearing man continues to have life and

zeal coming from God’s word.

(Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh- barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine 

                heart.)

v.8 3. A Godly man never faints nor loses heart in the day of adversity.

(Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people

                melt: but )

v.8 4. To the Godly man, there is but one option available.

(but I wholly followed the Lord my God.)

v.9 5. To the Godly man when God speaks it is manifest truth at that moment.

(And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have

trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou 

                hast wholly followed the Lord my God.)

v.10 6. Life is in the promiser, life is also in the promises of God.

(And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of

          Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I an this day fourscore and five years old.)

v.11 Strength is a renewable resource to one holding on to God’s truth.

v.12 7. The promises of God spring forth into fruition in their season.

(Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.)

All obstacles are removed by God.

What Spiritual Challenge Reveals John 11: 39

click to Read the passage: JOHN 11  (a new browser window will open)

(Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was

dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead

four days.)

1. How quickly one's faith is tested.

2. How quickly one's flesh advances.

3. How quickly the presence of doubt appears.

Note: physical signs she was reading.

Faith acknowledges right physical signs; she had them as well to read.

Jesus was present.

v.25,26  Jesus was  committed as evidenced by His query.

v.33,35,36 Jesus was expressing His heart. (groaning, weeping)

v.39 Jesus was present at the tomb.

v.39 Jesus said, take away the stone.

4. How strong is the hold of the natural life.

5. How convinced the mind is of what it knows as factual.

6. How the strength of natural forces are believed.(stinketh)

7. How faithlessness quiets the heart from believing.