http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2016-18&version=NIV
Today's post will be directed primarily towards the men of the class, although, I do hope the women will profit from it as well.
Samson. A man of contradictions. A man who was filled with the Spirit of God, yet succumbed to fleshly passions. A man who rebelled against God, yet is recorded as a man of faith in Hebrews chapter 11:
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions," (Hebrews 11:32-33)
How can this be? Let's look at this last stage of Samson's life and see how a man who sinned gravely is still regarded as a man of faith.
At the beginning of chapter 16, we see that Samson spent the night with a prostitute. Then, immediately following that, he met Delilah. So, Samson has had improper relations with women three times now.
I heard a pastor say that the message of chapters 14 and 15 to us is the danger of misguided alliances. Samson knew that he should not go after Philistine women, and for sure, he knew not to see a prostitute. Why did he continue to have such relationships then? Because he was operating in the flesh.
Romans 8:6-8 states, "6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. "
He let his passions and sexuality control him. The Canaanite culture was a highly sexualized culture. That is why the story of Samson resonates so much with us today, as we live in such a highly sexualized culture. The sad story of the governor of South Carolina comes recently to mind.
As Christian men, I know the majority of us would desire to be married one day. Now is the time to cultivate your desire and love for the Lord. You may think, I can take a look at that web site, or go watch that movie, or see how far I can go on a date with that woman. But the Word of God says,
" 23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." (Numbers 23:23)
You know each morning, I pray to the Lord that I would live a life that is God honoring and glorifying. I know I fail in this each day but I strive to live a life that is worthy of His Gospel. (Ephesians 4:1) We must do the hard things now. Do not dally with sin.
In Samson's case, we see that he dallied with sin. In the instance with Delilah, he dallied 3 times, and caved on the fourth. Each time he got closer to the truth, where he even told Delilah about his hair, although not the whole truth of it, in her third plea to him.
People always want to know what the will of God is for their life. The Word of God says,
"3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."
The will of God for both women and men is to not be sexually immoral. When we reject God's Word on this we are rejecting God.
I know this is not an easy thing for us. We are inundated and tempted by images, media, and people all the time in this area. But as Randy Alcorn said in his book The Purity Principle, "Purity is always smart. Impurity is always stupid."
So why is Samson included in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11? Because he was a man of God who prayed to God at the very end. He killed more Philistines at the last than he did in his whole life. God was gracious to him and used him at the end of his life.
Samson is a lesson for both men and women. He is a great example of an individual who was blessed by God but in so many ways he squandered these gifts to satisfy his own carnal desires.
God is gracious. Even when we fall, He has this great promise for us,
" 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Pray today and reflect on what the Lord has given you. Pray that you might grow spiritually mature in the faith and that you might be able to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Pray that you might live a life that is honorable to God. That God would view your life in a similar way to what Paul wrote about David,
"36"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed."
To have served God's purpose in our lives. Now that is what I call a testimony!!!
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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Matt 16:18
ReplyDeleteAnd I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Here is something interesting about Samson as an Old Testament type or foreshadow of Christ. Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. A city gate isn’t an offensive device but rather a defensive one. It is meant to keep the enemy from entering into the city and capturing it. Thus Jesus is saying no power of Satan can overcome the onslaught of a church coming against it. People can be set free by the power of Christ and we have the power of God to walk in righteousness even in the mist of an evil world as Russ’ excellent lesson is teaching us today.
Why can we walk in freedom?
It is because of what Jesus has done to the gates of the enemy.
Judg 16:3
And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
In the hour of darkness, Jesus who knew no sin carried His cross up the hill of Golgotha thus completely demolishing the gates of the enemy. They had no idea in their hour of darkness their gates would be forever torn open and their kingdom left defenseless against the power of God. God’s grace is now available to whosoever wills. God’s power walk in freedom is available to whosoever wills! But like Samson, the choice is ours.