How God Restores and Uses Less-Than-Perfect People Part 5: Samson Hope for 2017 How God Restores and Uses Less-Than-Perfect People Part 5: Samson

Judges 13:5: (set apart for God to) “begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

AS A CHILD OF GOD, I am set apart for a unique PURPOSE

Numbers 6:6-8 (Tells us he cannot touch a dead body) Judges 13:3-5: (to Samson’s mother) You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

Judges 13:24-25: The child grew up and the Lord blessed him Judges 13:24-25: The child grew up and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.

Judges 14:6: ...the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily...

AS A CHILD OF GOD, I am set apart for a HOLY life and to experience God’s POWER.

Judges 14:1-2: Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”

AS A CHILD OF GOD, I am IN the world but not OF the world.

Delilah means DELICATE; SOFT

Judges 16:5: The lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him. Then we will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

Delilah asked Samson to tell her the source of his strength Delilah asked Samson to tell her the source of his strength. Lies to her three times: Tells her he would lose his strength if bound with seven fresh cords. Tells her he would lose his strength if bound with new ropes. Tells her he would lose his strength if seven locks of his hair were woven together.

AS A CHILD OF GOD, when I chose to operate my life and align my life with the world’s standards, goals, ideals, and purposes, I LOSE God’s power in my life.

Judges 16:21: ...Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

Judges 16:25, 27, 28-30: While they (the Philistines) were high in spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them...Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the LORD,

“Sovereign LORD, remember me “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

AS A CHILD OF GOD, God has a way of REDEEMING AND RESTORING what has been lost if you will let him.

How God Restores and Uses Less-Than-Perfect People Part 5: Samson Hope for 2017 How God Restores and Uses Less-Than-Perfect People Part 5: Samson