3.  The story of Samson: Judges 13-16  Tribe of Dan, son of Manoah: Jud. 13:2  Promised son to be raised as a “Nazirite to God…and he shall…deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines”: Jud. 13:4-5  Samson seemed to take God’s commands lightly: Jud. 14:9; Lev. 11:27; Jud. 14:2; 14:10; 16:1, 4; 16:20  Spiritually undiscerning, blinded and imprisoned by Philistines: Jud. 16:20-21 3

4.  The story of Samson: Judges 13-16  “Let me die with the Philistines!” Jud. 16:28-30  Physically died with the enemy of God’s people.  Many Christians die spiritually with the Philistines today!  Not a new problem! Rev. 3:1, 17``` 4

5.  Forget the worth of one’s own soul: Matt. 16:26  Forget our cleansing did not come cheap: 2 Pet. 1:9; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Acts 20:28  Lost respect for human life: Gen. 1:26  God values all human life (physical and spiritual): Gen. 9:1-6  God gives life, only He can take it! Acts 25:11 5

6.  Not grounded in the faith: Lk. 8:13  Whose fault is it if I don’t grow in faith, virtue, knowledge, etc.? 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Tim. 2:15  God puts no premium on ignorance: Jn. 8:31- 32; Hos. 4:6; Jn. 17:17  Apostle’s to teach, baptize, teach some more: Matt. 28:18-20; 11:28-30  We need to be like Mary! Lk. 10:42 6

7.  Word choked out of our life: Lk. 8:14  Sports, hobbies, entertainment; not wrong in right proportion, right priority.  Cares of this life: Matt. 6:33; Jn. 6:27; Heb. 10:25, 31  Pleasures of life: Matt. 7:13-14; Phil. 4:8  Sin always leaves a mark that’s not easily erased: Jer. 17:1-2; Acts 8:18-19; Jas. 1:27; 1 Tim. 4:2 7

8.  Not distressed about the sin around us: 2 Pet. 2:7-8  Desensitized—like a frog in hot water.  “Everyone’s doing it!”  Our society is “saturated” with sin: movies, TV, plays, magazines, etc.  Difficult to live in a sinful world and not be influenced by it (Noah, Lot, Joseph). 8

9.  Reject reproofs and admonishments: Eph. 4:19; 1 Tim. 4:2  God’s word reproves us: 2 Tim. 4:2  We shun reproofs to our own detriment: Prov. 15:10  Those willing to correct us are our friends, not our enemies! Psa. 141:5; Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Tim. 4:2 9

10.  Worship by rote: Isa. 29:13  Giving not sacrificial or cheerful: Mal. 1:6-14; 3:8-9; Acts 20:35  Spend more on leisure that giving to God: Matt. 6:20-21  Lackluster singing, skip Bible class, sporadic attendance: Jn. 6:68; 12:48  Casual attitude, daydream during Lord’s Supper, unable to “amen” prayers: 1 Cor. 11:27-30 10

11.  Shun opportunities to be with Christians: Heb. 3:13  Bible classes, gospel meetings, etc.  Potlucks, invites to meals, etc.  When someone will not avail himself of such opportunities the charge of “unfriendliness” is hollow! 11

12.  Spend more time chasing dollar than serving Christ: 1 Tim. 6:9-10  God’s word warns of covetousness: Lk. 12:15; Matt. 6:19-21; Mk. 10:23  God’s work, children, family neglected.  Things money can buy often serve as distractions; not wrong if we keep our priorities straight. 12

13.  Not easily stirred to repentance: Acts 24:25; 17:32; Rom. 1:32  Live in sin or excuse it, justify participation in it.  Condone sin in others—by silence or by lending name and influence to it.  Be careful! Heb. 3:13 13

14.  Not moved to restore the erring brother: Gal. 6:1  Those in spiritual danger are announced.  After announcement—not concerned enough to contact…let someone else do it: Jas. 5:19- 20 14

15.  Consider works of flesh as no big consequence: Gal. 5:19-21  Justifies/rationalizes dancing, mixed swimming, immodest apparel, R-rated movies, etc.  Embarrassed at first, later doesn’t care if caught.  Squirming yet?! 15

16.  Do any of these signs describe you?  Can’t allow ourselves to grow comfortable with sin! 16

17.  We can avoid dying with the Philistines by making a conscious effort to:  Examine ourselves: 2 Cor. 13:5; Lk. 8:15; Prov. 4:23  Confess and repent: 1 Jn. 1:9; Acts 8:22  Study: Rom. 10:17  Grow: 2 Pet. 1:2-11  Participate: Eph. 4:15-16 17