Secrets, Sins, and Strengths

O. T. #545  "Secrets, Sins, and Strengths"
June 25, 2015
Judges 16-Part 3
But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Judges 16:20c


LET IT GLOW

Do you have any secret sins, kept hidden from others? Well, God knows all about it, friend. We might as well confess them now. The longer we wait, the less is our spiritual strength to overcome the temptations in the world. Samson made a mess of his life because of the same thing, secret sins unconfessed.

Samson gave halfhearted replies to Delilah, his lover, who was seeking the secret of Samson's strength. Three times he played the game, which resulted in her becoming more angry, so angry that she nagged him all the time about it.

Then Samson told Delilah everything, pouring out his heart with the truth: No razor has been used on my head, because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.
 (verse 17 NIV)

The importance of the uncut hair was that it was one of the signs of the vow; his physical strength was the particular gift he had from God as a result of his consecration to Him. His loss of strength was clearly attributed to the departure of the Spirit from him. (Falwell)

Her man poured out his deepest secret to a heartless Delilah. (Typical of a prostitute) She was a greedy woman who used her womanly ways to induce mighty Samson into a heavy sleep, sent word to her bribers. Samson rendered himself useless to the Lord's service. He didn't even know when the
Spirit of the Lord departed from him. (verse 20)

Do we cause others to stumble into sin? Are we aware of our influence upon our husband, children, coworkers? Are we drawing them to a closer walk with the Lord or away into sin?

LET IT GROW

What happened to Samson after his revealing the source of his strength?

• He couldn't shake himself free as before. His freedom to do a he wanted to do without consequences came to a halt.  His sin bound him as the Philistines bound him hand and foot with bronze shackles.
• They gouged out his eyes; his eyes caused Samson to be attracted to ungodly relationships without restraint. He lived according to what was right in his own eyes, loosing his eyesight as a result.
• The Philistines took him down to Gaza.
• They made Samson grind in the prison as an animal was used to grind at a mill, paraded through the city in helplessness.
• His sin caused Samson to forfeit the power of God's presence.

What can we learn from such disobedience toward God?

• God can use us, but we won't benefit from it.
• Our life could end in personal tragedy, like Samson's did, when wasting great potential for kingdom work.
• All we have to do is turn our heart back to God and receive His mercies.
• No matter how far we fall away from God, His purposes are not jeopardized, for He is still in control.
• Jesus wants to claim Lord over our entire life, not just parts of it.
• We should take seriously our vows made to God; He expects us to keep them.
• Don't play with fire, lest we get burnt.
• Trust and obey, for that is the only way to be happy in Jesus.

LET IT GO

Don't be blinded by the lusts of the world.

Daily come to Jesus.

Use my eyes to see the needs of others.

Surrender to God now, not waiting until...

Live by faith, not by sight.