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Today is Sunday March 28, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Judges, chapters 15-17. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-march-28
Title: Bible Study: The Source of Our Strength
As Christians, we are to be separated from those who live in the world, that includes family members, while we really can not choose our family we can choose how we live, even if some of them are not Christians. God will give us the strength to overcome every situation we are in as long as we are faithful to Him. It is sad for godly parents to raise up their children as best they can for God and see them not living in for Him as they grow up. However, sooner or later they will realize just how important it is to have God in their lives, even if it is the last thing that they will ever do while here on earth.
Even before Samson was born he was called to serve God, he knew this, yet his heart was not at all on God, he chose to live and commune with those who were in the world and that was his biggest downfall. Even his own people turned on him. Samson made enemies with the Philistines and now they were out to get him, at that time the Israelites were under rule of the Philistines so the tribe of Judah did not take too kindly to Samson hiding out in their territory and fighting with the Philistines there. Now, they are after Samson and turn him in to the Philistines. “ Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.” - Judges 15:11-13. The Judeans were afraid that the Philistines would seek revenge, therefore they turned him in for their own safety. They are an example of Christians who are afraid to take a stand for God because they do not want any conflicts with their family or friends. The truth is that these people know who God is as well, yet He is not permanent in their lives so they forget that He will deliver and protect all who seek His guidance. How different the outcome would have been if they had united with Samson in defeating the Philistines instead of turning him in.
Although Samson was a judge, He rarely sought God in helping him lead the people, oh, he was very strong and powerful, but he failed to realize that his strength came from God and this was proved when he fell for a woman named Delilah. “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.........And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.” - Judges 16:4-6,16-21. Not only did he suffer the gruesome torture of having his eyes gouged out, but he was forced to take the place of an animal and waste his life turning the mill to grind corn into meal. Regardless of who were are or how strong we are we become who we hang around, get around the world and you become one with the world. Did you know that the world does not care who you are? They will sell you out in a second if they could prosper from it.
Yet through all the ignorance and sin God is still merciful and forgiving and when we call on Him with all our heart He will respond. “And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” - Judges 17:28-30. Samson called on God one last time and this time he knew that all his strength came from God. God gave him the strength to knock down the house and killed all the people praising and worshiping their false gods. We can not wait until what we think is the right time to serve God, the time is now. It is not easy dealing with people who are living in the world, especially when they live in our own house, but as long as we are faithful to God He will give us the strength to handle the situation and either take you out of it or bring them to God. Remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the Lord's Day.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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