Samson – Birth of a Strong (Part C)

They have seen the Lord and it it just becomes brighter. To me that's what a born-again Christian is someone who has seen the Lord your hearts and that's a decisive John is saying in third John, that is born-again experience seen the Lord and were not afraid of him terrorized since reverent sense, perhaps, but I feel very comfortable thinking about the Lord's appearing and purify our hearts by the thought of it all.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's pastor Rick with his message called Sampson, birth of a strong in Judges chapter 13, he says, and teach us what we shall do for the child. You know there's no doubt in is that if the child really. Can you give me a sign always accepted right away. I think first off, he doesn't doubt his wife she comes and tells her she's I she accepts it. There must've been something in her face and let him know this was something really special because he goes right into the character of a righteous man, and again, not depending on himself looking to God.

That's humility. The Christian church in the Christian individual should look to the Holy Spirit before we do anything that is of any value coming brush teeth in the morning. Riddle have to pray for that direction. That's a mandate oh hygiene's good anyhow. We are taking up a collection for a laugh track church issue that were going to put an end to this car and I don't want to simply laughs owes her is not right.

Anyway, before you question someone's sanity, you better make sure you've got solid proof at slanderous and he doesn't question her sanity is he crazy category.

You gap children is limited. No, he just believes her because they have a good relationship first nine and God listen to the voice of Manoa and the angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field Manoa. Her husband was not with her now because my questions was sitting in the field who does that well quite. We went when I was in Israel. I saw shepherd sitting in his field, nodding his seat which is doing that whatever she doing is sitting down and I guess maybe that's what she was doing what else to do on the field you let out a good sneeze without covering your mouth. If no one is around anyways quite profound and God listen to the voice of Manoa. This is again this is why I like this couple is a man in fervent prayer of a righteous man is an unsung hero.

He and her couple show up in the New Testament because God wanted me to use the sermon to say that right not done that that which is gonna finish in prayer. The cute little things that I am enjoying myself too much. The so the angel of the Lord there will angel of God, which is interchangeable with Angel of Yahweh verse in verse three, so that's not a contradiction of any type.

When Jesus said men ought always prayer and not lose heart. In Luke 18.

You know you go through life and you just don't want to pray. Sometimes because you're just frustrated worn-out tired sense of defeat was the use I've been praying this and praying, there's God, not listening and then that verse comes to mind.

Men ought always pray and not lose heart were coming from Christ.

It's more than just an encouragement is a command and because he is worthy begin to pray and so there's just one story of in the Bible of the spring man verse 10 then the woman ran and hastened told her husband and said to him, looked Amanda came to me the other day has just now appear to me New Testament with Peter was in jail. They were praying for his release.

He gets to the house and the lass that answers the door doesn't let him.

Then she goes and tells the people that are praying for Peter's relief that he's at the door little believer not the case with mono. He believes his wife he's here is not the case when Mary Magdalene ran to the divisional. Peter was the leader of the pack.

The covering of the of all of the ladies that did not have husband's for sure the spiritual covering she runs and then tells Peter and their labor and they got up and ran course they ran together in the John outran Peter and John, make sure we know that to dissuade Christian science gospel. Anyhow, too many falafel's Peter go to Israel a falafel start coming out of your ears everywhere like falafel vending machines specific for kids. Should you would falafel gun like paintballs, but if okay so the woman told her husband and said look the man came as as I read there in verse 10 no one to force God's hand is so wanted the end prayer comes this answer so quickly. This is exciting. Joe says that he is unique speaking of God, understatement of the Bible, God is unique. Who can make him change in whatever his soul desires that he does not Job. Speaking from a heart experience when he when he said those words he's saying look at me God does what he wants to do. Prayer is not designed to get God to do something for me prayers to get me in tune with God.

Sometimes it works out very nicely. Like in this example, but for Job it was a long haul. Verse 11 so Manoa arose and followed his wife when he came to the man he said to him, are you the man who spoke to this woman and he said I am now mute.

You gotta love that the excitement did must've been in both their minds as she's follow me.

She did going with a man is in both their heads is excitement. The six spiritual activity, and when we don't get spiritual activity I do about you but I did.

It begins to weigh on me when I can't sense the Lord leading and guiding and sometimes it's last for years. Wallace never had that in preparation and in the pulpit but I have had my private life is the Lord's way, good morning Lord good morning Rick, just be a wonderful day. All of the sudden, where is he gonna sensing him that I do something wrong, nothing different same haircut that is how it is. And then after a while he picks up Mikey like you just never know they happen! Well really I don't want him to Sublette.

See you that that has been for me. Maybe you think you're better than me and are verse 11 so Manoa arose followed his wife when they came to the man he said to him, are you the man who spoke to this woman, he said I am again holding all the participants in this very good life.

Yes three questions that he asked him are you the man spoke to this woman that's his wife. He will go on to ask in the next verse. What will be the boys rule of life, and then in verse 17 he gets to hit, which in any way he only gets 11 answer to the three questions verse 12. Manoa said, now let your words come to pass. What will be the boys rule of life and his work. I love this question so much he wants the details. How is life going to be ordered how mother raised this kid. But what do I have to do to fulfill to to to honor this blessing that's coming to my home.

That's what Manoa's question is he wants precise instruction and everything had been going in his favor. Why not ask this question his birth was foretold by this visitor. There would be special training involved with the abstention from the divine in all the valve. The Nazirite and that's training he was being trained for what his ministry was was to be his ministry on life and so the father is diligently inquiring on how do I do it was going to happen as the child matures, so there've been times that I thought about this question what will be the boys rule of life. Maybe I'll just leave it there and if it strikes you, you can consider it to. But these facts make the story of Samson's failure more terrible that he had such a mom and dad that were so in tune with the spirit there were righteous people there were in tune with each other and they were good, decent people from all we have of them.

There's not a pickup here and yet Samson was will see later, he gets to be a kind of a spoiled brat were you doing kid that that strong. You spank him that's what you do all right anyway so mean phases. Verse 13 so the angel of Yahweh said to Manoa of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. He's telling the father not now he's in. He's deputized. He's part of this is emphasizing use for your responsibility to verse 14 she may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat any unclean thing all that I commanded her, let her observe her parents were part of the training. Verse 15 then Manoah said to the angel please let us detain you and we will prepare a young goat for you. I have never had anybody say that to me. Verse 16 and the angel of Yahweh said to Manoa, though you detain me, I will not eat your food.

But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh for Manoah did not know that he was the angel of Yahweh. So the writer is making is very clear that this angel is not a human being is in human form, but it is God himself and the angel of Yahweh is keeping everybody focused on Yahweh. Verse 17 then Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh.

What is your name that when your words come to pass, we may honor you will put a sign up to you know whatever your your name is, God did not come for Q&A. That's wise not getting these questions answered what your name, you know, what are we going to do is to reargue the one he gets answered.

Verse 18 in the angel of Yahweh said and why do you ask my name seeing how it is wonderful. Again, that's that word it's off the charts remarkable to superlative. It is out of this world. It is used in wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, everlasting father, Isaiah chapter 9. This is appropriate because the person who was presenting himself as wonderful is worthy of it. Psalm 139 uses the same Hebrew word such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high I cannot attain it. So everything surrounding this individual is remarkable and unlike anyone else verse 19. So Manoa took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to Yahweh and he did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on. We pause there for a moment.

There's that word again that wondrous thing. This is executive privilege. You know, there are certain peoples in certain positions they have these privileges and they need to have those privileges that everybody else doesn't have.

This is not tyranny. If you are an owner of a company.

For example, and you say there's no eating in the lobby. That's the rule will you Leona if you want to have a sandwich and lobbyist was going to come say no best of best I can do for imagining a scenario with the Lord if he says you offer your offerings at the temple, but if eat wherever he is, is the Temple had to get the presence of the God, the temple is nothing without his presence, though meaning of the Shekinah but the Shekinah is only a theophany.

It is only a manifestation of the presence of God. It is not an exhaustive manifestation. God is other places to ubiquitous and so if God is standing in front of your new knot of families as you can do a sacrifice here. There is no file it be a violation did not have to sacrifice at that point.

This is beautiful out all comes together.

Verse 20 and it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar when Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. What else could you do.

I mean what what a climactic ending business like to talk about you know how do you while the crowd we don't used to joke that I use reproving, that doesn't work I think is assenting in the flame is a pretty good first step.

What would you have done what would you do if you saw this well you will be so dumbfounded when he reached for your phone. That's why we'll have a picture scope blown away if you've ever seen anything remarkable. How do you tell anybody how do you preserve that moment is is very difficult. I have seen quite a few funny audit and amazing things that mean nothing on level of this but even those little things like you, you tested it until I saw in LII] anyway, that's what the Bible is faced with when it tells us these miracles. How does it preserve the power of the moment will of the faithful.

See the unfaithful begin to criticize and mark verse 20 and it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar of the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar when Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. Verse 21 and the angel of Yahweh appeared no more to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh.

So dad is now convinced without a doubt this is God that they had just watched ascend up and that they were in dialogue with and you said yourself reading the story knowing the outcome of Samson.

Did God waste is investment I miss is pretty heavy stuff and Manoah and his wife lived a lifetime. This is probably the only wound experience from God that they have received rest of the languages of status quo should help us when we are craving to speak for myself.

I mean, I can just crave that sense of God that does unique to the Christian experience, and when it is absent.

I'm concerned, but he doesn't share that you sometimes he has some of your you're right. Just keep going and here's an example of people who live that way anyway.

What would've happened if the nation of Israel did not have Samson come along for the Philistines would probably been too strong and may have destroyed Samson was still tremendous contribution in all of this investment that God is putting into it. He gets his return. And the final episode of course was when he brought the pillars down and wiped out the leadership and a large portion of it that was a setback that gave time for men like Samuel and Saul and David who were capable military commanders to deal with this menace.

Although Saul, the great one of the great lessons of salt instead of being king of Israel. He hunted David said dealing with the enemies of God. It is a powerful lesson for anybody who serves the Lord to not be distracted by stupid sinful unnecessary things. When the when the main thing has got to be dealt with and he did not do it. He neglected his calling as King and that's why the Philistines and gotten him to spot with the destroyed him well. He now knows this is God blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God that belongs to the parents of Bob Samson verse 22 and Manoah said to his wife would surely die because if seeking God you thought of it probably later said once he puts it right probably goes to.

I knew that because this is rookie mistake that he makes although you know it was thought that was a superstition around PC got good I and it's rooted in Scripture again.

Judges 6 we dealt with that were God says to Moses in Exodus that you can see my cupboard. Judges 6 according Exodus you can see my face.

No man shall see my face as he diet God spoke face-to-face course God was talking about his unveiled glory, you can't look at that and coming in human form avails Laura filters tones down.

I guess it's a better way to say it tones down the glory of God director fees. Remember, we just had another week or so ago and all the evil that he was up to in the Christian world there in the church and the community. John then writes as right at the comments that he'll deal with director fees. He says to the solid believers beloved, do not imitate what is evil. In other words, don't imitate Dr. fees. But what is good, he who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God so you know, put that verse next to this experience with a have seen the Lord and it it just becomes brighter to me. That's what a born-again Christian is someone who has seen the Lord with their hearts and know that so this is precisely what John is saying and third John that is born-again experience.

We have seen the Lord and were not afraid of him and terrorized since and reverent sense, perhaps, but I feel very comfortable thinking about the Lord's appearing and purifier our hearts by the thought of it all. Verse 23 what his wife said to him, if the Lord had desire to kill us. He would not have accepted the burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands nor would he have shown us all these things, nobody ever told us such things as these at this time. She let him have it a bit. There she said that that would surely be dead would be no point in telling I'm going to have a child go to kill me. After showing himself to me to tell me that this 20 thing and you know again where is the picture of. Manoah look on his face when she tells him this that she is a true help me and he doesn't talk back. I think if there were anything like that they would be here is that doesn't make any sense to dumb to think that were going to die after seeing God tell us what is going to do in the future with us.

Verse 24, so the woman bore a son and called his name Samson and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him Yahweh blessed him. Samson means Sonny's help. Some commentators try to take that in.

Well, there was a son. God is down there. I I think that when she saw that baby boy is just like a sunny day for her and she named him sunshine what's up sunshine to hook up a bunch of this a very nice thing I am is very beautiful, very real. Ironic. It's ironic that the man named Sonny dies in blindness, but that is the reality around the story and the child grew, and Yahweh blessed him.

EA did blessed him, but he would yield too much, too many times to lower callings, lower urges.

David wrote this who the man who was at like passions in Psalm 69 verses five and six.

Oh God. You know my foolishness and my sins are not hidden from you. Let not those who wait for you, oh Lord God of hosts be ashamed because of me. Let not those who seek you be confounded because of me or God of Israel is a hard verse. If you work in our office environment and meet to safe Lord, that may not blow it when you got all these people pecking at you for their yellow idiosyncrasies real bad habits and stuff that they doing over 1015 years, you know, Lord, please help make the changes, but that in that saw me saying I don't want to bring a negative witness on my confession and hear the child grew, and God blessed him. He's going to bring a negative confession it will, it will recover in the end, but at a heavy cost. What again would our understanding of the man Sonny B not Sonny be like this be that second unit. But what would our understanding of him be if he was just a greater man well he verse 11 says and what more shall I say for time would fail me to tell of Gideon Warrick and Samson is listed with the faithful and went to remember that as we go through his story, I will.

How would you behave if you had the strength of Samson. I mean, could you just pick up a car and throw it at your neighbor's house if he played his music too loud discussing kitchen to also list of things would be a practical joke she could do is take somebody's tires off, which is why your hand on on the under the lug nuts and make noise very goodbye. Okay I'm done that's it. Let's finish this and I'm going home get on the covers so. Second Corinthians, Paul said you're not restricted by us, but your restricted by your own affections.

I love you and Paul. Analogously, something easily irritated at the Mama zinger any single blaming us. Corinthians we just love the one you if you got all tripped up because your trip… Your own passions. Verse 25. In the spirit of Yahweh began to move upon him at my house nay Dan between Zora and S call. Do we really want to talk about what those places are you good Samson is not baby Hercules is not born with this great power like Bam Bam in the Flintstones or something. For those of you who know bandmembers anyway. It was this blessing the Lord came upon him. I personally do not believe Samson looks muscular. I believe you look like everybody else, common man, otherwise no one would've said, what is the strength of Hinode would've known Ald. you been in the gym all day long. That's by your strong so that your taste because all the children books. They all have to have this guy was on steroids and is just irritates me. I think this should be law you have to consult will not pastor me if consult with me before you have artwork that anyway that's close with this verse, Samson and can fit us and hopefully not are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect in the flesh, Lord, may it not be so remain perfected in the spirit move.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. If you'd like more information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there, and we encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast out for just follow the links and cross reference radio.com that's all the time we have for today. Join us next time to continue learning more from the book of Judges right here cross reference rate