When The Weak Become Strong: Samson - Part 1

Some a church in all of our campuses is my privilege to be walking back for good friends of mine how cardiogenic a holiday and their kids Ruthanne and Joshua. These this family has the distinction of being the longest-serving full-time missionaries, some sent out by the summa church. They have served in Johannesburg, South Africa and the surrounding areas for 15 years now that television. There you totally blew what I was going to do here.

I was going to say around here. We treat our our church planter.

Specifically, her international church planters like the heroes that we are so why don't you stand your feet all of our campuses was welcome back cardiogenic a herd you guys remain standing IS for a minute. I first got to know Kurt in 1996 when I came here and he hired me as an intern in the student ministry essay hired air quotes because there was no money at ball involved at all, but he gave me my first taste of ministry here at the church that would become the summa church already at that point in his life. God was doing something extraordinary for missions and he was one of the first ones is not the first one to really infect that vision into this church and make it part of its DNA so nobody will surprise 15 years ago when God called them to go to South Africa when he when he took a piece of the heart of the summa church with them has led us in this mission vision ever sense they serve. Now there in South Africa. The first thing he did when he was there was use in sports, evangelism, coaching baseball teams in teaching that throughout the region. South Africa now I most of his time is spent training church planters in urban centers for eight different countries in South Africa. I'd like your incentive video they believe and I think this is is well-founded that if you change Johannesburg, South Africa, you will change the world. So I want you to join me just a minute. We pray for it for him for them day. I have asked specifically that we pray for spirit filled wisdom to know how to reach that country that they'll be able to follow the spirit of God what he is doing in Africa they're not there to invite the spirit got into it there there because God is gone before them, and they need to be able to follow him and then secondly, the pray for wisdom in navigating the racial divisions there that were that are present in South Africa. You guys know that from our part of the world. That is something very real and pressing us to sit specifically with the on the tragic events of this past week.

One of things we both know is it one of the best answers to a racially divided society are thriving, loving, healthy, multicultural gospel churches and so we are praying that God will make them a sign of the peace of the kingdom and so these are people they represent us to be back for several weeks of summer and then will be going back over South Africa. They represent us in a place were not all of us can be answered because there are people I want to symbolically depict that by you stretching out your hand as if you were lay your hands on them and so you do that at all of our campuses. You stretch out your hand on a voice of prayer, but you pray with me as we pray over them. Father, thank you, thank you God for a legacy of the nations that occurred in his family were some of the first to stop off and beliefs onto a that if we ask of you. You give us the nations is our inheritance and that's what we pray for is the fulfillment of that in their lives and to the church is that they plant God as they is the is the date they identify church leaders as they win people to Christ and raise up church leaders. I pray that you would give them exceedingly abundantly above all that they've even known to ask or think that the nations of Africa would begin to worship and love Jesus. As a result, God of their presence there spirit of God do through them what they cannot do for themselves. We ask that God believing as their church together and we ask this in Jesus name in all God's people at all of our campuses set together.

Amen amen much of a chance to get a lot more time you may you may be seated.

All of our campuses walk summa church. We have a Bible and might you take it now.

Now an opening to Judges chapter 13 Judges chapter 13 as we move through our series here book of Judges we come to one of the most interesting stories in the Bible maybe one of the most well known stories in the Bible and that is the story of Samson. Now when I say the word Samson. What do you think of about 40 years ago psychologist about these things hold word association game to the idea was they could identify your subconscious thought patterns by working your mind, quickest, when know another word was said. They don't use it much anymore but they would say things like a heart and he said passion that would indicate one thing about you if you said broken that would indicate another note the word you came up with was always violent than that meant that you probably had a violent streak in you, or even when I say Al at the first for the compromise. Capone or Bundy or Moeller that will show kind of work you fight think most of the time if I but if I say Al and your first thought is the hall and that indicates maybe you have a problem. So at all of our campuses right now were to do this is when an experiment was a little bit. How would you turn your neighbor the matter which one writer left whichever one looks nicer turn your neighbor and I want you to see the first word that comes don't filter it costs, but don't filter what comes to say the first worthy comes your mom and I sampled one of the screen. When I said the word night night SO I heard the guard day. I got her relax a big lonely somebody down here said of the Roundtable different kind of night.

I am at this one. How about the word all campuses so your neighbor church. I honestly don't even want to know what you said when when I said I would but this one biceps biceps. I'm pretty sure I heard somebody say Hank Murphy so go, this one. What word or image comes to mind when I say Samson Samson. I heard strong her long hair. I heard bin Laden somebody and then for me whenever I hear the word Samson. This is the first picture that always comes to mind there so that's my gift to you.

Happy Father's Day. You can't ever run see that that's always good to be in your mind what we usually think of string third kind of massive bodybuilder when we think about Samson but you know there's a question as to whether Samson was well-built at all because it was not supposed to be a picture of the ultimate mail. He was supposed to be a picture of what God could do in his people to the power of his spirit.

So the real Samson probably didn't want Jack to me was probably built more like the actual Chris Gaynor in the picture that I showed you Samson story comes for the end of the book of Judges.

In fact, Samson is can be the last judge specifically talked about in Judges and really get a lot more material on Samson and we do any of the other judges get three whole chapters worth and that is because Samson's wife sums up the entire message of Judges and then point just beyond judges he got shut down and then point just beyond it. He is going to give you a picture of what God's salvation in his people.

Looks like you been all through this journey now now to change change going to change the tempo and you're going to see a better picture as God brings together all these things on how he is going to save you see by this point in the book of Judges chapter 13 we can conclude that Israel's cycle of disobedience is permanent. You pick up on the cycle. Here's how it goes.

Every time you got them walking with God. That's what we call fellowship and they forget who God is and so their hardest to do step or other gods and they go into idolatry and God allows them to be enslaved by the gods of the worshiping and that stage enslavement leads them to bitterness and they cry out in repentance to God and God raises up and deliver a judge who delivers them and restores them back to fellowship with and they forget and they repeat the cycle again and again and again and maybe for the first several chapters of Judges we think well soon they'll learn their lesson. But they never do. It just goes over and over.

And by this point, the book of Judges we are ready to despair.

We are ready to throw up our hands and give up on Israel when suddenly in chapter 13. The narrative structure of Judges changes and we get this really in-depth story that as I'm going to show you is loaded with symbolism to see and hear a picture of how God saves watch this chapter 13 Arrigo and the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. And so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for 40 years now 40 is the longest amount of time that they been enslaved, and 40 in the Bible represents judgment and completion to this is like ultimate judgment and the Philistines are the ultimate judge's they are bad people, I mean really bad. First are extremely sophisticated. We often use the word for listing today in common parlance to mean somebody was uncultured, but the actual Philistines were anything but uncultured weaponry architecture and their culture will far beyond any other civilization on earth at the time they were. For example, the first ones to work with iron to make iron weapons.

They were the first ones to employ battle formations in war.

There are there pottery and architecture way advance beyond Israel on the Philistines were building multistory buildings and bridges across rivers at a time when Israel was basically just hang out with the seat. Second, they were really depraved.

They built their entire civilization on piracy and conquest. Almost all the wealth that they obtain they obtain by stealing.

They were in every way and militarized society. There parties were epic for their debauchery.

They pioneered this thing called that Ms. missed a word that literally means a week long drinking feast you thought that UNC Chapel Hill students admitted that, but they did not. Philistines admitted that there are also big in the pork which, of course, the Israelites always unclean, but the Philistines filled the countryside with big farms. They invented the hot dog and they were unspeakably cruel. They were unspeakably going to capture the town that would mutilate and remove body parts from the men they captured him while they were alive and it would torture them and then impale them bucket mirroring, beer, bacon and barbarism. That's all you can remember the Philistines. They represent the enemies of God at their strongest 40 years.

The number of completion. The ultimate enemy.

The ultimate judgment numerically, culturally, economically and militarily. They are superior to Israel in every way person was a certain man of the soul of the tribe of the day night Sue's name was Manoa and his wife was barren and had two children means the Lord appeared. The woman said her behold you shall conceive and bear a son, now stop me show you.

I will give you five-ish observations about your salvation from the first two verses that lay up a whole part of salvation right there in those details. Ready here is the first one what's missing between verses one and two. What's missing between verse one who put up your for your description of their enslavement, their judgment.

Verse two is where God begins to raise up the judge. What's missing between wanting to. There is no cry for repentance. You see, by this point in the book of Judges God is no longer waiting on them to seek him because he knows we wait for that is never going to happen. By this point if they're going to be delivered not because they seek him, but because he sees them.

Check this out this is the first time a judge is promised before birth. You see, with every other judge God raised up somebody who was already alive, but now it's as if God is saying to bend at the Savior.

They need is not somebody from among them that he is going to just make stronger in order to really save them. You have to start from scratch is the first judge to get promised before he was born third. This promise is given to a barren woman she is nearing old age and she has no kids. I've explained to you before that barrenness. In those days was the sign of ultimate devastation for a woman now in our day.

It's difficult, of course, also but back then it was devastating because all of their hope for the future was bound up in their kids, their society was agrarian which method the more sons you had more workers you have for the farm and thus the more income you generate for your family.

This is also a day remember before 401(k)s and Social Security so the more children you have, the more likely you are to be taken care of in your old age for the nation itself economic and military health was directly corresponded to how many children are born so women would have lots of babies and if they could have lots of babies they were thought of as national heroes, but women who could not have children were seen as essentially useless Old Testament scholar Walter Bergman says this barrenness in ancient text symbolize hopelessness without children, there was no foreseeable future for yourself for your family or for your people not of course we today don't think like this. We put our hope for the future and where we graduated from, what kind of job we have much money we have in the 401(k) but think of it from this woman's perspective she's got no security. She's got no hope she's got no future. She's got no prospects. There's 1/4 detail were never told her name whenever it would which is odd when you think about how many other details are in the story in the first two verses you know the dad's name. You know that dad's naming of the drive there from. Why would the woman not good name sheet-metal referred to by name it's always just the woman is it that the narrator does not know her name out I was and is not likely based on how much else he notes it is as if he is intentionally not using her name to show that she is obscure. She's nameless and just a minute you're gonna get some clues that she is not a God seeking woman at all. She's not righteous she's not exemplary. Here is the lesson about salvation and it is so important.

God brings his salvation to all people were not crying out in repentance who have no talents or gifts or righteousness to distinguish them from other people or people with no hope and no future and no prospects in themselves. It's as I've often told you God does not love the lovely God makes lovely those he loves. He does not save us wrongly make stronger she saves. He does not choose the righteous, because there are no righteous image righteous.

Those that he chooses which is good news for you because no matter who you are, what you done what circumstance you find yourself in how weak you feel what mistakes you feel like you've made. There is hope for you see that hope is not to be found by you turning over a new leaf. It's not going to be found in you to use the metaphor becoming pregnant in your old age and escaping your barrenness that good news is, can be found by you receiving God's choice of you, which is given as a gift and dependent on his power not your own is one of the most humbling and the sweetest truce to me in all the Bible, God set his affection on the just because there was no reason. Deuteronomy chapter 7 look at this is where God first explains of Israel.

It was not because you are more number than any other people, but the Lord said his love on you and shows you, for you were the fewest of all the peoples.

It would, but will because you are awesome because you were were better because you were sophisticated or more cultures are even more righteous. Things were true, why did the Lord choose you and love you say it is because the Lord loves you.

Using the circular statement there, but what what why do I love you because I love you.

Love is a need a reason love his own reason, I often explain a version of this to my kids are not tonight when when I'm putting down the bed. I'll some of the dorks will routinely know the routine stop and I'll say this daddy love you and they'll say yes he does, is it wise that he love you and I'll say is it because you're beautiful again. Their train will say no and one of them will almost always a but we are beautiful and I was a yes you are.

Is that why daddy loves you know it. Is it because you're smart no, but we are smart. Yes you are smart now with you two or three characteristics and I'll say that he love you for these reasons and also knows about is that he love you know say because he is our daddy because we are his daughters. You see there's a sense in which my love is given my kids not based on who they are what they accomplish. My love is given them just because it's the way the father loves a child, it doesn't need an explanation is not depended on the morning something. In fact, when I see them struggle. It makes me love them more and to know that the heavenly father looks at his people and says I love you just because not because of this because of that is the reason it's comforting to me as I know that God did not choose me when I was righteous. She's not gonna leave me when I struggle because a lot of times and I thought my life. I have a tendency look up a God and I say God are you going to discard me are you going to give up on me and God says I didn't choose you because you doing okay I chose you and you are at your lowest on my to let you go when you struggle.

I realize now after 26 years of walking with Jesus, but I'm not holding on to him nearly as tightly as he is holding on to me.

And the reason that I have made it in the reason that I will make it is not because of the strength of my grip on him. It's because of his grip on me and he will never let go. Not ever. That's what you see in verses 1 to 3 years or four therefore be careful and bring no one a strong drink and eat nothing unclean by the way, here's how we know she's not righteous. She should need to be told that she should be eating anything unclean. Anyway, she's not living as a righteous Israelite for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, no raise or whatever, but as ever the child will be a Nazirite to God from the womb.

We talk about a Nazirite vow for a moment, Nazirite bowels really intense thing about like an intense fast and you are essentially three major rules.

Number one, you can never cut your hair anywhere in your body for any reason number two you could not drink anything literally from the vine, alcoholic or otherwise, which meant no Cabernet, no coronas, no sellers, no Miller light not even two Buck Chuck from Ray Trader Joe's on none at all. That was off limit even Welches unfermented grape juice would've been off-limits, which means that's all that drink is so you had to drink milk or water. That was all you could touch number three you could not touch any dead bodies of any kind. Usually people would only commit to the Nazirite bowels for a short period of time would like an intense fast because it was so light consuming Sampson does it from his birth from the day that even born. He never cuts any of his hair, which me that he would look something like a mix between Duck Dynasty meet ZZ Top. I am but it's all designed to show you that the Savior they got is going to send is absolutely distinct from the world. What's this first.

Five and he shall begin to save Israel from name of the Philistines began is the most important word in the whole Sampson story. That's an odd word right, he begins it finished which is really where when you consider the fact he's last judge talk about in Judges so we got the beginning of a salvation by a judge who has nobody comes after him and then the book of Judges ends and we are left asking the question what he began it completed and now you're reading the Bible the right way because now you're seeing that this thing that he began is not to be completed in the book of Judges is not to be completed to the New Testament. That's the way the Bible intends for you to read it. Was he going verse six out of summarize what happens here. This angel after she gave birth to Manolo's wife, Noah, like his back and tells me no one I know what a believer is.

I will even have a strong drink little too much. Maybe the euro so searching and an MLS of all we asked Angel this is really the jet you were hallucinating. Only a single combat, and so on. Danger comes back to it was life and minnows life on to get Noah. The first one first things Manoah says to the angel verse 50. Please let us detain your prepare young goat for you. In other words, eat together for the angel God will not do it because eating in those days was a sign of fellowship and peace and there is no peace between God and Israel from Megan eat with you so verse 12 Manoah begins to pepper the angel with questions when your words come true. What what is that what what what what is to be the child's manner of life and what is to be his mission. Verse 17. What is your name so that when your words come true. We may honor you.

What's he wanting to know the details and I will be always want to know how this can work out why this what can happen over here. Finally, this is so important. Verse 18 the angel Lord interrupts him and says what yes my name seen. It is wonderful wonderful is a word in the Old Testament that is used almost exclusively for God. It means divine. Let me point something out here because this is so common whenever God reveals himself to people we help Manolo respond to God respond is so typical that I will tell you that if you don't get this principle you will not make it in the life of faith we always want details, and God perceives that are asking of the details is so we can figure out whether not his plan is trustworthy and good answer God and neuroticism negotiated details. The question is do you trust my character, why do you ask my name seen. It is wonderful. Is that enough for you. Manolo wants to know more about what to do. God says wait a minute. This is who I am. This is listen. If you require answers to the why am but what questions to believe never to make it is about a study give it. If you require detailed explanations God, why did this happen why to backbite about things happen to good people what's going to happen in the future. What can happen in my life was a world like this. If you require that before you can trust God and feel at peace. You're not make it the reason I know that is because this is been my struggle with a fervor for my Christian life. I've always been the kind of guy who feels like he needs to know the why and what I'm always asking God why don't get this, and I'm asking God for explanation so that I can believe that he's good. And God said you not get an explanation you get Revelation, the question is do you believe I'm good because my name is wonderful. This is heaven. I should be very recently at all these questions as I got older.

Sam is what can happen here and I want you doing this and got out of this meeting given God. This is an exact number in this thing by scientists who who asked the question was in this UI. How does this apply to staying on the site is asked the question how much power would it take to generate the matter that was necessary to create the food required to feed the 5000 people I know. Okay, it's a nerd question but to hang with him. Jesus on the hillside for 5000 people, five hours into fish which means he generated a bunch of food I do nothing right will matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, there was a lot of energy that had to go into producing that matter to the site.

This is asking how much energy would require to make that new matter. So using AE estimated 1/2 pound of food for each person. 8 ounces of food and services using 8 ounces of food per person using the equation equals MC squared energy equals mass times constant speed of light squared. Here's how much energy it would've taken to produce that new matter was in this it would take.

He said, using that equation, it would take all the electoral power on earth. Working at 100% output 100% of the time for four straight years to create the energy to it to create that meal Jesus did that without breaking a sweat son consume 600 millions times of matter per second, it generates enough energy in one second to supply all US energy needs for 13 billion years in one second, God spoke the sun into existence got to let there be light and there was like, here's my question in my really in place to question the ways of such a God.

I demand explanation got to look at creation and you tell me about my wonderful name and then you start asked me questions like you don't really understand what you're capable of understanding what I'm doing right now I think about God's compassion for me demonstrated the cross and got the grill. You can look at the cross and look at what I did to save not only did I forgive you your second chance act to pay the price for your rebellion and you can require some other explanation to see if I'm good. This is my name is wonderful and a question for you is, is that enough for you or you can require explanation because I'm gonna give it your dinner.

I'm going to give you Revelation there many of you that are in the struggle faith right now and what God gives you is a revelation of his beautiful name. Look at what he create a look at his Majesty look at our look at his oldest. Look at the cross and you decide. Is that enough or you can you follow him because of his wonderful name, verse 19, so Manoah took the young goat with a grain offering and offered on the rocks below are the one who works wonders. I night dinner together.

He's often a sacrifice which is more appropriate.

Verse 20. When the flame went up toward heaven from the altar the angel the Lord went up and the flame of the altar.

Manoah and his wife felt their faces on the ground in Manoah said to his wife is going to humorously think about it face down in the dirt, you know, Manoah comes as we so firmly daughter, for we have seen God.

As I said him with the Lord, meant to tell us he would not accept the burnt offering and a grain offering at her hands.

She was all these things were now such things to these these methods of trashed Sampson's mom. Up until now we point out something absolutely amazing about her. She responds in a way that puts her among the greatest women of faith in the Bible. She says simply. I trusted these obviously good and I'm ready to obey all that he is said that was a better response and cerebral wife of Abraham gave when she was told a similar thing.

She laughed. That was better than Elizabeth priest Zacharias wife responded when she was told something similar. They doubted and Zechariah was struck down for nine months. There's only one or two other women that responded the same way, and one of them was named Mary who, when she heard about her impossible verse that well let it be to me according to your word.

I will believe all that you have promised, and I will do all that you have said there is only one response that pleases God. There's only one response that he requires. There's really only one response. You can ever give them.I believe all that you have said in God. I will do all that you say, because God is not coming to you, requiring you to do something for him. He wanted to do something for you and through you, which means the only answer is yes, Lord, not question for you is this. Have you ever said that to him just a total unconditional absolute yes he's not waiting for you to accomplish things. He just wants you to lay it down and surrender yes Lord is the only response he requires is the only one that pleases him.

It's really the only one you can give a great substitute for that is religion is a religion is built on negotiation got here's what I'll do, go to churches many times I give you this amount of money in them will be this good. I executed this in return is like I told you last week.

Jesus does not negotiate why because he owns it, already including you and you can only be in one of two postures with Jesus. Faith and surrender or rebellion mandated when when it comes to Jesus's claims of Lordship is only one or two postures you could be in Jesus is not come as a moral influence like CS Lewis said he doesn't come to try to make bad people become better people. He comes to rebels and demands they lay down their arms.

Yes, I have told you income is an influence in your life to help you becomes a takeover told you before, the old bumper sticker God is my copilot, which is terrible theology and you have it on your part. During offering slip out to take it.

Also people judge you. God is your copilot somebody's in the wrong seat is God and come to hang out your car and help you navigate the traffic in and change the flat tire when it goes what he loves you.

He will do that stuff. But when Jesus comes you. He says hey, you stole my car get out this because my life is like yeah I made it and you get out and you get in the back CVs they were going. That's what it means to follow Jesus, who would've known it. Underwood got it right. Jesus take the wheel is essentially the prayer of the Christian life is really only wanted to postures that are appropriate when it comes to the Lordship of Jesus, you're either in religious negotiation year in total surrender of told you that if you're not total surrender. It is kind of like you know if if I would tell my wife hate your Father's Day is what you know I'm a 96% faithful you was that in the coming at you like what today who you may have know it means maybe it could mean that out of 100 women. I know I got you know relationships with only four of them. That's wholly unfaithful because when it comes to wife. You are your marriage you are you are when it comes Lordship of Jesus, you either surrendered or you are not.

Religion is a great counterfeit to true faith and surrender and dizziness and religion gives a lot of people deceived into thinking a right with God when they are not. We have people in churches all over America this morning saying like a church a lot. I give a good amount of time to break too many of the commandments you have either said to Jesus, I believe all that you said and I will follow all that you have say all that you say and I'm ready to file. You have my whole life, or you have not religion negotiates faith surrenders which category you win. Have you ever said absolutely unconditional. Yes, Lord, I receive and I will follow verse 24, so the woman bore a son and called his name Sampson young man grew and the Lord blessed but already right there.

We see a big indication of trouble because Sampson's name Sampson on his attribute to the son God Sampson is going to live a life that depicts Israel a life that is filled with compromise. Let me give you four problems were out playing Sampson's life. These are thing of these are the precursor to the next couple of messages will go deep into them, but I want to introduce them to you because they are kind of for another 40 verse 24 number one compromise Sampson's life is going to be characterized by compromise. He is going to break flagrantly all three provisions of the Nazirite about number three provisions. No one never cut your hair, don't touch anything that chapter 14 1 chapter you will little appetizer on the same Cymbalta love the Philistine girl, which is obvious. Your problem is you could even share his faith, but because to celebrate his engagement.

He throws a Ms. those are all weeklong beer keg party so he's not doing too well. The alcohol Val a few days before the party.

A line attack he's on his way to the party to engage more than one line at Jackson and then comes my favorite verse in the whole story.

Judges have a 40% of the line at Jackson and he tore the line pieces is one tear is a young goat is one tear is a young goat was not common in those days. It said like it is a like number 20 goat.

It doesn't sound to be that easy to me to tear a young goat, but evidently everybody did that back then anyone could very young goat, but Sampson not only tore young goat to tear a hole I and so there's a lien a few days later it says he's passing, but by the place were killed while he looks over the road and there's a lines carcass and in the carcass is a beehive that is filled with honey and bees, which raises a number of questions to me like how to get in there did align even maybe that's why the line was mad and attacked Sampson for lien or maybe did did did did did did the bees make the hide in there after they like carcasses that look at ideal place for them to put I don't know. It doesn't tell us it just says that he sought so he went and got the high melting into the honey but it obviously touches a dead body in the process because he's hungry and of course he ends up cutting his hair, which leads to his downfall. These compromises whenever it's convenient. Number two impulsive impulsive throughout his life is controlled by his passions. He gets hungry for honey. He wants a woman he takes her the marriage the Philistine or prostitute will whenever they've gotten Sampson's parents hear about in there in the Philistine they object no occasion do that. His reasoning Junta 40 verse three data for me. Why because she pleases me. I want what I want what I get mad, he kills people almost every demonstration of strength in his life comes as a result of him being personally ticked off about something not righteously angry. He just Jack the EE get this image of a guy on void range essentially three exams. Only 1.1 illustration of this because when mother stories come after, since, until the line anything running out of its belly memories.

On his way to his bachelor party beer keg party when he gets there. There are 30 Philistine guy and he says I'm with you as a little and here it was make it interesting. If you can guess the answer to this riddle. I'll give each of you a brand-new suit of clothes but as you can guess the riddle in seven days each of you has to give me a set of clubs right and so the Israelites are rated for things I will were smarter than you anyway when I got you so is also boom bringing on Santa says okay here's a little out of the heater came something to eat out of the strong can something sweet, now deceased, talk about honey from the life while the Philistines go back in a caucus and they can come up with the answer for six days a talk about and are going to panic is not an illusion or to lose face.

And so they go to his bride flips the Philistine is Rodney and they say, would you please get Sampson to tell you the answer you give the schedule of art and she's like well accurately that he hasn't told me and the like. If you don't do that really kill you and burn your house on fire to the woman is a Sampson and she pulls the oldest trick in the book. She starts to cry and she starts to say stuff like you don't love me were starting on America secrets and all the counselor say that's not good you got to tell me. Let me read it to you for 17 she went before him for the next seven days that their fees lasted.

Talk about a miserable beer keg party on the seventh day finally told her because she pressed them hard, she told the realtor people and the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down.

Sampson was sweeter than honey. What is stronger than a lion, then my second favorite verse in the Sampson story. Sampson says only if you had not plowed with my heifer you would not have found out my little man to obvious lessons for you right here okay little Father's Day advice from uncle JD 1 do not let anybody plow with your girlfriend number two do not call your Wi-Fi heifer okay this not Father's Day okay will Sampson is ticked so he goes out he kills 30 other Philistines and take their clothes off their body and takes it back to those 30 ly are closer ability and thorn you like your to close. That's his whole life right there. Every one of his great feats of strength come from an impulse. Always be funny if it works at all on tragic. He's impulsive and honest because I was thinking about that this week about how much Sampson was willing to risk anything is the strongest man who ever lived.

What guy would not want to be that they'll be like Aussie items from his men ever look like understand he's willing to risk all that for some just the taste of the money about who would do that as I'm asking myself that question. It occurs to me you guys do it all the time.

I feel tempted to do it all the time how many guys throw away God and what he's doing in their lives for eternity just for a taste of a little pleasure. How many men offend away their family just because they want a little taste of pornography.

How many guys do I know in college that will really think about the claims the Lordship of Jesus on their life because they don't want to have to give up sexual freedom. Mother in college. I don't look at them and say you're willing to give up God. You want to give up eternity for you could have a little taste of pleasure for a brief time in your life impulsive in ruins and is number three entitlement. I'm going to this one left to wait for that one, but that's his attitude. I deserve that honey I'll take it for pride, everything in Sampson's life comes about him to redo these chapters in the next few weeks and and and observe how many times Sampson uses the word I Sampson Sampson still leverages God-given strength primarily to benefit him, not for God's kingdom. Eventually he's going to allow his hair to be caught because he's convinced himself that his incredible strength come from himself and not from God. We say this to the guys in here again this is a later message those same four things are the greatest threats to what God wants to do in your life the exact same for compromise living impulsively little with a sense of entitlement walking and pride they destroyed Sampson the strongest man ever to live there the same thing the enemy the same playbook he's using to destroy your life, but that's next time to bring it back to the message for this week the end of chapter 13 what I need you to see if it Sampson from the very beginning the way of story is presented is pointing you forward beyond judges. Sampson is the last judge in this book the last great hope for Israel and so we buy this one the book of waiting to see how we can rescue and rule God's people how we can bring them back to obedience to God.

But it almost every way working upon ourselves disappointed because he points us forward to another Jesus will complete what Sampson begins to. That's the most important word in this whole story. Chapter 13 verse five he began the salvation of Israel, Jesus will complete it is a Jesus birth and Sampson's birth of remarkable similarities, but Jesus and Sampson are promised before birth. Remember I told you Sampson was the only judge to come that way and it was as if God was saying.

Your salvation is not to be built on your strength at all. I'm good have to bring it all meant to start from scratch when Jesus was born. He's not as mortal barren woman is born of a virgin, God save salvation will not come from you at all to come as a gift from heaven. I've got to do it from start to finish.

Sampson is giving us in his birth a picture of how the real Savior would come one day. The birds of Sampson and Jesus were brought miraculous Sampson's mom was Golden bear and Mary was a virgin. One huge difference though the birth of Sampson brought joy and honor are in the midst of shame, the birth of Jesus brought shame to Mary and Joseph because everybody thought that they had had him out of wedlock.

Sampson's birth brought celebration.

Jesus was born into poverty in shape why that distinction.

Why, because the real Savior would not save us simply for power.

The real Savior would not simply turn our sorrow into joy. He wouldn't simply remove our save real Savior to take on our sorrow at the take on our save and be born into it and then die for it. Sampson was a Nazirite which was a religious bow that brought somebody honor Jesus was a Nazarene which meant that he was culturally despised and an outcast. One more thing the Sampson and Jesus were told a lot about their burdens, but almost nothing about their childhoods, the author whose writing judges probably has no idea even what he is doing, but the Holy Spirit is guiding him to write this story in such a way that we see a parallel for how Jesus is born as were told an awful lot about his birth.

An awful lot about the Angels that showed up were told nothing about his childhood. Sampson story is told in such a way that it gives us a premonition of something that is to come.

Even though the people judges did know what it was because Jesus is the truer and better. Sampson and Jesus will succeed in every place of Sampson fails like Sampson.

You see, Jesus of strength will reside not in how we built one can reside in his personal charisma is beauty.

Isaiah said the physical beauty we would desire in Jesus drink like Sampson would come from the indwelling power. The spirit, but unlike Sampson Jesus would never compromise every facet of God's law without sin. Instead of being controlled by his impulses. Jesus will be controlled by God's will. After fasting for 40 days in the wilderness and not eating the things Satan shows up and offers him some bread and what is Jesus say is totally the opposite of Sampson.

He says man does not live by desire.

Man is not live by bread alone members by the will of God. Jesus did not do a please himself. Jesus it will please God is on the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was the father and says I don't want to do this nevertheless is not what I want God.

It's what you want is what pleases you there. Jesus was entitled to the throne. Jesus would take the role of a servant and submit to the humiliation of the cross. I look at Sampson, a man of incredible strength, a Nazirite with an Incredible strength and we are all on by his strength. But I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned unclean when I say how marvelous is not about how strong Sampson was, or how strong God to make me when I say how marvelous it is about how Jesus would come and take upon himself. My weakness how the one who was strong and rich became weak and poor one who is righteous would become guilty how he who knew no sin would become sin for me and then I say how marvelous is my salvation didn't come by man with muscles remained intelligent they came by somebody who would take my shaman to him and die for you see, until you see them believe what Jesus did for you will never become a person of strength because Jesus is the real Sampson's glorious life enables you to live like Sampson should've lived here, someone explain to you, God does want to use you powerfully people's lives. He is going to give you supernatural strength to bless others, but you're screwing up. You always will. Until you see the Jesus was the real Sampson that was given for you.

Salvation and company strength.

It came by him humbling himself and taking your shame and when you see and you believe that Jesus was the real Sampson to give up his life to save you instead of a life that declares I wanted, so I'll take it, you'll start to say I want God is what he wants instead of saying I deserve it will start to confess I deserve hell and he saved me so I'll do whatever you say Jesus instead of saying my strengths are my talents and my abilities are all about me your services. Jesus is all about you. It's all from you. It's all through you. It's all for you, you'll start to say where the whole realm of nature mine, that would be a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands soul, my life, my all. Instead of saying I can handle it starts that can handle without God, but I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me, and you will cling tightly to the source of strength in your life and you will never let it go because this is all about him. It's all about being in right relationship to the real deliver the real Savior on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection Luke tells us that Jesus was speaking to his disciples and said that walking between two towns. See you know we was at time city started with Moses and the prophets means Genesis always in the Old Testament, and he explained how everything written was about him. We came to the Sampson story.

I have to imagine that he explained some of the things that I'm explaining to you because he is wanting his disciples were about to go into the world to face the Philistines wanted to see. I'm not asking you to go over, overcame the whole Bible is not about you becoming like Sampson, the whole Bible is not a list of examples for you to emulate.

The Bible is about a Savior for you to adore and your strength is not going to come from what you do for me. You cannot be restricted in a come from worshiping me for what I've done for you and your incredible strength is not to be given by working it out your incredible strength is going to come as you stand in awe and amazement of how I was a real Sampson for you. I was a strong one who overcame you just worship me why I told you that a goal in a sermon is not as you leave the page full of notes. My goal in this is not a failure mindful with info about Sampson as if that information is making more spiritual goal is not to tell you live like Sampson, you can't live like Santa and you should move like Sampson.

The goal of the lectures lately with information.

The goal of a motivational speech is that you would accept the goal of the sermon is that you leave worshiping God come a time in the sermon where the pin goes down in the eyes go up and you quit writing down all my God, look at all the things I gotta do for you and you start saying oh my god look at what you done for me because when your heart burst alive in worship and what Jesus the Nazarene has done for you and what you begin to do for God will flow with the strength that will give you the ability to do what Sampson could not do.

Sampson was physically strong but morally weak. God wants to give you such strength of character that you will use every bit of what he's given you to bless and not to destroy, and that strength comes from seeing the strong one was made weak for you and that he did it for you. And he did it gladly and you begin to worship him.

So all of our campuses when we stand everybody stand your feet at all campuses. When we end our time just declaring the beauty of the Lord Jesus. Every sermon on the lead to this point of worship when we lift our eyes off her campuses or worship teams, what we declare that he is a great Savior.

Father I pray I pray God that she would give us eyes to see the height with the death and the breath of love of the father for us.

We pray in Jesus name