When the Weak Become Strong, Part 3

Today on Summit life with Jeannie Greer. Sam always starts born anybody tell you otherwise not tell you the truth right start on it just never ends up videos with somebody blinded him in darkness and captivity in the monotony of grinding day after day after day and show you where that leads. Maybe you shouldn't let your heart decide 30 here at the summit church in Raleigh, Durham, North Carolina. As always, I'm your host Molly events.

Have you ever been told to follow your heart. This philosophy is pushed on us from a young age in kids movies and pop music. And of course social media today. Pastor Jenny reveals that your own heart is quite often your worst enemy getting you and all kinds of trouble. Today's teaching represents the third part of a four-part message on the life of Samson. If you missed the previous messages, visit Jeannie Greer.com to catch up.

But for now grab your Bible take some notes and let's join Pastor Jane.

The mall officers, broken saviors, and we are looking at Samson who has to be one of undoubtedly the most colorful characters in the Bible the story of Samson. Actually the first week we were in.

This is a tale about a week becoming strong and strong. Becoming weak, this will not come as a surprise to many of you. But Samson has always reminded me a lot of myself but not for the reasons that you probably think Samson's greatest enemy is himself had a friend at MIC about same age as I am now when he was putting the final edits on his senior thesis there at MIC. He said it was just.if you eyes across a few proverbial thieves and he said I watch to my horror as the top of my screen. The text of my senior thesis begin to change line by line into gobbledygook. Just you know when things are some kind of bodies that just destroyed my paper some nerd at MIC had written a computer virus destroyed everything that he had worked on computers about what better make you bet, stop from happening now, but some of you that are major around you can remember. I mean just the horror that was that kind of experience drives ever happen to you.

I do think there is a special place in hell reserved for people that come up with computer viruses.

Since there's no redeeming purpose for them at all, but Samson has a virus in that virus is going to destroy him. His problem is not that he didn't have the physical strength to deliver Israel. The problem is that he is internally weak.

He's his own worst enemy. That's why I feel like Samson any of you ever look at your life and you look back on certain things and you just say look at what I messed. Why could I not just have controlled myself, why could I not just have held my tongue what I have to say that why did I have to go there. What if I just said no. What if I just not ever return the phone call not chosen a group of friends are not chosen to be with that person on that night I want to show you but every morning when you wake up and you look in the mirror you are looking at the greatest enemy of both yourself and what God wants to do through you and your family. The problem is not that God's power is not abundant and available to you. The problem is that you and I are own worst enemy. Specifically, today I want to direct some of this toward you men. Honestly, there may be nothing more important that many of you ever hear because God has given you a lot of opportunity and a lot of strength and I want to show you how some of you are sabotaging yourselves the way the Samson bid hunt.

Girls don't like this can leave you out. The Old Testament scholars point out the Samson was supposed to represent all of Israel under a number of clues in his story that anybody that was familiar with Jewish history. Immediately upon reading this for the said he's ascribing Israel. For example, Samson, Israel came into the world to a miraculous birth to the holster of Manoa and his unnamed wife were both older and there's Riker's work that's like Abraham and Sarah, who in their old age give birth.

Riker's lead Isaac who becomes the descendent in the nation of Israel comes for both Samson Israel God take something we can makes it incredibly strong on both Samson and Israel were given a special law code that was supposed to separate them from the nations around them for Samson. Remember it was the Nazirite ballot had three components component number 10 cut your hair, number two, don't touch anything alcoholic component number three never touch anything dead. That wasn't rules for all Israelites are just rules for Samson that set him apart.

Will the same way Israel is a nation had been given a special law code that distinguish them from the nations around them, called the book of Leviticus, Samson was drawn to foreign women just like Israel was drawn to foreign gods. Anybody reading this picks up Samson. Israel stories are kind of want. So Samson is Israel story and if you listen what I want to tell you is it's probably your story. Also, the first week you look at Samson's birth this week were to look at his life and his death. So if you haven't done so already, take out your Bible printed on throwdown agenda 14. The first story of Samson's adult life opens up with him informing his mom and dad. He wants to marry this hot listing girl that he seen in town, verse three, but his father mother say to him is there not a woman from our people is not contingent attracted more girls that you take a wife and the uncircumcised Philistines.

This is not racial prejudice. By the way it is that they want him to marry somebody who shares his faith. But Samson said back to his father and Mrs. T did her for me, for she pleases me. Well, if I had to boil down all of Samson's weaknesses in the one statement that would be Samson's primary driver in life is.

He does what pleases him and he is not to let anybody he's not going to let any wisdom to let his mom and dad or even God it did in the way of what he wants.

He's always gonna follow his heart is always going up. Be true to himself.

This is like a Disney movie in reverse.

Samson rejects his parents wisdom and lets his heart decide that this story shows you where that line of thinking usually leads verse for the little phrase that is a very important phrase can be the bigger picture of what's happening. His father, mother did not know however that it was from the Lord for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines know doesn't mean it was from the Lord. What does it mean that it was a wise decision because it was clearly a simple and unrighteous decision. It just means that his choice to marry this woman was something that God was going to use. She let me step back for a minute and help you see the bigger picture of what is happening in Israel at this point Israel at this point has grown really comfortable in their captivity.

They are not as I showed you a couple weeks ago there not crying out for deliverance from the Philistines. They don't even want deliverance from the Philistines.

They like the Philistines.

They are comfortable in their captivity, and they admire the Philistines. This is the greatest threat that Israel has ever faced is elimination, not by extermination is elimination by assimilation. This is always the greatest threat to the people of God.

You see, when the enemy comes after the people of God and to exterminate us.

We usually rally ourselves to put faith in God and he acts on our behalf, but when the enemy comes to make us comfortable in the world and begins to entice our heart away from God and hauling us to assimilate into the world that we are a part of that we are attracted to all of the power structures that are here. That's when he really destroys and eliminates us.

That's exactly where Israel is the God had not saved his people just to keep them alive. He saved his people for himself. He wanted them to be a special people for him and they are about to lose that because there's so comfortable in the Philistine world.

So what God needs to do is you need to stir up a little conflict enter Samson a hot-blooded testosterone written impulsive meathead.

Ongoing rage now before I move on from this, you see how God sometimes does this in your life, your hearts are getting way to knit to this world to entice our popularity or comfort or money is what God does is he starts to stir up some trouble. This will God is always done with his people because he is doing in mercy to try to keep you from being so comfortable in the land of the Philistines people many times asked me how I feel about the Supreme Court decision to mandate gay marriage. I think there's no question it was a wrong decision, but I recognize that God 10 be in that like he was in this decision. Samson made purifying and strengthening the church.

You see I was say the believers we believers are grown entirely too at home in this country.

Many churches churches, we probably grew up in God and country sundaes and I'm all for patriotism but I think God and country.

The first country you want to think about is your heavenly one and when I say be thankful for freedom. The first freedom you off all your needs and celebrate your freedom in Christ. And so God send stuff like this along. Just remind us who we belong to them where our real country is that her main help and come from Washington or Maine help comes from the Lord and that our real home is not a North Carolina real home is with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven church. You can be assured from statements like the one you just read in verse four that just as it was with Samson. There is not one stray molecule in all the universe that God is not using for the completion of his purposes for the church. Hollywood does not dictate where this world is going Washington is not dictate where it's going. Wall Street got dictated the New York Times that dictated I don't know if you realize this but all of history is being performed for you because God is preparing for himself a people, and God takes the nations and everything that he has a purpose for preparing thankful God is in charge. You're listening to Summit life with pastor Jeannie Greer. Your life is full of difficult question. And the reality is that we all need to be able to get sufficient reasons for the help we have in Jesus to those who are searching by tackling some of these difficult question in her newest resource. We hope to equip you with answers that make sense and aren't overly complicated and honest questions.

Quick answers will answer anything I know and it's okay to ask God for success will send it as our thanks for your gift to the ministry right now so give us a call and think things 335-5224 check out@jeanniegreer.com.

Now let's get back to her teaching.

Samson through this beer keg party to celebrate his engagement. Two days before the party align attacks him and we have a great little lineup pointed out you judge 14 six and he tore the line in pieces is one tears young goat now so the last couple weeks doing extensive Hebrew word study on that phrase will still tell you that after my extensive Hebrew study.

I still have no idea what that phrase means like one tears I got goat evidently goat hearing was common in those days it was just what was what you did on game night in ancient Israel. What you do for the fourth usual place in corn hole that also bar works store few goats just you know what you do well peters the line.

That's what he does. A few days later is passed by the same spot you see the carcass in line that is killing you notices a beehive that is in the abdomen which sparks an idea for a riddle goes to this party and he gets there. 30 Philistine guys there and he says I riddle for you and let's make it interesting to me.

Just a riddle seven days before this party is over, but I'll give each of you a suit of clothes but he can't guess you give me a few to close an essay okay were smart and you were Philistines in your dumb Israelites what it says here's a little out of either came something to eat out of the strong came something sweet.

Now, clearly he's talking about the honey that came out of the abdomen of the lion, but I get together and they progress get that they can't figure it out. So they go to his bride to be. Who is a Philistine remember and allocate your one us, you better tell us what this riddle is and if you don't really kill you and your father so she goes to him and said Samson was the riddle and he won't tell her.

She pulls the oldest trick in the book. She begins to cry and she says you don't really love me.

We are starting our marriage was secrets I'm going to go on to a talkshow and so eventually he caves, and he reveals the real to her and she then tells the Philistines and they solve the riddle.

Samson ever the helpless, hopeless romantic says that great little line verse 18. If you had not plowed with my heifer you would not have found out my riddle, what a way with words that God has verse 19 verse 19 the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him and he went down Ashkelon and struck down 30 men of the town took their garments and gave him, to those who told the riddle in hot anger. He went back to his father's house was what killed 30 Philistine guys are close and that's how he paid his bet they here's my question for you. Why would Samson do something petty and vindictive because God had a bigger purpose and that purpose is creating division between the Philistines and the other Israelites remove Samson's been simple. God is using it for his purposes is creating division Deborah 15 after some days, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat right there you have it be. Why would Jesus bring your own goat's just what you do for date night and he said I will take my goat and we will tear it and then I will go into my wife's in the chamber, and her father said I thought you later, so I gave her your body is Beverly. She got a younger sister who's in a better looking than she is. Want to take her exams like what verse three and Samson said to them this time. This time I will be innocent in regard to the Philistines. When I do them alarm right so nobody knew the first time he was being petty and vindictive at this time. He feels justified first for so Samson went and caught 300 foxes how to do that and he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each of their tails. Many set fire the torches and he sent the foxes out in the green field to the Philistines and set fire the grain fields in the olive orchards now as far as practical jokes go that one is awesome. The ties foxes together and likes their rear ends on fire and has been burned like Samson was here to the cornfield.

What the Philistines retaliate by killing this girl and her father verse six and Samson said I swear I will be avenged on you after that I'll quit verse eight and he struck me in hip and thigh with a great below hip and thigh is a Hebrew way of saying he opened up a cannibal trash on them. Sort of like just a euphemism for that and he went down and stayed after that in the cleft of the rock of Edom, which was a small Israelite outpost for the Philistines come down to Edom and they say verse 10 we come to take Samson to do to him what he did to us to 3000 Israelites men of Judah go down to where Samson stayed, and they say don't you know the Philistines are rulers over us one of your God see they don't want deliverance, they they want peace, they know they don't want to start any trouble. They are comfortable. Verse 12, Samson said to them, just promise me you will time yourselves miss it.

If not I will will will we will just bind you and you doing to their hands to the took two new ropes and it brought them up from the rock verse 14.

Then the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him and the ropes around his arms became like flax that is caught fire and the bunches melted off his hands and looked around, and he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and with that he struck a thousand men did the whole hip and thigh routine on them is all pretty cool.

Took the course is not supposed to be touching anything dead jawbone of a donkey were 16 and Samson saying my favorite part of the story and Samson say the jawbone of a donkey heaps upon heaps with the jawbone of a donkey. Have I struck down a thousand men and as soon as he finished speaking. Verse 70 he threw away the jawbone address and how cool is that with the jawbone of a donkey still in his hand. He composes us all and I noted mom in English. What would around in Hebrew, and I think you got to hear more like an M&M, wrap with the jawbone of an ass. I have piled them in a massive took the jawbone of an ass, and I had a blast or something like that and then he drops the jawbone that he's dropping Mike and disorder walks off, until you storyteller not get any better than average. Chapter 60 and Samson went to Gaza guys Mary saw a prostitute he went into her will hold now is not just with a Philistine girl he's with a Philistine prostitute in Gaza.

By the way, is the capital of Philadelphia. In other words, he is getting more more brazen. You say that anymore more brazen incident will Philistines find out what he's doing.

Verse two. They surrounded the place and set an ambush for him. They kept quiet all night same way in the morning and will kill them. Verse three to Samson lay until midnight and midnight heroes and took hold the doors of the gate of the city that you post and pull them up barn all put them on the shoulders and tear the rooftop of the hill that is in front of he brought now. What lesson is there in that for us. Nothing that's is an awesome story… And to get up and carries 1/2 mile. You just gotta write that down verse four.

After this he loved the woman whose name was everybody. That's right, in Hebrew. Delilah sounds like the phrase nighttime. If you go back and read the for the first through three verses of this chapter, you'll see the board night keeps recurring night in Hebrew literature represents darkness so now Samson is operating in the darkness. And now he is falling in love with Delilah the night time the darkness. And now he is sharing a bed with the darkness. You see what's happening.

This is the end.

Verse five in the Lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, seducing tell us where his great strength lies how we can overpower them, reach will give you a 1100 pieces of silver verse six of Delilah's is a Samson tell me where your strength lies you might be bound to that one might subdue you for seven Samson headset are okay. I love you so here it is. If it takes seven fresh bowstrings, but all become weak and be like any other man so he lets her time over there is bowstrings first time she had these men. Philistine men line an ambush and an inner chamber.

She said to him before things the way things are here.

Samson jumps up and he snaps the bowstrings as the threat of flax naps when it touches the fire were to get toilet paper wrap around his sloughing off first and then Delilah said to Samson. Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies tell me really how you might be bound to said okay.

When you bowstrings was new ropes, so she ties them up and then she says I have said before things are upon you referral but is now the Rose off his arm like a bread. Same deal. She's like you got it you you remarking me, tell me lies 13. He said are okay if you weave the seven locks of my head into the web or the loom and fasten it tight with the pin will become.

We can be like any other man woke now he's talking about there. She'll close he's getting well she does it she weaves his hair into a limb and then she wakes him up and she likes abs and the listings are on you anyway couple to starting city whips the loom model Walter Swain around the room attached with their where where where the Philistines verse 15 she said to him, how can you say I love you when your heart is not with me. You have not maybe three times, and you've not told me were your great strength lies and she pressed him hard with her words. Day after day and urged him in his soul with Baxter death hasn't Samson been in the same situation before. Why on earth would he tell her guys are stupid writing them right. He doesn't have the strength to withstand her displeasure.

Every man was harmony in his home and not usually a good thing. But there are a lot of men who in pursuit of that harmony will cave or they should not case. Verse 17 so we told all of his heart and said her razor is never touch my head. I've been a Nazirite to God for my mother's womb of my head were shaved my streak of leaving us to become we can be like any other member sightseeing and allow Saul and recognize that he told her all his heart and she sent and called for the Philistines said he told me all his heart come again. Verse 19 she made him sleep on her knees, but a lady still overconfident.

He has become.

He just told her his true secret and he's so comfortable that he goes to sleep on her knees. He is so confident that his strength will never leave him God's about to wake him up.

She called a man and had them shave off the seven locks up his head. Verse 20 and she said the Philistines on you Samson. Any woke from his sleep and he said I will go out just like other times I will shake myself free, but he did not know that the Lord had left him. She's like Israel, he doesn't even know he needs deliverance.

He doesn't know he's out of fellowship with God. Verse 21. The Philistines sees them and gouged out his eyes.

They actually would have burned them with a metal prong and then dug out whatever remained they brought them down.

The gods may bound them with bronze shackles in the ground at the meal in the prison, Samson here gives you a picture of the trajectory of sin. Sin always starts barn and anybody that tells you otherwise not tell you the truth I told throughout the country preacher whose like they tell you. Send ape on the newly doing it right. Right. It starts fine. It just never ends. That way it ends in situations like this one verse 22, with the hair of his head begin to grow again after it had been shave.

What a great verse, verse 23 now the Lords of the Philistines gathered offer a great sacrifice to Dagon, their God, and to rejoice in our God gave us Samson our enemy in our hand to this big party when the people saw Samson, they begin to worship their God. Verse 25 and their hearts were married. They said bring out Samson so we can entertain us. So they bring about may start mocking him and making him do tricks and Samson is standing there in all this mock recess of the young man who is leading them by the hand he said let me fill the pillars on which the house rest that I may lean against them. Samson calls out to God and he says God I know that I send. I know that I got myself in the situation, but one more time one more time. Give me that strength and let me be avenged against the Philistines and Samson grasp the two middle pillars and with the house rest of the lien is weighed against them. His right hand and the ones left him and the other in any ballot all the strings in the house and fell upon the Lords and upon all the people renting in him as well.

The dead him. He killed him to his death for more than those of you killed her. His life listening to the limit line teaching ministry Jeannie Greer to thank you for your support and to help you grow in your faith this month we've created a new book that helps you tackle some pretty huge questions. Jeannie, how can you provide answers in just a few pages for each question. The question you know, our goal is not to give the overly deep comprehensive answer, but a quick answer the kind of answer you would give to somebody if you were sitting down for a cup of coffee. Sometimes we even be coached on the posture we take, like, what's the right thing to say here how do I perceive what the person is really asking.

And so I thought a big part of my own ministry is answering questions. I look at it like removing objections that people have two belief.clear the path for belief. I think this resource that I'm excited to share with you, can help you do that with other people as well. If you discredit JD grid.com there's a volume Sue that were offering now and I think this copy is left of volume 1. Get that one again. Just head on over to JD grid.com and you'll see instructions for one or both of these invite you to partner with us financially as our way of saying thanks will send you this, he was dictating colorless right now. I 20. You can also get online Greer.com I'm only minute today tomorrow ;-) looking back here Tuesday on