Pastor David Morrison
Our culture values strength, perhaps too much and maybe in the wrong way. Our culture's lie is that I can be strong enough on my own. Today, I will share a story that shows where absolute strength is found...that true strength is found by sight.
Instructions for reading the Old Testament:
1. The Old Testament highlights humanity's need for God, showing that even those who had God's law couldn’t succeed by merely following rules - they needed something greater.
2. The Old Testament held significant value for its original audience, those who lived before the time of Jesus.
3. The Old Testament is full of imperfect people and is often descriptive instead of prescriptive.
4. The Old Testament ultimately points to one central hero - Jesus.
Judges 13-16 (NLT)
- What is a Nazarite?
- A Nazarite would be someone who took an even greater vow, beyond the standard expectation, to keep the law of God out of a desire to be set apart and be used by God.
- The Nazarite Vow:
- Refrain from cutting their hair
- Abstain from grapes and alcohol
- Never touch a corpse of a human or animal
- As a Nazarite, Samson was to be set apart for God's use. As he grows, he gets himself into trouble.
- Just because God's Spirit is active doesn't mean God approves of everything that has happened.
Ways I Am Like Samson:
- I choose my own way, even though I know better.
- God still uses me, even when I am imperfect.
- I still think I am strong enough on my own.
Judges 21:25 (NLT)
- Samson reflected the people's attitudes. They did what was right in their own eyes.
Jesus has some powerful words about Eyes.
- Matthew 5:29 (NLT)
- Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT)
Where are you looking? What are you looking for?
- Samson’s story is a cautionary tale about a man with a calling on his life who allows the distractions around him to shift his perspective away from what matters the most.
I have been praying an essential prayer for a few years now that I believe is the secret to true strength:
- "Lord, give me eyes to see."
When I pray this prayer, I am asking:
- God help me to see things like You do.
- God help me to see into the unseen.
- God help me to turn my eyes away from things that would distract or destroy me.
Isaiah 50:11 (NLT)
- When I live according to my light, I will indeed find darkness. When I strive to be my strength and source, I will fall.
In many ways, Samson’s story was like Jesus; there was an angelic meeting before his birth, and he was set apart for God’s purpose and sent to deliver God’s people. The difference is that Samson kept his eye fixed on what he wanted.
Jesus was the only one up to the task. Jesus is the only one who can walk the gauntlet of life and not allow His eyes to wander. He went to the cross, and instead of crying out for vengeance as Samson did, He cried out, "Father, forgive them."
And He died so that we could live in freedom. And now He says, follow Me.
Response:
- If the temptations of this world have pulled you away from God's plan for your life, it's time to repent.
- Have you been looking at yourself as your source of strength?
- Are you willing to be set apart and replace your eyes with His?
