NOTES: Samson
Sermon: Samson: Heavenly Strength
Date: August 11, 2024
Text: Judges 13:1–5, 24
Judges 13:1-5; 24 “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. 2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines….24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.”
Let’s Connect:
What do we do with our weakness? What can God do with our weakness?
Text Explained:
The backstory and purpose of Judges:
I Corinthians 10:6, “Now these things (failures of Israel) took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil…”
Judges 21:25, “25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
Samson—Judges 13-16:
While Samson was empowered by the Spirit of God with superhuman strength— He indulged his weakness— His weaknesses grew into sin.
Our places of weakness can be the battleground for our greatest temptations.
Examples:
not been loved well—indulge in dangerous relationships
physically exhausted or ill—-respond badly to people around me
manipulated—-try to control others to get my needs met.
emotional pain—-unhealthy coping mechanisms
Samson’s indulgences — total captivity (loss of freedom):
We can either indulge our weaknesses or surrender them.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 “7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. =
Learning from Jesus’ words to Paul:
Our place of surrendered weakness — becomes a place of the Lord’s divine habitation in our lives
Hebrews 4:15–16, “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Even for Samson, there is redemption for a life out-of-control (Web. 11:32-34):
The Take Out:
What do we do with our weakness? What can God do with our weakness?:
Our Challenge:
Let your strength be Heavenly-Strong:
Ephesians 3:20-21, “20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."