Messages

CHARISMATIC BUT CARNAL

Scripture : Judges 14:1-9

Read Judges Chapters 13-16

Samson was empowered by the Holy Spirit, but dominated by the flesh. He was empowered but not controlled by the Holy Spirit. He was full of charisma/gifts but lacked character.

Background of Judges: Judges 21:25; 17:6

Judges is a 300 year history of what happens when a nation depends on its own sense of morality rather than on God’s. Joshua’s failure in developing successors resulted in a cycle of ‘sin-deliverer-sin’ in Judges. In Judges 13 God gave Israel again to Philistines. But Israelites never cried to God for deliverance this time. But God still sent them a deliverer.

SAMSON

1. HIS GREAT ADVANTAGES

   - His birth was announced by the Lord 13:2,3

   - His mission in life was declared by God before he was born(v3-5) Deliverer of Israel

   - He was raised by godly parents 13:8

   - He was blessed by God as a young man 13:24

   - He was empowered by the Holy Spirit 13:25

   - He was called to be a Nazarite from birth to death 13:7, Num 6:1-2

2. HIS MIGHTY ACTS

   - Killed a lion with bare hands

   - Killed 30 Philistines

   - Caught 300 foxes and torched the fields

   - Killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey

   - Carried the gate of a city up a mountain

   - Killed 3000 Philistines by destroying the temple

3. HIS FAILURES

   - Married a Philistine because of lust.

   - Violated Nazarite vow by touching dead things

   - Slept with a prostitute

   - Involved with a wicked woman (Delilah)

   - Ultimately gave up his dedication through haircut

   14:1-9 Both moral failures and mighty deeds are mixed

4. CAUSES OF HIS FAILURES

   A. Lack of Vision Prov 29:18

   In his death he fulfilled his mission and vision unknowingly

   Joseph, David …,Jeremiah through vision avoided the corruption of youthful lust.

   Good start need not guarantee a good end.

   B. No Accountability Heb 13:17

   He shared and bared his life to ungodly women and not to godly parents. He was a ‘HE’ man with a ‘SHE’ weakness.

   Judges 14:3 He rejected godly counsel. Philistines will smile and laugh. They don’t seem so different from us. It’s only after you get married you will realize that they are uncircumcised. But then its too late.

         C. Desired forbidden delights Jud14:3

         He was driven to Timnah by looks 14:1,2

         He was in wrong place in search of wrong things.

         14:7 He liked her. He was hormone driven and not spirit driven. Started with romance and ended up in revenge. Prov16:25

        D. Played fast and loose with his spiritual commitments 14:6-10

        v6, v9 Did not inform parents about two events – Samson and lion, Samson and feast. Both events broke Nazarite vows.

        Haircut was the last part in the Nazarite vow. His long hair shows his dedication while his life-style tells another story. On

        the outside he looks like a man of God, but on the inside he’s no different than a man of the world. He was looking spiritual

        on the outside but worldly on the inside.

        E. Lack of Teachability Prov 29:1

       If not teachable today, then will be coaxed by wicked women tomorrow. His prayers and songs revealed his own ego.

       He started with romance and ended up in revenge. Never controlled his emotions. His emotions conjured him. He was

       empowered but not controlled, full of charisma but void of character.