SAMSON, I CAN BE STRONG Part 4 of 10

TEXT- JUDGES 16:15-22

INTRODUCTION


This morning our text is found in Judges 16:15-22 and the title of my message is, "Samson, I Can Be Strong."

As we study about Samson, I would like us to see how he was able to be strong in spite of his weaknesses.

The story of Samson and Delilah is a classic Bible story that every child learns at some time or another while going to Sunday School.

It is a story that has inspired authors to write novels, and producers to make movies.

It is more than a story about a man that was deceived by a woman.

It is more than a story about a man who got a hair cut.

A man had only twelve hairs on his head but he was proud of each one. Every morning he would get up, count the hairs, and go to work thankful that he had twelve hairs. Then he started noticing that his hairs were falling out one by one. One day he had only 11 left, then ten, then nine and so on. He purchased all sorts of tonics and did everything possible to save his hairs. One morning he looked in the mirror and saw there was not one hair left on his head and cried, "oh no! I'm bald."

The story of Samson and Delilah teaches us that if we try to live the Christian life within our own strength, we will surely fail, because on our own, we are weak.

Even though Samson was strong physically, it would appear that he had a spiritual weakness.

In verse 1 we are told, "Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her."

Then in verse 4 it says, "After this it came about that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah."

Before we become too harsh towards Samson, let us remember that each of us have our own peculiar weaknesses that can affect our spiritual lives.

Matthew 26:41, "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
In verses 5-16 we find Delilah constantly badgering Samson to reveal the source of his strength.

In the same way, our enemy, the devil, constantly attacks us with temptations trying to cause us to fall.

1 Peter 5:8, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

As we examine our text there I’d like us to look at the reasons and results of losing your spiritual strength for God.