Chosen by God, Controlled by Flesh

Fearful Faith and a Faithful God
Misplaced Fear/Confidence — Pruning (Spiritual Realignment) — Worship — Faith & Action …

Matthew 12:43-45

The Cycle of the book of Judges
Rebellion — Defeated — Conviction — Deliverance — Peace …

Chosen by God, Controlled by Flesh
Judges 13-15

Manoah of the Danites (tribe o Dan)
-Somewhat of an insignificant tribe
-Somewhat of an insignificant man
Somewhat of a poor situation
This is just the type of situation God likes to step into!

Visited
-Twice Manoah’s wife was visited by the ‘angle of the LORD’
-Promised a son
-Told them to raise him as a Nazarite
-Rose to heaven in the smoke of the offering

A Nazarite
-Numbers 6 (to dedicate himself to the LORD)
–No Alcohol
–Nothing from the vine
–No cutting of the hair
–No touching dead bodies
This was almost like a common person becoming a high priest

Samson’s childhood (Judges 13:24-25)
-We only get a glimpse
–The Lord blessed him
-The Spirit of the Lord began to stir him

The Spirit of the LORD
-Multiple times the bible states the Spirit of the LORD stirred in Samson
Judges 13:25, Judges 14:6, Judges 14: 19, Judges 15:14

The judge to whom God was silent
-Samson was a judge to whom God never spoke.
–No where do you find God telling Samson what to do
–The Spirit of God fell on him but never in an audible way or prophetic way

The Nazarite Message
-God gave Manoah and his wife a message
–He will be Nazarite from the womb until his death
-He will begin to deliver Israel

Did his parents relay the message?
Another story of a message not passed on or enforced. Adam & Eve

Samson’s Flesh
-”A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.” -Judges 14:2b
-Deuteronomy 7:2-4

Another insight into his childhood?
-”His father and mother didn’t realize the LORD was at work in this.” -Judges 14:3-5

His Parent’s Role?
-Judges 14:1; Deuteronomy 6:4-9

What is Sin?
Biblical Sin; -1 John 3:4; Galatians 6:7-8

Samson’s flesh continued
-The power of the Spirit of God allows Samson to kill a lion that was attacking him, he used it as a bragging point for himself! -Judges 14:5-6, Judges 14:12-14, Judges 14:18
-His wife’s community solved the riddle, he killed 30 people to pay off debt. -Judges 14:19
-Samson’s wife was given away and he burnt all the crops of the Philistines. -Judges 15:1-5
-Samson takes vengeance on the Philistines for the death of his wife and father-in-law. -Judges 15:6-8

Samson’s Heart?
“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on Sampson” but he sang “I’ve piled” and “I’ve killed” instead to giving the credit to God -Judges 15:14-16

Sampson’s view of God -Judges 14:18

Samson’s Life
God’s Calling
-Keep yourself devoted to me
-I will use you to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines
Samson’s Flesh
-He can’t control his eyes and lust
-His rage continually escalates situations
Yet God’s purposes for his life remain!

How do we View Sin?
-Romans 6:1-2
-Sin is not something to take lightly!
-Sin has VERY REAL consequences!
-Sin is meant to be something the believer hates rather than tries to see how close they can get.
But God…

God or Flesh?
-What is God calling you to?
-What is your flesh calling you to?
-To which will you listen?