Samson - Living By Faith, Yet Playing With Fire! Series

The recent California fires have burned up about 8.3 million acres of land. The financial cost in damages is estimated to be in excess of 10 billion dollars!

A question that needs to be asked is how did is start? Experts say that it could have been ignited by heat from the sun or a lightning strike, most likely however, the cause is human carelessness such as the discarding lit cigarettes, or not burning debris properly, or playing with matches or fireworks.

This reminds me of what James wrote:

James 3:5b Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. -_NIV

Among many things, the bible is a book of WARNINGS! Consider the 2nd chapter of the very first book:

Genesis 2: 15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”-NLT

The bible says that God issued a warning in Noah’s day…

Hebrews 11:7a It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. -NLT

Who in turn…

2 Peter 2:5b Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. – NLT

Yet no one heeded the warning, save Noah and his family!

It is important to remember that Old Testament history is recorded in the bible for us to serve as a WARNING, as Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians…

1 Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them (Israelites) as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13a No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.– NIV

And the writer of Hebrews clearly warns us…

Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? -NIV

A study of the life of Samson reminds us that IF YOU PLAY WITH FIRE YOU MAY GET BURNED!

That is why I’ve entitled the message thusly:

Samson - Living by Faith, Yet Playing with Fire!

What do I mean by that? He seemed to be the kind of person who walked as close to the edge as he could, never believing that he could “fall in” or that it would ever catch up with him, like many people do, whose attitude’s seem to say…

I can use drink or drugs, but I’ll never get addicted

I can gamble but it will never become a problem for me

I can break the law, but it will never catch up with me,

I can play with fire, but I won’t get burned!

Yet Samson’s life proves other wise!

A study of his life will indeed remind us the reality that if you play with fire, you just might get burned!

Let’s begin by considering what I would call:

I. Samson’s Ways! (And consider ours)

A) Ways- ??????? -derek

1. Our road, way, path

2. Our journey

3. Our direction

4. Our manner of life,

5. Our habits, practices, course of life

B) We need to remember that OUR WAYS are not of GOD’S WAYS!

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. -KJV

6. That is why we need a BIBLE!

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.-NKJV

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.- NKJV

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.-NKJV

Let’s consider next…

II. Samson’s Want:

A) Want - Deficiency!

1. Is spite of the:

a) Angelic Announcement of his birth:

Judges 13:2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son

b) Amazing Anointing on his life:

Judges 14:5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him.