Samson The Latter Years Series

Series: Never Seen Before in 2024

Thesis: To see or experience something we have never seen before in 2024 requires us to do something we have never done before – So what is that “One Thing” you need to do that you have not done before? Maybe it is to read and study the Bible in 2024! Maybe study church history? Maybe it is to believe the truth of God over the lies of this world! Maybe it’s to get to know the Story of God!

The Bible is the Story of God “The Creator” and his interactions with mankind His most favorite creation!

In the book “Unleash the power of storytelling” by Rob Biesenbach he notes how important it is in the age of information overload to see and rediscover the power of stories. He notes that storytelling is arguably the most powerful form of communication at our disposal. I add and God uses the Bible to tell His Story to us and to teach us how to live a life that is valued for eternity.

He notes this about a great story:

1. It will win hearts – captivate, inspire and motivate people!

2. It will change minds – convince people to come around to the authors or tellers’ way of thinking.

3. It will get results – great stories persuade people to act in a way that transforms them and others.

The reality check is this is what “God’s Story” does every single day all over the world and has been doing over the course of history. The Bible tells God’s Story!

1. IT’S A STORY FILLED WITH EMOTION!

2. IT’S A STORY THAT CONNECTS US TO THE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE STORY!

3. IT’S THE STORY THAT HUMANIZES GOD TO US!

4. IT’S A STORY THAT RAISES THE STAKES IN THE GAME OF LIFE AND DEATH!

5. IT’S A STORY THAT SHOWS WHO GOD IS AND DOES NOT JUST TELL OF HIM BUT PROVES HE IS WHO HE SAID HE IS!

Final thought from the book I want to make is this: “In its simplest form, a story is a character in pursuit of a goal in the face of some challenge or obstacle. How the character tries to resolve that challenge drives the narrative.”

Key Scripture Verses of the book:

Judges 2:16: “Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.”

Question: “Who raised up the Judges of Israel to deliver them?”

Answer: The Lord God Almighty, the Great “I AM.”

JUDGES 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25: “IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL; EVERY MAN DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES.”

Question: “What was the main problem in these 400 years of Israel’s life?”

Answer: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes!”

Illustration: What is right in a person’s own eyes is usually very deceiving, very destructive and many times very disturbing!

Examples:

Article 6 worst moments in human history: The leaders and or a leader in these actions did the following: They did what was right in their own eyes.

1. CHRISTIAN HISTORY EDITION - “THE CRUSADES!” 1063-1434

a. IN THE NAME OF GOD BOTH SIDES COMMITTED ATROCITIES – WIPING OUT CITIES OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

b. THOSE ON THE CHRISTIAN SIDE FOUGHT IN THE WAR TO GAIN THEIR SALVATION OR FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

c. THE MAN REASON FOR THE BATTLES AND THE DEATH WAS INTOLERANCE FOR ANOTHER RELIGION AND A BELIEF IT WAS GOD’S WILL TO ANNIHILATE THE OTHER OFF THE FACE OF THE MAP.

d. THE MOST HORRIBLE CRUSADE WAS THE RECRUITING BY THE LEADERS OF THE DAY IN GERMAN AND FRANCE IN 1212 TO RECRUITING CHILDREN TOGETHER TO FORM AN ARMY AND SEND THEM TO TAKE THE PROMISED LAND THEY WERE WIPED OUT BEFORE THEY EVER GOT THERE. 2 IN 3 KILLED THE OTHERS WERE SOLD INTO SLAVERY. THE TOTAL OF CHILDREN IS ESTIMATED AT 30,000 KIDS.

e. THE 8 CRUSADES SAW HANDS CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE EAST OVER AND OVER WITH 100,000 DYING FROM WAR, FAMINE AND JUST PLAN SLAUGHTER BY THE OTHER ARMY.

f. THE HOLY LAND CHANGED PLACES SEVERAL TIMES COSTING 100’S OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES WHILE ON BOTH SIDES THEIR BIBLE (HOLY BOOKS) AND TEACHINGS AT THE TIME SAYS TO “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.”

2. WORLD WAR 2 1939-1945

a. THIS WAR CAME ABOUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF ONE MAN ADOLF HITLER WHO WAS FILLED WITH RAGE AND ANGER. I SAY DEMONS TOO!

i. AFTER 6 YEARS 71 MILLION PEOPLE WERE DEAD – ROME, PARIS, LENINGRAD, LONDON, DRESDEN, HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI, STALINGRAD AND MANILA WERE OBLITERATED.

b. OVER SIX MILLION JEWISH MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE- GASSED, SHOOT, BURNED, BEAT TORTURED, USED FOR SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS, STARVED TO DEATH, AND LABELED AS NOTHING BUT CATTLE.

3. THE HOLODOMOR 1932-1933 – THIS ATROCITY WAS DONE BY STALIN WHO KILLED THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE BY STARVING THEM TO DEATH.