Introduction

Good morning, cherished family of God. We gather here today, not as mere individuals, but as a collective body, a family knit together by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are here to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the word of God.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Judges, specifically to the 16th chapter, verses 26 through 30. A passage that tells the story of a man named Samson. A man of strength, a man of passion, and yes, a man of flaws. In his life, we see a reflection of our own struggles, our own battles, our own need for God's grace.

Let me read the passage to you:

"Then Samson said to the servant who held his hand, 'Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.' Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, 'Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.' Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines!' Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived."

As we reflect on this passage, let's remember the words of Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths." Just like Samson, we too have our moments of weakness. But it is in these moments that we learn the true source of our strength.

Let's bow our heads in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with humble hearts, ready to receive your word. We ask that you open our minds and hearts to the lessons that you have for us today. Help us to see our own struggles in the life of Samson and to understand that our strength comes not from ourselves, but from you. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

Today, we will focus on three main points from Samson's story. First, we will look at Samson's sincere supplication, his heartfelt prayer to God in his moment of need. Second, we will consider the Sovereign's steadfast salvation, how God's grace and mercy are constant, even when we falter. And finally, we will reflect on the strength sourced from the Spirit, the true source of Samson's power and our own.

So let's open our hearts, open our minds, and open our Bibles as we learn from the life of Samson.

Samson's Sincere Supplication

In the midst of his despair, Samson turned to prayer. He called out to God, his words echoing with the rawness of his pain and the depth of his need. He didn't hide his anguish or his anger. He didn't try to make his prayer sound pretty or polite. He simply poured out his heart to God, trusting that God would hear him and respond. This is a powerful example for us. Too often, we try to sanitize our prayers, to make them sound more "religious" or more "respectable." But God doesn't want our pretense. He wants our honesty. He wants us to come to Him just as we are, with all our hurts and hopes, our fears and frustrations.

Samson's prayer reveals his understanding of his own weakness: He knew that he couldn't defeat the Philistines on his own. He knew that he needed God's strength. And so he asked for it. He didn't try to pretend that he was strong enough on his own. He didn't try to convince God that he could handle it. He simply admitted his need and asked for help. This too is a lesson for us. We often try to convince ourselves and others that we're strong enough, that we can handle whatever life throws at us. But the truth is, we can't. We need God's strength. We need His help. And the first step to receiving it is admitting that we need it.

Samson's prayer was also about justice: He wanted to see the Philistines pay for what they had done to him. He wanted to see them suffer as he had suffered. And so he asked God to give him the strength to bring about that justice. This is a difficult aspect of Samson's prayer for us to grapple with. We like to think of prayer as a gentle, peaceful thing. But sometimes, prayer is a battle cry. Sometimes, it's a call for justice. And that's okay. God hears those prayers too. He understands our anger and our desire for justice. And while He may not always answer those prayers in the way we expect, He always hears them.

Samson's prayer shows us that he understood the source of his strength: He knew that his strength didn't come from his hair or his muscles. It came from God. And so he asked God to give him that strength one more time. This is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from Samson's prayer. Our strength doesn't come from our abilities or our resources. It doesn't come from our intelligence or our determination. It comes from God. And when we understand that, we can face any challenge, any difficulty, with confidence and courage. Because we know that the God who gives us strength is greater than any challenge we might face.

Sovereign's Steadfast Salvation

As we continue to reflect on Samson's story, we find ourselves drawn to the unwavering grace and mercy of God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO