Temptation: Samson's Downfall

Temptation: Samson’s Downfall

How to avoid yielding to temptation

Good morning! Thank you Pastor for giving me this opportunity to teach God’s Word this morning. I would like to talk about a familiar character in scripture this morning. Samson is name of this man. I am sure that most everyone here has heard of him and is familiar with the basics of his life’s story. I am sure that you know that he had long hair and had a great strength that no one could explain. I am sure you remember Delilah and how she tricked him. And I am quite sure that you remember how in his final act of revenge he killed himself and many of his enemy. Samson’s story is an exciting one, but in many ways a very tragic one as well. What went wrong? Where did Samson get off the path of what God had for him to do? How could the most powerful man to ever walk the planet get sidetracked by a fair skinned temptress? Let’s see if we can unravel the mystery this morning.

I believe that the root of all of Samson’s problems came from the failure to recognize and avoid temptation. As we go through the story you will see how Samson was slowly but steadily on a path of destruction. Let’s see if we can identify where he went wrong and a way that we can avoid doing the same thing in our lives.

Judges 13:3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

The first thing that I notice in the story of Samson is that God had a plan for his life. You see God had allowed the Philistines to rule over the Jewish people for some 40 years because of their disobedience to Him. But as we see over and over in the book of Judges, God raised up a person to deliver the Israelites. Samson was His choice to rescue His people. Samson’s job was to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

I believe that Samson never fully understood his purpose in life. I believe that he was so self-absorbed that he never saw outside of the box. He never realized that God had a plan for him. This made his falling into temptation very easy. He was the center of his own universe, so Satan’s job to lure him away from God was a very simple one.

If you want to avoid temptation and the destruction that come with it, you must:

1. See God’s unique plan for you.

Before you were formed in your mother’s womb God knew you. He had a plan for you. He designed you for a purpose that He insists that you accomplish.

Jer. 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. NIV

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

What is his plan for you? His plan is simple. He wants you to live a life that is totally dedicated to serving him. He wants you to go to your work place with Him lifted high, that all your co-workers and bosses can see Him. He wants you to live with your family constantly lifting Him high so that your family grows and develops into a Christ honoring and Christ centered family. He wants you tell everyone you know about the way He ransomed your soul from sin. He wants you to have a close and personal friendship with Him every day. He wants to work through you to reach a lost and dying world. That is his Plan for you. The first step to avoid falling into temptation is to see and recognize that God has a plan for you.

The very next chapter in Judges shows us a grown up Samson.