Spiritual Strength

9/25/16, Pastor Stan Candler

Eph 3:16
Judges 14-16

—  Samson failed to fulfill his spiritual calling and potential. Many of us can identify with that premise.
—  Samson was to deliver his people from the Philistines.  He was to abstain from alcohol,  not touch a dead thing,  and never have his hair cut.
—  We repeatedly see that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. On the outside he was Rambo, on the inside he was Peewee Herman with no spiritual strength.

Evidence of spiritual weakness:

1. Choose PLEASURE over PRINCIPAL. 
—  He was weak in three areas:  Women,  women,  and women.
—  Rationale:  I owe it to myself.
a. Judges 14.
b. Galatians 6:7-8
—  We have the freedom to choose, but we can’t choose the consequences.

2. Choose RESENTMENT over RELEASE. 
—  Rationale,  They hurt me first.
A. Judges 15.
— He lived for revenge.
B. Ephesians 4:30-32
—  We’ve all been hurt by someone,  AND we’ve all hurt others.
—  How do we grieve the Spirit?  Bitterness,  malice,  etc.
C. Romans 12:17-21
—  Not a suggestion,  but a command to Obey.
—  Live at peace,  never take your own revenge. God says release it to me.
—  There is only one just judge.
—  How are we supposed to treat our enemies?  Spirit filled inner strength is how we do this.

3. Choose COMPROMISE over CONVICTION.  
—  Rationale:  I can handle it.
—  He treated the situation with Delilah like a game.
A. Judges 16. 
—  There was snow power in the hair. It was evidence that he’d totally compromised his life.
—  What about us?  What area of our lives are we teasing temptation in/with?
—  Why are we staying ding in temptation?  Like running your finger through a candle flame.  We COULD be way over there,  in God’s will,  in His blessing. Instead we flirt with temptation.
B. Proverbs 16:6.
—  We are compelled by the fear,  awe,  reverence of almighty God to avoid temptation.