WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.719 If you would open up your Bibles to Judges chapter 13, 14, 15, and 16. 00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:11.800 It's on page 251 of your Pew Bible. 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:15.419 And as you're turning there, I just want to remind you, 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:22.320 last spring, 2023, Lake Mead in Nevada, 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:28.560 the water levels dropped to an all-time low. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:34.179 And it was a result of this long, intense drought. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:41.079 And as those life-giving waters receded, skeletons got exposed. 00:00:42.879 --> 00:00:44.879 Dead bodies started showing up. 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.820 There was a gruesomeness to that drought. 00:00:50.820 --> 00:01:01.179 Now, the book of Judges is like a long, intense, spiritual drought. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:13.260 God's people, Israel, chronically, repeatedly rejecting God for the gods and values of the Canaanite nations they were living among. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:23.480 And as a result, the reservoir of holiness among this people just started drying up. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.939 It started to recede. 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.719 And they were becoming more and more like the people that they were living among. 00:01:32.740 --> 00:01:39.040 Worldliness, Canaanization, is when Christians forget who their Jesus is, 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.280 and they start living like the non-Christians around them. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:45.219 Instead of standing out, they blend in. 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:53.239 Worldliness is toxic to the church. 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:56.480 It's harmful. 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:59.719 It's a spiritual drought. 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:04.539 Brothers and sisters, there's no life in becoming like the world. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:06.259 There's no life in that. 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:10.180 It's a spiritual drought. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:10.199 It's a spiritual drought. 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:10.219 It's a spiritual drought. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:25.039 The Lord Jesus calls us to be full of grace, self-controlled in this present age. 00:02:26.020 --> 00:02:34.939 And what we see in this passage of Scripture is a man who is impulsive. 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:40.419 He sees and takes again and again and again. 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:43.060 It's the M.O. of worldliness. 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:50.379 And as the book of Judges, as we've seen it progress, or maybe better said, digress, 00:02:51.240 --> 00:03:00.180 each judge has represented a new low in Israel's reservoir of holiness. 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:02.099 There to be holy as God is holy. 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:09.900 Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Abimelech, if you want to name them among the judges. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:10.900 Jephthah. 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:10.980 Jephthah. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:23.219 It's the reservoir of holiness receding and exposing sin. 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:32.819 And now we find ourselves in the last of the judges, the low watermark of the book of Judges. 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:33.900 Samson. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:33.980 Samson. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:39.960 Now, if you grew up in Sunday school, you have learned that Samson is a hero of the faith. 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.540 He is a bulking beast of a man. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:44.080 A hero of the faith. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.259 He's in Hebrews 11. 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:51.680 He does exercise faith after he's humbled and his eyes are gouged out. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:57.980 But even then, what you're going to see, it's mixed. 00:03:58.379 --> 00:03:59.340 It's a mixed thing. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:02.080 It's a mixed thing. 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:14.560 What we see in Samson is a deeply flawed, profoundly compromised, and a poster child of 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:16.280 Canaanization, of worldliness. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.420 And he represents Israel. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:22.899 Israel has been Canaanized. 00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:33.639 Their refusal to repent of their sin and continually go back to God, God, or the gods of the nations again and again. 00:04:35.359 --> 00:04:45.859 Well, it brought them to a point in this drought that is just difficult to see. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:51.379 Hey, do you know what it's like to be in a spiritual drought, personally? 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:55.560 Maybe you've been Canaanized. 00:04:56.840 --> 00:05:01.600 Maybe you've bought into the world's thinking and values and ways of being. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:12.280 Are you prone to do what's right in your own eyes without reference to God? 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:18.219 This morning, we're going to look at this text. 00:05:18.919 --> 00:05:22.559 I want to help you to see three major characters in this text. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.079 And then after we walk through it, I want to help you make some connections. 00:05:27.359 --> 00:05:28.579 I want to highlight some things. 00:05:28.799 --> 00:05:31.199 And then we're going to apply it to our lives today. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:31.240 Okay. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:35.579 So let's look at this text. 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:36.920 Let's dig into it. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:45.199 What I want to help you understand right out of the gate is that Judges 13, 14, 15, and 16, it rolls out like this. 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.339 Chapter 13 is about Samson's parents. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:52.620 Chapter 14, 15, and 16 are the life and times of Samson. 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:59.000 And it culminates in this situation with this woman named Delilah. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.240 Samson kind of shares his secrets with her. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:03.740 She hands him over. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:07.519 He has his hair cut, his eyes gouged out. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:11.980 He ends up in Gaza in the Temple of Dagon. 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:15.120 And he has his hands and he brings down the house. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:19.540 You're going to see it's a big disappointment. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.160 Three characters. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:33.520 Character number one is Manoah, Samson's dad, and his unnamed mom. 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:37.900 In chapter 13, verse 1, we are reminded of the cycle. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:39.640 We've seen this again and again. 00:06:39.760 --> 00:06:43.960 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of God. 00:06:44.760 --> 00:06:49.480 They do evil and then God hands them over to an oppressor. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:52.920 Remember this time in verse 1, it's the Philistines for 40 years. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:57.300 And typically in that cycle, what happens next is God's people will cry out. 00:06:58.400 --> 00:06:59.939 It doesn't happen in this account. 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:06.259 And then after they cry out, God raises up a deliverer, and that deliverer brings peace to the land. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:07.740 That doesn't happen in this account. 00:07:08.400 --> 00:07:09.920 And do you know why it doesn't happen in this account? 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:14.520 Because the cycle is falling apart because Israel is being Canaanized. 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.459 In fact, they're becoming more and more like the people around them. 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:25.419 In verses 2 through 25, we're introduced to Samson's parents. 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.019 Manoah's dad and his unnamed mom. 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:38.599 In 2 through 7, an angel of the Lord, a real personal, physical manifestation of God, 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:43.180 shows up to Samson's mom before he's born. 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:49.280 And the angel of the Lord tells her that she's going to have a baby. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:50.340 She's been barren. 00:07:51.640 --> 00:07:56.160 And that she's going to have to be very careful with what she eats and what she drinks 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.740 because her boy is going to be a Nazarite. 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:01.220 You see that in verse 5? 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:11.340 Now, when you hear Nazarite, don't think Nazareth. 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:12.860 Nazareth is a place. 00:08:13.220 --> 00:08:14.180 That's where Jesus grew up. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:18.920 A Nazarite is a kind of holiness vow. 00:08:20.260 --> 00:08:22.440 We can see it in Numbers chapter 6. 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:25.560 And here's what a Nazarite vow is. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:32.980 It's one of Israel's people, they could make a voluntary Nazarite vow for a season. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:37.120 And what they would do is they were not allowed to drink alcohol. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:39.139 They couldn't touch corpses. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.600 And they couldn't get haircuts. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.320 And so those three things are what comprised a Nazarite vow. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:51.679 The design for it was so that there would be a consecrated season of holiness. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:57.939 And so a Nazarite would be like holy of holy among God's people for a season. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.799 And so what's going on here is that the angel of the Lord is telling Samson's wife, 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.159 you got a holy one coming. 00:09:08.239 --> 00:09:09.779 And it builds our expectations. 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:21.779 Well, Samson's mom tells Samson's dad, Manoah, what the angel of the Lord tells her. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:27.360 And what I want you to see is their response. 00:09:29.819 --> 00:09:34.839 In verses 8 through 23, we see the response of this couple to this angel of the Lord. 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:37.480 Look at verse 8. 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:37.539 Look at verse 8. 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:41.959 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:48.600 So Manoah's wife tells Manoah what has happened, this angel of the Lord. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:52.559 And Manoah, his first response is prayer. 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:58.620 This is a welcomed, welcomed kind of event in the book of Judges. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:01.059 And look what he prays. 00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:06.959 Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:13.840 Not only is he praying, but he's asking that the angel of the Lord would come back and teach them. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:14.620 Oh, this is good. 00:10:14.920 --> 00:10:22.139 This is kind of a posture of humility, a posture towards God, a wanting to understand things. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:25.799 And it doesn't stop there. 00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:28.799 The angel of the Lord does come back. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:34.620 And Manoah, look what he says to him. 00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:35.799 Verse 12. 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:38.019 Now, when your words come true. 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:41.340 Now, when we have this baby boy. 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.519 When your words come true. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.960 Do you see what's happening there? 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:46.160 This angel of the Lord is speaking. 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:50.100 And Manoah and his wife are believing. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:53.440 We see it again in verse 17. 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:56.840 Manoah doesn't recognize the angel of the Lord. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.980 So he says, what is your name? 00:10:58.060 --> 00:11:02.420 So that when your words come true, we may honor you. 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:15.240 So there's this posture of prayer, of being willing to be taught, of wanting to be taught, of believing in God's word, of wanting to honor this one with this news. 00:11:17.979 --> 00:11:19.139 This is looking good. 00:11:19.219 --> 00:11:23.039 This is kind of like we haven't really seen this recently in the book of Judges. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:29.620 So, this Canaanized land, maybe there is some reservoir of holiness. 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:37.679 In verse 16, Manoah and his wife are like, hey, come eat with us. 00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:39.679 And the angel of the Lord is like, I don't eat your food. 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:43.000 Offer it up as an offering to the Lord. 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:47.819 And when they offer up this meal to the Lord, they light it up. 00:11:48.079 --> 00:11:49.059 There's this flame. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:50.860 In verse 20, look what happens. 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:58.259 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.139 Now Manoah and his wife were watching. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.220 They were watching. 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:05.379 And they fell on their faces to the ground. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:06.700 Awe. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.159 Reverence. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.659 Amazement. 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:10.899 Worship. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.560 This is good. 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:16.940 This parents of Samson. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:19.860 He's going to have this wonder child. 00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:21.560 This miracle baby. 00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:25.020 They seem to be tender towards the Lord. 00:12:25.380 --> 00:12:30.660 But it's not all perfect because in verse 16, Manoah doesn't seem to recognize the angel of the Lord. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:33.320 So, that kind of gets at this kind of like dullness, spiritual dullness. 00:12:33.540 --> 00:12:38.360 And they actually name him Samson, which most scholars think is a reference to a sun god. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:41.419 S-U-N, God. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:46.800 So, there's still kind of like this Canaanized dimension to it. 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:54.279 But by and large, they are responding in humility and godwardness to the angel of the Lord. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:58.379 And we're left thinking that Samson's mom was obedient. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:03.420 She didn't eat things or drink things inappropriate to having this child. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:07.919 It's an instructive for us because God delights in humility. 00:13:09.579 --> 00:13:11.419 This is the one to whom I will look. 00:13:12.199 --> 00:13:15.159 He was humble, contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:19.839 And we're seeing that in Samson's parents. 00:13:20.839 --> 00:13:23.059 So, what about this wonder boy? 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:27.939 So, Manoah, his parents, that's kind of character. 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.439 Character's one. 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:33.339 The second character we get to see now is Samson himself. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:43.199 And of all the judges, Samson is the most profoundly self-centered. 00:13:45.339 --> 00:13:46.679 Hey, ladies! 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.539 He's a womanizer. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:56.659 Chapter 14, 1 through 3. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.579 He goes down to Timnah in Philistia. 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.860 He sees this Philistine babe. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:06.800 And he demands his parents hook him up. 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:08.280 I'm marrying her. 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.680 I'm marrying her. 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:13.980 She was right in his eyes, verse 3. 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.980 Verse 7, 14. 00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:18.160 She was right in Samson's eyes. 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:20.259 So, he demands it. 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:28.519 And then, in chapter 16, verses 1 through 3, 1 through 4, Samson's back in Philistia, in Gaza. 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:33.679 And he sees a Philistine prostitute and goes into her. 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:39.360 Again, man, what is up with this Nazarite? 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:50.800 And if that's not enough, as you kind of work through chapter 16, he falls in love with this woman from the valley of Sorek. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.779 Again, Philistia. 00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:53.460 Delilah. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.460 Falls head over and heels with her. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:15:04.519 This man is, what we're seeing is ruled by his desires. 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.580 Unrestrained. 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.440 He's a womanizer. 00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:12.379 And not just a womanizer. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:17.039 He's breaking God's law multiple ways. 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:28.340 Because in Deuteronomy 7, 1 through 4, God forbids the parents of Israel from giving their sons and daughters in marriage to the sons and daughters of the nations around them. 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.899 Because they will turn their hearts away from them. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:34.939 What we see here in Samson is he doesn't care. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.820 He sees and he takes. 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:43.320 And he's objectifying these women. 00:15:45.140 --> 00:15:46.560 He sees them. 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.660 He wants them. 00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:48.640 He has them. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:53.360 This isn't humble. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.960 This isn't God word. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.900 This is prideful. 00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:01.400 This is selfish. 00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:04.420 This is disobedient. 00:16:05.380 --> 00:16:07.080 And this is Samson. 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:09.340 But it doesn't stop there. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:20.500 We see in chapter 14, verse 5, there's this episode of Samson's heading back to Timnah to meet his Philistine babe. 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:22.980 He's attacked by a lion. 00:16:23.520 --> 00:16:24.840 Rips the lion apart. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:31.120 It's probably, at that moment, he's touching a corpse and he's been defiled. 00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:33.360 Well, later he goes back to the corpse. 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:35.300 And you know what's happened in the corpse since he's been there? 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:37.179 Honey bees. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.679 They've made a hive with honey. 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:44.120 He dips into that, starts eating it. 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:47.139 And if he wasn't defiled before, he is defiled now. 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:49.539 Because Nazarites aren't supposed to catch corpses. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:53.939 He defiles himself. 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.240 He doesn't care. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.399 Honey, me want, me take. 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:02.259 He's lacking self-control. 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:04.319 And he's disobedient to his parents. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:10.339 When he first expressed interest in this Philistine girl in Timnah, his dad is like, 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:14.960 Hey, how about one of the young ladies from Israel? 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:17.299 Not one of these uncircumcised Philistines. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.160 He's like, I don't care. 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.400 Get her to me. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:25.019 He disregards his parents. 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:34.860 In verses 14, chapter 14, 6 and 9, after he kills the lion and eats of the honey and then gives his parents some of that honey, he doesn't tell them. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:40.040 Again, he's not honoring his parents. 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:44.620 This holy man, this Nazarite, is anything but holy. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:49.819 He doesn't care about people. 00:17:49.979 --> 00:17:51.239 He objectifies women. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.000 He disregards his parents. 00:17:54.119 --> 00:18:03.959 There's this whole incident where he puts this riddle to a bunch of these 30 Philistine guys about kind of the honey in the lion. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:13.159 And they figure it out because they objectify his wife and force her to tell them what's going on. 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:16.019 But Samson had bet on it. 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:19.140 Bet 30 changes of clothes. 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:27.060 And so when he loses, he goes to Ashkelon and he kills 30 Philistines, grabs their clothes, brings them back, and gives them to those 30 dudes. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.920 He doesn't care. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:40.340 There are a number of other accounts in 14, 15, and 16 in the life and times of Samson. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.420 It's striking. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:50.900 I mean, there's this incident where he kills a thousand Philistines, this chapter 15, with a jawbone of a donkey. 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:55.180 In verse 18, what we see is this. 00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.840 And I quote. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:07.139 Samson was very thirsty and he called upon the Lord and said, 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:10.599 You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:16.759 And shall now I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.720 Grumble. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.619 Doubt. 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:24.159 You know who's self-centered? 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:26.659 Samson. 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:37.500 There's this other accounts of his just doing incredibly selfish things. 00:19:37.979 --> 00:19:39.119 But even in his death. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:47.739 He's been handed over by Delilah to the lords of the Philistines. 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:51.339 He has had his hair cut. 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:56.719 By the way, in Numbers chapter 6, if someone breaks a Nazarite vow, they are to shave their heads. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.059 So it's a picture of humiliation. 00:19:59.539 --> 00:19:59.939 Repentance. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.979 He's got his eyes gouged out. 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:12.200 They bring him to the house of Dagon, the god of the Philistines. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:20.620 And they are just celebrating the Philistines, the victory Dagon has won over Samson and Samson's god. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:29.640 And when Samson comes out to this house where there's 3,000 Philistines, 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:36.720 and he puts his hands on the pillars of this house, he prays. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.900 In verse 28. 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.620 O Lord God. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.880 Chapter 16, 28. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.740 Please remember me. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:54.440 And please strengthen me only this once, O God, 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:58.380 that I may be the avenged, 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.559 that Israel may be avenged, 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:03.200 and that you would be glorified among all the nations. 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:08.180 That I'd be avenged for my eyes. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.980 Even in his death. 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.440 Can't see. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.480 But his eyes are on himself. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.980 There's a deliverance. 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.120 There's a measure of faith. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.960 But you can't help but say, 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.039 wait, wait, isn't he a, 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:31.640 isn't he a Nazarite? 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:35.259 Didn't God call him to deliver? 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.980 Why am I disappointed? 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.240 Because he's Canaanized. 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.519 He's selfish. 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:46.039 He's prideful. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:54.139 He's the low watermark of the judges in the book of Judges. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.420 Even in his death. 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:02.759 Aren't you glad that our perfect Savior, 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:05.559 who's accomplished a permanent salvation, 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.819 that when he went to his death, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:10.279 that he wasn't self-focused. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.660 He was selfless. 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.740 For you and for me. 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:18.940 When he cried out to Talistai, 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.599 it is finished. 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:21.700 It was for us. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.819 Which brings me to 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.920 the third character 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:31.279 of the Samson account. 00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.060 God. 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.519 In chapter 13, 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.620 the angel of the Lord, 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:42.259 this physical manifestation of God himself, 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:46.200 he's referenced 13 times 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.039 in chapter 13. 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:51.200 And this angel of the Lord 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.599 is God's manifest presence 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.519 and he's appearing to Manoah and his wife. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.920 And can I just remind you of something? 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:02.539 That's not because Israel asked. 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.839 It's not because they cried out. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:08.519 It's because God is gracious. 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:12.139 God sent the angel of the Lord 00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:16.019 to work a deliverance 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.480 for his people. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:21.480 This is a picture of God's 00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:24.480 unmerited favor. 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.539 Of his grace. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.119 And then there are these references 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:32.440 to the Spirit of the Lord 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.700 throughout this account. 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:37.299 In chapter 13, 25, 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.579 the Spirit of the Lord 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:40.619 starts to stir in a young Samson. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:44.339 In chapter 14, verse 6, 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.440 the Spirit of the Lord 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.839 rushes upon Samson 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:48.159 and he kills that lion. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.459 In 14, 19, 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.419 the Spirit of the Lord 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:52.079 rushes upon Samson 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.839 and he kills those 30 guys 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.699 from Ashkelon. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:58.099 In chapter 15, verse 14, 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.000 the Spirit of the Lord 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.379 rushes upon Samson 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:03.079 and he kills those 1,000 Philistines 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:05.299 with the jawbone of a donkey. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:10.639 and even implied in chapter 16, 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:14.440 the empowering of Samson 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.440 to take down the house, 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.779 killing 3,000. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.779 the Spirit of the Lord 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:23.740 is at work in the midst 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.920 of a spiritual drought. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.759 Despite Samson 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:31.899 working to bring about 00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.799 his purposes. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:35.319 And then there are 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.339 the answered prayers. 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.319 God answering the prayer 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.839 of Manoah, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.980 he heard him 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.859 in chapter 13, verse 9. 00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.720 Even Samson, 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.680 when he's whining 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.460 and grumbling, 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:48.059 I need something to drink 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.279 after killing people. 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.919 God opens up a rock. 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:56.980 When Samson prays, 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.720 probably the first real prayer 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.399 of his life, 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:01.500 of anything close to humility. 00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.400 In chapter 16, 28, 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:05.420 God again hears 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.759 and answers Samson. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.720 What we see 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.500 throughout these chapters 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.759 is that God is at work. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:20.100 Despite the spiritual drought, 00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.720 despite the worldliness 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.740 of God's people, 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.860 God is still at work. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:29.000 Chapter 14, verse 4. 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:32.160 Samson has just gone down 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.660 to Timnah 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.240 and he has demanded 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.460 that his parents 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.400 make this Philistine woman 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.100 his wife 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.820 because she's right 00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.780 in his eyes. 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.060 And in verse 4, 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.600 chapter 14, verse 4, 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.360 we read this. 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:44.880 His father and mother 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.740 did not know 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:47.940 that it was from the Lord. 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:51.120 For he, the Lord, 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.240 was seeking an opportunity 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.420 against the Philistines. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.080 God is sovereign 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:57.300 over all things. 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:59.200 God is providentially 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.019 at work 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.559 accomplishing his purpose. 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.200 It is mysterious. 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.899 It is amazing. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.220 And it should make 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.460 you have this sense 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.159 of our God 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:11.000 is something else. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:15.839 God is so grateful 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:18.519 that my Savior 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:21.220 is not an imperfect, 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.339 selfish Savior, 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.440 but a perfect, 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.579 selfless Savior. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.380 What's going on 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.940 in Judges 13 through 16 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:36.500 is that we have Israel 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:38.619 getting to be at its worst 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.179 in the lowest recessions. 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.539 It's even going to get lower. 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:44.839 Spiritual drought. 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.079 Samson, 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.500 the poster child 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.839 of Canaanization. 00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:52.019 And yet God 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.899 is still at work. 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.559 Do you know 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.459 what kind of God this is? 00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:02.139 You want to know his name? 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.319 Manoah asks for his name. 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:10.399 In verse, 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:13.619 let me find it for you. 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.559 13, 18. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.919 And the angel of the Lord 00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.579 said to him, 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.799 why do you ask my name? 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.559 Seeing it is wonderful. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:31.919 Wonderful. 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:35.440 A God who works like this, 00:27:36.340 --> 00:27:38.360 despite the worldliness 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.160 of his people, 00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:40.900 carrying out his purposes, 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:44.480 is a wonderful God, 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:47.259 selflessly at work. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.560 You know, 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.279 there's some things, 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.740 having seen these three characters, 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.460 Manoah, 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:57.019 Samson's parents, 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.300 Samson himself. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:00.819 We've seen God at work 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.359 in this four chapters. 00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:06.419 Let me kind of highlight 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.279 some things for you. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.059 First, 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.980 there's the contrast 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.220 between Samson's parents 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.859 and Samson. 00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.659 Samson's parents 00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.740 are humble. 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.460 They're not perfect. 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.159 They're Godward. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.460 They're obedient. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.379 Samson's mom 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:25.139 evidently did what God required. 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:27.940 But Samson, 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:29.960 he's not humble. 00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:30.780 He's prideful. 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:33.340 He insists on his own way. 00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:36.960 He's not Godward. 00:28:37.040 --> 00:28:37.980 He's selfish. 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:40.420 Disobedient. 00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.500 Again and again and again. 00:28:43.020 --> 00:28:44.000 This contrast 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.020 gets something done. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.540 And here's what it gets done. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.820 It helps us to see 00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:51.580 how far Samson has gone. 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:54.460 Where this leader is. 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:56.799 that he's the low watermark 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.740 of the nation 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.720 representing the nation. 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.460 It's sobering. 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.900 The second highlight 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:08.680 is something I just mentioned. 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:11.579 God is at work 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:15.500 even in spiritual drought. 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:18.039 Isn't he wonderful? 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.460 Are you in a spiritual drought? 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.100 Are you shooting up prayers 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.600 that you don't think 00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.279 are going through the ceiling? 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.039 God's at work. 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.299 He's bigger than that. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:32.220 But what I want you to see 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:35.200 are the eyes. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.840 The eyes. 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:43.180 It starts off in chapter 13.1. 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.960 And the people of Israel 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.819 again did what was evil 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.620 in the sight of the Lord 00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:49.579 in God's eyes. 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:54.679 In 13.20. 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:58.220 We read of Minoah 00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.500 and his wife's response 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:01.839 when they see 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:03.480 the angel of the Lord 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.919 go into the flame 00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:05.559 and go up. 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.539 When they see that 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.279 they were watching 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.519 they fall on their faces. 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.980 The Philistines 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.559 in the house of Dagon. 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:18.179 They see this humiliated hero 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:19.559 brought out 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.799 changed and bound 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.299 head shaved off 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.679 eyes gouged out 00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:25.339 and they think they won. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.359 They think they won. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.379 They think they won. 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:30.800 But 00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:34.260 God was up to something 00:30:34.260 --> 00:30:35.360 much different. 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.760 They don't see 00:30:36.760 --> 00:30:37.480 what God's doing. 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:40.059 Samson's eyes. 00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.539 Chapter 14.3. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.559 He did what was right 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.579 in his eyes. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.960 His own eyes. 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.120 Chapter 7. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.240 Samson did what was right 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.059 in his eyes. 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.180 Do you know what happens 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.900 after this 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:54.559 in chapter 17 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.460 through 21? 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.059 Do you know what gets 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.519 repeated 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:58.380 in the book of Judges? 00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.660 There was no king 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.160 in the land 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.839 and they did what was right 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.599 in their own eyes. 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.880 It starts with 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.680 the Samson account. 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.400 And if you turn 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:09.259 to the very last verse 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.240 of the book of Judges, 00:31:11.540 --> 00:31:13.580 you will read this. 00:31:14.540 --> 00:31:15.560 In those days, 00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.440 there was no king 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:16.980 in Israel. 00:31:17.540 --> 00:31:18.500 Everyone did 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:20.000 what was right 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.960 in their own eyes. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.360 That, 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.780 doing what is right 00:31:25.780 --> 00:31:27.160 in your own eyes, 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:28.420 is the MO, 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:30.019 the modus operandi 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.540 of worldliness, 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.519 of canonization. 00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:34.420 It's living life 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.560 without any reference 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:36.019 to God 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.920 and not caring. 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.500 So you know 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:39.819 what the point 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.299 of this is? 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:44.519 Don't do what's right 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.319 in your own eyes, 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.619 brothers and sisters. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.839 Don't do what's right 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.559 in your own eyes. 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.079 Do what's right 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.660 in the eyes 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.160 of your Lord. 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.099 Do what's right 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:56.099 in His eyes. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.799 And it really begs 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.339 the question, 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:01.160 how do you do that? 00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:03.240 This is how you do that. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:06.200 You fix your eyes 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.259 upon Jesus. 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.940 And when you fix 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.960 your eyes 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.960 upon Jesus, 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:14.019 your heart 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.920 will change. 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.420 Your want 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.359 muscle 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.819 will shift 00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.819 from wanting 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.799 what you want 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.480 according to 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.339 what you think 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:23.980 is right 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.819 to wanting 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.980 what God wants 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.960 and what He's revealed 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.620 in the Scriptures. 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.920 Fix your eyes 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.560 upon Jesus. 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.680 Don't do what's right 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.600 in your own eyes, 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.080 Samson. 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:39.019 Do what's right 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.080 in the eyes 00:32:40.080 --> 00:32:40.720 of the Lord 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.400 by first fixing 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.180 your eyes 00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.860 on Jesus. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.400 And now let's 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.060 apply this. 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:50.759 members of Christ 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.379 the King Church. 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:55.139 When you see 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.619 a leader 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.480 like Samson 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.720 doing what's right 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.039 in his own eyes 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.019 and you realize 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.879 what's possible 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:04.059 of leaders 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:04.899 of God's people, 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.460 it should 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.000 sober us 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.240 but it makes 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.740 us resolve 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.519 as well. 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:11.919 Here's 00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:13.179 what we need 00:33:13.179 --> 00:33:14.039 to commit to 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:15.039 Christ the King Church. 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.019 when it comes 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.679 to leaders 00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:18.159 in our church 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.679 whether they be 00:33:19.679 --> 00:33:20.039 elders 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:21.759 or deacons, 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.819 aspiring elders, 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.919 life group leaders, 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:26.119 ministry directors, 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:29.259 let's insist 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.259 by faith 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:32.200 that the leaders 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.000 of Christ the King 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.659 Church 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:36.599 fix their eyes 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.079 on Jesus. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.740 That they don't 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.359 do what's right 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:41.460 in their own eyes, 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:43.179 that they seek 00:33:43.179 --> 00:33:44.079 to do what's right 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.299 in the Lord's eyes. 00:33:46.199 --> 00:33:47.419 Let's insist 00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:48.399 upon that 00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.619 as a membership 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.059 of this church. 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:52.980 It's a way 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.359 of talking 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.000 about humility. 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.759 It's a way 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.659 of recognizing 00:33:56.659 --> 00:33:57.759 men and women 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.539 who aren't in it 00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.199 for themselves 00:33:59.199 --> 00:34:00.259 but are in it 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.019 for the Lord 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.679 Jesus Christ. 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:03.639 That's who we want 00:34:03.639 --> 00:34:04.859 in leadership positions 00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:05.359 of our church. 00:34:05.439 --> 00:34:06.199 Do you know why? 00:34:06.199 --> 00:34:06.299 Why? 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.279 It'll protect us 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:12.300 against spiritual drought. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.960 It'll lead us 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:19.900 into the presence 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.640 of our Lord, 00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:21.440 not away from it. 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.560 We need to insist 00:34:26.560 --> 00:34:29.280 in our nomination process 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.620 as we're identifying 00:34:30.620 --> 00:34:31.620 potential leaders 00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.800 being God raised up 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:35.480 that they're more 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:38.820 interested in God's plan, 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.720 God's purposes 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.500 than their own. 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.359 The second 00:34:43.359 --> 00:34:45.719 way to apply this 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:47.959 is by talking 00:34:47.959 --> 00:34:48.919 about self-control. 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.739 Samson 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:54.259 was anything 00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:55.500 but self-control. 00:34:56.819 --> 00:34:57.899 He was 00:34:57.899 --> 00:34:59.399 such 00:34:59.399 --> 00:35:00.639 the impulsive, 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.319 irreverent man, 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.599 the poster child 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:06.939 of impulsiveness, 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:09.380 again and again 00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:09.780 and again. 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.800 He did what was right 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:11.599 in his own eyes. 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.880 He lacked 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.700 self-control. 00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:18.980 What is self-control? 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:21.880 Self-control 00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.820 is the ability 00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:25.099 to say no 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.079 to something now 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:28.179 and to say yes 00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:29.119 to something later. 00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.559 It's a delayed 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.280 gratification. 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.000 It's the ability 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.579 to say no 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.159 to something now, 00:35:34.220 --> 00:35:34.720 to say yes 00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:35.420 to something later, 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.740 and the difference 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.760 between worldly 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.639 self-control 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:40.280 and biblical, 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.500 godly self-control 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.260 is this. 00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.980 It's who you do it for. 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:46.920 Worldly self-control 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:48.139 is a dependence 00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.980 on yourself 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.000 and you're saying 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.680 no to something 00:35:50.680 --> 00:35:51.960 now to say yes 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.740 to something later 00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:53.980 for your own sake, 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.460 according to your own eyes. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:56.920 Biblical, 00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:58.119 godly self-control 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.099 is when you say 00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:00.280 no to something 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:00.880 now 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.159 and to say yes 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.119 to something later 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.119 for the glory 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.839 of your god 00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:08.139 because of his eyes 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:10.859 for his name's sake 00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:11.519 not your own. 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.799 This has bearing 00:36:15.799 --> 00:36:16.539 in things like 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.639 sexual desires, 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:18.719 entertainment choices, 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.960 how you speak, 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:21.179 how you manage 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.739 your anger, 00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.380 your eating, 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:23.759 your driving, 00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:24.859 your sleeping, 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.219 your kind of 00:36:26.219 --> 00:36:27.339 workaholism 00:36:27.339 --> 00:36:28.819 or your thoughtfulness. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.559 It has bearing 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.320 with it all. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.679 In fact, 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.179 in the book of Titus, 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:36.519 one of the qualifications 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.199 for an elder, 00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:38.900 chapter 1, verse 8, 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.039 is to be self-controlled. 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:42.579 A man who demonstrates this. 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.659 And then in chapter 2, 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:46.980 verses 1 through 6, 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.539 the whole church 00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.340 is called to it. 00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.279 Would you turn 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:51.820 in your Bibles 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.960 to Titus chapter 2? 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.840 I want you to see this. 00:37:04.619 --> 00:37:05.599 Paul is writing 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.240 to Titus 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:07.159 who is planting 00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:07.840 this church 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.599 in Crete 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:11.280 and he tells Titus 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:12.179 when it comes 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:13.019 to the older men 00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:13.679 of the church, 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:14.699 they're to be 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.320 sober-minded, 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.059 dignified, 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.740 self-controlled 00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:19.000 among other things. 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.360 Chapter 3, 00:37:20.679 --> 00:37:21.039 he says, 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:22.199 instruct the older women 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:22.599 likewise 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.460 to be a number 00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.259 of different things. 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.519 They are to teach 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.440 the younger women 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.480 and one of the things 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:27.980 they're to teach 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.619 the younger women 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.840 is to be self-controlled. 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.420 So not only 00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:32.539 younger women 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.199 to be self-controlled, 00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:34.159 but the older women 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:35.179 must be self-controlled 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.719 to teach them 00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.420 to be self-controlled. 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.739 So right now, 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.960 we've got older men 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.820 to be self-controlled, 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.579 older women 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.360 to be self-controlled, 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.039 younger women 00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.920 to be self-controlled, 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:44.119 and then we land 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.880 in verse 6. 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:45.960 The only thing 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:47.619 he says to younger men 00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:49.579 is that they need 00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:50.320 to be self-controlled. 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:54.440 unto the glory of Jesus. 00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.719 Not doing what's right in their own eyes, 00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:59.659 doing what's right in the eyes of the Lord. 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:05.940 Being able to say no to sin now 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:10.400 or to lesser things now 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:14.639 in order to say yes to the glory of Jesus then. 00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:17.340 A church full. 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:21.000 And then we see in 2.11 how 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.500 for the grace of God has appeared 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:24.079 bringing salvation for all people 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:26.260 training us to renounce ungodliness 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:27.239 and worldly passions 00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:29.840 and to live self-controlled, upright 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:31.679 and godly lives in the present age. 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:34.400 Brothers and sisters, 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.599 we're to be self-controlled. 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:42.300 You know what that does? 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:46.199 It's a preventative against worldliness. 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:49.920 Of not becoming like the world. 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:53.139 When we are trusting God's grace 00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:55.320 and God's grace is training us 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:57.500 to say no to ungodliness 00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:59.219 and to say yes to Jesus. 00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:02.679 There's another application of this 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:03.440 for men in the room. 00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:11.119 Stop objectifying women. 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:13.299 Stop. 00:39:13.299 --> 00:39:13.339 Stop. 00:39:15.339 --> 00:39:16.880 Stop making women, 00:39:17.219 --> 00:39:21.079 whether physically or digitally, 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:24.480 the objects of your lust. 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:31.659 You need to say no to that. 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:36.500 And say yes to better things. 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:40.880 God has grace for you, brothers. 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:45.420 And when we start treating women 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:46.280 with dignity, 00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:50.940 we start creating a culture 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.980 more and more in our church 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:54.000 where both men and women thrive. 00:39:58.199 --> 00:39:59.820 The final application is 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:01.880 fix your eyes on Jesus, 00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:02.719 brothers and sisters. 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:05.320 Fix your eyes on Jesus. 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:07.000 I've been singing a song this morning. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:12.260 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:17.320 Look full in His wonderful face. 00:40:18.599 --> 00:40:21.360 And the things of earth 00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:23.639 will grow strangely dim 00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:30.800 in the light of His glory and grace. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:36.539 worldliness is a spiritual drought 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:40.680 that evaporates godliness 00:40:40.680 --> 00:40:42.000 among God's people. 00:40:42.100 --> 00:40:43.340 We see it in Samson. 00:40:45.620 --> 00:40:46.820 Are you in a spiritual drought? 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:51.519 Because of your own worldliness, 00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:52.600 God is at work. 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.680 God's bigger than your worldliness. 00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.679 God is at work. 00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:57.679 God is at work. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.679 God is at work. 00:40:58.679 --> 00:41:00.500 Turn your eyes to Him. 00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:03.519 Stop doing what's right 00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.359 in your own eyes. 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:05.379 Start doing what's right 00:41:05.379 --> 00:41:06.519 in His eyes. 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.639 So if you are a Christian 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:10.679 and you are experiencing 00:41:11.259 --> 00:41:12.599 the drought of worldliness, 00:41:13.059 --> 00:41:14.879 fix your eyes upon Jesus 00:41:14.879 --> 00:41:18.000 and find a wellspring of life 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:18.940 for your soul. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:20.799 Fill the reservoir. 00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:24.080 And if you're a non-Christian 00:41:24.080 --> 00:41:24.580 in the room, 00:41:26.240 --> 00:41:26.860 you're brittle, 00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:28.200 you're empty, 00:41:29.260 --> 00:41:31.480 Jesus will make you full 00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:32.800 and resilient. 00:41:34.120 --> 00:41:35.980 The world can't give you life, 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:37.680 but Jesus is the way, 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:38.100 the truth, 00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:38.920 and the life. 00:41:41.160 --> 00:41:41.880 Do you know what? 00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.220 There's another way 00:41:43.220 --> 00:41:43.840 you can talk about. 00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:49.220 Stop doing what's right 00:41:49.220 --> 00:41:50.740 in your own eyes 00:41:50.739 --> 00:41:51.979 and start doing 00:41:51.979 --> 00:41:52.659 what's right 00:41:52.659 --> 00:41:53.699 in the Lord's eyes. 00:41:53.799 --> 00:41:54.419 There's another way 00:41:54.419 --> 00:41:54.959 to say it. 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:57.399 Do you know how it goes? 00:41:59.059 --> 00:42:01.559 Walk by faith, 00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:05.119 not by sight. 00:42:06.759 --> 00:42:07.719 Fix your eyes on Jesus. 00:42:09.239 --> 00:42:09.739 Let's pray. 00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:13.099 God in heaven, 00:42:14.459 --> 00:42:14.739 Father, 00:42:14.819 --> 00:42:15.339 would you pour out 00:42:15.339 --> 00:42:16.539 your Spirit upon us? 00:42:18.279 --> 00:42:20.019 Move upon us 00:42:20.019 --> 00:42:23.820 thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:25.679 And God, 00:42:25.719 --> 00:42:26.559 would you make us 00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.780 self-controlled, 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:30.119 upright in this present age? 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:32.519 Not doing what's right 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:33.739 in our own eyes, 00:42:34.699 --> 00:42:36.460 but striving more and more 00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:37.559 to do what's right 00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:39.039 in your eyes 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:40.420 because you are so worth it. 00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:42.079 And it's your name we pray. 00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.300 Amen. 00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:43.440 Amen. 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:43.480 Amen. 00:42:43.480 --> 00:42:43.500 Amen. 00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:43.519 Amen. 00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:43.539 Amen. 00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:43.559 Amen. 00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:43.579 Amen. 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:43.599 Amen. 00:42:43.599 --> 00:42:43.639 Amen. 00:42:43.639 --> 00:42:43.659 Amen. 00:42:43.659 --> 00:42:43.679 Amen. 00:42:43.679 --> 00:42:45.599 Amen. 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:45.639 Amen. 00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:47.559 Amen. 00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:47.679 Amen. 00:42:47.679 --> 00:42:50.000 Amen.