(Judges 16:28) “Then Samson called to the LORD and said…”
Where and how does the power of God show its fruition in a believer’s life? What is the greatest of all our weapons? It may be tough to want to categorize the armour of God as if we could neglect the attention to any part of it as all is as needful and all have their specific domicile in battle. We are encouraged to put on the whole armour of God; “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)
But what if by our own neglect or by a unforeseen circumstance we find ourselves wounded in some trench somewhere with the enemy gaping as it where at our wounded body. Could we stand on own merits, absolutely not! We will never stand on our own accomplishments, but sometimes we need to be brought low in weakness so that we can once again gain strength in and through our great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus. “God resist the proud but give grace to the humble.” We will only ever understand the true power of God when we find ourselves in a state of humility. It is here where we have a “point of reference” that if found, will be a well of life giving water, enabling one to draw from it. It will be our “point of reference”, reminding us of a life changing experience.
Salvation was such an experience, the flood gate of my very own tears rolled down my cheeks and I realised that Christ had died for me. Some twenty-four years have passed and I am still able to call on that experience. My “point of reference”! There have been others special moments along the way, which I also draw from, but this I will say, every time, prayer was part and parcel of the experience. But always a prayer of sincerity and from the heart, not with mighty swelling words or doctrine that has pinpoint accuracy. A heartfelt cry without any pretence before my almighty Father, speaking to Him as a child would speak unto his father. Some may say, this type of prayer style is taboo, as I do not show enough reverence to God almighty. This I will then humbly say, I stand and fall before my Holy Father and it is not men that will judge me, but God! Do you have a “point of reference” to your Christian experience? Have you had tears rolling down your cheeks with the realisation that God has saved a wretched sinner like you? I thank God for those times in my life, as this morning is such a time.
With that then understood we will only ever find true power in true prayer! The greatest of all our weapons must be prayer! Why do I make such a brash statement? Because there is only One who has the power and the keys to heaven as well as hell, He is God Almighty; the only true God whose name is Hallowed and all power belongs to Him. If He has decided the outcome of any particular event who can stand in His way? No one or nothing will ever be able to stand in the way of our great King the Lord Jesus. Many great men of faith understood this as their lives depended upon it. Do we view prayer in the same light? I have been guilty of my lack of faith, but I will now change this by the grace of God. I resolve from this day forth to be more diligent in prayer, believing God, believing that I am heard as I Know I am heard and all because of my Saviour accomplishments. Praise His name!
Prayer must never be view as our right if and when we walk in accordance to our own reckoning of self-righteousness. Prayer is a weapon that every child of God can call upon whenever the need arises. Sin in that sense does not disqualify us from calling out to God almighty, in fact it is sin that should help trigger prayer. Does a man eat if he is not hungry? Faith is an acknowledgement of our need to rely on the mercies of God and not our own abilities to somehow provide. Samson learnt this lesson, probably better than most, but it took many unfortunate circumstances to learn this lesson, but praise God he understood this for sure, the power of prayer!
A great man of God who from birth was chosen by God to deliver the children of Israel out of the hand of the enemy, a prodigious man of faith! And yet a man with so many disappointments to his life, I suppose this is why I am also able to relate. Not that I would dare to compare myself as a man with similar faith, but I have understand his mistakes as I too have made many along the way.
I would like to highlight some of his “points of references” that he obviously drew from when called upon. He was alone when he ripped apart the young lion with his own two hands; “Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.” (Judges 14:5-16): - No one witnessed this event, but do you think he could ever forget it? Never, as it was his experience! What about the time when the Philistines plotted against him and they locked the city gates in order to trap him? “But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.” (Judges 16:3): - Again another “point of reference”. Then there was the time of his great victory, one man against an entire squadron of soldiers; “And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.” (Judges 15:15)
You see we must all have our own personal experience with God in and through His beloved Son, our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to be able to draw from our own “point of reference” when the chips are down and we are finding that the pressures of life are beginning to choke the life out of us.
Listen to this parable; “"Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."” (Mark 4:3-9)
If the cares of life choke and our bad decisions leave us for dead will we throw in the towel, I suggest if we have no “point of reference”, we may well do exactly that! But look at the end of Samson’s life and learn from it remembering that he had been captured by the enemy and he had lost his eyesight. They had put out his eyes! But because he was able to draw from his “points of reference” in life, look at his glorious end, but please take note it was only accomplished through prayer…
“Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes." And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” (Judges 16:28-30)
I beseech you, wherever you may find yourself to call out in prayer to our heavenly Father with sincerity not with mighty swelling words, but just simply to bear your hearts to Him, for He cares for you and He most certainly hears the cries of His beloved children, praise honour and glory belongs to Him now and forever more, Amen!
Signing off
Tyrone
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