INTRODUCTION

Today I want to talk about “When God calls…” I think it is an appropriate subject to talk about in light of how God has brought my wife Kerryanne and I to Waterloo and to WPA. We’re going to be looking at the story of Gideon this morning because it is a story that has popped up frequently in our journey the past few months and when I asked God what He would have me share with you today it surfaced once again.

The subject of God’s calling is one that we talk about when we want to know what God’s direction is for our life. However when it comes to God’s call, it’s important that we realize that it is not just related to the big things in life, you know like who we marry, our career, where we live, being parents, our ministry, or what we do in church. Those things, of course, are really important and it is good that we seek God’s direction for them, but God’s calling is more often related to the little things in life – the person you hear about who doesn’t have any food, or clothing; the person you work with pouring out their sad story and the Holy Spirit prompts you to offer to pray for them; the single mother you hear about who’s working three jobs to help support her and her family and her lawn is getting out of control because her lawnmower’s broken and even if it was fixed she just doesn’t have time to get it done – the Holy Spirit prompts you to get a crew together and get it done; or what about when you’re sitting down watching a television show and it takes a hard left and goes into material you just know is something you shouldn’t be watching. You see, God’s calling is often more related to the small choices we make in life that when you add up contribute to where God wants us to be!

As I’ve already mentioned we’re going to look at Judges 6 for the introduction to the story of Gideon and when God called Him to do something incredible….

(PRAY and then Give background of story (Judges 6:1-10))
- The Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the Lord and for 7 years they were given into the hands of the Midianites.
- The Israelites went into hiding to avoid the oppression of the Midianites.
- Whenever the Israelites planted their crops they would be invaded, and the crops and all the animals would be destroyed.
- The power and might of the Midianites was overwhelming to the Israelites.
- Eventually, the Israelites became so impoverished that they cried out to God for help.
- When the cried out the Lord sent a prophet who said (vs 8-10), he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
- Then in verse 11 we’re introduced to Gideon where the Angel of the Lord drops in on him…

Here we have Gideon, threshing some wheat in a winepress probably out of fear for the Midianites even discovering that he has wheat – and so he is working here in secret.

[Give brief overview of story - narrate it - highlight the transformation of Gideon from a reluctant believer to a mighty warrior.]

Today I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us through the story of Gideon about how God leads us into the plan He has for our lives and how calls us in not only the “big things” but also in the “little things” of life.

Let’s begin by looking at the first words the angle spoke to Gideon. He greeted Him by saying,

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6:12 (NIV)

Here’s the first point I want to make about when God calls…

GOD MEETS YOU WHERE YOU ARE, BUT HE CALLS YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TO BE.

God meets you where you are…

- Notice where Gideon was – threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from the Midianites. Gideon was really not in the place we would think a significant spiritual event would occur was he? But when you think about it, not many famous Biblical characters were in some tremendous spiritual hotspot when God met them…
• Abraham’s father Terah just died when God called Him to leave his country, his father’s household, and take off for a destination unknown with the promise that God would show him it on the way.
• Jacob was fleeing for his life from the fury of his brother (whom he had cheated out of a birthright) and was asleep when God appeared in dream and called Him.
• While Joseph was a small boy God called to Him in a dream.
• Moses was an exile from Egypt, had made a new life for himself in the desert with a wife, a family, and a growing business as a shepherd. He was out shepherding the sheep when God called to Him from a burning bush.
• Saul was out looking for his donkey when God sent the prophet Samuel to Him to pronounce God’s calling Saul to be a King.
• David was taking care of sheep when God called Him to greatness.
• Esther, was busy being the queen of a mighty empire when God called her to put her life on the line and save her people.
• Elisha was ploughing a field with oxen, when the prophet Elijah came up to him and conveyed God’s call to succeed him as prophet to Israel.
• Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the King of Persia when God called Him to rebuild the temple.
• Peter and Andrew were busy cleaning their fishing nets when Jesus called them to become fishers of men.
• Matthew was collecting taxes when Jesus called out to Him to follow.
• Zechariah was up in a tree when Jesus called Him to a new life.
• A prostitute was drawing water from a well when Jesus called her to drink of the living water.
• A man named Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute and kill Christians when Jesus appeared and called him to serve Him as an apostle to the Gentiles and a church-planter. Saul had his name changed to Paul and He became one of great instruments of God in building the early Christian church.

There’s so many more people I could draw your attention to but did you notice, that these Biblical characters are from many different “walks of life” and were called by God?

God meets you where you are when He calls you. In what you are doing, in your daily life. It is not necessary for you to be perfect, or have it all together, in order for God to call you. He chooses the time, the place, and the means of calling and meets you where you are. One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Romans 5:8,

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)

So God meets you where you are…

…but He calls you to where you are to be.
Notice how the aol greets Gideon, “The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior” (vs12) Okay, hold on a minute, let’s recap the situation Gideon is in……is he really a MIGHTY WARRIOR? Give me a break! Master Hide and Seeker perhaps, but surely not a mighty warrior! Here’s the thing though, although God met Gideon where he was – He had in mind what Gideon could become. God does that – again we could go through the Bible and highlight different examples of that (refer to list if time). Hear me folks, God meets you where you are – He doesn’t always wait until you are in the optimum spiritual moment, He doesn’t wait until you are perfect – no, God meets you right where you are, but then, He always calls you to where He wants you to be.

Here’s the thing… God always calls us to something greater and something better. It doesn’t always necessarily mean a change of location, or a change of our career BUT it does always mean moving towards becoming more like Him. To becoming the vessel and instrument of His great purposes. Sometimes this means something huge but more often it means simply obeying and doing something small.

Gideon’s response:
- Notice at first that the name the AOL gave him didn’t even seem to register with Gideon. Why?

* Gideon knew he was a mighty warrior and it was just a restatement of fact. Didn’t mean much.
* Gideon was thinking…”if you think I’m a mighty warrior fine, ha! But I know the truth…”
* He didn’t even hear it because he was still processing the first five words… “The Lord is with You” I think this is the more likely reason, witness the next verse…

But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”
Judges 6:13 (NIV)

In other words, Gideon was looking at the circumstances of the Israelites and the situation they were in (no doubt including his position in the winepress)- He was looking at where He was – and was voicing his thoughts – “if God was really with us we wouldn’t be in the place we are right now”

Don’t you sometimes feel that way when life is throwing you a hardball and you’re in one of those places where everything just seems to be working against you and nothing is going right and then someone comes up to you and says these words, “Just remember the Lord is with you”. And we start thinking a little bit like Gideon here, “Oh come on! If he’s really with me then why am I dealing with this, why am I going through this, why am I not seeing God’s power in my life then?” Something I’ve noticed, and I don’t know any other believers here have noticed this too, but something I’ve noticed is that whenever I’m in the very beginning of transitions in my life tends to be the time where I feel like God is the farthest away. You ever feel like that?

Here’s another observation. God tends to call us when we are in the place of humility and brokenness. Or he will humble us and then call us (eg. Saul -> Paul)

Listen carefully to God’s response to Gideon:

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6:14 (NIV)

First, God had called Gideon, “Mighty Warrior” and then here God elaborates why He called Him that – it’s because He is choosing to use Gideon to save Israel from the Midianite problem. Here’s the cool thing. Gideon asked, “If God is really with us then why are things the way they are and where are the great things that God can do” – God answers, “I am about to do something great by rescuing from the Midianites, and I’m going to use you, because I am sending you.” Here’s the thing…we look at our situation and our circumstance in our lives and we wonder where God is when all along He is with us and about to work through us in this particular moment to resolve the perfect outcome – all it takes is for us to recognize His voice.

Here’s another lesson about the call of God:

God calls us to what He has already prepared/equipped us for!

Out of all the possible people He could have chosen, God chose Gideon for the task of leading the Israelites to victory over the Midianites. Notice God said, “Go in the strength you have!” One of the greatest promises we have as believers is the reality that our lives have purpose and that God has prepared us and equipped us as a unique creation for the specific and amazing things He wants to do through us! Your interests, your strengths, your personality, your experiences are all things that contribute towards what it is that you are wired to do!

One of my favourite verses of the Bible and one that you’ll probably hear me quote a lot is found in Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus,

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Repeat that last line with me, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do” what? “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” When did God plan these good works out? In advance. And who are we? God’s workmanship… Amazing!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

God said to Gideon, “Am I not sending YOU!” God dropped by to talk to this man in a winepress because God’s desire for this task was unique to Gideon! But let’s not get the emphasis mixed up here. God said, “Am I not sending you?” God’s calling in your life is unique and even though He has prepared us and equipped us for the task our own strength will never be enough to complete what He’s called us too… in fact, the funny thing is, the things God asks us to do sometimes seem a mismatch for what we’re really good at! Certainly Gideon recognized this for his situation when He said,

“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Judges 6:15 (NIV)

Students of the Bible will recognize that this is a pattern that God repeated through history – let’s go through that list of people that I’ve already mentioned…

• Abraham’s father just died
• Jacob was a liar and a cheat
• Joseph didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, and was sold into slavery by his brothers
• Moses was a murderer and not a good speaker
• Saul kept losing things
• David was the youngest of his family
• Peter was a hothead and spoke before he thought,
• Paul was kind of ugly, and was kind of mean to Christians…
• ** or share about the Cooledges

Why does God do this? Listen closely, because God wants us to experience His power at work through us. He wants us to know that He is with us. God’s response to Gideon began with,

The LORD answered, “I will be with you…
Judges 6:16 (NIV)

I will be with you Gideon, I will be with you He says to you as He calls you as well – and friends, that makes all the difference in the world.

OPTIONAL (as an aside – and is not on a ppt slide)
The apostle Paul understood the significance of this with an incredible revelation from the Spirit of God,

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

Next I want you to draw your attention to the second half of God’s response to Gideon, let’s read the whole verse together again, verse 16:

The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
Judges 6:16 (NIV)

…and you will strike down all the Midianites…what? Together

God’s calling always involves working with others (the “together”) in community to accomplish Kingdom purposes.

A major component of God’s calling is always the “together” part. This is something that I could devote a whole message to but I want just simply highlight this, and focus on this:

A lot of grief could be avoided in your life if you remember that it’s not meant to be done alone. Often times in the Christian church we spend a lot of time talking about what we’re saved from (and it’s good to be reminded about) but not nearly enough time talking about what we’re saved for. We’re not only saved from the penalty of sin, the destination of hell, and the finality of death. But we are also saved to an incredible relationship with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the creator of the Universe. And finally, We are saved for life in community with our God and Saviour and the building of His kingdom together with other citizens of heaven. This kingdom is something that becomes a reality in the midst of people who are living out God’s unique calling for their lives that fit’s like “pieces of a puzzle” with what God is doing through each and every citizen of His kingdom.

The apostle Paul understood this when He used the metaphor of the body to describe the church of Christ…

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)

Sometimes, (and often in the small things God calls us too) we can’t see how what we do makes a difference. But your obedience to God’s call in combination with everyone else’s faith-filled response is all part of God’s purposeful plan. No matter how insignificant you may feel your part to be, in the purposes of God – everything has significance. Remember that when God calls…we’re in this together

OPTIONAL – (NOT ON PPT SLIDE)
17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”
Judges 6:17-22 (NIV)

Here’s Gideon, he’s been threshing wheat in a winepress because of the threat of the Midianites. He knows that if he gets caught he’ll probably die and the food will be gone that his family needs. It seems like there’s no way out for this situation and that God has abandoned them. Then all of a sudden, this person appears and says the Lord is with Him (and calls him “Mighty Warrior” no less). Says that he’s going to be the one to lead the Israelites in battle against the Midianites. Go to war, so to speak. You know, bloodshed, the risk of dying (and the odds are kind of stacked against them – or at least on the surface). Then, when Gideon brings an offering to test if this is really a message from God, this person lights up the offering with fire from his staff and all of a sudden Gideon realizes that he has been in the presence of God.

But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
Judges 6:23 (NIV)

Then Gideon builds an altar,

So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Judges 6:24 (NIV)

Okay, hold on a minute here, what did Gideon name the altar again? “The Lord is Peace”. Interesting choice for a name wouldn’t you say? Here’s the thing…

Obeying the Call of God for your life brings peace.

Gideon rightly understood, that in spite of the circumstances of God showing up in His life – in spite of the where God was meeting Him – in spite of where God was calling Him to be – in spite of how difficult obedience to this call would be and the cost of obeying – God had promised Gideon He would be with him and friends when God calls and you obey you are with Him who is peace. God does not abandon those He calls and in His perfect will and direction, chaos may be swirling around you but you still know His peace. A peace that “surpasses all understanding” as the apostle Paul put it… a man for whom obeying the call of God led him into places where He was beaten, scorned, wrongfully put on trial, imprisoned, whipped, and shipwrecked.

It is a peace that sustained Gideon later on when he gathered the assembled motley crew of men, all 32,000 of them, ready for battle against a better equipped and more numerous Midianite army of over 100,000 men. A peace that sustained Gideon when God directed him to send 29,700 of those men home leaving just 300 to go into battle. A peace that dwelt with Gideon and these 300 when they rushed into the Midianite camp and God gave them victory.

Friends, when God calls, it may be tough and it may be difficult but “IT IS ALWAYS WORTH IT!”

CONCLUSION

I want to finish with this quote:

“Make no mistake about it, this drama and this Kingdom’s agenda is at the center of the meaning of cosmic history and your own individual story. Like a grand conductor who calls in the flutes at just the right time, your Father has brought you into the Cosmic Symphony at your unique place in time and space so you can be a vibrant outpost in your sphere of influence. In short, you are here to be an apprentice of the Lord Jesus to learn how to live your life well as part of God’s broader purposes. This is your calling, this is your destiny, this is your only chance to have a life of genuine, full human flourishing.” - J.P. Moreland, Kingdom Triangle (Zondervan, 2007)

PRAY and CONCLUSION:

Maybe some of you here today really don’t believe in this God stuff or put your faith in Jesus Christ – maybe you are here because you’re just checking things out or because someone invited you – I want you to know that God is calling you to Him this morning. God’s first call is always into relationship with Him. The first words God spoke to Gideon were, “The Lord is with you”. Do you know that God wants that for your life today?

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17 (NIV)

Won’t you heed His call to you today?

Maybe some of you are stuck in a rut. You know that it’s time for things to change and the Holy Spirit has pricked your conscience for some time – I want you to know that God has been calling you. You know what it is – maybe it’s something significant like a change in career, or to give up something that isn’t good for you. Maybe, it’s to offer your gifts and abilities to help someone in need or to serve His church. Maybe, it’s to do something in your place of work that will be an act of service to Jesus. I don’t know what it is but today you can choose to heed the call of God in your life. You’ve been restless, and discontent and without peace. Don’t let the difficulty or the weirdness of the call put you off any more – remember God is meeting you where you are, but He’s calling you to where He wants you to be. Won’t you heed His call to you today?

Then there might be some of you who are in the place you know God has for this season, you are heeding the call of God, let this message encourage you and reassure you even in the times where it seems like nothing is happening that God placed you where you are for such a time as this. We’re in this together – your part is an important component of God’s purposes for His kingdom. Rest in the peace God gives you for being obedient to His call. Continue to rely on His strength for accomplishing the purposes He has called you to. And be ever vigilant for His voice as He leads you forward.

Philippians 2:12-16 (NIV)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

INTRODUCTION

One thing I?ve observed about having four young children is that being a mother is not easy. I see the things that Kerryanne does and has to do and realize that a mother has a precious and difficult task.

Erma Bombeck in her book, “Motherhood the second Oldest Profession” writes;

“I have always felt that too much time was given before birth, which is spent learning things like how to breathe in and out with your husband (I had my baby when they gave you a shot in the hip and you didn?t wake up until the child was ready to start school), and not enough time is given to how to mother after the baby is born.

Motherhood is an art. And it is naive to send a mother into the arena for 20 years with a child and expect her to come out on top. Everything is in the child?s favor. He?s little, he?s cute and he can turn tears on and off like a faucet.

There have always been schools for children. They spend anywhere from 12-16 years of their lives in them, around other children who share the experiences of being a child and how to combat it. They?re in an academic atmosphere where they learn how to manipulate parents and get what they want from them. They bind together to form a children?s network, where they pool ideas on how to get the car, how to get bigger allowances, and how to stay home when the parents go on vacation. Their influence is felt around the world. Without contributing a dime, they have more ice cream parlors, recreation centers, playgrounds, and amusement parks than any grownup could ever pull off.

They never pay full price for anything.

How do they do it?

They?re clever and they?re educated.

Some people think mothers should organize and form a union. I think education is the answer. If we only knew what to do and how to do it, we could survive.”

It?s true!!! Being a mom is perhaps one of the toughest jobs in the world. It requires a special person with special talents to be a mom, that is why men are not moms – we couldn?t handle it. We have a special task in being Dads!

Now, I am confident that just about every mom wants to be a good mom. And there are many books written, that for a price will tell them how to become good moms.

Today, as we celebrate and honor Mothers we will look at a book, but not just any book – we are going to look at the Bible, and we will specifically look at the life of Deborah. You find Deborah?s story in the book of Judges…

Prayer……….

BACKGROUND

The book of Judges covers a period of 300 years. During this time God?s people lived in the promise land, but they have no king. It?s the period of time in between Joshua leading Israel in to conquer the promised land and the time Israel gets her first king.

Now, the law given to Moses at Mt Sinai was still the law of Israel, but after Joshua died there was no national government to enforce it. And the enforcement by the tribes or families was not consistent, and more often then not – people did whatever they thought was right

Judges 17:6 (NIV)

6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

The period of judges was characterized by God?s people going through the same cycle 7 times. Here?s the cycle -

Stage One: the people would be doing good.

Stage Two: after these years of prosperity they would turn their backs on God….

Stage Three: God would allow an enemy to oppress them

Stage Four: The people would cry out to God

Stage Five: God sends a deliverer

Stage Six: the people start doing good again (Repeat stages)

The entire book of Judges dramatically illustrates God?s willingness to forgive time and time again. (Hey, why don?t you take that truth home with you today, IF you desire to change and you seek God?s forgiveness – it?s there!)

Deborah?s story takes place during one of these cycles…

God?s people were once again doing wrong in the eyes of the Lord, and as always this drifting to wrong started when they began to worship false gods & idols…when they left the one true God to pursue gods of man?s own making….

In response to this rebellion God removed His protection from them. God?s people had on their own, by their actions, made the choice to step outside of His protection (His people still do that today) . And once God?s protection was removed, it was not long before an enemy came riding in (that?s how it usually happens). This time the enemy was Jabin, a King of Canaan…

And Jabin literally did come riding in as the power and focal point of his army were 900 iron chariots…an army led by his commander, Sisera… For 20 years Jabin & Sisera cruelly oppressed the people…taking their land, their property, doing to the Israelites and their sons & daughters – whatever they wanted – whenever they wanted…

Well as always the people cried out to God in their hardships…. AND once again their false gods – proved to be just that false….gods who could do nothing to help or deliver them…

And in response God who is rich in mercy and full of compassion lifted up a deliverer, and the deliverer, this time was a woman named Deborah. Deborah was not only a judge of the people of Israel, BUT she was also a prophetess, which means she received direct revelation from the Lord – which enabled her to; interpret the past, give direction in the present and announce the future…

Now, Deborah had a regular spot where she held her court, it was in the hill country in Israel under a palm tree….about 10 miles from Jerusalem. People from the 4 corners of the land – would come to her to settle their arguments..

One day while Deborah was sitting under the palm tree – the Lord spoke to her, telling her the time was now – telling her, “I have heard the cries of MY people and the time was now for their deliverance….I have chosen Barak to lead Israel in battle with Sisera. Deborah wasted no time in sending for Barak after the Lord told her this, because she like the rest of the Israelites was ready for their enemies to be crushed…

Once Barak gets the word – he immediately comes to Deborah… As he stood before the prophetess, Deborah told him, “The Lord the God of Israel commands you: ?GO and gather ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. I will make Sisera, the commander of Jabin?s army, and his chariots ride out and meet you at the Kishon River, there I will hand Sisera over to you…”

Now, Barak thought this was a pretty cool idea, he was pretty sick of Sisera and those Canaanites too. He was ready for them to go, but as he was about to leave Barak got to thinking about those chariots. The sheer power of those things, and the way since a young teen he had seen them riding through his homeland doing whatever – wherever they wanted…caused a sudden fear to well up inside of him.

Barak knew that this victory could only come about by the hand of God – and he knew that Deborah was the one who was closest to God – God spoke to her… So Barak said to Deborah…”I will go, only if you go with me, BUT if you won?t go with me, then I won?t go…”

Deborah replied, “No problem I will go with you, BUT because of the your hesitation in going without me, the credit for the victory & the honor of defeating Sisera will go not to you BUT to a woman…..”

Barak replied, “Hey that?s okay with me – I only want to see our enemy crushed I don?t care who gets the credit for the win…”

So Barak and Deborah left and began rallying the troops, for battle… Gathering that many men and taking them to the top of a mountain was not something that could escape notice.

AND besides, that was part of God?s plan. For not very long after God?s army gathered on the top of Mt Tabor word got back to Sisera of what was going on…

Sisera then gathered his army and all of his 900 chariots and marched confidently out of Haroseth Haggoyim where he lived… He gathered his forces near the Kishon River in the Valley below Mt Tabor…

Sisera was pretty confident that when those weak and cowardly Israelites who he had oppressed with such great ease saw him – his army and his chariots they would as they had always done before – tuck their tail in between their legs and go home…

Sure they had a strong position on the Mt. But they couldn?t stay up there forever and once they came down into the valley – he would cut their pitiful army into pieces with his chariots – and whatever scraps were left his infantry would easily dispose of….

While Sisera was looking up at the mountain, Barak was looking down at the army in the valley… The ten thousand men on the Mountain were still & quiet, just waiting for the word…Most of them had grown up and knew only this oppression of Sisera, This was their moment – this was their time to win freedom for their country and for the their families… The men were one unified hair trigger, just waiting to explode…

Suddenly the silence was broken as Deborah cried out to Barak, “Go!! TODAY IS THE DAY the Lord will hand over Sisera. The Lord has already cleared the way for you…”

That?s all it took and at once Barak led his 10,000 screaming men with swords & spears drawn, down the mountain…..Just as they took off there was a the sound of thunder – so loud that the earth itself shook .. And then the skies opened up and water poured from the heavens…

By the time Barak and his men reached the Valley – Sisera and his mighty chariots were literally stuck in the mud…. The sudden lose of their key military component threw them into a state of panic & confusion… And when the raging Israelites reached them it was a slaughter… Sisera seeing the defeat – left his chariot a took off on foot…

As his routed army retreated & headed west to their base camp – Sisera their commander fled north east… Ol Sisera was picking them up, and laying them down as fast as he could – his heart pounding – his lungs burning – fear immersing him…

In a clearing Sisera just up ahead he saw a tent, it was the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber one of the Kenite family groups. Sisera recalled that Heber?s family was at peace with Jabin king of the Canaanites… As the weary Sisera approached the tent – Jael came out to meet him, “Come into my tent Master! Come in, don?t be afraid…”

Jael gave Sisera a place to lie down and some milk to drink… The commander was tired, he asked her to stand at the tent?s entrance, to keep watch for his enemies…He told her that if anyone asks if she has seen anyone, she is to say no.

In no time at all Sisera was asleep… Deep asleep – he was exhausted … Now though Jael?s husband may have been loyal to Sisera – she was not… Many of her families and friends had suffered greatly at the hands of the man who was asleep in her tent…

What should she do – find the Israelite army and tell them? Wait for them to arrive? Just leave? What would you have done if you were her?

As Jael stood reflecting on this she saw the hammer she had used earlier, to set up the tent – laying beside a spare tent beg… Jael then seized the moment to ?literally? strike a blow for freedom…

She cautiously walked up to the sleeping general with hammer and tent peg in her hand… She knelt down placed the peg about a half inch from Sisera?s temple…raised the hammer – images of 20 years of cruel oppression flashed before her eyes, THEN with powerful force she struck the sleep general driving the tent peg through his temple into the desert ground… The tyrant of 20 years was dead….

At that very moment, Barak arrived at her tent (he had been chasing Sisera) Jael met him and said, “Come I will show you the man you are looking for…”

“So, Barak entered the tent, and there Sisera lay dead a tent peg in his head…”

WOW! What a story!

Now I know what some of you are thinking… What in the world does this story have to do with mothers day? Hang In.

On that very day of victory Deborah and Barak sang a song to the Lord – it is recorded in Judges chapter 5; and in verse 7 of this song Deborah sang these words…

“VILLAGE LIFE IN ISRAEL CEASED, CEASED UNTIL I, DEBORAH AROSE, AROSE A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.”

In that verse Deborah is called, “a mother in Israel”, she was a mother to the Israelite nation, and it also says, that she brought life back into the village. You see, life within the community of Israel was not what it had been (before the rebellion against God…. And Deborah was like a mother to Israel and she restored its life.

Deborah is a good example for mothers today, she demonstrates how they can bring life back into their community (or sphere of influence). Our world, our nation, our city and our churches desperately need women who will answer the call of God to Motherhood, Mothers who will bring life back into our homes, churches, cities, nation and our world. Because in many homes and in many places life is not as it should be. But there is also much in this verse that speaks to all of us. The main message? God wants to use people to bring life back to our communities! He wants to use us!

And to do that, we need to follow in Deborah?s footsteps, today we are going to look at 4 ways in which Debraoh brought life back to her community…

Godly Mothers like Deborah, IF they want to bring life back to their community:

Must Bring Their Children Word From The Lord

As we said earlier, Deborah was more than just a judge… she was a prophetess. And one of her primary duties was to take the Word she received from the Lord, and bring it to the people. The people needed to know what the Lord had to say, and it was Deborah, who brought them His words.

Listen; of all the things that you can give your children, and boy are there a bunch, and there are many that are good. But the most important thing that a mother will ever give her children is the Word of the Lord. Paul mentions?

Philippians 2:16 (NIV)

16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Who is the Word of Life? Jesus Christ!

I am confident that every mother here wants her child to experience life, wants her child to live life to the fullest, Jesus said,

John 10:10 (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The shoes we give our children will wear out (they do that pretty quick don?t they), they will outgrow their clothes, they will grow tired of and outgrow their toys, bikes & video games… EVEN little league, soccer, softball & cheerleading will one day fade into the sunset… No matter how vital and important they may seem at the time — most things we give our children are only temporary, here today and on the closet floor tomorrow – they don?t last.

But the word of the Lord abides forever.

1 Peter 1:25 (NIV)

25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

One of the apostle Paul?s faithful fellow workers in the Kingdom was a young men named Timothy. Paul had a tremendous influence in the spiritual life of Timothy, Paul referred to him as his ?son in the faith.?

But Timothy?s faith did not begin with Paul, Listen to what Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5,

2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

In that verse we see the results of 2 generations of mothers who gave their children what was most important, the word of the Lord! Lois gave the Word of the Lord to her daughter Eunice, who passed it on to her son Timothy, who became a powerful servant of the Jesus Christ.

Listen; We must never underestimate the power and influence that a Mother, who holds out the Word of the Lord, has on her children!

Question; How do you do that? How does a mother today in the year 2004 give her children the words of the Lord?

• Teach them about Jesus Christ and how he has changed your life. Grow closer to Him so that your children can see Him living through your life.
• Bring them to a church where the word of the Lord is taught and is believed to be the inspired, authoritative Word of God.
• Get them a Bible they can understand and READ it with them!
• Encourage them to be in the scriptures – set the example….
• Make Jesus the center of your life ? not your children!!!

(Well, how to you do that?)

The bottom line… The most important thing in the life of your child is their relationship with Christ. Listen, it is this relationship that is going to help them overcome the pull of an ungodly society and to conquer the problems they will have in life….When they see His life in you they will realize what they?re missing and what they need.

TO BRING LIFE TO HER COMMUNITY MOTHER?S MUST BRING THEIR CHILDREN THE WORD OF LIFE.

#2, Godly Mothers like Deborah

Must Give Their Children Encouragement

In this awesome account of Barak & Deborah… We see Deborah encouraging Israel, specifically Barak in at least 2 ways.

First, Deborah Encouraged Barak With Her Presence

Remember when Barak asked Deborah to go with him when he went to battle Sisera, what did she do? She went with him. Listen, it would be a great source of encouragement to have Deborah, the one who received direction from the Lord go with him, as he faced the enemy.

Second, We See Deborah Encouraging Barak With Her Words

As Barak stood on Mt Tabor watching the enemy of his gathering their arm and their powerful chariots… As Barak?s hands, no doubt grew damp with sweat – do you think the words that Deborah said to him gave him any encouragement; “Go! TODAY is the day the Lord will hand over Sisera. The Lord already cleared the way for you…”

Those words gave Barak the assurance and confidence he needed to engage the enemy.

Deborah encouraged Barak by her presence & her words…

Encouragement is a powerful tool; it has the power to build up broken spirits and broken lives and it also has the power to motivate people to take on with confidence the many challenges of life.

There once was a man who said, “When I was a child my mother said to be, “If you become a soldier, you?ll be a general. If you become a monk, you?ll end up as Pope.” Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

Question; Do your children need your encouragement?

Do they have it?

Parents we need to remember how tough it is to be a kid, the pressures, the self doubt, and we must work to make Home a great place to be, a place of encouragement. A place to be built up and not torn down and told they are no good. Mother?s will you bring life to your children lives, by encouraging them?

How can you do it? Just like Deborah with your presence and your words…

You can encourage them with your presence……

Just our spending time with our kids is an encouragement to them. It shows them that we care and that they are important to us. Mothers and Father, we need to be involved in our children?s lives.

They are only with us a short amount of time, we need to spend time with them when they still want to be around us, because before to long they will be grown and our chances to really spend time with them will be gone forever. Let?s seize the moment with our children. And enjoy our time with them.

You can encourage them with your words

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Let your kids know that they are special because they are your children, encourage them to step out and try new things, help them in areas where they are having trouble. Let them know that you are behind them, and pick them up when they fall, push them when they need to get going and set them down when they need to be humbled.

Use your words, to let them know you care, and be sure to use God?s word, to let them know God cares.

One great verse to share with them is Jer 29:11;

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

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.

This is not only a word for parents and their families but also for all of us and our family, the church!

ENCOURAGEMENT BRINGS LIFE TO THE VILLAGE…

#3; Godly Woman Like Deborah

Must Hold Their Children Accountable For Their Actions

Listen to how the NIV words verses 8,9 of chapter 4.

Judges 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” 9 “Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,

EVEN THOUGH DEBORAH encouraged Barak by going with him, she let Him know that there was a price to pay, there were consequences for his actions. The honor of killing Sisera would be given to a woman, (remember Jael and her trusty tent peg).

Being held responsible for ones actions is a lesson that desperately needs to be learned today. Another name for this is “DISCIPLINE”.

Parents if we do not hold our children accountable for their actions as they mature, if we don?t teach them this at home, they will learn the hard way.

Listen; Parents we must realize that we are not doing our kids any favors by not discipling them, in fact we are pushing them in the direction of a real lousy life as an adult. Kids need discipline, it shows them we love them, it show them that we care about their life!

GODLY MOTHERS LIKE DEBORAH MUST:

BRING THEIR KIDS WORDS FROM THE LORD

GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

AND 4^th and probably most importantly they;

Must Remind Them of God?s Power

All of chapter 5 in Judges 4 is a song, a song about the great victory that God had given them on the battle field against Sisera. What this song did was reinforce the Word of the Lord that Deborah had brought them telling of how God had given the enemy into their hands.

One thing is apparent in this song, and that is, who?s got the power… God!!!

I love the way Deborah closes out this song, listen to these words,

“SO MAY ALL YOUR ENEMIES PERISH, O LORD, (JUST LIKE SISERA) , BUT MAY THEY WHO LOVE YOU BE LIKE THE SUN WHEN IT RISES IN ITS STRENGTH…”

Do we still face enemies today?

Are there those today who would seek to destroy and challenge our faith?

Do our children now – and will they in the future have to fight some pretty tough battles?

One of the ways a mother can bring life into her home is by reminding her children – who has the power AND where to turn to when the heat is on in life….

Our God is the same yesterday – today and tomorrow – He still has the power!!! He still blesses His people today, God still goes to battle for his people today, God still defeats his enemies today — DO YOU BELIEVE IT?!

Listen to these words from God – they are just as true, now, today, as they were the day God inspired them?

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 8:37 (NIV)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

MOTHERS BE LIKE DEBORAH AND SHARE WITH THE GREAT BLESSINGS THAT GOD IS POURING OUT,

And when you do you will be reinforcing the truth that God loves us, cares about us and is working in our lives — His Word is life!!

BRING THEM THE WORD OF LIFE

GIVE YOUR CHILDREN ENCOURAGEMENT

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

AND WILL YOU REMIND YOUR CHILDREN OF THE

MANY BLESSINGS OF GOD

IF YOU DO

YOU WILL BE LIKE DEBORAH

AND YOU WILL BRING LIFE TO YOUR VILLAGE

TO YOUR HOME

TO YOUR CHILDREN

TO YOUR FAMILIES

TO YOUR CHURCH!

Psalm 34 (whole chapter)

INTRODUCTION

PRAY

Recap series, “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”

Today we?re going to look at the Incredible Hulk of the Bible?.(explain who the Hulk is)

Today we?re going to look at Samson ? who I consider to be the incredible Hulk of the Bible! If Samson were here this morning, I believe that he?d spend hours telling you how God worked in his life. He?d admit his lusts, bad choices and consequences, and he?d be honest with you about his journey of life.

Samson?s story is found in Judges 13-16 and I don?t have time to read all of his story too you but I am going to be highlighting a few incidences in the course of this message.

Before we look at what Samson might say, let?s look at the context and background of his life. We?re going to be looking at Judges 13 so I invite you to turn in your Bibles to that passage if you have it.

The book of Judges tells us that for 400 years, Israel was locked in a vicious cycle of sin and repentance.

Every new generation would fall away from the lord.

They would become rebellious toward God.

They would become disobedient.

They would fall into idolatry.

And they would abandon God.

Again, the people had fallen away from God.

Again, God had allowed them to be oppressed/conquered by their enemies.

The Philistines were the latest enemy.

And into this world was born a little baby named Samson.

Judges 13 tells us that Samson was a specific answer to prayer.

His parents were childless.

An angel appeared to them, and promised them a son, if they would take a Nazirite Vow on his behalf.

Judges 13:3-5 (NIV)

3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5 because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

NAZiRITE = Devoted or separated one

Nazirites took an oath to ABSTAIN from worldly Influences & CONSECRATE their lives to God…

There were 4 Commitments that were Common to the Nazirite

1 ? To Abstain for All Intoxicating Drink & Grape Products

2 ? To Not Cut the Hair

3 ? To Avoid Contact with the dead

4 ? To Refuse to eat Food Regarded as Unclean

The vow could be taken by any Israelite for a period of time to commit themselves to God.

Typically it lasted 30 to 100 days.

Only 3 men in the Bible were thought to have taken the Nazirite vow for life ?

Samuel…John Baptist…and Samson.

Samson was one of those men whose intent was to serve God his entire life.

God had chosen him to free His people from the Philistines.

Samson had it made in many ways?

His parents were Godly…

His purpose was revealed clearly to him…

His Spiritual heritage was assured…

His path was carved out…

All he had to do was stay faithful and walk in it!

And yet, he lost his way, and failed to accomplish his God ordained, life?s purpose.

He never freed the Israelites from the Philistines.

There is much that we can learn from Samson?s life this morning.

I believe that Samson would warn you to be careful.

He?d say that?

Your Greatest Strengths can be destroyed by your Smallest Weakness

Samson was the strongest man who ever lived.

But all of Samson?s strength was overcome one slight weakness?.

Samson?s greatest problem was impulsive behavior.

Samson had a problem with wandering eyes

He just couldn?t be satisfied with what God had made available to him.

There were plenty of Israelite women, and I?m sure many of them were beautiful.

And I?m sure many of them would have been thrilled to have Samson come courting.

But Samson couldn?t be content with the beautiful Israelite women all around him.

He wanted to cross the line.

He wanted to taste forbidden fruit.

He wanted to see how long he could dance with the devil without getting burned.

Friends, here?s truth you can take to the bank!

If you let your eyes wander long enough your feet will surely follow.

You can?t play with fire without getting burned!

Job 31:1 (NIV)

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.

David evidently learned his lesson with Bathsheba because in Psalms 101:3, he said

Psalm 101:3a(NIV)

3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing?

In Colossians 3:2, Paul says,

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

These men knew what would happen if they let their weaknesses loose.

These men know what would happen if they let their sinful thoughts to percolate.

These men knew what happened once our focus on sin change from a glance to a gaze. (EXPOUND)

But, for all his strength, Samson didn?t (Not couldn?t) control his weakness.

Scripture says that Samson went down to Timnah.

Timnah was a border city in the no man?s land between the Philistines and the Israelites.

It was populated by both Israelites and Philistines.

It was kind of like the red light district of a large town.

Judges 14:1-3 (NIV)

1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

Timnah wasn?t the only where he let his eyes wander?.eventually married the woman from Timnah ? riddle ? ended up woman and her family were killed?Samson visited a prostitute in Gaza?Eventually fell in love with a woman named Delilah in the Valley of Sorek. I want to tell you something folks?Samson wasn?t seduced by temptation – he willingly took steps that led him in the wrong direction.

Eventually Samson reached a place where he was no longer in control of his life. (Briefly tell the story of Delilah as told in Judges 16)

His hair was the secret to his strength.

When he allowed Delilah to cut his hair, he lost his strength.

Judges 16:21 (NIV)

21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.

Here?s the Irony..Samson was a strong man, but he was also a weak man.

He was strong in public, but he was weak in private

His public life was good enough to fool a lot of people, but his private life was in shambles

Someone famous said, “Character is who you are when no one is looking.”

In spite of his physical strength, he ended up being defeated by his enemy, without his enemy even striking one blow,

He just laid his head in Delilah?s lap and went to sleep. Yes, it was the Philistines that bound him and put out his eyes, but not until Samson of his own free will revealed the secret power of his covenant with God.

It was his covenant with God that gave him his power

When his covenant was gone so was his power

It didn?t happen all at once, it was a gradual thing

The enemy will never tell you that you have to choose between him or God.

He?ll tell you that God trying to keep you from having any fun.

He?ll tell you that God is trying to run your life.

He?ll tell you that God is holding you back.

He?ll tell you that those “so-called” sins will make you happy. That there is nothing really wrong with them.

Listen friends, Samson?s mess was of his own making,

It was a series of wrong choices that brought him down.

This is where a lot of people are today

They have made wrong choices so long, that in their minds, what used to be wrong is now right.

If you justify wrong attitudes/actions long enough, you will sear your conscious to the point that you no longer feel any conviction over wrong thoughts, or actions.

If you allow your flesh to rule in your life, you will reach the point where you may be on the top, doing everything you want to do, enjoying the grass on the other side of the fence?.

But Spiritually you will be on the bottom?

No joy. No peace.

No victory.

No song in your heart.

Samson ended up a slave, eyes poked out, bound by the Philistines, grinding mill like a mule in the Philistine?s camp.

He didn?t get there because his enemy was so powerful

He got there because he was so weak.

He let his flesh/impulses/lusts/desires rule him.

Let me ask you a very pointed question this morning.

What?s your lust?

What?s your impulse?

What sin is ruling your life?

? Are you a blind slave to alcohol/drugs?

? Are you a blind slave to pornography?

? Are you a blind slave to illicit sex?

? Are you a blind slave to greed/money/power?

? Are you a blind slave to gossip/backbiting?

? Are you a blind slave to destructive relationships?

how about pride? Unforgiveness? Lying? Envy?

I want to tell you something – you didn?t get there in a day.

You?re blind, bound and broken because of a series of choices that you?ve made.

They probably started long ago, maybe even innocently.

Nobody gets up one morning and says, “I think I?ll begin serving Satan today”.

We all need to realize that, no matter how strong we all are, just one weakness can destroy us!

Don?t ever think that you?re too strong to be broken by sin! That in itself is a sin ? the sin of pride!

Don?t ever think that bad choices really don?t matter.

Don?t ever think that your reputation doesn?t matter.

Do you remember that tacky Fox network show “Who Wants to marry a Millionaire”?

That program caused quite a scandal?

After a prime time, beauty pageant romance Darva Conger married millionaire Rick Rockwell in front of millions of viewers.

Allegations that Rockwell was abusive emerged immediately.

Darva Conger sued for an annulment to the marriage because she said she, “Wanted her privacy”.

Then, she promptly posed as a centerfold for Playboy magazine.

Her life is an example of bad choices.

In an ABC TV interview, she told ABC?s Diane Sawyer, “I have worked my whole life to be a credible person, a person of integrity. Unfortunately, in two hours I destroyed much of that credibility. And … I?d like it back.”

I believe that Samson would warn us that your greatest strength can be destroyed by your smallest weakness.

But here?s the good part.

I think that Samson would also remind us that:

God is willing to give you another chance?

Thankfully this story doesn?t end with Samson in a slave?s pit.

Samsons life did end on a positive note.

Judges 16:22 (NIV)

22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

When the hair returned, so did the strength.

I don?t want you to make a mistake, though, in thinking that it was his magical hair that gave him his strength.

He had the long hair because he had taken a lifelong vow of faithfulness to God.

It wasn?t the hair that made him strong, it was the renewal of his commitment to God.

You see, somewhere Between Barber Shop & the Coliseum?Samson got something he hadn?t had in a long time ? He got real with God!

His broken heart cried out to God.

As he turned to mill wheel, his mind dwelled on:

? All the missed opportunities.

? All the impulsive emotions.

? All the times he flirted with sin.

? All the disobedience to his Parents

? All the disobedience to his calling.

? All the disobedience to his God.

I believe that while his hair was growing, his faith was also growing.

I believe that Samson got real with God, and became broken before God.

Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 147:3 (NIV)

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

And I believe that God heard the cry of a man who had wandered far away from God.

Scripture doesn?t spell it out, but can?t you feel Samson?s repentant heart as he worked in the grinding mill?

Numbers 6:12 tells us about what a Nazirite is supposed to do when he sins.

Number 6:12 (NIV)

12 He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

Friends, that?s called repentance!

This verse means that after repentance ? Nazarites start all over and the old sins are gone…

That?s exactly what happened with Samson.

He found himself standing between the pillars that held up the Temple of Dagon.

Dagon was the god of the Philistines.

In Judges 16:28, Samson does something that Scripture hasn?t shown him do for a long time.

He begins to pray?

Judges 16:28 (NIV)

28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Judges 16:30 (NIV)

30 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.

I believe that Samson?s final choice to come back to God was what qualified him as a hero of the faith.

CONCLUSION

It doesn?t matter how far you?ve run away, it only matters that you?re willing to come back.