You are Samson Redeemed!

What if God personally revealed his plans for you before you were born? God had and communicated plans for Samson before he was even conceived in his mother’s womb. He was to be the leader that would rescue the Israelites from their brutal enemies, the Philistines. By the time me meet him in the most popular story about him, his is comfortably snoring in the lap of his Philistine mistress. He has already married another Philistine woman and is no longer with her. In other words, he is sleeping with the enemy.

Samson was mightily gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the purpose that God created him for. Yet we can safely say that, other than collapsing a building on and killing a multitude of them – and himself, he was ineffective and unproductive in his purpose. He was a piece of machinery that made a lot of noise and smoke but didn’t move the load. He was a strongman that walked around grunting, thumping his chest and throwing dirt in the air.

What if you were Samson redeemed? What if there is an enemy brutalizing God’s kingdom on earth and you are called to rescue God’s people from those terrorizing them? What if he gifted and empowered you greatly to achieve that, even depositing Holy Spirit within you to that end? Wouldn’t the enemy of your soul desire to derail you or at the very least distract you from your purpose?

Listen to the reason he gave to those who dared to speak into his life when he was bent on getting himself a Philistine woman:

“Get her for me, she pleases me.” Judges 14:3

How You Can be Samson Redeemed

  • Believer, who is your Delilah? Identify your propensity to flirt with the enemy. In what areas are you willing to disobey God’s clear mandate for you and your body for the sake of the pleasure/comfort it brings you? Repent of this and turn away from it.
  • Open the eyes of your heart to Holy Spirit prompting you to be on your guard and fight the good fight.
  • Be mindful of God’s desire to use you to bring his kingdom down to your circle of influence.
  • Ask Holy Spirit to speak to you through his Word and to reveal your post that he wants you to man.
  • Ask Holy Spirit to make you as fruitful and effective in your knowledge of Jesus as you can be, every day of your life!

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (conclusion)

Self-absorption is a short walk to self-worship, a horrific form of idolatry. When we are self-absorbed we are inward focused and bent on achieving our way, our purposes, in our power, for our glory. That’s where Samson went wrong despite being a man called and empowered by God to do great things for the kingdom. Instead of being sensitive to his God, he lavished sensuality.

When the Angel of the Lord visited Manoah and his wife to tell them they would have a son named Samson, he repeatedly warned them that Samson was to be shomer – on guard. Samson failed to be shomer. Sensuality caused him to lower his guard. Scripture calls us to guard our hearts, above all else, for from it are the issues of life.

I believe that sensuality is a symptom of an unguarded heart. It is easy to be blind to it in our lives. According to Ephesians 4, sensuality produces five faith-killers. These tie in with the 10 traits we’ve addressed in the life of Samson. The five faith-killers are:

  • futile thinking
  • darkened understanding
  • separation from the life of God 
  • ignorance
  • hard hearts 

Attached is a 2 part video I did titled Are You Sensitive or Sensual? It will help you distinguish between these important concepts.

Are you Sensitive or Sensual? Part 1

Are you Sensitive or Sensual? Part 2

I pray that this series on self-absorption has blessed you. May Holy Spirit continue to point out areas in our lives where we are exhibiting the spirit of Samson and to lead us to repentance for it. We are Samson redeemed. May we not fall for the same lies he did, and end up unproductive and ineffective in our knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:8.)

Hereafter, we will move into another short series on alertness and guarding our hearts. All this week, may I invite you to bare your heart to our precious Holy Spirit for examination and for the removal of things that don’t belong there. He is a gentle and very competent surgeon.

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#10)

Welcome to this 10th aspect of the spirit of Samson. We have seen that:

  1. He has God’s calling upon his life
  2. He tends to be immature
  3. He thinks he’s right and others are wrong
  4. He is spiritually blind
  5. He is passionately intense.
  6. He has a mega-personality.
  7. He is deceitful.
  8. He is shielded supernaturally.
  9. He is histrionic.

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women alike (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they are not age-restricted and therefore apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • the traits occur on a continuum of intensity. I have painted them in absolutes for clarification’s sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

#10. UNDER-PERFORMER

Samson underperforms for his capacity. It is striking to note his brilliance and giftings and to compare them to what he has to show for his life. He does not live up to his identity. At any given time he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing. With great vim, he is instead pursuing shallow, temporary pursuits that are inconsequential.

He spends time, energy, and money on trivialities and may have none for what he knows, or claims is most important. His primary tasks remain unattended to and either fall by the wayside or have to be picked up by others. When he should be working he is playing. When he should be resting he is partying. He may be full of rather convincing explanations for each one.

What bell does this trait ring in you? How do you see it play out in a Samson in your life?

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#9)

Welcome to this 9th aspect of the spirit of Samson. We have seen that:

  1. He has God’s calling upon his life
  2. He tends to be immature
  3. He thinks he’s right and others are wrong
  4. He is spiritually blind
  5. He is passionately intense.
  6. He has a mega-personality.
  7. He is deceitful.
  8. He is shielded supernaturally.

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they are not age-restricted and therefore apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • the traits occur on a continuum of intensity. I have painted them in absolutes for clarification’s sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

#9. HISTRIONIC

Not only is Samson histrionic, but she is drawn to/attracts histrionic personalities into her inner circle. She allows them to stay there against her better judgement and gives in to their pressures. Histrionic means theatric, drama-driven, sensational, overacted, or stagy. Sometimes she is uncannily aware that she is in danger but globally she is simpleminded and even foolishly blind when others seek to do her harm. She defends the enemy verbally and emotionally. She ignores obvious signs of danger, positioning herself in the cross-hairs of the enemy. She is misused by others for their pleasure.

  • Who have you or the Samson in your life allowed into your life despite your better judgement?
  • Who have you or your Samson allowed to stay in your life to your/his/her detriment?
  • In what ways have you/he/she placed yourself in danger?
  • In what ways are others misusing you/him/her?

This section is adapted from Napping in Delilah’s Lap. Purchase your signed copy today.

Napping in Delilah’s Lap

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#8)

Welcome to this 8th aspect of the spirit of Samson. We have seen that:

  1. He has God’s calling upon his life
  2. He tends to be immature
  3. He thinks he’s right and others are wrong
  4. He is spiritually blind
  5. He is passionately intense.
  6. He has a mega-personality.
  7. He is deceitful.

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they are not age-restricted and therefore apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • the traits occur on a continuum of intensity. I have painted them in absolutes for clarification’s sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

#8. SHIELDED

Samson gets away with things that most people don’t get away with. God protects him in mind-boggling ways, and he survives situations that many others wouldn’t. His story reads like embellished fiction. Even when he suffers or faces incredible hardship, he is resilient and bounces back in remarkable ways.

Samson is a man of prayer, but those prayers are shallow, self-centered, and mainly fox-hole type prayers. Even in his relationship with God he seeks mainly what’s in it for him, so his prayers are for prosperity and deliverance, rarely for adoration or confession.

What has that looked like in your life? How do you see it in the Samson you love?

This series is taken from Napping in Delilah’s Lap- the Pandemic of Pornography in the Pew & the Pulpit. Purchase your signed copy today.

Napping in Delilah’s Lap

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#7)

Welcome to this 7th aspect of the spirit of Samson. We have seen that:

  1. He has God’s calling upon his life
  2. He tends to be immature
  3. He thinks he’s right and others are wrong
  4. He is spiritually blind
  5. He is passionately intense.
  6. He has a mega-personality.

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they are not age-restricted and therefore apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • the traits occur on a continuum of intensity. I have painted them in absolutes for clarification’s sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

#7. DECEIT

Samson weaves a consistent thread of deceit into his life. He has woven an undercurrent of lies for so long that he actually believes them. He or she can be conniving. If something does not suit him, you may catch Samson saying things like, “I don’t understand what you mean,” or “I don’t remember that,” “It did not happen like that.” After asking a kid to brush their teeth and head to bed, half an hour later, they may say, “I didn’t hear you say that,” though they made eye contact and said, “Okay.” Their protests are so vehement and heart-felt that they will convince you that you are wrong. This trait can make you think you’re losing your mind.

This trait might be one of the spirit of Samson’s tighter links to narcissism. Do you see it in yourself? What does in look like in a child you love? What does it look like in an adult you love? I appreciate your emails. Please keep them coming: furtherthefaith@gmail.com.

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#6)

Welcome to this 6th aspect of the spirit of Samson. We have seen that

  1. He has God’s calling upon his life
  2. He tends to be immature
  3. He thinks he’s right and others are wrong
  4. He is spiritually blind
  5. He is passionately intense.

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they are not age-restricted and therefore apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • the traits occur on a continuum of intensity. I have painted them in absolutes for clarification’s sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

#6 MEGA-PERSONALITY

Samson is a strong and powerful personality. He or she is actually larger than life. She is very influential in numerous circles. Samson easily draws people in. This is noticeable from a young age and carries on throughout life. Based on her magnetic persona, some people absolutely love her and others can’t stand her. She cares little what others think of her. She marches to a different drum.

Who does this aspect make you think of? In what ways is Holy Spirit prodding at your heart regarding you influence over those you impact?

(Your emails are an encouragement to me. I’m so glad this series is blessing you. Please keep them coming. furtherthefaith@gmail.com.)

The Spirit of Samson – tackling self-absorption (#5)

Welcome to this 5th aspect of the spirit of Samson. As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they apply to kids, adults, and the elderly
  • traits in painted in extremes for explanations sake
  • not all traits necessarily apply to each “Samson.”

PASSIONATELY INTENSE

Samson is a sensual and very passionate person. He or she feels and experiences things very strongly. She has strikingly poor insight. She is quickly driven by what she sees, hears, feels, and desires.

She is undisciplined and lives very much in the moment. This leads to poor judgement due to lack of foresight. She loves a good time and may be the life of the party. Life is a drag when there is no action. Every event can then become a party in her presence. She lives large and likely beyond her means.

Samson may exhibit extreme mood swings. When things are great, they’re phenomenal. When they’re not so great, life is tragic. She quickly forgets lessons learned in the past and therefore has little hindsight. She is vengeful and may have episodes of explosive rage and do damage to others, including their reputation or property.

How would these traits manifest in a child? How have they manifested in your life? How have these traits in the Samson in your life affected you?

These are excerpts from my book Napping in Delilah’s Lap. This book is at least a year’s worth of counseling! Get your copy today and one for the Samson in your life. Learn practical things you can do TODAY to live free of hang-ups, free in Jesus! Please leave a comment and share this post with a loved one that would be blessed by it.

Napping in Delilah’s Lap

The Spirit of Samson – Tackling self-absorption (#4)

Welcome to this 4th installment of the spirit of Samson. As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they apply to kids, adults, and the elderly.

SPIRITUALLY BLIND

Samson is spiritually blind, which manifests in numerous ways:

1. He or she does not see his blessings

2. He or she does not acknowledge the blessings around him

3. Because he is doggedly focused on the pursuit of his physical desires, he despises good things that are available to him

4. He lays his pearls before swine, blind to what is of value and who can be trusted.

In which of the 4 ways are you spiritually blind? How do you see this trait embodied in the life of a loved one? What other forms of spiritual blindness can you think of?

The Spirit of Samson – Tackling Self-Absorption (#3)

Welcome to this second section of the spirit of Samson (click here for the intro to this topic, where we discussed similarities between Samson and believers in Jesus. Click here for point #1, and here for point #2).

As we look at the 10 points that underlie the spirit of Samson, keep in mind:

  • they apply to men and women (I will use he/she interchangeably)
  • they apply to kids, adults, and the elderly.

I’m Right, You’re Wrong!

Samson disregards the expressed counsel of those around him – unless he idolizes them, in which case they do no wrong. Until they cross him, in which case they are worse than the devil.

Samson is the ultimate authority. This trait is fascinating to watch in some children who are quite convinced they are equally if not more knowledgeable than adults. Keep in mind that the reason children are not diagnosed with antisocial personality disorders is because they are pretty much narcissists.

He is certain he is right and rarely, if ever, wrong. Even when he learns he was wrong, he quickly has a reason why and justifies it with all manner of tall tales, many of which are quite convincing. He frequently believes that others are mistaken or uninformed and that he has the corner on the truth.

How important is knowledge and being right to you?

How difficult is it to let a point go, even when you know it’s wrong and the other person is convinced they’re right?