And Each Man Did That Which Was Right In His Own Eyes
So the Lord used Samson to begin to deliver the children of Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. We have seen that Israel should not have been in bondage to the Philistines, or to the Canaanites; but they were overcome, over and over again, because they did not drive them out when they were strong. They did not drive them out when they were "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." They were taken into bondage because they allowed their natural man to govern their lives. Even after the Lord began to deliver them through Samson, we find these solemn words recorded at the end of the Book of Judges: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did [continually] that which was right in his own eyes." This caused the strength of everyone's natural man to grow stronger and stronger, until the collective strength of the natural man governed Israel. Then Saul, who represents the accumulative strength of their corporate natural an, was made their king.
In the Old Testament, we have seen that the Philistines are one of the agents used by satan for his antichrist activity. We have also seen that that which is of the antichrist becomes stronger and stronger when God's people, individually or corporately, give place to the devil by allowing their natural man to control their lives. So the Philistines had reached their maximum strength because the natural man was king in Israel, and Goliath appeared to challenge Israel. The strength and power of the antichrist spirit of satan had reached its maximum strength, and the sum of its evil strength is 666.
But God has other plans, He already has those in place who will overcome this giant of uncircumcision. Therefore, during the last years of Samson's life, when God began to deliver His people out of the hands of the Philistines, and during the time each man was continually doing that which was right in his own eyes, a handmaid of the Lord was praying. In the hill country of Mount Ephraim, in a town called Ramah, a handmaid of the Lord, a bondslave of the Lord, named Hannah was in deep travail and anguish because she had no child.
"Year after year" Hannah poured out her earnest longings for a son. "Year after year" Hannah poured out her sorrows and distresses before the Lord. Though she felt oppressed, and even "bitter in soul" at times, she still continued her travail "in the Spirit," she did not give up. Hannah's travail was the travail of the Spirit; in other words, her prayers were not expended upon her own natural desires. No! at the center of Hannah's prayers was her desire to satisfy the Lord and His Way, for she vowed to give her son to the Lord: "... I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life ..." (1 Samuel 1:11).
So Samuel was born. God had called and chosen Himself a man who would serve Him all the days of his life, and Samuel proved to be one of the most faithful of God's servants. Remember, throughout the ages, those who are with the Lamb as He overcomes all that s antichrist are "they that are... called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14). Samuel was birthed through prayer, even his name speaks of prayer. Samuel's name means both "asked of God" and "God heard." Samuel was birthed through prayer because Hannah's long travail was "in the Spirit"; and Samuel himself became a fervent intercessor.
Hannah can also be numbered among "they" who are with the Lamb as He overcomes all that is antichrist throughout each and every age; for Hannah, whose name means "grace", was used by the Lord to show His Everlasting Grace unto His people. Thus, after Hannah had taken the young child Samuel to the house of the Lord and dedicated him to serve the Lord all the days of his life: "Hannah prayed ..." (1 Samuel 2:1). Hannah prayed "in the Spirit," and in her prayer we find the first occurrence of the Divine Title "Christ," or "Messiah," as it is written in the Word. God used Hannah's vessel to utter for the first time the Divine Title of His Christ, His Messiah, "His Anointed": "And He [the Lord] will exalt the power of His Anointed - His Christ" (1 Samuel 2:10).
At the time when there was no king in Israel, "Hannah prayed." At the time when each man did that which was right in his own eyes, "Hannah prayed." At the time when God's people were, again and again, being taken into the bondage of the Philistines, "Hannah prayed.
Hannah's long travail brought forth a "man of God," a man who was for God and God alone, a man who served the Lord all the days of his life, a man who lived his life before the Lord in such a way that his very life condemned the evil and corruption that prevailed among God's people. Hannah's prayers brought forth a "man of God" whose heart was so at one with his Lord,that when the people rejected Samuel as their judge, the Lord said to Samuel: "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me ..."
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 51)
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Times and Places for Quiet Converse
He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray, and as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering... they saw his glory (Luke 9:29, 32).
If I have found grace in thy sight, show me thy glory (Exod. 33:13).
When Jesus took these three disciples up into that high mountain apart, He brought them into close communion with Himself. They saw no man but Jesus only; and it was good to be there. Heaven is not far from those who tarry on the mount with their Lord.
Who has not in moments of meditation and prayer caught a glimpse of opening gates? Who has not in the secret place of holy communion felt the rush of some white surging wave of emotion--a foretaste of the joy of the blessed?
The Master had times and places for quiet converse with His disciples, once on the peak of Hermon, but oftener on the sacred slopes of Olivet. Every Christian should have his Olivet. Most of us, especially in the cities and towns, live at high pressure. From early morning until bedtime we are exposed to the whirl. Amid all this maelstrom how little chance for quiet thought, for God's Word, for prayer and heart fellowship!
Daniel needed to have an Olivet in his chamber amid Babylon's roar and idolatries. Peter found his on a housetop in Joppa; and Martin Luther found his in the "upper room" at Wittenberg, which is still held sacred.
Dr. Joseph Parker once said: "If we do not get back to visions, peeps into heaven, consciousness of the higher glory and the larger life, we shall lose our religion; our altar will become a bare stone, unblessed by visitant from Heaven." Here is the world's need today--men who have seen their Lord.
--The Lost Art of Meditation
--The Lost Art of Meditation
Come close to Him! He may take you today up into the mountain top, for where He took Peter with his blundering, and James and John, those sons of thunder who again and again so utterly misunderstood their Master and His mission, there is no reason why He should not take you. So don't shut yourself out of it and say, "Ah, these wonderful visions and revelations of the Lord are for choice spirits!" They may be for you!
~L. B. Cowman~
Friday, December 20, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 50
We Can Exercise Control Over the Natural Man (continued)
Many Christians who allow their fleshy lusts and passions control their lives want God, or someone God uses, to deliver them of this uncleanness. But if w are saved by His Grace, if we are redeemed by the Blood of Christ, we have already been delivered. Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has delivered us in and through Christ: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son."
If we are saved, we have been delivered out of the power, out of the authority of the darkness - "the darkness," the realm which is under the rule of satan (Revelation 16:10); and we have been transferred into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son - God has transferred us into, God has set us in, the Kingdom which is Sovereignly Ruled by Christ Jesus our Lord. This is our God-given position from the instant we are saved. This is our God-given position during our sojourn on earth, this is our God-given position throughout all eternity.
Therefore, if our natural man habitually rules in our lives in any way, it is because we have allowed the natural man to rule. Many say, "I have tried, I just cannot control the lasciviousness of my natural man, God must deliver me"; while in fact, their only desire is self-satisfaction. Others may feel that since Christ has accomplished all things, "I do not have to control the habitual ways of my natural man, God will deal with them in His timing. God is with me, I can do as I want." Beware, Samson fell into the above traps and only the crushing of the mill stone could deal with his life. Many of us may be unaware that our natural man controls so much of our lives, this seemed to have been Abraham's and Sarah's problem; but, as we have seen, God knows just how to deal with this.
Dear friends, whatever is the habitual way of our natural man, whether it is lust in any form, or jealousy or bitterness or religiosity or the love of money or power or influence or that we must have our own way, etc., it all can be labeled the same way, selfishness. Self-interest, self-satisfaction, self-gratification, self-centeredness, self-importance, self-pity, self-indulgence, self-reliance, self-righteousness, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-seeking, self-willed. Self! Self! Self!
We have been transferred into the Kingdom of His dear Son, and if we do not deny our selves and allow the work of the Cross in our lives, it i because we are selfish: our way, our wants, our desires, our lusts, our interests are more important to us than the Lord's Way, which is always the way of the Cross, the way of self-denial. We have been set into the Kingdom of God's Beloved Son, we have been seated with Christ at the Right Hand of God, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit - the power that Raised Christ from the dead, we have been "co-raised" with Christ (Colossians 3:1). And the result is that we have the power of the Throne in our lives. Therefore, we can exercise control over the natural man, we can deny our self, we can allow the work of the Cross in our lives.
We can "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).
We can "set our mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col. 3:2).
We can "put to death (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in [our] members - those animal impulses and all that is earthly in [us] that is employed in sin: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness ..." (Col. 3:5).
We can "put off all of these: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from [our] mouth" (Col. 3:8).
We can "put off the old man," we can "lay aside the old self with its evil practices" (Col. 3:9).
We can "put on the new man, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the ONE Who created him" (Col. 3:10).
We can "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other ... and if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another," we can forgive them "even as Christ forgave [us]" (Col. 3:12, 13).
We can "put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Col. 3:14).
We can "let the Word of Christ richly dwell within us, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col. 3:16).
We can "whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
We can "be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in our prayer [life], being both alert and intent in [our praying] with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2).
Beloved, we can do all these things and much, much more because we have been delivered from the power of darkness,and we have been transferred into the Kingdom of God's Beloved Son.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 51 - "And Each Man Did That Which Was Right in His Own Eyes")
Many Christians who allow their fleshy lusts and passions control their lives want God, or someone God uses, to deliver them of this uncleanness. But if w are saved by His Grace, if we are redeemed by the Blood of Christ, we have already been delivered. Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has delivered us in and through Christ: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son."
If we are saved, we have been delivered out of the power, out of the authority of the darkness - "the darkness," the realm which is under the rule of satan (Revelation 16:10); and we have been transferred into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son - God has transferred us into, God has set us in, the Kingdom which is Sovereignly Ruled by Christ Jesus our Lord. This is our God-given position from the instant we are saved. This is our God-given position during our sojourn on earth, this is our God-given position throughout all eternity.
Therefore, if our natural man habitually rules in our lives in any way, it is because we have allowed the natural man to rule. Many say, "I have tried, I just cannot control the lasciviousness of my natural man, God must deliver me"; while in fact, their only desire is self-satisfaction. Others may feel that since Christ has accomplished all things, "I do not have to control the habitual ways of my natural man, God will deal with them in His timing. God is with me, I can do as I want." Beware, Samson fell into the above traps and only the crushing of the mill stone could deal with his life. Many of us may be unaware that our natural man controls so much of our lives, this seemed to have been Abraham's and Sarah's problem; but, as we have seen, God knows just how to deal with this.
Dear friends, whatever is the habitual way of our natural man, whether it is lust in any form, or jealousy or bitterness or religiosity or the love of money or power or influence or that we must have our own way, etc., it all can be labeled the same way, selfishness. Self-interest, self-satisfaction, self-gratification, self-centeredness, self-importance, self-pity, self-indulgence, self-reliance, self-righteousness, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-seeking, self-willed. Self! Self! Self!
We have been transferred into the Kingdom of His dear Son, and if we do not deny our selves and allow the work of the Cross in our lives, it i because we are selfish: our way, our wants, our desires, our lusts, our interests are more important to us than the Lord's Way, which is always the way of the Cross, the way of self-denial. We have been set into the Kingdom of God's Beloved Son, we have been seated with Christ at the Right Hand of God, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit - the power that Raised Christ from the dead, we have been "co-raised" with Christ (Colossians 3:1). And the result is that we have the power of the Throne in our lives. Therefore, we can exercise control over the natural man, we can deny our self, we can allow the work of the Cross in our lives.
We can "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).
We can "set our mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col. 3:2).
We can "put to death (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in [our] members - those animal impulses and all that is earthly in [us] that is employed in sin: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness ..." (Col. 3:5).
We can "put off all of these: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from [our] mouth" (Col. 3:8).
We can "put off the old man," we can "lay aside the old self with its evil practices" (Col. 3:9).
We can "put on the new man, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the ONE Who created him" (Col. 3:10).
We can "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other ... and if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another," we can forgive them "even as Christ forgave [us]" (Col. 3:12, 13).
We can "put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Col. 3:14).
We can "let the Word of Christ richly dwell within us, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col. 3:16).
We can "whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
We can "be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in our prayer [life], being both alert and intent in [our praying] with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2).
Beloved, we can do all these things and much, much more because we have been delivered from the power of darkness,and we have been transferred into the Kingdom of God's Beloved Son.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 51 - "And Each Man Did That Which Was Right in His Own Eyes")
Our Great High Priest
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. -Hebrews 4:14-15
For the Jews, there was no higher office than that of the High Priest. The High Priest held a position of religious supremacy and honor. He was the one responsible for the cleansing of sins for the people on the Day of Atonement. On this holy day, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies. Through the acts passed down from Moses and Aaron (animal sacrifices, the sprinkling of blood, and prayers offered on behalf of the people), the High Priest would make atonement for their sins. In the book of Hebrews, we learn how Jesus Christ came to earth as the final High Priest. Not only was He the High Priest, but also He was also the Sacrifice. His death on the cross ended the need for the man-held position of High Priest, sacrifice and the Day of Atonement. Jesus took care of it all.
Not only was Jesus the High Priest, the Sacrifice and the Savior, but also He was still a person in flesh and blood. For us today, this point is so very important to grasp. Because Jesus was here on this earth in a human body, He understands everything we go through. Jesus experienced feelings, hurts, weaknesses and temptations, just as we do. He knows what it is to suffer, to hurt, to be rejected, ridiculed and mocked. Jesus got angry at the Pharisees, He cried over Lazarus and He showed great compassion to a prostitute. But, Jesus was God. He did not sin. He was the perfect, spotless Lamb—the ultimate and final Sacrifice. Why did Jesus go through all of this for us? Love. He loved us then. He loves us now. He has always loved us. He wants us to be with Him, now and forever. The only way to be with Jesus is to believe that He is the Son of God, the Son who came to earth as a Man, and who offered His life on our behalf as the final atonement for all sin.
Take time today to start reading the book of Hebrews. If parts of it seem hard to understand, pray for the Holy Spirit to open your minds to comprehend the Scriptures. Pray and meditate on those verses that stick out, or the ones that seem the hardest to grasp. If you will commit the time to the study of God's Word, you will grow closer to Jesus in more ways than you can imagine. You will see Him as One who understands you better than anyone else and who loves you more than anyone else can.
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
Thursday, December 19, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 49
The Natural Man Receiveth Not the Things of the Spirit (continued)
Samson's life was just as broken and crushed as the grain he was forced to grind; but as "he did grind," he began to realize that the only strength he had ever had was when "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him" (Judges 14:6). Helpless, weak, and imprisoned, Samson was now stronger than he had ever been; for now he knew, "when I am weak, then I am strong" because God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12). Samson is ready for war!
"Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven," not into the long mane that had never been shorn from his birth. No, the word says it had just begun to grow, a tiny stubble had appeared. No outward show of strength was visible, to the contrary, he looked weaker than ever before. But Samson was ready to make war, for he had become a man of prayer, he had become wholly dependent upon his Lord. And when the "lords of the Philistines" gathered to make sacrifices unto Dagon their god because they thought he had delivered Samson into their hand, they called for Samson so that they might make sport of him. But the Word of God says, Samson prayed: "O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once ..."
Thus, Samson had joined that great cloud of witnesses, he had joined those who laid down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. He had joined those: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions ... out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:32-34). And as Samson prayed he took hold of the two pillars which supported the Philistine temple, "and he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords (of the Philistines), and upon all the people that were therein." God's purpose for Samson's life was fulfilled, "for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb [he shall be one who shall become wholly devoted unto God]: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
We Can Exercise Control Over the Natural Man
We have seen that the Philistines embodied the antichrist activities of that old serpent, called the devil, and satan. And we have seen that that which is of the antichrist gains its strength, becomes stronger and stronger, when God's people, either individually or corporately, give ground to the devil by allowing their natural man to control their lives. Samson, in giving in to his fleshly lusts and passions, allowed the lasciviousness of his natural man to control his life. David had this problem when instead of going to war, he allowed himself to lust after Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of his own mighty men (2 Sam. 11). Solomon also had this problem who, instead of depending upon the wisdom of God, allowed himself to love many strange women, and allowed his heart to be turned away after their gods (1 Kings 11). We all need to recognize that this uncontrolled lust has always been, and is, a disgraceful problem in the Church today.
In Ephesians 4:17-20, the Bible tells us that those who are saved are not to walk as the Gentiles walk, they are not to walk as the people of the world walk. They are not to give themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness - which means self must be satisfied, self must be gratified, self must satisfy its evil desires. Hence, the Lord is warning us that, no matter how this evil lust and passion expresses itself, whether in thought or in deed, this lasciviousness that works all uncleanness with greediness must not be allowed in our lives.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 50)
Samson's life was just as broken and crushed as the grain he was forced to grind; but as "he did grind," he began to realize that the only strength he had ever had was when "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him" (Judges 14:6). Helpless, weak, and imprisoned, Samson was now stronger than he had ever been; for now he knew, "when I am weak, then I am strong" because God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12). Samson is ready for war!
"Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven," not into the long mane that had never been shorn from his birth. No, the word says it had just begun to grow, a tiny stubble had appeared. No outward show of strength was visible, to the contrary, he looked weaker than ever before. But Samson was ready to make war, for he had become a man of prayer, he had become wholly dependent upon his Lord. And when the "lords of the Philistines" gathered to make sacrifices unto Dagon their god because they thought he had delivered Samson into their hand, they called for Samson so that they might make sport of him. But the Word of God says, Samson prayed: "O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once ..."
Thus, Samson had joined that great cloud of witnesses, he had joined those who laid down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. He had joined those: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions ... out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:32-34). And as Samson prayed he took hold of the two pillars which supported the Philistine temple, "and he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords (of the Philistines), and upon all the people that were therein." God's purpose for Samson's life was fulfilled, "for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb [he shall be one who shall become wholly devoted unto God]: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
We Can Exercise Control Over the Natural Man
We have seen that the Philistines embodied the antichrist activities of that old serpent, called the devil, and satan. And we have seen that that which is of the antichrist gains its strength, becomes stronger and stronger, when God's people, either individually or corporately, give ground to the devil by allowing their natural man to control their lives. Samson, in giving in to his fleshly lusts and passions, allowed the lasciviousness of his natural man to control his life. David had this problem when instead of going to war, he allowed himself to lust after Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of his own mighty men (2 Sam. 11). Solomon also had this problem who, instead of depending upon the wisdom of God, allowed himself to love many strange women, and allowed his heart to be turned away after their gods (1 Kings 11). We all need to recognize that this uncontrolled lust has always been, and is, a disgraceful problem in the Church today.
In Ephesians 4:17-20, the Bible tells us that those who are saved are not to walk as the Gentiles walk, they are not to walk as the people of the world walk. They are not to give themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness - which means self must be satisfied, self must be gratified, self must satisfy its evil desires. Hence, the Lord is warning us that, no matter how this evil lust and passion expresses itself, whether in thought or in deed, this lasciviousness that works all uncleanness with greediness must not be allowed in our lives.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 50)
What God Has Revealed
Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. (2 Timothy 4:2 GW)
Even good people who have been blessed of the Lord, to whom He has shown His favor and whom He has used very greatly, may in the end be involved in spiritual tragedy if for some reason compromise has entered in. It may have come in because of policy. What a snare policy is! We tell ourselves we must be very careful that we do not do this or that because it may have such and such a result. It is all policy and diplomacy. "We must be careful to avoid..." – what? Just what we seek to avoid betrays the whole case. Are we afraid of losing prestige with men, support, friends, position, opportunity? Do these things weigh with us as over against implicit obedience to the Lord? If so, there is divided loyalty; and if we allow it, we may at the end pass into terrible tragedy; the tragedy that always follows compromise....
If spiritual fullness is to be reached, we have to be governed by Divine and heavenly principles, and not by human considerations. Divine principles; not, "What will the consequences be?" not, "What shall we lose?" not even, "What will the Lord lose?" because that is a very subtle argument. The Lord does not ask us to reason this thing out on that level at all. He says, "What is the Divine principle? Let that principle govern and guide." You may not see at all how it is going to work out. If you are governed by Divine principles you may seem to lose a lot here; you may, for a time, have to go out with David and wait. But in the end the principles will be vindicated. You have to recognize that compromise on principle only brings disaster. You see it everywhere.... We must say, "What has the Lord revealed? It will mean this, it will cost that, it will involve me thus; but that is not the point. I am not going to be influenced or governed by consequences at all. Policy must have no place with me. What God has revealed – that is the only argument for me."
By T. Austin-Sparks
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 48
The Natural Man Receiveth Not the Things of the Spirit (continued)
Nevertheless, let us always remember that God is faithful; and He is always working all things after the counsel of His Own Will. Therefore, He would use the Philistines to teach His people how they must make war; and as they learned how to make war, the Philistines and their antichrist activities would be subdued, which means the Philistines would not only be defeated, but they would be vanquished: - they would be made to bow the knee to God's King, they would be humiliated, they would be brought down low, they would unwillingly be brought into subjection to God's King. Beloved, this points to the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Christ. It is because of the Cross that satan and all his host have been forever vanquished. They are under the feet of Christ, they are the unwilling footstool of the King of kings (Ephesians 1:20-23).
We know that God's people as a whole have never learned how to make war, they have never learned to walk in the good of all that Christ Is, and of All that He Accomplished. This was true in the Old and New Testament, and it is true right up to the present time; but God has always had those who became overcomers. So in Judges, and in 1 and 2 Samuel, the Lord would use Samson and Hannah and Samuel and David and David's mighty men in this great conflict against the Philistines.
God had said that each generation must learn to make war against His enemies; but in this case, a generation to God does not necessarily mean the literal father to child succession. No, a generation to God are those who are His own, those born of the Spirit. And Samson along with the others, we just mentioned, would become the generation of their time who learned to make war.
Samson Shall Begin to Deliver Israel Out of the Hand of the Philistines
Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite before he was born: he was to drink no wine nor strong drink - which we have seen means that he was not to let his natural man's lusts and desires rule his life. He was to touch no unclean thing - which means he was not to touch death even if his parents were to die, and this symbolizes that which is born of the natural man can only produce death. No razor was to touch his head, his long hair was to be a symbol of Samson's dedication and submission unto the Lord. Thus, God called Samson for His Own use, and the Lord said that Samson "shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5). But first, Samson would have to learn to make war!
Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite, but he was only one in outward appearance; he was not a Nazarite in his heart, for he allowed the lusts of his natural man to rule his life. He desired and took as his wife an uncircumcised Philistine - he touched the unclean thing. He went in unto the harlots of the Philistines - he partook of the strong wine of his own lust. He loved Delilah, a Philistine prostitute, an agent of the antichrist, who was used by satan himself to entice Samson to break his vow before God.
Notice, that each time Samson ave in to his lusts, the lusts of his natural man became stronger, until finally, he revealed the secret of his strength, and the Philistines overcame him. They blinded him, and they chained and enslaved him, and "he did grind in the prison house" (Judges 13; 14; 15; 16). But the Philistines made a fatal mistake when they made him grind the grain; for God was about to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." In Exodus 11:5, where the Word compares the highest position in the world with the lowest, it compares the Pharaoh of Egypt with the maidservant who grinds the mill; hence, the Philistines gave Samson what they considered to be the lowest and the most humiliating position of all. Nevertheless, this is just where the Lord wanted Samson; for it is God Who is dealing with Samson, not the Philistines. Beloved, the Lord uses the symbolism of the grain throughout His Word to reveal His processing in our lives.
~. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 49)
Nevertheless, let us always remember that God is faithful; and He is always working all things after the counsel of His Own Will. Therefore, He would use the Philistines to teach His people how they must make war; and as they learned how to make war, the Philistines and their antichrist activities would be subdued, which means the Philistines would not only be defeated, but they would be vanquished: - they would be made to bow the knee to God's King, they would be humiliated, they would be brought down low, they would unwillingly be brought into subjection to God's King. Beloved, this points to the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Christ. It is because of the Cross that satan and all his host have been forever vanquished. They are under the feet of Christ, they are the unwilling footstool of the King of kings (Ephesians 1:20-23).
We know that God's people as a whole have never learned how to make war, they have never learned to walk in the good of all that Christ Is, and of All that He Accomplished. This was true in the Old and New Testament, and it is true right up to the present time; but God has always had those who became overcomers. So in Judges, and in 1 and 2 Samuel, the Lord would use Samson and Hannah and Samuel and David and David's mighty men in this great conflict against the Philistines.
God had said that each generation must learn to make war against His enemies; but in this case, a generation to God does not necessarily mean the literal father to child succession. No, a generation to God are those who are His own, those born of the Spirit. And Samson along with the others, we just mentioned, would become the generation of their time who learned to make war.
Samson Shall Begin to Deliver Israel Out of the Hand of the Philistines
Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite before he was born: he was to drink no wine nor strong drink - which we have seen means that he was not to let his natural man's lusts and desires rule his life. He was to touch no unclean thing - which means he was not to touch death even if his parents were to die, and this symbolizes that which is born of the natural man can only produce death. No razor was to touch his head, his long hair was to be a symbol of Samson's dedication and submission unto the Lord. Thus, God called Samson for His Own use, and the Lord said that Samson "shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5). But first, Samson would have to learn to make war!
Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite, but he was only one in outward appearance; he was not a Nazarite in his heart, for he allowed the lusts of his natural man to rule his life. He desired and took as his wife an uncircumcised Philistine - he touched the unclean thing. He went in unto the harlots of the Philistines - he partook of the strong wine of his own lust. He loved Delilah, a Philistine prostitute, an agent of the antichrist, who was used by satan himself to entice Samson to break his vow before God.
Notice, that each time Samson ave in to his lusts, the lusts of his natural man became stronger, until finally, he revealed the secret of his strength, and the Philistines overcame him. They blinded him, and they chained and enslaved him, and "he did grind in the prison house" (Judges 13; 14; 15; 16). But the Philistines made a fatal mistake when they made him grind the grain; for God was about to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." In Exodus 11:5, where the Word compares the highest position in the world with the lowest, it compares the Pharaoh of Egypt with the maidservant who grinds the mill; hence, the Philistines gave Samson what they considered to be the lowest and the most humiliating position of all. Nevertheless, this is just where the Lord wanted Samson; for it is God Who is dealing with Samson, not the Philistines. Beloved, the Lord uses the symbolism of the grain throughout His Word to reveal His processing in our lives.
~. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 49)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)