Today we will hear a story of a man that was called by God for a great purpose, to deliver Israel from bondage this man had a great opportunity but because of his sin and disobedience, his life ended tragically. Despite the tragedy of Sampson’s story God still accomplished His purpose for Israel. We are going to take a broad look at samsons life… we will be skipping around and in no way tell all of his life.

He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” Judges 13:5 NLT

I.Samson was Consecrated / You are to be consecrated
 Judge 13:4-5a, 7c  So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. 5 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth…”For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’”...God set samson apart and had a standard that was different from the rest of the world and when God sets us apart, we will be different from the rest of the world.
Romans 2:12 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Side note: his parents did what was right, did what was expected but you cannot live off your parents’ faith.
**** Parents: Judges 13: 13, 20, 22
 The angel of the Lord replied, “Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her.  
20.As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.
22…and he said to his wife, “We will certainly die, for we have seen God!”

II.Samson was called for a Purpose / You are called for a purpose
Judges 13:1-5 
Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.2 In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.5 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

1 John 2:27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (other versions use word abide)

III.Samson Compromised God’s Standards / Be careful not to compromise God’s standards

Judges 14:1-2 NKJV 14 Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”

 Judges 14:8-9 Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass. 9 He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. 

IV.Samson was consumed by sin / Are you consumed by sin?
Judges 16:1 One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.


V.Sin brought consequence for Samson/ Has Sin brought you Consequences?

Judges 16:20-21 20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. 21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

VI.God had compassion on samson / and has compassion for you
*this is where the story can turn around.

Judges 16:28-30 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands,30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being  patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 

VII.God conquered in spite of samson / and he can conquer in spite of you.
Judges 16:30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.

It’s our choice whether we use our life for him or our death for him.
On their death bed people say: If they would only use the strength God gave them in their life they could have accomplished so much more.

Phil. 4:14 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.