Dave’s Monday Blast — January 26, 2015
On Saturday morning of this week the Men of Intention are going to come together at 9:00 a.m. in the Worship Center to discuss our “mission” as ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ and the idolatry that keeps us from being consistently effective specific to that Mission. Idolatry is simple enough to define, it involves having an affection for anything above the Lord. In truth, idolatry is an “uncontrolled weakness”! In Judges 16 we discover the story of A MAN OF INTENTION– Samson, who was so strong he could kill a lion with his bare hands. He possessed physical strength unequaled by any human being. But this could not compensate for his inner weakness. Samson had an idolatry problem.
All of us have areas of weakness. Our “sin” problems are like the fruit on a plant…idolatry is the root of the plant. Martin Luther commented that you cannot commit any sin without first committing the sin of idolatry. God allows these character flaws to show us how totally dependent we are upon Him. In our own strength we cannot win the idolatry war. But with the power of the Holy Spirit we can handle them properly. In fact, to wage war against sin we must be driven into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. Men of Intention know that uncontrolled weakness wreaks havoc in a person’s life.
Dr. Charles Stanley describes Samson’s Achilles heel as uncontrollable lust. “Although he was raised in a godly home and had a clear calling in life, he gave in to his desires and deliberately violated the truth he knew so well. Despite Nazarite laws forbidding involvement with foreign women, Samson pursued a harlot in Gaza (16:1). Later, he met a woman named Delilah, and even though her motives were blatantly treacherous, he gave himself over to sexual indulgence. He surrendered to her his heart, mind, and spirit. He was in such bondage to sin that he ultimately allowed it to dictate his actions, even at the cost of his life.”
Before he died, Samson lost everything: his strength, eyesight, and honor. The man who once led his country mightily became a slave to his enemies (vs. 18-25). What is your weakness? Is it lust, insecurity, fear, greed, gossip, or pride? A proclivity for sin can ruin your life…as it did Samson’s…or drive you to utter dependence on God. Remember that the real enemy is the enemy of our very souls
