Judges 13:24(NLT) When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up.
Samson – nazarite vow – called of God – planned by God for him to fall in love with Philistine woman – Delilah – story of love and deception – betrayal of trust
1. Spiritually driven adrenalin
Judges 14:5-6(NLT) 5 As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. 6 At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it.
In 2006 in Tucson, Ariz., Tim Boyle watched as a Chevrolet Camaro hit 18-year-old Kyle Holtrust. The car pinned Holtrust, still alive, underneath. Boyle ran to the scene of the accident and lifted the Camaro off the teenager, while the driver of the car pulled him to safety.
Adrenalin – When in the bloodstream, it rapidly prepares the body for action in emergency situations. The hormone boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, while suppressing other non-emergency bodily processes
On the routine journey
Attack from no where
At that moment – God’s amazing power
2. Unavoidable risky attraction
Judges 16:18-20(NLT) 18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. 19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him. 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.
Bonnie Parker met Clyde Barrow in January 1930 at a friend’s house. Parker was out of work and was staying in West Dallas to assist a girlfriend with a broken arm. Barrow dropped by the girl’s house while Parker was supposedly in the kitchen making hot chocolate. Barrow was imprisoned shortly after they met and when he was released in 1932 they began the crime spree that lasted until their deaths in an ambush – May 23, 1934. She remained a loyal companion to him as they carried out their crime spree and awaited the violent deaths they viewed as inevitable.
Healthy desires – unhealthy expression
The thrill of the moment
The danger of the web
I will shake myself free – didn’t realize the Lord had left him
3. Ultimate triumph
Judges 16:28-30(NLT) 28 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.
A devastated – broken life
God remember me – strengthen me
Don’t die with the Philistines
Ultimate triumph – from triumph to triumph – what triumph are you currently living for