WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.120 So uh we are in the book of Judges. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.559 We're toward the end of Judges. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.000 We've been in Judges for a while. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:14.160 If you've been with us over the course of the past few months, we're in this big story that the Judges take up several chapters, and it's the story of Samson. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:19.120 Now, the people of Israel, they are enslaved to the Philistines at this point. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:22.000 What we discovered last week is they don't even care. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.760 So they're enslaved and they they just don't care. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:32.479 So they're actually unaware of how free they can be in relationship with God. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:40.880 Now, let's remember for us on this side of Jesus, in Jesus, we are as free as we ever need to be. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:44.240 So our relational status with God is secure. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:49.039 We have as much freedom and our status with God as we can ever imagine. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:50.719 Totally secure. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:58.719 And yet we are still becoming more alive to that freedom on a day-to-day basis as a Christian life. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:03.679 I'll reread some of the passage that Brian read for us and we'll work our way through it. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.640 Judges 14, 1 through 4. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:13.040 So at this point, Samson, the baby that was born last week that we talked about in chapter 13, he's now a young man. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:17.519 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:22.879 Then he came up and he told his father and mother, I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.439 Now get her for me as my wife. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:29.359 But his father and mother said to him, Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives? 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:30.879 It's a little creepy, right? 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:38.239 Or among all of our people, much better, that you must go and take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:43.920 But Samson said to his father, get her for me, for she's right in my eyes. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:53.760 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he, meaning God, was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:56.879 At that time, the Philistines ruled over Israel. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:02.319 So point number one is this the uncertainty we dislike, thinking about these parents, right? 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:08.960 The uncertainty we dislike could be future comfort for our hearts. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:21.199 This summer my family went out west, and one day we're gonna take our family up into Yellowstone, and so we tell the girls, hey, tomorrow morning we're gonna wake up like real early, we're gonna go for it. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.960 And so we're gonna 5.45 wake up time, this vacation. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:26.639 Okay, so this is what we're doing on vacation. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:32.000 We're gonna wake up at 5.45, we're gonna make the drive up to Yellowstone, get into Yellowstone. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.520 We need to be at the old faithful lodge at 9 a.m. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.080 We're gonna beat the crowd, is what we're gonna do. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:47.919 So we're pushing them, and they're sort of into this adventure, like they're kind of into it, but at the same time, it's kind of like thought this was vacation, um, not sure. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:53.520 But what they didn't know is that we were holding a secret, my wife and I. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:03:00.800 Because a month earlier, we had told some friends of ours that were also out there, hey, let's meet to surprise our children. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.719 Let's meet at the old faithful lodge lobby at 9 a.m. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:06.960 on Sunday morning. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.840 And they have three girls, and we have three girls, and we're just gonna have them like collide. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:20.159 Now, our children didn't know that, so we're waking up at 5 45, I'm driving up, I'm like, hey, we gotta keep the timing a beautiful waterfall, who cares? 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.199 We gotta get to the old faithful lodge. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:29.199 We pull up, we park, 10 minutes to go, it's like perfect timing, it can't get better. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:42.319 And then the usually the best thing became the worst thing, and that was the geysers about the old faithful is about to blow, which is like if you've been to old faithful to show up right when it blows is like a gift, it's like a miracle that you're not like just wander around for a while. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:46.240 But for us, I gotta get them to the lobby at the lodge, right? 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:58.639 I have higher purpose going on here, and yeah, it's about to blow, and they're they're not budging, they're like, no, like it's starting to spew, and so we're standing there, and I'm like, we gotta get over there, like that's where we need to be. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:04.400 And now, four minutes, this thing's starting to blow, and I'm like, I think, hey, I think there's a better view over here. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:09.439 I've been here a few times, like, there's a better angle if we go left, and we had a perfect spot. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:22.399 I mean, it was a prime spot, like there's nobody in front of us, and it's like, hey, let's move over here, and we're we're I'm like moving them slowly, and every time they're getting we're getting a worse view, and they're kind of like thinking, dad's crazy, dad's losing it, right? 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:28.800 But they have one purpose, and I have a bigger purpose going on at the same time. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:33.040 So finally, old faithful blows, you know, wow, you know. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.759 Maybe you've seen it. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:40.079 So it's a what happens is a lot of water goes up in the air. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.399 That's what happens. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:54.000 So we get them to the lobby, and then my buddy Jake has his family in the gift shop, and he's looking out the windows of the gift shop, like waiting for us, like weird. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:58.160 Like, this was an old school meetup because you can't like text because it's not reliable and yell stuff. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:59.839 Like, you have to be there, right? 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.120 Like old school, remember? 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:06.240 Like, you're like, hey, I'll meet you at the water fountain after school at 3:30, and you just had to show up. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:08.399 Like, there's no like I'm 10 minutes late or anything. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:09.519 Like, you have to be there. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:11.519 And so 9 a.m., you have to be there. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:12.879 We're like four minutes late. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.759 He's looking out the window, so he sees us come in. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:22.000 He goes militant dad on his children in the gift shop, like, hey, time to go, let's go, let's go. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:26.720 Nope, not buying it, you know, and they have their own thing of like, what is happening to dad? 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.120 And we've seen militant vacation dads, so they're like, not messing with him. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:50.639 So his girls come out of the gift shop right when our girls around the corner and they just collide, and all six girls just collide together, and they're all friends, and there's like all this squealing and hugging and happy tears start. 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:53.759 No happy tears at the geyser, okay? 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:54.879 Just fill you in. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:09.120 One of the wonders of the world, no happy tears, but to see some people that you love on the other side of the country as a complete surprise, happy tears. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:10.800 Right? 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.360 So you you pick up my point. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:20.000 Like, sometimes one thing is happening, and it's really hard to see. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.600 Because maybe life is really hard. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.839 But it's possible something else can be happening also, and you just can't see it. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:34.639 And maybe you won't see it for months, maybe you won't see it for years. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:42.399 Maybe even you won't ever see it, but it doesn't mean it's not happening. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:50.720 The Samson story is complex because we have this thing that's happening for later, right? 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:54.560 Like God's orchestrating trying to free his people from the Philistines. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:57.360 So this is a good thing that God will do. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:00.319 We're gonna see it next week in Judges 15, the fullness of this. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:04.879 But it's worked out through Samson's unwise choices. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:11.519 So Samson has one purpose, and God's working out a greater purpose to free his people. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:19.040 Samson goes to the other town, he sees this lady, comes back, he's like, I want her. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:23.360 Now, this was not like marrying a lady from Ackworth. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.560 This was nothing against Ackworth, I'm just saying like neighboring town. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:31.120 Nothing against Ackworth, this was not that, not what this was. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:36.800 This was like marrying a Nazi general's daughter during World War II. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.399 Like that's what this is. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:40.319 That's the weight of this. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:47.519 These are the people enslaving us, and you want to marry, that's who you want to marry. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.120 I mean, the the parents are like, well, can you not find somebody? 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.800 Can you not find somebody? 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:57.839 Like, like you're Samson, like like he's like a fabio. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.560 He's like he's got muscles, he's got long hair. 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:09.680 I mean, like, certainly you can find somebody, but Samson is young, which pretty much means we're stupid, right? 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:11.279 Like, so he's a moron. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:18.720 And he wants that girl that pleases his eye. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.639 So we have unwise choices. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.800 We've all made unwise choices. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:28.240 And yet, despite that, God can redeem these choices for purposes. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.600 And yet, that doesn't excuse us into foolishness at the same time. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:37.360 Listen to Paul calling us to a life of wise choices. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.679 Ephesians 5, 15 through 17. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:47.039 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:52.159 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:58.799 So we are called and equipped by the Spirit to walk in wisdom, make wise choices. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.679 Don't make life harder on yourself. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.240 And some disobedience to the Lord. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:12.320 And yet live long enough, live long enough, and you will live unwise. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.639 You're not perfect. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:20.080 I can just free you up from that tiring persona, right? 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:24.320 Trying to think that that could actually happen, or that you are that. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:28.639 Just ask your friend or your spouse or your child. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:30.799 That could be your lunch conversation. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.440 Just tell me, like, how am I imperfect? 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.639 Because they have the list. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.399 They have the list for you. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:59.440 I do wonder how many times you were in the wrong, like you did something wrong, or you had like the wrong motive, or you want you just wanted something wrong, and then and then like a week later, or a month, or a year, maybe years, that wrongness has been redeemed for some good. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.200 How many times have you thought you had it figured out? 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:22.080 Like you thought you knew the way, like the thing that was pleasing to your eye, you're like, no, no, that's the thing pleasing to my eye is the thing God wants for me, and that's the thing you're praying for, that's the direction, you're forcing that, you're all into that relationally, job, whatever it is. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:32.480 And then, like, five years later, you're driving down the road, Garth Brooks, unanswered prayers comes on the radio, and you're like crying, thank you, God, you know. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:33.120 Right? 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.519 All the time, all the time. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:40.000 I mean, think about this verse four. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:46.240 His father and mother did not know it was from the Lord. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:51.600 So one thing's happening, and yet something else is happening. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:56.559 Now, I'm really tired of trying to reconcile God's sovereignty and self-determination. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.960 Like, that's not a conversation I enjoy anymore. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:10:59.840 I did in college. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.440 That was fun to go round and round. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.679 There's your second lunch conversation. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:08.000 Y'all can figure out God's sovereignty and free will. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.399 Just report back to me how it works. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.840 Let me know. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:19.519 Here's what I like in this text, because I think we can relate with it, is thinking about Samson's parents. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:22.720 Something good is happening. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:24.480 Something good is happening. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.919 God is going to free these people from slavery. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.519 And they can't even see it. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:34.080 All they see is their child's disappointing behavior. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.679 Now let's think about God's purpose in all this. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.840 Proverbs 19, 21. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.080 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:48.159 I mean, think about Samson right there. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.200 But it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.879 Second Peter 3 9. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:12:05.120 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his purpose or his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:16.480 Philippians 1 6, and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:33.679 First Peter 2 9, but you are a chosen race, a royal priest to the holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.399 Verses five and six, back in Judges 14. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:49.440 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah, and behold, a young lion, so not like a big one, a young one, came toward him roaring. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:59.679 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hands, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:03.840 And some of us are going, like, maybe I could handle a goat. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:15.600 And like, maybe some, like, maybe like a man could take out a young lion, not like me or you, but like like the rock or something. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.320 You know what I'm saying? 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.120 Like, it helps us get it, like, a picture in our head. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.759 Like, not me and you, but like the rock. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:22.159 Okay? 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.159 And now we're like, yes, he could. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.639 Okay? 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:29.360 So Samson did that, just like the rock could do it today. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.879 Just to let you know how this is working. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:37.519 But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.759 Point number two, God can use small victories in the spirit. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.879 That's what the text says. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:45.360 It says the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:52.639 So God can use small victories in the Spirit to help us trust him through the bigger difficulties. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.200 Now here's what I mean by that. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:14:08.799 The spiritual practice of recounting God's faithfulness from the past can help us in the present moment for hope, faith, joy, peace. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.919 King David does this. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:18.799 David, back when he went to fight Goliath, 1 Samuel 17, 34 through 37. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:25.039 Listen how David reasons out, giving himself enough faith to go and fight Goliath. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:38.000 But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and when there came a lion or a bear and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:43.039 And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:53.759 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:15:04.879 And David said, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.720 And Saul said to David, Go and the Lord be with you. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.039 So God did something then. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.559 Remember when the Lord did this? 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.320 Remember when the Lord did this? 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:16.879 And he can do something again. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.879 So we could say it another way. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.039 I will wait on him. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.080 I will wait on him. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:30.879 He is unchanging in his purpose for me. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:40.000 So calling on God's past faithfulness for the present day could sound something like this. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:55.039 If God never left me when blank, and he's unchanging, then he is still with me today. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:59.039 That's a powerful spiritual practice. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:14.159 If God loved and matured me even when I and he's unchanging, then he still loves and matures me today. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:23.519 So back in Judges 14, Samson goes down to the woman and to her people. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.240 Samson makes a bet with this group of people. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.639 He puts a little riddle in front of them. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:31.440 So now the egos are in play. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.440 Who's dominant? 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.279 And the bride's people, they can't figure out the riddle. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.639 They're starting to get embarrassed. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.679 They don't want to be humiliated. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.120 They don't want to be shown up. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.759 And so they start to put pressure on the bride. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:48.720 Hey, go get the answer from Samson, whisper it back to us so we're not humiliated. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:53.840 And this is point number three is this, because this is what we see play out in Samson. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.759 Certainly true about us. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.639 We are both strong and weak, but God is always sufficient. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:04.720 Samson just took out a young lion like the rock, took the lion out. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:11.279 Now he's not even going to be able to withstand a little pressure from his future bride. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.160 The scene reveals a crack in Samson's character. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:18.079 Judges 14, 17 says, she lay sore before him. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:19.359 Now that's a weird translation. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.599 Another language, another translation says this. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:24.799 She continued to press him. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.799 She has the spiritual gift of nagging. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:34.000 Some of you are really blessed with this gift. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:42.079 Lay sore is the word suck, meaning distressed or pressing. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.680 Now here's what's interesting. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:47.279 That same word is in Judges 16, 16. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:49.359 It'll be a couple weeks from now for us. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.559 And Samson has a major life crisis. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:57.039 So, same word within a tight time span. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.319 You gotta think somebody wrote this. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.400 This is an author writing this. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:05.920 Chapter 14, and then chapter 16. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.039 Chapter 14 precedes 16. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:14.160 First, there is a crack, then there's a failure. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.400 And here's the lesson for us. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.759 Dale Ralph Davis, the theologian, pastor, commentary. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:22.480 He words it this way: so good, so good for us. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:27.119 The point should not be lost on any of Yahweh's servants. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.480 Awareness of our weakness is the beginning of safety. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.519 As later Samsons have discovered the hard way. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.960 Awareness is the spiritual practice of praying to God. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.319 God, show me the entirety of my heart. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:49.759 Like I want to see as much as you will reveal to me. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.920 And then you're willing to be quiet. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.119 And you just shut up. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.440 And you sit. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.759 Or you walk. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:11.119 And you let the Holy Spirit begin to speak to you what might begin to pop up. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.640 And you acknowledge that. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.799 And you honor that. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.839 And you admit that. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:26.079 Because the Holy Spirit will bring comfort in your beauty. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.480 That you were created in the image of God, that you're significant in your soul. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.680 Nobody can steal it. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.920 The Holy Spirit will speak that to you. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:42.240 The Holy Spirit will speak how good the rescue of Jesus is for you, that you're fully righteous apart from your work, fully by what He has done. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.920 You're redeemed. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.359 Nothing more to do. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:48.000 You'll have that comfort from the Holy Spirit. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:20:00.000 And the Holy Spirit will bring awareness for your good awareness and conviction of cracks in your character. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:12.799 And this is why for us, for me and for you, the Christian life, a life of growing in grace, that is a life of contemplation and confession. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.640 These are the same thing. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.440 Maturing in Christ, growing in grace. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:21.519 It's a life of contemplation and confession. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.240 Last two verses, 19 and 20. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:39.680 And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Eshkelon and struck down thirty men of the town, and took their spoil, and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle, and hot anger he went back to his father's house. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:45.119 And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:48.240 Okay, quite the ending of the story, right? 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.839 And we have to come to some acceptance here. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:21:00.720 The text says the Lord rushed upon him, and then he went down there and did all this devastation. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.559 And we have to come to some acceptance. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:10.559 And the fullness of God that God's bigger than a cuddly teddy bear. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:16.160 But he is a heavenly father who is a warrior. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.720 Here's what I mean by that. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.720 Point number four. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:23.680 Your heart is forever safe in God. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:28.000 Now, God's not necessarily safe in that like cuddly, safe way. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:34.000 But your heart is forever safe in God to repent, heal, rest, and grow. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:37.039 And the lion, the witch in the wardrobe, C.S. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.960 Lewis, writes it this way. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.200 It's a conversation between Mr. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:48.640 Beaver, and he tells Susan about Aslan, the great lion, who rules Narnia, but Susan hasn't met Aslan yet. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.039 Here's the conversation. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.720 Aslan is a lion, the lion, the great lion. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:57.279 Oh, said Susan. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.200 I thought he was a man. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.880 Is he quite safe? 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.240 I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.519 Safe? 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.559 Said Mr. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.039 Beaver, who said anything about safe? 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.279 Of course he isn't safe. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.119 But he's good. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.680 He's the king, I tell you. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.759 See, the Bible gives us the fullness of God. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:30.160 We have a creator God, we have a mighty warrior full of justice, we have a tender Abba, and we have an ultimate redeemer. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:57.200 It's this fullness of God that we get to just even begin to get our minds and hearts around this creator God that chooses in Jesus that we get to know him relationally because of the cross, our sin cast upon Jesus, his righteousness given to us, and because of the cross in Christ, we get to know this creator, Yahweh, mighty warrior, ultimate redeemer. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.839 We get to know God like a tender Abba. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.440 That's what Jesus teaches us. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:09.440 That we get to relate to God like a heavenly father. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:15.680 That's how good and secure our relational status is with God. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.880 And he is on a mission. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.799 He's on a mission. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:29.519 That's what the story is telling us to free our hearts from slavery that we don't even care we are in right now. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.960 That's how much he loves us. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:39.200 That he wants us to experience even more the freedom that we already fully have in Christ. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:48.480 So, my brothers and sisters, for he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.680 Let's pray together. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:24:12.720 God, thank you for your goodness to us that while you are fully just, you are fully loving to us, and that we get to relationally know you as a tender heavenly Abba that fully accepts us and has limitless grace to us because you are gracious. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:44.559 Help us to be the kinds of people that in the safety of your grace can pray, God, show me the entirety of my heart, and that we don't have to be in fear that we would be destroyed by such knowledge or awareness, but that we could grow even more, to honor what we hear from your spirit, to admit to it, to confess, and to grow in you, to grow in your likeness. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:56.480 Help us to be even more secure in Jesus today, and help us to grow in that freedom as we respond to your love for us. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:58.319 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.279 Amen.