One of the most heartbreaking and frightening parts of the Bible is learning that the Lord has left someone. This happened to Samson.
He used God’s gifts for his own gain and, in a moment of crisis, found out that the Lord was not there for him.
But he did not know that the LORD had left him (Judges 16:20).
Samson’s lover, Delilah, discovered that his strength came from his hair. She accepted thousands of pieces of silver from the Philistines and betrayed Samson by cutting his hair. As a result, Samson lost his vision and was forced to grind grain like a woman for the Philistines’ amusement.
In today’s YouTube video, I share the story of a man I met 50 years ago when I was a seminary student. He was a dynamic preacher who inspired thousands to follow Jesus. However, for some reason—maybe fame, fortune, or power—he turned away from the Lord and began serving the enemy.
He went from preaching to hundreds at crusades to joining a traveling circus with the famous atheist Madeleine Murray O’Hare. When the Houston Chronicle exposed the scheme he had with O’Hare, he ended his ministry in disgrace.
Later, after being robbed and beaten, a fellow minister saved him from taking his own life. Thankfully, before he passed away a few years ago, he returned to the Lord and once again began serving God humbly.
For many years, he was much like Samson, unaware that the Lord’s power had left him.
God’s Power for Us
As we read the Old Testament, we see that the Holy Spirit came upon people and gave them extraordinary powers. Sometimes, it was physical strength, like with Samson. Other times, it was wisdom, like Solomon, or the words of the prophets.
In the book of Joel, God promised that the Holy Spirit would be available to everyone. Through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, this promise became a reality. The Holy Spirit became available to every human who followed Jesus.
This all took place on the Day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4).
In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter explained the gift of the Holy Spirit. He referred listeners back to the book of Joel.
The New Testament and Church history show that any good that happens is through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many Bible references to the Holy Spirit. One example is in Romans chapters 7 and 8.
In chapter 7, Paul confesses his personal inability to follow God and serve Him faithfully.
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out (Romans 7:18).
Chapter 8 is filled with references to how the Holy Spirit enables our weaknesses. Romans 8 is filled with references to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is possibly the greatest chapter in the Bible with regard to the Holy Spirit’s work with humans.
Verse 8 describes human ability apart from God. Like Samson, who realized that God’s power through the Spirit had left him, we cannot please God in our own ability, no matter how hard we try.
Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:8-9).
The good news is that the Spirit lives in us. Think about this amazing idea. The Spirit of the living God actually lives within us.
He is not external, coming upon us like he did with Samson, the judges, and other Old Testament figures. Instead, he resides within us to fulfill God’s purposes and gives us the power to live accordingly.
Be Filled with the Spirit
Having the Holy Spirit live in us is both a great opportunity and a personal responsibility. Therefore, we should follow Paul’s advice to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
Years ago, I heard a South African minister explain what it means to be filled with the Spirit. He said that if you are drunk with wine, you are activated, captivated, and motivated by the wine.
Similarly, to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be activated, captivated, and motivated by the Holy Spirit.
When we surrender ourselves to God and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit, we can achieve what God has planned for us. Truly, to be activated, captivated, and motivated by the Holy Spirit on a daily basis is the best choice we can make in life.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby and I discussed the story of Samson on YouTube today.
Real Voices 