Keep the Secret of Your Strength

Jdg 16:1  Sometime later, Samson went to Gaza, saw a prostitute there, and went in to have sex with her.
Jdg 16:2  When the Gazites were informed, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded him, intending to lay in wait for him at the city gate throughout the entire night. They kept quiet all night, telling each other, "At first light, let's kill him!"
Jdg 16:3  Meanwhile, Samson had sex until midnight, then at midnight he got up, grabbed the doors, the two door posts, and the bars of the city gate, and uprooted them. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the mountain opposite Hebron.
Jdg 16:4  After this incident, he loved a woman in Sorek Valley whose name was Delilah.
Jdg 16:5  The Philistine officials approached her and told her, "Entice him to discover where his great strength is, and how we can overpower him. We intend to tie him up and torture him. We'll each pay you 1,100 silver coins."

Jdg 16:20  When she cried out, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!" he woke from his sleep and told himself, "I'll go out like I did at other times like this and shake myself free." But he didn't know that the LORD had abandoned him.
Jdg 16:21  Then the Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, brought him down to Gaza, tied him up in bronze chains, and made him grind grain in their prison.
Jdg 16:22  But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved off.

Israel had done evil in the sight of the God and the Lord removed His defense from them. The Philistines became a problem the Israelites for 40 years. There was a man called Manoah whose wife was barren but the appeared  to them and promised a son. The woman was given instructions on how to handle herself during the pregnancy and how to raise their son. When the son was born, he was called 'Samson'. God had said he would deliver the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines.

Now, there are things we learn from the story of Samson about the issue of keeping the secret of your strengths. We get warnings from the scriptures on how to guard ourselves from the enemy.

1. Samson loved Philistine women

The Apostle Paul gave a warning to the believers about relationships with unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6:16 when he said, "Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?" He knew what happens when there is a deep relationship with the ungodly.

Samson did not listen to the warnings of his parents. They asked him if there were no woman of his faith in Israel. But he told them that he loved a certain woman of the Philistines. Listening to godly advice is a good thing because it keeps you from unseen danger. His parents were old and experienced. They had seen things. Lust blinds people. It makes one not to see what others see.

Note that even though Samson did not listen to his parents, God still used him. This is what makes people think they are right even when they are wrong. Remember that God's gifts are without repentance. That means, He does not take them away simply because you are disobedient in some areas. The problem is that the devil will destroy you, not God. If you disobey, you open a door to the devil. The Bible warns us not to give place to the devil. The Bible further tells us that friendship with the world corrupts good conduct.

I now decree that disobedience shall not be your portion, in Jesus Name. You shall listen to godly advice in the Name of the Lord. Hallelujah!

2. Samson meets a harlot Delilah

Delilah was not the first Philistine woman to be in Samson's life. She was used as a trap in the life of Samson. Remember that the enemy the devil does not love you. He is not your friend. He is a deceiver. The devil has been a deceiver from the very beginning and he is good at it. He has one intention, that is to finally destroy you. Remember John 10:10?, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He deceived Adam and Eve in Eden. He still does it today. He tried to tempt Jesus the same way he did to Eve. But Jesus, the King of Kings defeated him. Praise the Lord!

 Delilah was used by the leaders of the Philistines to find out the source of Samson's strength so they could destroy him. Samson thought Delilah loved him back yet she was deceptive. The devil was using her. May I tell you that the devil has got no good intentions about your life. Only God has good intentions. That is why Jesus came. He wants to give you eternal life.

Eternal life should be your portion in Jesus Name. Now, Delilah asked Samson on the secret of his strength. For some time Samson deceived her but she did not give trying to get the right answer. Finally, Samson revealed his secret. After he had done that, Delilah knew that he had told her the truth. Now, let me tell you that as you entertain the thoughts of the devil, he will finally find out what makes you strong. The devil does not easily give up on tempting believers. Here is the advice, 'don't entertain the devil.' This is because he will finally defeat you if you are not careful. Samson's hairs were finally cut and the Philistines caught him and removed his eyes and mocked him. The devil wants to destroy you.

I declare that the Hand of the Lord is upon you in Jesus Name. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Any tongue that rises against you, you shall condemn. It is condemned now, in Jesus Name. Hallelujah!

3. His strength was finally restored

As Samson was kept by the Philistines, he hairs grew so did his strength. The unfortunate part is that his physical eyes were never restored. Do not play with the devil. He is not your friend. Even though God is faithful, the scars are never removed. Some marks of the devil's attack will always be there. Therefore, be on the watch. As his strength was being restored, his prayer was to die with his enemies. That prayer was was answered. He finally destroyed more people than he did when he had his eyes.

However, note that Samson's prayer was not a good one. Never repeat his prayer. He prayed that he would die with his enemies. He did. He should have prayed to have them destroyed and him spared miraculously. The Bible records in Proverbs 6:2, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth." You are snared and caught with the words of your mouth. But you can believe better that Samson did. You are in a better covenant. You now know the scriptures better than the people of the Old Covenant.

I now decree that death is not your portion, but life is your portion in Jesus Name.

Believe in God and His Word. Choose your associations wisely. Do the Word and you shall be preserved. If your strength is in prayer keep on praying more and do not allow the enemy to steal your time for prayer. Study the Word of God so you may be strengthened. Do not be empty, but be filled with the Word.

God loves you.