THE SAMSON SYNDROME

JUDGES 14-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

Samson was the strongest man in the world, but sin made him weak. He had power to conquer others, but he couldn’t conquer his own passions. Samson could put a lion to death, but he couldn’t mortify the deeds of the flesh.

I. WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEMS SAMSON HAD?

1. The Sorry Choices That He Made

-the wrong girlfriends [14:1-3]    

-the wrong view of standards [14:8-9]    

-the wrong view of strength “I can handle it…”

2. Playing Games with Holy Things is a Losing Proposition

-our Bodies [1 Cor. 6:19-20]         

-our Bibles [2 Cor. 4:2]   

-our Behavior [Col. 1:10]

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SAMSON’S PROBLEMS

1. Lost His Power [16:20]

2. Lost His Eyes [16:21] sin has terrible consequences

3. Lost His Freedom [16:21] sin binds (smoking, drugs, drinking, other addictions]

4. Lost His Testimony [16:24]

5. Lost His Life [16:30]

6. Lost His Opportunity to Serve God [16:30, 1 Cor. 11:30]

III. THE “CURE” FOR SAMSON’S PROBLEMS

1. Submit to God, Resist the Devil [James 4:7]

2. Draw Nigh to God [James 4:8]

3. Starve the Flesh, Feed the Spirit [Pr. 4:14-15, Pr. 27:7]

-many want the thrill of feeling right but don’t want the inconvenience of being right

-to keep our lives from sin we must keep out souls full

                -have been so full you couldn’t eat another bite?

                -men in POW camps fought over rats, considered insects a delicacy

                -when you’re starving you can eat almost anything [shoe leather]

-When your spirit is starving it can feed on anything

                -a bad attitude

                - a false cult

                -emotionalism over sound doctrine

-we must feed on             -the Word of God

                                         -the preaching & teaching of sound doctrine

                                         -the joy of the Lord

                                         -the Presence of God