Mighty Samson, why lost your mighty power?

  

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

    

    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/

    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 64:1-10, Judges 15:1-16:31;John 2:1-25; Proverbs 14:17-19)

    Today's key passage: 

    

             18 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.

20 Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

Judges 15:18-20

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him. 

   

     My Listening

    The topic I received today from Jesus is:  Mighty Samson, why lost your mighty power? 

    These two days I have been thinking of Samson. Very painful and such a waste!

    Before Samson was born, his parents saw an angel sent by God three times, heard the angel spoke five time and told them that Samson will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines. They saw the angel ascended in the flame to heaven somewhat like how Elijah and Jesus ascended to heaven!

    So, I believe that Samson's parents taught Samson well to know God because they had experienced God in that powerful way and they feared God!

    When Samson grew up, the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon him four times as describes in Judges chapter 13 to 15. And, today's passage records God opened up he hollow place to make water came out for Samson to drink after he killed one thousand Philistines! The water came out somewhat like what happened to Moses! And, Samson led Israel as a Judge for twenty years!

    But, because of Samson's self-centredness, his doing what he wanted to do and his bad temper and lust, even though he had experienced God in a wonderful and miraculous way, he lost all his power!

    Why, he married a Philistine woman, went to bed with prostitutes and told God's secret to Delilah, God left him and at last he lost his life. At last, because he cried out to God so God gave him a chance to do big thing again before he died!

     Mighty Samson, why lost your mighty power? 

     The answer is very simple, leaving mighty God, no more mighty power!

     May you be close to God in this pandemic and receive mighty power from him to lead those who are in discouragement and darkness to experience God's mighty power!

     

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     Help us to be close to you in this pandemic to receive mighty power from you to lead those who are in discouragement and darkness to experience your mighty power. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

      Reflect on these questions:

     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?

    

      Family Corner:

     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

     

Please click this link for the video version of this blog:   https://youtu.be/rb8GogZAksA 

  

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org