“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes” (Judges 16:28).
TEXT — Judges 16:22-31
Message
One of the most effective strategies of the devil is not just to lure people into disobedience to God, but also to convince them that God will never take them back. He magnifies their offences and makes them seem bigger than the mercy of God. They, therefore, do not see any need to repent and recant their evil ways, to return wholeheartedly and be used by the Lord.
Samson had fallen into this trap after his head was shaved and he was apprehended by the Philistines. They had desperately sought means to know the source of the unusual strength he had used to terrorize and humiliate them. Once Delilah knew that his strength was embedded in his unshaven hair, she quickly cut it, and invited the Philistines to arrest him. Now finally apprehended, Samson’s eyes were gorged out by the Philistines on the false belief that once he could not see, he would not pose any danger to them. Soon, his hair began to grow, and Samson regained his awesome strength and once more, became a lethal weapon in the hand of God.
The jubilant and ecstatic Philistines were ignorant of this development, and therefore, convened a huge gathering to celebrate the capture of Samson, who had become their greatest national nightmare. Right there in the arena, Samson, leaning on a pillar, pleaded with God to remember him, forgive his sins, receive him again, and restore his strength. God graciously granted his request. With his renewed strength, he lifted the pillar and crashed the arena killing all the rulers and thousands of Philistines who were there. They were more in number than all he killed while alive. The victory was so total that his brethren encountered no opposition as they came to retrieve his body for burial in Israel, thus ending his 20-year reign as a judge.
Have you deviated from God? He is merciful and will not hold on to your past sins if only you can come to Him with a penitent heart and sincere plead for forgiveness and restoration. Do not buy Satan’s lie that once you have sinned, you cannot pray to God. He is not willing that any man should perish, but that all who have gone astray will come back in repentance. Neither guilty conscience, the enormity of your sins, nor the length of time you have stayed away from God should be allowed to prevent you from praying for forgiveness. God will forgive all who ask for pardon and cleansing from sin, and once again, use them for His purposes. Do not remain any longer in sin.
Thought for the day
You may be done with God but He is not done with you. Return to Him.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
