DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE - JUDGES 13

You are young. You have potential! Potential does not guarantee success though. Potential is only a possibility: you have the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. It is something not yet achieved. No biblical character shows more potential than Samson.

The biblical author of Judges highlights the birth narrative of Samson throughout chapter thirteen. Why? I believe the author is pointing to the potential of this child. The angel of the Lord visits Manoah, and later his wife, twice. He instructs them about their son’s Nazarite vow. Samson’s Nazarite vow is unique. It is divinely imposed, unlike the normal voluntary vow. A Nazarite vow would usually be a temporary token for a period of time to show dedication to God, but Samson will have this vow from conception until death!

Don’t forget what the author highlighted in the opening verses: Manoah’s wife’s barrenness. They could not have children! So, the announcement of a child was a BIG deal. Those must have been the longest nine months of their life. Finally, Samson was born! 

Judges 13:24, 25 “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him...”

Samson’s potential is off the charts!

• Called by God while in his mother’s womb.
• Stirred as a child by the Spirit of God.
• Empowered with extraordinary gifts by God.
• Granted exceptional opportunities to be a hero by God.
• More attention is given to Samson than to any other character in the book of Judges.

After reading chapter 13 of Judges you naturally would ask yourself these questions.

• Will Samson succeed?
• Will the promise represented by his birth find fulfillment?
• Will the end of his life be filled with joy and excitement like his birth?

For the next three chapters over and over again Samson will find himself facing a tug-a-war in his heart between – living for God and living for self. 

Chapter 14 Summary: 
Samson is disrespectful to his parents, uncaring toward his Nazarite calling, disloyal to his own people, compromising his morals, rude to his wife, flippant with his tongue, driven by his lust and appetite.

Chapter 15 Summary: 
Samson is self-centered. Although it may appear exciting, he is violating his calling. Life is all about Samson and his pleasure. 

Chapter 16 Summary: 
Samson treats his call like it is a game. His eyes end up plucked out, and his last days are spent grinding grain. Instead of fulfilling his life’s potential for God, it is wasted by living for himself.

You too have great potential to live a life for God. But that potential will be wasted when your life is spent on yourself. Those who refuse to embrace the special life of a Christian end up losing the blessed life. Determine, by God’s grace, to live out your fullest potential for Christ. 

Guest Writer, 
John Lande
Southwest Baptist Church
Church Planting Missionary to Sri Lanka

         
          Despair to live, extreme exhaustion, loneliness and failure - not really phrases one would consider belonging to the great prophet Elijah, are they? Certainly, we can read Elijah's entire story in the Word of God and see that this is far from a true reflection of his life’s story. The problem is that this is how Elijah saw himself at one point in his life. Over the next several posts, I desire to show you the effects of depression as seen in some of our heroes from the Bible. Truly it is no secret that Elijah is my favorite character in the Old Testament, so I decided to start with him. I hope that you will grab your Bible and look at these great happenings with me. Let's look in 1 Kings and see this great person, Elijah, and how God helped him with depression.
                   Our narrative in the Bible begins with the rise of Ahab to the throne of the kingdom of Israel and his rearing of altars to Baal. God said of him in 1 Kings 16:33 that "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." With this great atrocity, God raises up Elijah in the next chapter (17) to stand against this wicked ruler. He begins by proclaiming God's judgment of a drought on the land. The book of James attributes this to his great prayer life (James 5:17,18). God miraculously feeds him during this time of lack, leading up to a great showdown at Mount Carmel with Jezebel the queen's prophets of Baal. God shows out in a mighty way and Elijah prays for rain to come again on the land. Through all this, we see a man that God is using in a mighty way. Then we get to chapter 19 and see that depression works its way into Elijah's life.
                   Jezebel is not happy and declares that she is going to kill our Bible hero. When Elijah heard this news, "...he arose, and went for his life..." (vs. 3) Next we see Elijah wishing to be alone, wishing that he would die, feeling that there was nothing left ("it is enough"), and comparing himself to others (vss. 3,4). All of these are things that we experience ourselves in times of depression. If not treated with the attention that it needs, any of us could break under the enormous pressure that life puts on us. Elijah was a success for God, God had his back. However, depression can strike anyone at any time. For Elijah, it came right after a highly visible victory, an impressive physical run (18:45,46), and a threat from a wicked woman. Elijah is down for the count, to borrow a boxing term. Many victims of depression get to this point and never recover. Let me say to you, God is not finished with you, just like He was not finished with Elijah. What He did for him, He will faithfully do for you! What did God do, you might ask?
                   Our perfect God provided for the entire need of Elijah's depressive episode. First, He addressed Elijah's physical need with rest, food and water. “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” (1 Kings 19:5-8) Elijah's body had exerted quite a bit of energy. He had depleted his physical reserve and God knew that he needed rest and nourishment. We too must not see depression as being "all in your head" as has typically been assumed by many over the years. There are physical needs that must be met. Never be afraid to consult a physician or nutritionist to help in this area of your depression. Treat your body right, then go on to the further issues that need to be addressed.
                   Next, we see God meet the mental needs of Elijah with a reassurance of Who God is in 1 Kings 19:11-13: “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?” God personally met with Elijah, to show him that even when man is in distress, he has a God that cares. God then corrects his faulty thinking in 19:18, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” Elijah was not alone in his service to God. He only thought that he was. He did not know what God was doing in the lives of those around him, probably because he was so busy doing what God had called him to do that he did not see others around him. While depression doesn't just affect the mind, it would be foolish for us to think that the effect on the mind is not substantive. It was enough for God to address it with Elijah, so let us not live in denial of it ourselves. We are many times guilty of what I call "stinking thinking." I have counseled many people to allow God to direct their thinking in purposeful ways, following the leading of the Word of God in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Elijah thought that he was the only one serving God, God showed him different. Elijah thought that he needed to be alone, God commanded him to anoint Elisha who would be his minister (vs. 21). Elijah thought that his life had no further purpose, God gave him work to do (vss. 15-17).
                   That brings me to my final point of emphasis today, what does God have for you to do? Elijah's thinking was challenged by God and he obeyed the commands God gave him. This brought healing to Elijah, making him able to be productive for God's work once again. Elijah finishes his course with faith in the God Who met him at his deepest point of need. I pray that God has met you at your point of need through this great account in the Bible. God has a work for all of us to do, He has a purpose for your life. Get your physical needs met. Let Him challenge your thinking. Seek to do His work.
                   As always, continue the discussion. Comment here or on Facebook. Like and share. Help others with their fight by raising awareness. Furthermore, take a minute to reflect on Elijah in 1 Kings chapters 17-19 and learn from his life.
                                                                                                                  With all God's help,
                                                                                                                  Pastor Tim

Increasing Your Faith - Comfort Zone
            There are many things young believers struggle with when it comes to increasing their faith. The subject that is going to be addressed in this Increasing Your Faith series is going to be the subject of taking steps out of your comfort zone. I believe this is an issue that each believer struggles with somewhere in their lives. Whether it be with their finances, helping out in the church, witnessing to coworkers, or just the struggles of every day. I truly believe that Christians will oftentimes struggle with issues they don't understand how they will be resolved. It is easy for us to begin to worry about an issue that is completely out of our hands.
            Christians will allow emotions to get the best of them in tough issues then allow worry will to seep in. When we allow ourselves to worry, it boils down to a lack of faith in our God. The Bible in Philippians 4:6-7 states “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The word careful here means to be anxious. Therefore, Paul is telling the people to worry for nothing but just seek God through prayer and He will give the peace that passes all understanding.
            Believers, did you know that God still wants us not to be anxious about things but just depend on Him to give you the peace? Even through times that are uncomfortable for you, God will give you the peace. If you are struggling with finances, pray to God and give anyway. If you are going through financial difficulties, don't stop giving your offering. There is no faith in that. However, by giving and seeking the Lord, you will be given the peace that passes all understanding.
            Perhaps as far as finances go, you have already decided to trust in God. Maybe the way you need to increase your faith in stepping out of your comfort zone is by being a Sunday school teacher/ helper. The Spirit has been working in your heart to do this but yet you are coming up with every excuse in the book to why you are not capable of doing it. Living life like that, you will never see God’s true power. Can you just imagine if God allow Moses’ excuses to stop him from doing His will? Moses was given a couple of signs that God was going to be with Him and that he was capable of doing wonderful things through him.
            You are maybe thinking that if God gave you signs as he did for Moses than you would know that you could do something great. Well, that is not going to happen, but why can't the Word of God be enough for you? If the Holy Spirit is already speaking to you, shouldn't that be enough of a sign? The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight:” God does not want us to walk by sight but to walk by faith. Stop waiting for God to write His will in the clouds for you. Sometimes you just need to listen to the His still small voice and allow that to lead you into action.
            There are too many Christian believers on the sidelines when they should be standing in the gap. Often times, we will limit ourselves by our comfort zone. Whenever there is something that is a bit uncomfortable for us or we are unsure of success, we will typically shy away from opportunities that God is trying to use as an to help us grow. We lack faith; therefore, we will fail to seize the opportunity. We fail to recognize that this was a time we could have increased our faith. By forfeiting a time to minister because we are afraid to push and stretch our comfort zones, we then are giving a foothold for the devil. Each step towards Christ in an unfamiliar territory is a step of faith and true dependence on God. Allow the Holy Spirit to have complete reign in your life, in your finances, getting involved in your church, witnessing, and your business affairs.

​A Post by Robert Reyes

Is. It. Real?
Raising Awareness for Depression
 
Is depression real? Just asking this question will stir up strong emotions in the hearts of many who will read this post. If you will give me a chance, over the next several weeks I would like to share my heart on this matter. My goal with this first post is not to answer all the questions concerning depression or to provide a cure for depression. I believe that I can help with this matter, but first I hope to spend this time to raise a little awareness.
 
Let us start with awareness…
Among the authorities
 
Depression is defined by Webster as “a sinking of the spirits; dejection; a state of sadness; want of courage or animation.” Modern psychiatry offers the following: “Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. ... Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.”(1) Webmd states that clinical depression is “when intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life.”(2) Also, simply put by Wikipedia, depression is “a state of low mood and aversion to activity.”(3) Finally, the Bible uses the terms “sorrow of heart,” “sorrow of mind,” “worldly sorrow,” “overmuch sorrow,” “heaviness,” or “careful” when speaking of depression.
 
Now let us look at awareness…
Among young people
 
According to cbn.com, 9 out of 10 adolescents have periods of depression that last at least two weeks and often go untreated and ignored. Crosswalk.com stated that "the rate of teenage depression is at an all time high. ... the general incidence of suicide ... has tripled among young people ages 15 to 24." They go on to state that the "causes of depression and anxiety can range from a genetic predisposition to a variety of illnesses. And, a pop culture filled with empty messages of 'love em and leave em', a devaluation of human life, the fact that 40 percent of children live in a broken home and an emphasis on materialism is enough to make even the healthiest child wonder if his/her life really matters." We cannot bury our heads in the sand. This is a real problem in the lives of those who need us the most, our youth.
 
See also awareness…
Among leaders in faith & history
 
In the Christian headlines of late, we are seeing a regular stream of church leaders who are struggling with depression and even many who are attempting suicide as a release from the enormous weight that depression has caused. Is this new? I say not. Leaders of the past have suffered from this condition as well. It was said that Spurgeon was never the same following a great tragedy where, at his church, seven were killed and many others were wounded. His wife, Susannah, wrote, “My beloved’s anguish was so deep and violent, that reason seemed to totter in her throne, and we sometimes feared that he would never preach again.” Later, it would be physical ailments that added to his bouts of depression.(4) The following has been said about Lincoln: “Lincoln resorted to humor when he needed to resolve the gloom. Aware that his storytelling and joking were essential to his mental balance. He once told his law partner Herndon "if it were not for these stories-jokes-jests I should die: they give vent-are the vents of my moods and gloom."(5) We will talk at a later time about how these men were able to cope with their symptoms.
 
Next, awareness…
Among the hero’s of the Scripture
 
In the pages of Scripture we see some of the great men of the Bible, battling with sorrow, wishing they had never been born! Elijah, after a great victory on Mt. Carmel, runs from Jezebel and wishes for God to kill him.(6)  Job, during his great trial and the accusations of his friends, wishes that he had died at birth.(7) David went through many ups and downs in his ascent to the throne and his sin with Bathsheba. Many of the prophets were severely distressed as they endured persecution and the testing of God for His people. Even Paul experienced much “heaviness of heart” in his yearning for Israel to accept Christ.(8) There is much to be learned from the Word of God that can help us combat this epidemic, but we will save that for another post.
 
Finally, awareness…
Among friends
 
Do you, or someone you know have prolonged periods of sadness? If so, I think that you could answer our opening question affirmatively. Depression is real. It affects people all around us, people from all races and genders, people from all walks of life. Let us be active in the conversation and learn more about this great plague of the mind that is stifling the growth of our loved ones. Let us be ready with an answer and available to support those who need us. Truly, it could be any of us that need the help tomorrow.
 
 
(1) https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
(2) https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/what-is-depression#1
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression
(4) www.crossway.org/articles/did-you-know-that-charles-spurgeon-struggled-with-depression/
(5) https://www.abilitymagazine.com/abe_story.html
(6) 1 Kings 19:1-4
(7) Job 3:11,12
(8) Romans 9:1-5

The Importance of Singles Serving in the Church
          This subject matter is something that is truly important.  It is one of the reasons especially that this “chosen generation ministry” was put together. We want the college and career age people to find where they fit in the local church. Being in this category myself, I have a few things I believe that singles are completely capable in doing in our local churches today. The first thing I would like to talk about is availability. Being available is something that is important when it comes to serving in the church.
I believe that many young single people in churches today fail in making themselves available when it comes to giving their time to their local church. The question is why do young singles allow themselves not to be available to their church? There are many answers to this question. I think one of the big reasons young singles don't make themselves available is because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Nobody likes to be put in an uncomfortable position. It is natural too for people to give themselves a cop-out to avoid things that they are uncertain about. When you have this kind of mentality you never will know whose life you could touch through God. There are young singles in churches that I see having potential to do big things to God. However, they will never reach that potential if they don't get out of their comfort zone.
When I think of someone who had to get out of his comfort zone my mind goes to Moses. When God came to Moses in the burning bush, we see that Moses had doubts. In Exodus 3 we see that Moses kept coming up with excuses on why he was not adequate to do the job that God wanted him to do. We see that Moses tried to question God (Ex 3:11). He said, “Do you know who I am.” Many times, we try to get out of things because of our past. Like God is not aware of what we have done! Then we see that Moses questions the authority on who was sending him (Ex 3:13). There are times that we know God is burdening us to help more and we know that He is convicting us to do more for Him, but we often try to fight it. Moses was aware that he was having a divine meeting with God, yet he was still trying to get out of it. Lastly, we see Moses trying to say that he was not a good speaker (Ex 4:10). Again, he was talking to God. God knew all that Moses was capable of.
How many times are we like Moses when we continue to give ourselves excuses as to why we cannot do something. We all know that when Moses finally got out of his comfort zone, he was able to do something big for God. We will never know what we can do for God until we give all our doubts over to Him. When we make ourselves available, we will be able to invest in people's life, and we will be a blessing to our pastors. It always brings encouragement to a pastor when young people have the fire and willingness to get involved in the ministry. Also, it shows younger children that there will be a place for them to serve in the church as they get into the young adult age.
What are some ways that we can get involved in the ministry? This may be different for every church depending on what ministries are available. One thing that any young single can do is work around the church, such as cleaning the church. Any young single can go door knocking, help on a bus/van route, in VBS, or in a Sunday school class. Something to remember about serving in some of these areas is that we need to be sure that we have a solid relationship with God. If we are faithful to Him, we can have an opportunity to serve in these capacities and places of leadership. There is a place for all those who desire serving in the church, but we need to be willing to give our insecurities over to God. The more you allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone the more your comfort zone will expand. Allow God to expand your faith and your comfort zone at the same time!
 

​ My testimony consists of as follows: 
     From birth til 5 years old my life consisted of attending the local Baptist church 4 hours a week, (Sunday School, Sunday morning preaching, Sunday night preaching, and Wednesday night preaching), and the rest of the time, as you may assume, was spent playing. 
     From 6 years old til 16 years old my life consisted of attending that same local Baptist church 4 hours a week, public schooling 40 hours per week, (7 hours spent on the grounds, 1 hour on the school bus per day, this is a modest estimate), the rest of the unaccounted for time was spent largely in playing.
     There is one occurrence that I must point out that differed from this routine a little less than a month before my 14th birthday... I came under tremendous conviction of sin from the preaching of the Word of God and I found myself convinced that I was a sinner in need of being saved from hell. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me. I believe on that day I was "born again" spiritually. I believe what follows comes from a combination of many factors but in short over the next few years I gradually drifted away from God, even so far from Him that I began to question if sin was even wrong or was it just because some book said so...
     The next 2 years my time was spent in much the same way with the exception of the fact that I no longer rode the bus instead I was driving which also meant that my "play time" was changing in content as well...
     A few months shy of my 18th birthday, certain changes took place. I decided to move out of my dad and mom's house and get out from underneath their authority. I finished my last year of high school, but completely stopped going to church... More importantly than that, I got as far away from the God of the Bible as I could... From just before I turned 18 until sometime in my 23rd year, my time was spent doing whatever I felt like doing...
     I found myself in a horrible pit of filth, and disgust. I found myself to be what I knew the Bible called "a sinner." 
     Somewhere in the midst of my 23rd year, I decided to open a Bible. I turned to a random passage. I read in it II Timothy 3:1-5 which describes what people will be like "in the last days." That passage was like looking in a mirror of what I had become. I decided, at my sister's suggestion to please my mom, to go to church that coming Sunday morning. As I listened to the preacher, years of emotion flowed from me as I cried through the entire sermon... The following week I pondered hard what and where I was in life. I decided to go back to church the following Sunday. Before the preaching was concluded I had already given my heart to God in total surrender. I can remember wondering if it would be ok to ask if I could stay in the sanctuary of that building and just sleep on a pew for the rest of my life...
     My walk with the Lord since then has by no means been a perfect one... But it has been the best thing on this planet that's ever happened to me. To walk with Jesus day by day has been fulfilling in ways words fail to describe.
     In writing this, I must point out that I wish my testimony was different. It's not. I've seen both sides of the fence, God's and the world's, I've seen both perspectives. I have found that the Bible, God's Word, has all of the answers to life's questions that we seek. 
     God and His grace are good. The world, flesh, and the devil are not. This is the conclusion that I've found. This is my testimony.

                Sincerely,
                        Joseph Carroll