100:00:00,720 –> 00:00:07,680Samsung’s story of course touches some of the greatest battles of our lives.200:00:07,680 –> 00:00:14,280when we’re talking about learning to control your passions we’re talking this300:00:14,280 –> 00:00:18,879morning about some of the greatest struggles that we face in the Christian400:00:18,879 –> 00:00:23,980lie welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick I’m500:00:23,980 –> 00:00:28,219glad you could be with us today and Colin today we continue our message600:00:28,219 –> 00:00:32,900cultivate self-control in which we’re looking at the life of Samson and at700:00:32,900 –> 00:00:37,380first we look at Samsung’s struggle to control his passions and desires but as800:00:37,380 –> 00:00:42,619Christians we struggle with many many different desires and passions yeah I900:00:42,619 –> 00:00:47,299think that’s exactly right and it’s for this purpose that the Holy Spirit is1000:00:47,299 –> 00:00:52,740given to every Christian believer I find that’s one of the most important1100:00:52,740 –> 00:00:56,119things to be saying in pastoral counseling with someone who says you1200:00:56,820 –> 00:00:59,000you know I’m really struggling with this addiction I’m really struggling with1300:00:59,000 –> 00:01:05,120this problem a compulsive sin of the setting sin and very often what a person1400:01:05,120 –> 00:01:12,040is living in defeat at the core of that they have not yet believed that Christ1500:01:12,040 –> 00:01:19,000has given to them the ability to stand and to fight and to overcome believing1600:01:19,000 –> 00:01:22,860that truth that this sin may be more powerful than I am but it’s not more1700:01:22,940 –> 00:01:28,459powerful than he is and if he is with me and he is in me I am in a position to1800:01:28,459 –> 00:01:34,139put up a fight now Samson is a great example of someone who had great1900:01:34,139 –> 00:01:39,400physical strength but he was never able it seems to use the strength that he had2000:01:39,400 –> 00:01:46,220in a way that was deployed for the pursuit of good in his life we are given2100:01:46,220 –> 00:01:50,419the far greater strength of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of pursuing2200:01:50,620 –> 00:01:54,779godliness and that’s what we’re about today and it’s a path that we can choose2300:01:54,779 –> 00:01:58,660and it’s a path that by God’s grace we can pursue and we’ll continue to do that2400:01:58,660 –> 00:02:05,059as we study Judges chapters 13 through to 16 and the message cultivates2500:02:05,059 –> 00:02:10,919self-control here’s Colin now at this point in the story you kind of feel2600:02:10,919 –> 00:02:14,360confused because it’s almost like there are two2700:02:14,399 –> 00:02:24,339Sampsons there’s this great military hero who will take on a whole opposing2800:02:24,339 –> 00:02:31,220army single-handed and at the same time there’s a irresponsible fool who says a2900:02:31,220 –> 00:02:37,080liability to have around the place he’s the courageous hero who delivers God’s3000:02:37,080 –> 00:02:42,880people but he’s also the irresponsible fool who’s a liability to God’s people3100:02:42,899 –> 00:02:47,800that’s why I say you don’t know whether to cheer for him or to weep over him one3200:02:47,800 –> 00:02:51,300minute he seems like a juvenile delinquent getting up to extraordinary3300:02:51,300 –> 00:02:57,399and painful and irresponsible pranks and the next you find the Spirit of God is3400:02:57,399 –> 00:03:03,179on him and God is doing something through him for people who know nothing3500:03:03,179 –> 00:03:11,160but defeat and he takes out an entire Legion of the army of a wicked regime3600:03:11,179 –> 00:03:16,020how can such courage and such foolishness be bound up in the life of3700:03:16,020 –> 00:03:24,059one man how can God use a man who shows such dreadful lack of judgment3800:03:24,220 –> 00:03:28,860well the rest of the Samson story follows the same pattern beginning of3900:03:28,860 –> 00:03:32,860chapter 16 he goes down to Gaza an enemy city and4000:03:32,860 –> 00:03:40,699he sees a prostitute and he behaves as an irresponsible fool while he’s in her4100:03:41,059 –> 00:03:46,919house the enemies lie in wait for him but he escapes and as he escapes he goes4200:03:46,919 –> 00:03:51,300through the gates of the city of Gaza he takes the gates and the posts on his4300:03:51,300 –> 00:03:55,600shoulder with him and takes them several miles up the road and dumps them he’s a4400:03:55,600 –> 00:04:03,059courageous hero then Sampson falls in love with a woman called Delilah he must4500:04:03,059 –> 00:04:08,639have known that she was working as an agent of the enemy but he can’t resist4600:04:08,639 –> 00:04:15,860her charms she begins to ask for the secret of his strength4700:04:15,860 –> 00:04:24,940well now Sampson a big strong guy like you needs to learn to be vulnerable and4800:04:24,940 –> 00:04:33,480if we’re to be really close we really shouldn’t have any secrets well4900:04:33,480 –> 00:04:39,079eventually he tells her if his hair was cut he would lose his strength5000:04:39,079 –> 00:04:44,980remember his hair was the sign of his special consecration to God and it was5100:04:44,980 –> 00:04:52,359from God that his strength came but if the sign was taken the reality would go5200:04:52,399 –> 00:04:58,140and one night when Samson was asleep Delilah cuts his hair and then when the5300:04:58,140 –> 00:05:02,559Philistines come to arrest him he tries to shake himself but he discovers to his5400:05:02,559 –> 00:05:06,640horror that the strength is gone and that’s where we read from some of the5500:05:06,640 –> 00:05:12,359saddest words in the Old Testament chapter 16 and verse 20 he did not know5600:05:12,540 –> 00:05:20,079that the Lord had left him the Philistines bound him in chains they5700:05:20,079 –> 00:05:27,799put out his eyes and then they sent him to work grinding in a mill along with5800:05:27,799 –> 00:05:32,679other slaves they had gathered and that’s where John Milton wrote his5900:05:32,679 –> 00:05:39,700magnificent line in his poem about Samson that some will know eye less in6000:05:39,700 –> 00:05:49,019Gaza at the mill with slaves for horrible horrible death beats it would6100:05:49,019 –> 00:05:59,980seem eyeless in Gaza the enemy capital at the mill grinding out flour with6200:06:00,140 –> 00:06:09,260with slaves that is a plunge to disaster and of course it makes us ask the6300:06:09,260 –> 00:06:13,859question of this man so gifted and so privileged and so endowed by God’s6400:06:13,859 –> 00:06:21,119strength how could that happen to him and the answer is clear because he never6500:06:21,119 –> 00:06:29,959developed self control and if you do not master your passions your6600:06:30,119 –> 00:06:37,239will master you this was the tragedy of this gifted man’s life so gifted and yet6700:06:37,239 –> 00:06:41,239so out of control6800:06:41,279 –> 00:06:47,079Samson’s story of course touches some of the greatest battles of our lives when6900:06:47,079 –> 00:06:53,119we’re talking about learning to control your passions we’re talking this morning7000:06:53,119 –> 00:06:59,480about some of the greatest struggles that we face in the Christian life the7100:06:59,480 –> 00:07:08,500pool of our passions can be so strong and it can be so destructive and7200:07:08,500 –> 00:07:16,660sometimes we feel so defeated right there now for that reason I want to end7300:07:16,660 –> 00:07:21,299this morning with two words of encouragement and they’re simply these7400:07:21,339 –> 00:07:32,339the first Christ can keep you Christ can keep you and this takes us to the very7500:07:32,339 –> 00:07:39,619heart of the message of the Bible He is able to keep you from falling7600:07:39,619 –> 00:07:45,239Jude writes or in the words that we read earlier from Titus in chapter 2 the7700:07:45,239 –> 00:07:54,700grace of God teaches us to say no to worldly passions there is a grace of God7800:07:54,700 –> 00:08:00,320that comes in Jesus Christ that teaches us you have to learn this but you can7900:08:00,320 –> 00:08:09,420learn it the grace of God can teach you to say no to worldly passions8000:08:09,420 –> 00:08:14,179and bring you to the place where you live a self controlled upright and8100:08:14,179 –> 00:08:25,779godly life in this present age not in heaven in this present age you do not8200:08:25,779 –> 00:08:32,219need to fall you do not need to be overwhelmed by the8300:08:32,219 –> 00:08:39,760pool of worldly passions now the problem for some of us here is that we simply do8400:08:39,859 –> 00:08:46,159believe God we say that we are believers but we do not believe what God has said8500:08:46,159 –> 00:08:52,780to us all the time we run the same story through our minds oh it’s so strong I8600:08:52,780 –> 00:08:56,599can’t overcome it you don’t know how difficult it is for me well I can manage8700:08:56,599 –> 00:09:04,840in other areas but there’s this person and I can’t do anything there you go to8800:09:04,840 –> 00:09:11,840counseling and you pour out the same thing you repeat again and again the lie8900:09:11,840 –> 00:09:18,640of your enemy that you fundamentally believe nothing can be done about this9000:09:18,640 –> 00:09:27,400it’s too strong the pool is too great and victory for you will only begin when9100:09:27,400 –> 00:09:33,820you believe God you say you’re a believer I’m asking you to believe what9200:09:33,820 –> 00:09:43,460God says on this issue soak it into your mind right now this morning the grace of9300:09:43,460 –> 00:09:53,340God teaches us to say no to worldly passions the grace that God pours into9400:09:53,340 –> 00:09:59,000our lives through Jesus Christ puts you in the position where you can by His9500:09:59,340 –> 00:10:08,820grace learn to say no. That’s where victory begins where you believe that9600:10:08,820 –> 00:10:14,119over the lie of the enemy who tells you again and again and again you can’t beat9700:10:14,119 –> 00:10:26,979this one. You do not need young folks to make a bunch of foolish mistakes like9800:10:26,979 –> 00:10:32,020Samosn bringing indescribable pain to you and to those who are around you. You9900:10:32,020 –> 00:10:38,500don’t need to do that. Jesus Christ has come into the world to make it possible10000:10:38,500 –> 00:10:49,640for you to live a better life. To say no to worldly passions, however they come to10100:10:49,640 –> 00:10:56,140you, through a cable, through an internet,10200:10:56,140 –> 00:11:03,520through a person in the office… you can say no to that which will destroy you.10300:11:03,520 –> 00:11:13,340Don’t let the enemy tell you otherwise. Christ can keep you. Believe that. Believe.10400:11:13,340 –> 00:11:17,640You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and the message10500:11:17,679 –> 00:11:24,419Cultivate Self-Control all about the life of Samson and his plunge to disaster10600:11:24,419 –> 00:11:29,960and how we can use the lesson that we learn there to avoid that in our own10700:11:29,960 –> 00:11:33,739lives. It’s from our series Deckchairs on the10800:11:33,739 –> 00:11:38,479Titanic all about how to avoid plunging to disaster and if you’ve ever missed10900:11:38,479 –> 00:11:42,000one of the series don’t forget you can always catch up or go back and listen11000:11:42,000 –> 00:11:48,599again offline at our website openthebible.org.uk also you’ll find it11100:11:48,599 –> 00:11:53,599as a podcast on all the main podcast sites again search for open the Bible UK11200:11:53,599 –> 00:11:59,760back to the message now we’re in Judges chapters 13 through to 16 and here’s11300:11:59,760 –> 00:12:06,539Colin you can see no to that which will destroy you don’t let the enemy tell you11400:12:06,780 –> 00:12:17,340otherwise Christ can keep you believe that believe and here’s the second11500:12:17,340 –> 00:12:24,219thing not only can Christ keep you and there’s the basis of our confidence but11600:12:24,219 –> 00:12:31,820wonderfully Christ can restore you this is so wonderful we haven’t heard the end11700:12:31,820 –> 00:12:37,239of Samson’s story yet so let’s just go there briefly now look at chapter 16 in11800:12:37,239 –> 00:12:41,960verse 22 one of the most beautiful verses or pictures in the whole of the11900:12:41,960 –> 00:12:54,059Old Testament picture Samson eyeless blind these chained and he’s at this12000:12:54,059 –> 00:12:59,799mill grinding out flour and he’s with the slaves and he’s in this dark hole in12100:13:00,000 –> 00:13:09,580the enemies capital in Gaza and we’re told chapter 16 verse 22 that here on12200:13:09,580 –> 00:13:16,320his head began to grow again isn’t that beautiful12300:13:16,320 –> 00:13:25,460the sign of his strength the sign of how God had used him the prospect of some12400:13:25,460 –> 00:13:37,880future usefulness the hair on his head began to grow again he’s taken a plunge12500:13:37,880 –> 00:13:45,460to disaster but even those who take a plunge to disaster need not make that12600:13:45,460 –> 00:13:56,359the end their salvation for Sampson even here now there’s a lot of discussion in12700:13:56,359 –> 00:14:01,559churches as you will know about what restoration should look like when12800:14:01,559 –> 00:14:11,039someone has fallen like Samson did he’s betrayed the people of God been with a12900:14:11,099 –> 00:14:16,400prostitute in Gaza what does restoration for this man looked13000:14:16,400 –> 00:14:22,359like well I think the Samson story really helps us here let me give you13100:14:22,359 –> 00:14:26,820four principles just very briefly and you can reflect on how they apply I can13200:14:26,820 –> 00:14:35,239see many applications of them in the home and in the church number one13300:14:35,359 –> 00:14:43,460restoration did not mean avoiding the consequences of Samson’s actions he was13400:14:43,460 –> 00:14:49,000at the mill in Gaza with the slaves he would never have been there if it wasn’t13500:14:49,000 –> 00:14:53,200for his folly but he went there as a result of his folly and he did time13600:14:53,200 –> 00:14:59,539there to restoration does not mean avoiding the consequences of our actions13700:14:59,539 –> 00:15:03,880if all we’re interested is avoiding the consequences of our actions it probably13800:15:03,880 –> 00:15:08,200means we’re not truly repentant restoration does not mean avoiding the13900:15:08,200 –> 00:15:15,900consequences of your actions number two restoration may not mean coming back to14000:15:15,900 –> 00:15:20,840your previous position now think about this14100:15:20,840 –> 00:15:27,679Samson got his hair back but he never got his eyes back14200:15:27,679 –> 00:15:33,119he was wonderfully restored and as we’ll see in a moment he was wonderfully used14300:15:33,159 –> 00:15:38,059again by God in fact the greatest work that God did through him was done at the14400:15:38,059 –> 00:15:46,679end of his life but it wasn’t the same work as would have been if he had not14500:15:46,679 –> 00:15:51,919fallen in this way restoration may not mean going back to14600:15:51,919 –> 00:15:59,859the previous position choices have significance and some choices rightly14700:16:00,340 –> 00:16:08,500onto another path the best thing to do in that case is to accept it14800:16:08,500 –> 00:16:18,280thirdly Samson was restored slowly his here grew as a process forgiveness may14900:16:18,280 –> 00:16:26,700be instant but restoration is always a process and the fourth thing and I think15000:16:26,700 –> 00:16:32,179this is by far the most wonderful is simply this that God used the disaster15100:16:32,179 –> 00:16:38,599in Sampson’s life to bring him into a position where he made his greatest15200:16:38,599 –> 00:16:42,739contribution to the kingdom of God it wasn’t where he would have been15300:16:42,739 –> 00:16:49,440otherwise he was brought into a most difficult place at the male in Gaza but15400:16:49,440 –> 00:16:55,520it was from there that God used him to make his single greatest life15500:16:55,580 –> 00:17:00,159contribution to the advance of the kingdom of God God used him in an15600:17:00,159 –> 00:17:07,680incredible way and that can be true of you whatever you’ve done look at how it15700:17:07,680 –> 00:17:15,520happened they decided the Philistines to have a party a great party in the15800:17:15,520 –> 00:17:20,560temple of their God which was of course the control and command center for the15900:17:20,839 –> 00:17:26,359entire Philistine operation this great temple was dedicated to their god and16000:17:26,359 –> 00:17:31,939idol by the name of Dagon and they decided in this party in which they were16100:17:31,939 –> 00:17:37,699throwing up praise to Dagon declaring that he was greater than the16200:17:37,699 –> 00:17:43,420God of the Bible because Samson the hero of God’s people had been delivered into16300:17:43,420 –> 00:17:47,859their hands they’re praising Dagon and they’re throwing this wild and lavish16400:17:47,859 –> 00:17:52,660party and they decide that it would be great to bring out chained Samson and to16500:17:52,660 –> 00:17:59,060have some sport with him and rather like a circus or a sideshow at a fair no16600:17:59,060 –> 00:18:02,479doubt they gave him some iron and bits and pieces to try and show his strength16700:18:02,479 –> 00:18:08,199and to laugh at what he could not do and here’s Samson can you imagine anything16800:18:08,199 –> 00:18:13,479lower or darker than this to be in the command and control headquarters of the16900:18:13,479 –> 00:18:22,280enemy a temple to Dagon to be a prisoner to be surrounded by this cacophony of17000:18:22,280 –> 00:18:30,099laughter and of mocking and of jeering from this crowd of revelling drunken17100:18:30,099 –> 00:18:38,140leaders of the enemy the top brass of their military it’s the lowest moment of17200:18:38,219 –> 00:18:43,839Samson’s life he is utterly helpless humiliated and hopeless and in the utter17300:18:43,839 –> 00:18:48,459darkness of Dagan’s temple who ever would have imagined that God’s hero17400:18:48,459 –> 00:18:56,260could come here he cries out to God chapter 16 verse 2817500:18:56,260 –> 00:19:07,079sovereign Lord he prays remember me strengthen me just one more time and God17600:19:07,359 –> 00:19:15,839Martin and God did strengthen Samson said to the one who had brought him to17700:19:15,839 –> 00:19:20,280the temple Oh take me to the pillar he said so I can lean against it and rather17800:19:20,280 –> 00:19:26,880naively the servant did and feeling the two main support pillars of this vast17900:19:26,880 –> 00:19:34,500temple Samson pushes with all his might and he literally brings the house down18000:19:34,500 –> 00:19:40,839the command and control center of the enemy with all the top brass gathered18100:19:40,839 –> 00:19:48,459together on that occasion and the whole lot comes tumbling down Samson dies in18200:19:48,459 –> 00:19:55,979the event he goes out as a martyr and as a courageous hero he dies in a blaze of18300:19:55,979 –> 00:20:03,500glory and in his death the very control and command center of the enemy that has18400:20:03,500 –> 00:20:10,040oppressed the people of God for forty years comes tumbling down now of course18500:20:10,040 –> 00:20:18,219all that points us forward to a deliverer of greater gift and of nobler18600:20:18,219 –> 00:20:25,319character than Samson who in his death pulled down the entire command and18700:20:25,319 –> 00:20:32,579control center of our great enemy the devil and on the third day rose again to18800:20:32,660 –> 00:20:42,160lead all his people out of oppression to the power of passion and into a freedom18900:20:42,160 –> 00:20:49,020and a victory that Jesus Christ makes possible, Samson’s story leaves us saying19000:20:49,020 –> 00:20:54,199all we need a better deliverer than you Samson and Jesus Christ is the answer to19100:20:54,199 –> 00:20:59,560that cry he can deliver you and maybe there are some as we come to the end19200:20:59,920 –> 00:21:04,359and as we’ve listened to this story you’ve said I’ve made such wretched19300:21:04,359 –> 00:21:12,219choices my life if I could go back 20 years and undo what I did I’ve got on a19400:21:12,219 –> 00:21:19,459track that is different from what I wanted I’ve played the fool but whatever19500:21:19,459 –> 00:21:25,640you’ve done and whatever the dark place it may have brought you to today there19600:21:25,880 –> 00:21:36,260is our Redeemer that is grace Christ can restore you he may not restore you to19700:21:36,260 –> 00:21:41,479where you would have been if it had not been for these choices but he can19800:21:41,479 –> 00:21:46,199restore you to more usefulness in his kingdom then you will ever be able to19900:21:46,199 –> 00:21:53,160imagine the grace of God cannot only restore you but the grace of God can20000:21:53,160 –> 00:22:01,520keep you it can teach you to say no to worldly passions and you need that grace20100:22:01,520 –> 00:22:11,199and it is offered to you in Jesus Christ you’ve been listening to open the Bible20200:22:11,199 –> 00:22:16,160with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called cultivate self control based on20300:22:16,160 –> 00:22:21,560the story of Samson and how he plunged to disaster as a result of failing to20400:22:21,560 –> 00:22:26,599control sin in his life some of the lessons we can find in that story apply20500:22:26,599 –> 00:22:31,479to our own lives even if we’ve not exercised self control and made many20600:22:31,479 –> 00:22:37,079mistakes it’s never too late the grace of God can not only restore us but it20700:22:37,079 –> 00:22:41,079can keep us from repeating those mistakes the message is part of our20800:22:41,079 –> 00:22:45,439series deck chairs on the Titanic telling the story of eight characters20900:22:45,439 –> 00:22:50,839from the Bible and how they allowed sin in their lives to produce a plunge into21000:22:50,959 –> 00:22:55,699disaster and how we can avoid that in our own lives if you’ve ever missed one21100:22:55,699 –> 00:23:00,079of the series you can always catch up or go back and listen again online at our21200:23:00,079 –> 00:23:05,739website open the Bible dot org dot UK you can also find Pastor Collins21300:23:05,739 –> 00:23:10,199teaching on all the main podcast sites and you’ll find those by searching for21400:23:10,199 –> 00:23:15,760open the Bible UK or by following a link from our website you know open the Bible21500:23:15,760 –> 00:23:19,400is supported entirely by our listeners and if that’s something you’ve been21600:23:19,400 –> 00:23:23,619considering doing but haven’t done up until now this month if you’re able to21700:23:23,619 –> 00:23:28,119support open the Bible financially in the amount of five pounds per month or21800:23:28,119 –> 00:23:33,079more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more we’d love to say thank you by21900:23:33,079 –> 00:23:37,599sending you a copy of Collins book heaven how I got here the story of the22000:23:37,599 –> 00:23:43,060thief on the cross and also the booklet How Can I be Sure of Heaven? and a22100:23:43,060 –> 00:23:47,800special open the Bible pen and bookmark. Colin how will people be helped22200:23:47,979 –> 00:23:53,180out by reading heaven how I got here? it’s a small book very easy to read and22300:23:53,180 –> 00:23:57,699it tells the story of the thief on the cross in the first person and the22400:23:57,699 –> 00:24:02,479mission of the book the reason for writing it is that this story really22500:24:02,479 –> 00:24:08,819explains grace better than any story that I know or could think of. Many22600:24:08,819 –> 00:24:13,699people have the idea that if you’re going to get into heaven you’ll do that22700:24:13,699 –> 00:24:17,020by living a good enough life and obviously the thief on the cross didn’t22800:24:17,060 –> 00:24:22,180do that and he did get into heaven and he got there by God’s grace so for22900:24:22,180 –> 00:24:27,660anyone who needs to grasp what the grace of God is this is a very simple story23000:24:27,660 –> 00:24:33,040that explains that and so this is a book that you can read and enjoy and I hope a23100:24:33,040 –> 00:24:36,739book that you’ll think about passing on to a friend who needs to discover God’s23200:24:36,739 –> 00:24:41,060grace. Well this book heaven how I got here along with a booklet how can I be23300:24:41,060 –> 00:24:46,540sure of heaven and a special open the Bible pen and bookmark are our thank-you23400:24:46,540 –> 00:24:50,760gift if you’re able to set up a new direct debit in the amount of 5 pounds23500:24:50,760 –> 00:24:55,800per month or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more to the work of open23600:24:55,800 –> 00:24:59,760the Bible in this month for full terms and conditions and to23700:24:59,760 –> 00:25:05,920online come to our website openthebible.org.uk for open the Bible and23800:25:05,920 –> 00:25:10,319pastor Collin Smith I’m David Pick I’m glad you are with us today I’m I hope23900:25:10,819 –> 00:25:15,660you’ll be able to join us again tomorrow.24000:25:16,300 –> 00:25:22,680We often focus on how we can repent and seek forgiveness when we’ve sinned but24100:25:22,680 –> 00:25:27,900how should we react when we’re sinned against find out next time on Open the24200:25:27,900 –> 00:25:30,300Bible