Apostle Allison Smith Conliff explores the biblical narrative of Samson to illustrate the vital importance of spiritual obedience and discipline. Using the metaphor of a vehicle’s engine, the preacher emphasizes that a successful Christian life requires a balanced combination of prayer, holiness, and a deep connection to the Word of God. The message warns against the dangers of moral compromise, specifically highlighting how Samson’s vulnerability to temptation and deception led to his eventual downfall and loss of divine strength. By examining his relationship with Delilah, the message serves as a cautionary tale for believers to remain vigilant and anchored in their faith. Ultimately, the Apostle encourages the congregation to make wise choices and maintain a life of integrity to fulfill their God-given purpose.
Key Points:
Unchecked personal desires can lead to a premature loss of purpose by causing a believer to prioritize immediate gratification over divine instructions, eventually leading to spiritual and physical destruction. The life of Samson serves as the primary example of how wrong choices and lack of discipline can truncate a life of immense potential.
The following ways explain how these unchecked desires lead to a loss of purpose:
Purpose is sustained through a "combination" of prayer, holy living, and strict obedience to God’s instructions. When a person allows their own desires to take precedence, they transition from hearkening to God’s instruction to "doing their own thing". In Samson’s case, his purpose was to rescue the Israelites, but he allowed his eyes to lead him toward a harlot and eventually Delilah, violating the spirit of his calling. Strength does not come from physical attributes (like Samson's hair), but from the covenant and obedience behind them; once that obedience is broken by personal desire, the strength and purpose are lost.
Unchecked desires can make an individual "delirious" or "blinded" to reality. Samson was so "infatuated" with Delilah that he ignored obvious red flags, such as her repeatedly attempting to bind him and calling for his enemies. This lack of discernment led him to a point where he was "annoyed to death" by her nagging, yet he remained in the toxic situation until he revealed his secret. He "destroyed himself" because he refused to take the cue to leave, ultimately resulting in his enemies gouging out his physical eyes, a literal manifestation of the spiritual blindness caused by his lust.
The enemy (Satan) has a "purpose and a plan" to counter God’s plan for an individual's life. Unchecked desires provide the "bait" the enemy uses to overpower, bind, and subdue a person. By playing with the enemy through his desires, Samson allowed himself to be moved from a position of a "judge over Israel" to a "slave" grinding grain in a prison house. When desires are not "anchored in the word," an individual becomes dysfunctional and unable to reflect God's work.
While Samson was raised by God to be a deliverer, his unchecked passions led to a "premature death". Although he achieved a final victory by killing many Philistines at his death, this was a tragic end because he died alongside his enemies rather than living to fulfill the "better things in life" God had intended. The Apostle teaches that "the things you do not address will kill you," suggesting that internal rhythms or desires that are not brought under control will eventually cause a "sudden cut off" in a believer's life.
The most "deadly" consequence mentioned is when an individual becomes so consumed by their choices that they do not realize the Lord has departed from them.
Rec. Date: 4th February, 2024