In Revelation 2:4 Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, because you've left your first love.”

Welcome to our study of relighting our passion for Jesus. Friend is your passion for Christ what it once was? Do you have that zeal and desire that you really want to have? If not, stay tuned as we look at God's plan for relighting our passion for Christ.

In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul gives us a beautiful pattern for relighting and keeping that fire for Christ aflame. Notice the words of Philippians 3:12 the apostle Paul said, “Not that I've already attained or am already perfected, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Maybe at times in our life we find ourselves in a rut or maybe spiritually speaking our lives are really not as passionate and as on fire for the Lord as they ought to be. Friend, the Lord did find this problem in one of the seven churches in Asia Minor. In Revelation 2:4 Jesus again said, I've got a problem with you, got a problem with the congregation in Ephesus. Here it is: you've left your first love. Now Ephesus was a congregation that

had to give up a lot. You read Acts 19, they burned their magic books; they left their affinity and their familiarity with the Temple Diana and the goddess Diana; and they turned away from all of that and for a good while the word of God was growing and multiplying in that city. But somewhere along the way, they got a little stagnant somewhere along the way they got in a rut. They were maybe just going through the motions and so Jesus says, ‘You've left your first love.’ Whatever that was, love for evangelism, love for worshiping God, fervor, and daily living for Christ , whatever it may have been, they let that love wane.

If we're not careful, Christians today can also have that same problem. I want you to think about when you first obeyed the gospel, when you first became a Christian, when you really made that initial commitment to Christ. Now think about where you are today. Are you as on fire and as passionate and as energetic for the Lord as you once were? If not, it may very well be the case that we need to re-light our passion for serving Jesus.

How do we do that? Paul gives us a fourfold pattern in this text for keeping that fire for Christ aflame like it ought to.

What's the first point? We must, if we're going to serve God and have that true passion, have a holy dissatisfaction with self and where we are. Now let me explain that. Paul said in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I've already attained or am already perfected.” I want you to stop right here and think about that for just a moment. Here's the apostle Paul, and if Paul could say ‘I haven't attained yet; I'm not perfected; I'm not year there yet.’ If one of the greatest servants of God said, ‘I'm not where I want to be yet,’ we ought to have that same attitude of never reaching the point where we can say, ‘yeah this is where I need to be as a Christian.’ No, Paul didn't say that, and Paul had seen a lot more than I had. He was taken up into the third heaven, seen that vision by God. The same apostle Paul, who later in his life said, “I've fought the good fight. I've finished the race. I've kept the faith. In the future there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” If Paul could say, ‘I haven't attained, I'm not there yet,’ then friend I need to have a holy dissatisfaction with self.

We're not saying that we can't have a good self-esteem, not saying that we can't be happy with the progress we've made, but what we're saying is let's not get satisfied. Let's not get apathetic. Let's not sit down on our laurels and say, ‘This is where we need to be as a Christian. I'm at the point I've always wanted to be. I can stop right here and really be happy with where I'm at now.’

Christianity is a forward progress in growth at all stages. You see, the status quo in Christianity just won't work. I can never reach a point in my Christian walk where I can say, ‘I've arrived, this is where I need to be; I'm it as a Christian now.’ No, that's not the idea. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” That word grow is in a derivative or continual sense in the New Testament; it is a forward progress looking word meaning that as I grow, I continue to grow. I never stop growing until I breathe my last, that's the idea. You see, 1 Peter 2:2 says, “But as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that we may grow thereby.” We want to continue to have that idea of growing and never being happy with where we are always.

You know it's kind of like when you're working out, or maybe someone is trying to lose some weight, or maybe somebody's trying to build muscle. What if you say, ‘you know I think this is where I need to be today.’ You got a goal, but you say, ‘I think I'll stop right here today.’ How're you going to do with building muscle or losing weight or maybe getting in shape? If you ever stop down and think stop and sit down and think you're really where you need to be, you just kind of watch yourself go backwards. If you're not going forward, you're surely not standing still; you're going in the opposite direction ever so slowly.

So, as Christians, just as Paul was still striving to know the Lord, Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection.” If Paul was still striving to grow closer to Christ and know Him, how much more then for us today? This is why Paul could say, as he thought about all the struggles and difficulties, how is it that Paul could say “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”? Because Paul never stopped growing. He never reached a point where he became satisfied with himself.

You know when you think about having that holy dissatisfaction with self; let's mention some areas practically where we could surely maintain that idea. For example, we can never reach a point where we say to ourselves, ‘You know I think I know the Bible about as well as I need to.’ That's not the idea. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” It's not by food that we're to live spiritually; it's by the word of God.

How often you have to eat? Every day. Friend you've got to grow in the word of God every day. 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” 1 Peter 3:15, “Be ready always to give an answer.”

And so when we think about areas that we need to really have that dissatisfaction with, a holy dissatisfaction it ought to be in the Almighty word of God and trying to grow in it.

We should never say to ourselves, ‘You know I believe I pray enough already.’ The Bible says, “Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Luke 18:1 Jesus said, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart.” And the psalmist said, “I cry unto you daily.” We should always to be striving to improve our prayer life to draw near to God, as the Hebrew writer said in Hebrews 10:24-26 and to approach the throne of God to find help in time of need, Hebrews 4:16. We ought to never reach a point where we can say, ‘I've done enough good and been benevolent enough in my community.’ No, the Bible says, “Do good unto all men especially those of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10. The Bible says a part of our part of true religion as to visit the widows and orphans in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Let's not grow lax. Let's not grow slack in doing good as the Scripture so clearly teaches us.

You know as a Christian one of the areas for sure that we don't want to have an attitude, ‘I'm where I need to be, and I've arrived at,’ is when it comes to the work of the church. Sometimes I think if we're not caring, especially as one grows and matures and especially is one maybe even ages in life, I think sometimes we say to ourselves, ‘I've done enough work in the church. It's time to let somebody else.’

Now friend don't get me wrong, I understand that age and other physical abilities or lack thereof may not let one do as much as he might be able to have before. But let's not reach a point where we say, ‘I think I'll retire in the work. I've reached 60, I've reached 65, 70 I think I'll retire from the work of the church and let some of these young people do it.’ That's not the attitude. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Be steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain.”

And then another area of which we want to have a real dissatisfaction is with spreading the gospel. I want to have a holy dissatisfaction with self in that I can never say, ‘I've talked to enough people today, this week, or for my life about the gospel.’ Jesus said, “Go into all the world teach the gospel to every creature.” I've not even come close to that. Christians have a strong desire to do that. We've need to realize there is always a dire need to preach the gospel, to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, ought to be our ever forward-looking goal, 1 Peter 2:9. We ought to have the mindset of Paul in Colossians 1:28, “Him we preach warning every man, teaching every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Now as we think about the first idea, having a holy dissatisfaction with self, let's move the Paul's next statement. And that is, if I'm going to have really have a true passion for serving Christ, I've got have wholehearted devotion to the Lord. Philippians 3:13, “Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended,” now watch this, “but one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind reaching for those things which are ahead.” Paul would say, ‘I press toward the prize.’ What is it I can do to have a true passion for serving Christ? Have a whole hearted devotion. Listen again to Paul's words, “This one thing I do.” I think too many times we get too many things going on at once. We get too many fingers in too many pies. We've got all these things that are pulling at us, and we're going in so many different directions that we really can't focus on the one thing that is necessary.

Did you ever notice that the emphasis on one in the Scripture? “The Lord our God is one,” Deuteronomy 6:5. Jesus said to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21, “One thing you lack.” Luke 10:42 Jesus speaking to Martha said, “There's one thing that is needful.” John 9:25 the blind man said, “This

one thing I know.” The psalmist in the long-ago said, “One thing I desire that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” “We're to be of one mind,” 2 Corinthians 13:11. “We're to be of one heart and one soul,” Acts 4:32. All of those passages teach us we need to have a wholehearted devotion, a single-minded focus to really serve the Lord.

You know many of us may have that lack of dissatisfaction with our self, because we have a lack of devotion to the Lord. What is our devotion to the Lord right now? What's your devotion? What's my devotion? How committed am I to serving God? “First seek first the kingdom of God,” Matthew 6:33. Luke 14:33, we need to make sure that we serve God and put His cause first.

You can't get devoted to too many things and still allow God to come first in your life. What's the one thing I want to put before all else? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” This is the first and greatest commandment, don't let it and I know it's so hard in the world that we live today. We've got so many different things we're trying to do. We've got technology. We've got so many media outlets. There's so much going on in our lives, and maybe with your children that it's so easy to get spread so thin that you meet yourself coming and going.

Friend sometimes you got to clear the plate. Sometimes you got to really look at your priorities. You've got to re-focus on what's most important, and we all have to do this, so that we could really have that wholehearted devotion to serving the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:35 says this, “We want to serve the Lord without distraction.” Let's get those distractions out of the way. Let's not be double-minded as James 1:8 teaches us. Let's really do our best to serve God with a wholehearted devotion.

Now there's a third step, not only as a Christian must I have a holy dissatisfaction with self, not only must I have a wholehearted devotion to the Lord ,one thing I do I've got to have an upward direction in life. Notice Philippians 3:13 again. Paul says, “Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do forgetting those things which are ahead or behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the prize.” Notice again Paul said, “Reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” There's Paul's upward direction in life. What is it that I can do that would help me to really stay focused, really have that

passion for Jesus? I've got to remember as a child of God, I have an upward direction in my goal. You see this is what Paul would say to the church in Colossae: You have to look up.

‘If then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above.’ Don't look down and get so caught up in the world. Don't look down and get so caught up in the anxieties and the difficulties and the trials that we often face. If you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. Look up. Raise up your head and look to the joy and the hope of heaven that all Christians have. You see that's where we're going isn't it? Isn't our end goal and destination? Heaven. Revelation 21:4, “It's that place where God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, no more sorrow, no more death, no more pain, no more crying, all the former things have passed away.” When you look up you begin to realize, I've got something I really need to live for. I've got a goal that I need to keep working for, and I need to do my best to stay focused on serving Jesus. Paul would say in Romans 8:18, “I consider the sufferings of this present world are not worthy be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

But you know in part of looking up as Paul teaches us, reaching for those things which are ahead, you also have to let go. Listen to Philippians 3:13 again the Bible says, “Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended one thing, I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Part of looking up means you got to stop looking back. You've got to let go of the things that may burden us from time to time. You know all of us like it or not, of an accountable age, have a past in sin. “All have sin fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. And you know if Paul could learn to let go, I surely can, you surely can. Paul was there at the stoning of Stephen holding their coats in, Acts 7. He was wreaking havoc on the church in Acts 8. Acts 9 he's dragging ready to drag men and women to prison, as he confronts Christ. Paul had done heinous things, injurious and a blasphemer against the cause of Christ he said in 1 Timothy 1:12-14. And yet if Paul, who had done harm to the church, harm to Christians, had imprisoned them even could learn to let go, I've got a do the same.

You know sometimes in this life, I think people just can't learn to let go of the past. Listen to the words of Hebrews 8:12-13. I guess as much as any passage, this helps us to let go of the past. The Bible says God

speaking, “I'll be merciful to their sins, and their lawless deeds I'll remember no more.” Listen carefully, if God can forget, forgive and forget if God can forgive and God can forget, I need to forgive and I need to forget as well. I need to put the past behind me.

And then of course, you got to lay aside. Hebrews 12:1 “Lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

So far we've noticed three steps as we think about striving to really have that passion for Jesus.

We’ve got to say to ourselves, ‘I have not reached a point; I have not reach where I need to be; I've got a holy dissatisfaction with self.’ We've got have that that single-minded focus. We’ve got to have that upward direction in mind.

And then fourthly, you've got to have an inward determination to never take your eyes off the goal. Notice Philippians 3:14 Paul said, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” You've got to have something to be determined about; you've got to have that that inward determination. “I press” and the word press in the Greek language is a very unique word. It's a word that means to struggle. It's a word that means to do great physical battle. It's a word that describes being pushed to your limits and going beyond that almost.

An example might be a runner who's running a marathon and that runner maybe is running a very long marathon, and about halfway through the marathon he thinks he's about spent, he's done about all he can; he's run about as far as he can run his legs, his muscle, his lungs are hurting like he can't begin to imagine. And the thought crosses his mind, ‘don't think I can go any further.’ But then, he sees up in the distance that goal. And he says to himself, ‘I'm going to keep running until I hit the dirt; I'm going to keep running until I hit the ground. I'm going to push myself.’ And he catches that second wind. He keeps fighting, that's the idea. I press. I fight. I exert myself toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Friend what can I do to really have that passion or re-light that passion for serving Jesus? You have to determine not to let anything get in the way of you serving God. I'll assure you there are things that will try to get in the way, some of those may even be good things, nothing wrong with recreation having fun, but don't let that consume you. Don't let that be your goal in life. Family is a blessing that God has given to each and every one of us, but don't let family get in the way of you serving God and having that in word determination to put Christ first. All of us have been blessed with ways and means of providing for our families. We all have jobs if we that we can go to and work and we're thankful for those. And you know the job consumes so much time in our life, don't let that be what life is all about for you. Really have that inward determination, no matter what I'm going to put Christ first. I'm going to do my best to reach that goal of going to heaven. To the church in Ephesus, who did have that problem with losing their first love, Jesus said this in remedying part of the plan and fixing part of the plan Jesus said, “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”

You have to look forward to that crown that reward, that that crowning moment where we can hear the wonderful words of Jesus: “Enter into the joys of your Lord.”

We're looking forward to a promise. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.”

Let's think about our own individual lives. I want you to think about where you are right now as a Christian. I want you to think about and ask yourself, am I really happy with my dedication with my commitment? Is my passion for God and for holy things? What it ought to be? Am I really bubbling over with zeal and enthusiasm to serve Christ to be a Christian?

And if you're not, it may very well be the case that we need to re-examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says this, “Test yourself to see if you're in the faith.” Examine yourself. Let let's take up a long hard look at our own life. Let's look at where we really are in our true commitment to the Lord right now. Do we really want to be where we are now? Have we got stagnant? Do we need to pick ourselves up and shake off the dust and maybe move forward a little in where we are as a Christian?

Or maybe you've never become a child of God. Friend our hope and prayer today is that if you're not a Christian, you'll see the passion for serving God that Christians have. That that people, who appreciate what God is done for them, can have and that you'll want to be a child of God today.

The greatest question in the world was asked in Acts 16:30-31. The Philippian jailer when he had to take a quick and deep look at what was important in life walked away asking this question: “Sirs what must I do to be saved?”

And friend we kindly ask you today, have you let God and the Bible answer that question? Are you a child of God? The Bible says in Acts 18:8, “Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized.”

Have you heard the message of hope in Christ, John 8:24? Do you really believe with all your heart that Jesus is the son of God, Romans 10:10 and Romans 10:17? Upon that belief, would you make a commitment to turn from sin and turn to God, Luke 13:3? And would you do what they did on the day of Pentecost?

Peter said, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins.”

If you've never obeyed the gospel, we urge you to become a Christian today.

If as a Christian your passion for the Lord is not what it ought to be, let's each make a desire to relight our passion for serving Christ.

Study Questions for: “Motivational Lesson 3”

1. In Revelation 2:4, what did Jesus tell the church in Ephesus they had left?

2. According to Philippians 3:12-14, what does Paul press on towards?

3. In Philippians 3:12, did Paul view himself as perfect or having all knowledge?

4. What should we grow in according to 2 Peter 3:18?

5. What should we always be ready to do according to 1 Peter 3:15?

6. What does 2 Timothy 2:15 tell us to do to show ourselves approved unto God?

7. How should we pray according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17?

8. According to Luke 18:1, what does Jesus tell us not to lose?

9. What does 1 Corinthians 15:58 tell us to do and know that it is not in vain?

10. According to 1 Corinthians 7:35, we should serve the without what?

Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I'll give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and you'll find rest for your souls,” Matthew 11:28-30.

We welcome you to our study of reward for service. What reward does the Christian receive for his service to Almighty God?

Follow along as we let the Bible give us the answer to this great subject. Being a Christian requires diligent work, service, and effort on my part and yours. Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of Him who sent us while it is day for night comes when no man works.”

Being a Christian is a life of work and a life of service. I've got to strive every day to walk worthy of the Lord, Colossians 1:10. I've got to make sure that my labor of love and my service for the Lord is really what God wants it to be, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. We must strive to make sure that we're working diligently in the kingdom of God. Listen to the words of James 1:25 as James speaks about our work and our service in the cause of God. The Scripture records, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work this one will be blessed in what he does.” Our work indeed is essential in the kingdom of God. The service that we provide to the Lord and His church is of such great importance.

I want us to realize today that work, that effort, that labor, and that toil has a great blessing to be received. There is a reward for our service to Almighty God. As we emphasize, Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden I will give you rest this,” is the promise. God promises His children eternal life, 1 John 2:25. And you know as I think about this rest, this reward that we're going to receive, the Hebrew writer said in Hebrews 4:9, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” He's able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, Hebrews 7:25. And our Lord spoke of that beautiful reward and rest and elaborated in such beautiful terms when He said, “I go to prepare a place for you if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I that you may be also.” That beautiful place called heaven where there are multitudes of dwellings for the people of God. There is more than a room for all of God's people that's a place we want to go. It's a place we long for too and a long for look forward to as Christians. As we think about reward for service, along the same lines each Christian must realize there is not going to be a reward without some kind of service and where there is faithful service, you can have an assurance of a grand reward.

If I'm not willing to work in the kingdom of God and I'm not faithful to the Lord that reward cannot be found. If the Lord finds me working on that day and faithful, what a wonderful day that'll be. 2 Corinthians 5:10 clearly teaches us that our works will be presented to the Lord on that judgment day. And the beautiful words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58 remind us each of the need to be busy, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain.”

Do you remember John's encouragement to suffering Christians? The Bible says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes’ says the spirit ‘that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.’” Let's think today about that reward for our service and how it all relates so beautifully together.

Let's begin by asking: What service, when we say service, what service must be offered unto the Lord? What work or what service is a part of the Christian life? And friend naturally our service to God is that we must be willing to sacrifice self and give of our time and our effort and our ability

to the kingdom of Christ. Paul said in Romans 12:2 that we're to be ‘transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ That transformation that living our life acceptably to God is all a part of what Christianity is about. Think about 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit whom we have from God, We're not our own therefore,” listen now, “We're to glorify God in our body and our spirit which are His.” My body and my spirit, they belong to God anyway. I need to do my best to serve Him acceptably. Notice these words of Jesus in Luke 9:23. Jesus said, “If any man desires to come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” What does it really mean to be a Christian? Daily denial of self and a willingness to take up that cross and follow Christ every day. “Be faithful unto death,” Jesus would say in Revelation 2:10. And friend this is not done out of forced nature, this is not done because God is forcing us to we do this willingly, because we love God and what He's done for our salvation. The writer Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “The love of Christ compels us.” Why? Because we judge thus, “if one died for all, all died and He died for all that they who live no longer live for themselves but live for Him who died for them and rose again.”

In my service to God, I want to do my best every day. The Christian wants to do his best every day to give God first place in his life. As we think about our service to God, another service we must offer is that we must as Christians diligently give ourselves to the study of God's word. Job said in Job 23:12, “I treasure the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” More than those three square meals a day that we often think of, the word of God is more important than that. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” In Matthew 5 in the Beatitudes we hear that beautiful statement, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

In serving God and really giving myself to Him, friend I need to be a good student of the word of God. I need to read my Bible. I need to study it, and I need to do my best every day to live according to its teaching. This is why Paul would say to the young evangelist Timothy and to Christians today, “Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” I want to search the Scriptures, Acts 17:11, daily. I want to study to give an answer, 1 Peter 3:15. And I want to do my best to really let God's word have the answer to

the most important questions of life. In Jeremiah 37:17 an evil king asked, “Is there any word from the Lord?” And friend, that ought to be the question of every person who striving to serve God. And to answer that let's look to God's word for the Bible is God's voice today. God has spoken. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

But as we think about our service to God, let's also realize that to serve God as He wants me to, we must faithfully follow the teachings of Christ in the New Testament. You see, I'm not living under the Old Testament. Now don't get me wrong, “The things that were written aforetime,” Paul would say, “were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might find hope,” Romans 15:4. The Old Testament is inspired of God; it was written to the Jewish nation to the Israelites. There are great lessons about life and about God and His nature that I can learn there. But I'm not going to be judged nor my living under the old covenant. Jesus crucified the old covenant. He put the old covenant to death on the cross, Colossians 2:14 and Ephesians 2:14 says. In fact Christ said in John 12:48, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My words he has that which judges him the word that I've spoken will judge him in the last day.”

To really serve God and to really have that reward for service, I've got to faithfully follow the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I want you to notice this verse with me. I want you to notice Matthew 7 as Jesus speaks about putting Him first and His teaching first. He makes this great statement about the need to faithfully follow His words. Matthew 7:21 Jesus says this, “Not everyone, “Jesus says, “Who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” It's not enough just up look up to heaven and say ‘Lord, Lord’ and then do what you want. You've got to follow the teaching. I've got to follow the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. James 1:22-25 says, “We cannot be forgetful hearers but we've got to be doers of the word and the work of Almighty God.”

Let's faithfully do our best to faithfully follow the teachings of Christ as we serve Him. Part of the wonderful service we offer to God is we have to strive to be soul winners, soul winners for Jesus. You know we often sing

about that. We think about evangelism and reaching someone with the gospel, but that's part of this great service. The Bible says in Luke 19:10 that of Christ the Son of Man have come ‘to seek and to save that which is lost.’ No one emphasized the need to save the lost more than Jesus did. Jesus gave us that great parable, Luke 15, where there's a shepherd who has 100 sheep in his fold and there's 99 sheep who are home safely and one has wandered away, and the shepherd goes after that one sheep, facing danger, facing the elements, no matter what it takes to bring that one sheep back into the fold. Friend we think about that, we think about how diligently Jesus worked to save the lost, even going to the cross to die for mankind. What about our service? Part of our service is we want to tell others about that great message.

Do you remember Proverbs 11:30? “He who wins souls is wise,” that's true. Soul winning, in the biblical aspect, we're to go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature. Through my life, through my example, by the way Christians live; we want to let them see the light of Christ shining in us. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 5:16. As Paul said in Colossians 1:28, “Him we preach warning every man teaching every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Are we really offering the kind of service that God wants us to offer to Him?

As it relates to our country, I think we understand in the United States of America, especially in generations before us maybe, that service was necessary to live in a great land like this. In fact, the motto that was often proclaimed was, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Isn't that a wonderful idea to think about the church? You know, too many times we sit around thinking what can the church do for me or what good is that church over there. What have they done for me lately? That’s the wrong question! We ought to be asking: What am I doing for the Lord? What am I doing for His church? How am I faithfully serving the cause of Christ? And friend, if we are doing that, let's notice the reward that will be given to God's people. There are several avenues by which we can see the wonderful reward that Christians will receive, but let me illustrate this as well. As part of our reward, let's realize there is a physical benefit. There is an earthly benefit to serving and following Jesus right now. I'm not saying you're going to be rich. We're not

talking about a health and wealth gospel, where you're going to be healthy and wealthy and everything like that's going to go just perfectly. That’s not the idea we're talking about! Jesus did say, ‘I came that you may have life and have it more abundantly.’

Right now I am living, and you’re if you're a child of God, part of the reward we receive is we're living the best life you could ever live. I've been given all things through the Scriptures. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have everything we need for life and godliness. 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “We prove all things, we hold fast that which is good and we shun that which is evil.” Think about all the things that by following Christ I have. All the ills that I've voided, all the sin that I've avoided, all the hurt and the ungodliness I've avoided. Living the Christian life is the best life right now. Jesus said, “I'm the way, the truth, and the life.” Living for Christ right now is the best way you could ever live. So that might be a small part of the reward in the here and now, but the grander idea one of the rewards we receive is the joy and the peace that we know we have as a child of God.

Philippians 4:4 Paul would say, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” We don't want you to take this the wrong way, but please understand, if a person is a child of God, part of the reward of being a Christian is the joy and the peace and the happiness that one has in Christ. Luke 2:15 when Jesus came into the world the Angels proclaimed, ‘Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.’ Jesus gives us the ability to rejoice and be happy in the situations we face. “Is anyone happy?” writer James would say, “Let him sing psalms.” James 5:13 as Paul and Silas are in prison in Philippi, in a deep, dark, dank prison where you think they might throw in the towel and give up the Bible says, no they were praying; they were singing hymns to God. The prisoners were listening to them. The Bible teaches us, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God.”

You know, even in the first century in the midst of suffering, trials, and persecution the Bible says after they were beaten, Acts 5:41-42, they counted it a joy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Daily in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not preaching and teaching Jesus as the Christ. This is why James said, “We can rejoice in our trials knowing that

the trials we face have a far greater working ahead of them.” I have that hope of heaven. I have the best life right now, and I have joy and peace beyond measure.

But friend let's realize this as well, part of our reward for service means that even in death, I can have victory and triumph. Death is not going to win over the child of God. The Bible says in Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes,’ says the spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors their works do follow them.’”

What life can take death and look at it as a blessing and a good thing? Only the life that offers reward for service, the Christian life. This is why the writer would say in Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.” How does heaven view when one of God's children leaves this life? Precious! John 5:28-29 Jesus so beautifully proclaimed, “All who are in the graves will one day come forth. Those who have done good, that's reward for service. Those who've done good to the resurrection of life.” “One day we will meet Him in the air,” 1 Thessalonians 4:13. One day we can hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

As we think about really the epitome of that joy that we have for serving God that reward for service let's realize that is seen so graphically in the images that we find in Scripture of heaven. Do you believe in heaven? Do you believe there is a place called heaven? Jesus said, “The righteous will go away into eternal life.” Are you looking forward to eternal life? That place Jesus described in Revelation 21:3-4, “No more sorrow, no more death, and no more pain, all the former things have passed away.” Sin, darkness, Satan, ungodliness doesn’t exist in that beautiful place called heaven. God's there! “Our Father who art in heaven,” Matthew 6:9, Jesus is there. “I go to prepare a place for you,” John 14:1. “Saints of old are around the throne of God worshiping God there,” Revelation 4 and 5. Friend, that's where Christians long and desire to go to that beautiful place called heaven. We sing that beautiful song, “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.” Aren't you looking forward to living in that place called heaven?

If so then friend, we want to emphasize this final principle. How do I make sure and how do you make sure that we don't lose our reward for service?

Let's first realize I can, if I'm not careful, I can lose that reward. I want you to notice a passage in Galatians 5:4 as Paul speaks to certain Christians who are starting again to trust in the old law. The apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:4 these words, “You have become estranged from Christ. You who attempt to be justified by law. You have fallen from grace.”

Part of making sure that I don't lose my reward means, I recognize it's possible to lose it. Some who were Christians had been cut off from Christ. They fell from grace. This is why Paul would say, “Take heed stand lest you fall,” 1 Corinthians 10:12. I've got to fight the fight every day. I've got to make sure that I don't let Satan into my life. I've got to make sure that I don't let sin overtake me; because I realize I can lose my salvation, lose my reward, if I'm not careful.

Secondly, don't get the retirement mentality. You know, you work a job for a certain amount of time and you say, ‘Well we might want to let the young people come in and do this. We been working in this long enough; it's time to let somebody else take over and do this.’ I realize that as one ages, he may not be able to do as much as he can. But listen carefully, in the Lord's church there is no retirement system. You don't reach 65, 70, 75, or 80 and say, ‘I've done enough. I'm going to let somebody else do it for a while. I think I'll sit back and take it easy now.’ It's not the way it works!

We remain faithful. How long? “Until death,” Revelation 2:10. That's what Jesus emphasized. This is why we've got to keep working, keep fighting, keep doing what we can for the Lord. Again when age comes, you can do as much, that doesn't mean you can't do something for the cause of Christ. As I strive to stay faithful to the Lord part of what keeps us motivated is we've got to remember, what we're doing for God is not vain. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes,’ says the spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.’”

The service we provide to God and to the church, it's not vain. In fact, it's the most wonderful thing you could ever imagine. We have that hope of eternal joy. Job asked a question in Job 14:14, “If a man dies,” Job said, “will he live again?” You know the answer is really not given to that in clarity, until Jesus comes on the scene. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me though he may die,” Jesus said, “he'll live again.” Man dies; he will live again but only can he live again in Christ.

Eternal life is only offered in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We ask you are you giving God the true service He deserves? Are you making sure in this life, am I making sure in this life that I'm really working? That I'm staying busy? That I'm putting God first? That I'm giving God first place in my mind and in my life? If I'm not, I need to make corrections to that. For Jesus made that wonderful promise that all could come and find rest in Him, but only in Him.

Are you in Christ? Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ? Galatians 3:27 says, “As many of us as were baptized into Christ have clothed ourselves with Christ.”

Take hold of that great promise Jesus made! Come to Him to find rest. And make sure in this life that each one of us is giving God the true service He deserves every day of our life.

May God help each of us to do just that.

Study Questions for: “Motivational Lesson 6”

1. According to Matthew 11:28-30, what will Jesus give us?

2. What does John 9:4 tell us to do while it is day?

3. What does James 1:25 say about a person who is a doer of the Lord’s work?

4. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, what is our body?

5. What does Luke 9:23 tell us to do if we desire Jesus?

6. How long should we be faithful according to Revelation 2:10?

7. In Job 23:12, what does he treasure more than food?

8. Matthew 4:4 says that we shall live by what?

9. What question did the king ask in Jeremiah 37:17?

10. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, where does scripture come from?

“Those days there was no king over Israel. Every man did what was right in his own eyes,” Judges 21:25.

In the dark days of Judges, there is a man by the name of Samson who teaches us some lessons about life and how a person ought to approach God with the proper attitude. Welcome you today to our study of the Old Testament lessons.

In today's lesson we're thinking about one of the heroes, some people think of the heroes of the Old Testament, although Samson did end up being a hero, Samson made a lot of blunders along the way that we can learn from.

Samson is a man that in a lot of ways we can learn what not to do from his life. The Book of Judges is a dark time in Israel's history. There is this cycle in the Book of Judges where the people are right with God, everything is prospering and going well, and then they begin to want to be like the nations around them. They begin to go into idolatry. As a result, the heathen nations conquer them. They will finally come to their senses and call out to God. God will send them a deliverer or judge. He will defeat the enemies, and they will get back right with God. Multiple times throughout the Book that cycle occurs in the life of the people. It's mainly because as the statement says in Judges 21:25, "In those days, there was no king in Israel." Yes, God was still king, but they weren't letting Him be king in their life. "In those days, there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes."

Judges is the typical example of anarchy. Everybody is living the way they want to live, no law of God, no thought of God in their heart many times, and they're just living the way they want to live. As a result, dark days and trouble comes for the people of Israel.

Today we study about one judge by the name of Samson. Samson was a Nazarite from birth according to Judges 13. God specially selected and chose him to be a unique class of people known as a Nazarite. A Nazarite by its very nature was someone who was separated from normal life for the special purpose of God. Numbers 6:1, a Nazarite was to keep any type of juice, grape juice or strong drink, wasn't able to eat grapes; he was to keep that away from him. Numbers Chapter 6:1-4 teaches he was not to cut his hair. This was a sign of his separation and holiness to God according to Numbers 6:5. He was not to make himself unclean by touching a dead body or anything like onto that, not even if it was his own family, Numbers 6:6-7 says. And, of course, a Nazarite was to represent and be the epitome of holiness. That's the whole calling of the Nazarite according to Numbers 6:8.

Samson was very special, very unique, and a very great privilege and honor to be a Nazarite on behalf of God and God's people that we find in the scripture.

Now as you think about practical lessons, even that we can learn from the history of Samson as a Nazarite, there are several things that relate to the Christian. Should Christians be separated for God's purposes today? The word Nazire literally means separated. Christians are to be separated to the purposes of God. God says in 2 Corinthians 6:17, "Come out from among them and be ye separate," says the Lord. Yes, we are separated to be special and unique today. Paul said, "I beg you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed, changed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Christians are to seek first God's kingdom, Matthew 6:33 and we are not to be in love with the world, James 4:4. Like a Nazarite, Christians have to realize that some of the things that people put in their body in this life are not good for them. The Nazarite in the Old Testament was not to drink strong drink or things like that in his separation to God and Christians must realize that some of the things that people put in their body, that's not what

a Christian ought to be doing. Drugs, alcohol, and things like that are not going to help us to live a holy life. That's going to inebriate and cause us to weaken our morals. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says this: "Be sober, be vigilant or watchful, and be alert for your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." That word for sober in 1 Peter 5:8, W. E. Vine's Greek scholar says this: "It means to be free from the influence of any intoxicant." If I'm to be sober spiritually, friend, to do that, I can't be an inebriated spirit physically. I can't have something in my body that's going to weaken my morals and alertness.

Then, of course, as our lives today, as a Christina, there ought to be a sign of separation to God should there not? Just like the Nazarite represented when someone saw a Nazarite they represented someone who their life was separation to God. Our lives, the way we live, should indicate that we are separated to living for God. Matthew 5:16, Jesus said it this way: "Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." People ought to be able to look at Christians and see that we are God's own special people. Titus 2, verse 14 that we're trying to have the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5 and that in everything we do, we're trying to bring glory and honor to almighty God. We also must realize as Christians today that just as if the Nazarite when he touched something that would be unclean, he could become unclean, friend, we need to realize today that there's something that makes Christian's unclean and that's sin.

Sin separates a man from God, Isaiah 59:1-2 and 2 Timothy 1:17. Thus, as God's people we need to be the epitome of trying to live a holy life. Be holy as He who called you is holy, 1 Peter 1:15. "Imitate me as I also imitate Christ," Paul would say in 1 Corinthians 1:11."Walk up in the footsteps of Jesus for without holiness no one can see God," Hebrews 12:14.

Now as you think about Samson let's realize some things in Samson's life that were his sins, and some things that got in the way of him really living that life that represented holiness. One of the things about Samson that stands out, as contrary to God's will is that Samson was very prideful, very self-willed and rebellious. Listen to Judges 14. This text clearly shows he was self-willed and he was out to get what he wanted. Judges 14:1: "Now Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his

father and mother saying, 'I've seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines, now therefore get her for me as wife.' Then his father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren or among all my people that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines'? And Samson said to this father, 'Get her for me for she pleases me well.'"

When you think about a man who was rebellious and self-willed, that's Samson. God had already commanded His people, already warned His people on multiple occasions don't intermarry, and don't marry the heathens. They're going to pull you away from God; they're not going to help you to be more spiritual. Yet Samson sees this woman. His lust overtakes him; he says to his father and mother, ‘go get her for me.’ His dad says, ‘wait a minute, now, aren't there women among God's people you can? ... I don't care about any of them in that sense, she pleases me, go get her.’ What type of attitude is that that Samson had? Didn't matter what God wanted. Didn't matter what his parents wanted. Didn't really matter what was right. Samson wanted it; therefore, Samson thought he needed to have it. Too many people in this life are so headstrong that they don't stop and think about what's right. Someone once said strong heads are never really that strong. We need to have our will in line with the will of God. In the Bible, the scriptures teach us that we shouldn't be out to get what we want. We ought to be out to do what God wants us to do. In fact, the Bible says in Titus 1:7 that elders in the Lord's church are not to be self-willed. That is, it's not what we think; it's not our way. It's not what we want; elders ought to be in line with God's will. They want to do what God wants for the church, for His plan and for his mission.

If you get somebody in who's self-willed and has to have it his way, friend, that's not going to work in the Lord's church. Christians ought not to be self-centered but Christ-centered. Mark 12:30, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." God needs to come first in our decisions. Not what I want, not what I think, not what's best for me or how I can live this pleasure out in this life. What does God want me to do? That's the real question that we need to be asking. We need to remember that according to Saul, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. God does not look lightly on rebellion, and Samson epitomizes that here in this context.

When you think about Samson also, let's realize as we look at Samson's life and we think about the things he did, friend, realize this: Samson instead of listening to his parents, Samson gave into his lust instead of what his parents tried to teach and instruct him to do. Many people today, if we're not careful, especially young people, can do the same thing. He saw a beautiful woman, like David, who saw beautiful Bathsheba bathing, his lust overtook him, he got caught up in relations he shouldn't have and his whole family was affected by it.

Young people, realize today that your lust and your passions must not control what you do in this life. Christians are taught to flee, 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee youthful lust and rather pursue the things of God. Rightenous, holiness, good living, things liken onto that."

Samson ultimately goes on to violate God's law as it relates to things he does in his life. Judges Chapter 14 he is in clear violation of the will of God. Judges 14:5: "So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise a young lion came roaring against him and the spirit of the Lord came idly upon him, he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat though he had nothing in his hand. He did not tell his father and mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman and she pleased Samson well. After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they also ate, but he did not tell them he had taken the honey in the carcass of the lion."

Here again you see Samson bent on doing whatever he wants to do. Going to get that woman of the Philistines, who he shouldn’t, had. Then along the way God's still trying to work through him. This lion comes and he rips the lion apart. A little while later he sees the dead lion's carcass, honey in it, and, again, his passion and his desire overtakes him. Although he shouldn't have touched the dead carcass, although that would make him unclean according to the old law and would be a violation of God's will- he went and did it anyway. Saw that honey, knew it would taste good. His passion, his desire is overtaking him again and he goes and takes it. Even gives some to his parents. Friend, by the taking the honey out of the lion's carcass, Samson made himself unclean. Leviticus 11:27, they were not to

touch a dead carcass. We've got to realize today, while we live under a law of God today, those who break God's law, they also become unclean when we don't follow its teachings.

Samson didn't listen to God. He went against the teaching of God and as a result he became unclean when he should have epitomized holiness. Like Samson, we're under God's law today. That law is the law of price. Galatians 6:2, James 1:25, it is the perfect law of liberty. When we go against God's law, we also stop living holy lives and we separate ourselves from almighty God. Isaiah 59:1-2, the Lord's ears is not heavy that he cannot hear his arms are not short that he cannot save, but our sins and our iniquities separate us from God. Roman 6:23 says the wages of sin, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, but the wages of sin is death. Samson became unclean and when men and women today don't follow God's law, they also become unclean.

Another powerful lesson that we learn from the life of Samson is that too many times in Samson's life he gave into peer pressure. Judges 14:10-20, we find an example of him giving into the peer pressure there. "So his father went down to the woman and Samson gave a feast there for young men used to do so. It happened when they saw him that they brought 30 companions to be with him. Then Samson said to them, 'Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothing. But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothing.’ “So they said to him, 'Pose your riddle so that we may hear it.' So he said to them, 'Out of the eater came something to eat, out of the strong came something sweet.'" Now for three days they could not explain the riddle. But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson's wife, 'Entice your husband that he may explain the riddle to us or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so’?” Then Samson's wife wept on him and said, 'You only hate me, you do not love me, you posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not even explained it to me.' He said to her, 'Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother, so should I explain it to you?'" “Now she wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. It happened on the seventh day that he told her because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of the people.”

When you think about Samson here and his wife, who God didn't want him to take in the first place; peer pressure began to work on him. She wasn't a godly person and she began to work against Samson in so many ways. Today, if we're not careful, like Samson, peer pressure can cause people to do things they really shouldn't do. Many young people with good morals, good family bringing, raised to know the Lord and follow his teaching, have given in to peer pressure over time to do things that are not right. Whether that be to smoke or to drink or do drugs or be involved in sexual relations before that's right. Things that you know are not right. Sometimes if you get around the wrong people, that's going to influence you for evil.1 Corinthians 15:30-33. The Bible says this: "Evil companions corrupt good morals." We need to realize we've got to let God's word guide us and not let people of the world lead us down a path we ought not to go. How many people have maybe been in a party or been around other people and they wouldn't even think about drinking alcohol and yet when you get around other people and they're doing it and it looks cool and you're not one of the cool ones. You think, well, I've got to do this. Maybe we shouldn't have been around those people to begin with. Those people aren't going to help us to get more God-like in every way. Samson is a man who eventually will give in to worldly concepts rather than Biblical teaching.

Today we must not be like Samson, but rather we want to be like Christ. It's not what the world wants and the mold the world wants to shape us into that matters. Its how does Christ want me to live? Hebrews 4:15, Jesus was tempted at all points as we are, yet without sin. The Bible teaches us, according to 1 Peter 2:21-22, that we've got to follow the teaching of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now as you will study the life of Samson, Samson goes on to do some things that are pretty good. He'll fight some battles, God will work through him, but he also will eventually give into his wife again. She'll ask him, "Where's your strength? How is it you can do these things? How is it you can defeat the enemies?" Of course, he didn't want anybody to know his strength. His strength was given by God and it was in his long hair, but as you remember, she'll eventually entice him. She'll eventually tell his enemies his strength is in his hair. Now you listen to this, Samson, who was strong and powerful, who at one time the spirit of God wonderfully worked in, when she tells his secret, and they cut his hair. Think of this image of Samson. This is what you need to remember from going to being a Nazarite and a powerful man, Samson gets his hair cut, his eyes are

poked out, gouged out, and he's in the dungeon, working as it were, on a grist mill maybe you might think of and he is basically at the bottom of the barrel of these things.

Why did Samson allow those things to happen in his life and what caused that for God? Here's what happened, Samson began to listen to other voices besides God and as a result he ends up in the dungeon, blind without his hair. Now God's going to allow his hair to grow back, that hair begins to grow back and you remember Samson's strength comes back. Samson is going to do one last valiant thing for God of which he is probably most well known for. As you remember in the Book of Judges, toward the end of Samson's life, as his hair begins to grow back and as he begins to receive that strength from God again, he's blind; so he really can't see what he's doing. During this time the heathen nations are having a feast or a celebration and all the rulers are there. It's a two story building you might think of and up above is where everybody is partying at. So they're honoring them and their gods and living in luxury and Samson in one final act of revenge and desire to please God, he has somebody take his hands, put those hands against the main pillars in that building and with all of his might and strength he pushes. That whole building, with all those ungodly adulteress people, comes crashing down on Samson. In one last act of self-sacrifice, his life brings honor and glory to God as he was called to do. But think about this: Look at what it cost Samson. Think about if he had just learned his lesson earlier. He had to sacrifice himself in the end to bring glory to God and die doing so?

What if he had chosen a woman from God's people? What if he had not touched those things that were unclean? What if the peer pressure hadn't affected Samson like it did? What if he hadn't have been so prideful and self-willed and had such a great desire to please himself over God?

Friend, Samson's life could have turned out a lot better than did. Can you imagine as he's blind, with both of his hands on those columns, the things that must be flashing through his mind? Knowing that it's all about to come to an end. What if I'd only put God first? What if I hadn't been so prideful? What if everything I looked at I didn't have a desire and a lust for?

What if Samson had made those choices sooner in life? There are a lot of things in life that are going to tempt you- just as they tempted Samson. Those things are not going to help you. A lot of those things, the lust of

flesh, lust the eyes, the pride of life, 1 John 2:15-17, those things, although they may appeal to you, and although there may be a momentary impulse pleasure to them, realize, just like in Samson's life, those things are not going to help you to be a godly person. Oh, there's going to be attraction of the opposite sex. There's going to be desire for things of this world, pleasure and passion and things that will make you feel good in life. Friend, the thing we need to ask ourselves above all else is, ‘will this help me to honor God with my life?’

In Acts 4:13, it is said of the fishermen who followed Jesus, when they realized they were untrained and uneducated men, and then they realized they had been with Jesus. Friend, that's what matters in our life. Are we living our life according to the Bible? Remember the Bible says in Romans 12:2, "Do not be transformed to this world, but be renewed by the changing of your mind that you may prove what is a good and acceptable of will of the Lord." Don't let the world squeeze you in its mold. Rather you follow the mold of Christ. You follow the pattern of Christ in everything that He said and did. Friend, are you a child of God? Have you obeyed the teaching of the Lord initially?

The Lord tells us what we've got to do to be saved. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." I know I've got to have faith to be saved for in Hebrews 11:6 the Bible says, "Without faith it's impossible to please God." How do you get faith? By hearing the word of God. Have you heard the message of the Bible? That Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. That no man comes to the Father except by him, John 14:6.

If you've heard that message, then, friend, are you willing to commit your life to it? The Bible says in Acts 2:38-47, they heard that word and they responded by being pricked in their heart. They cried out, ‘men and brethren, what shall we do?’ They believed Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God, Acts 2:36. Having believed that, are you willing to repent? Again, Acts 2:38 says ‘repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.’ Having repented, turn from sin and turn to God- would you be willing to be baptized to get into God's kingdom? Jesus said, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water in the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." John 3:5. Then to live a life of holiness and separation of God would you walk in

newness of life every day being faithful onto death? Roman 6:4 and Revelation 2:10.

Our hope today in studying the life of Samson is that we can look at his life and we can learn not to do that. And in so doing, we'll be prepared to live our lives in such a way that they will truly magnify God in everything that we say that do.

May God help us to have that faith and to follow him every day.

Study Questions for:

“Old Testament Studies Lesson 6: Samson”

1. According to Judges 21:25, what were the times like during Samson’s life?

2. According to Judges 13:1-14, from birth, how was Samson raised to be?

3. According to Numbers 6, what were some of the things expected from a Nazirite?

4. According to 2 Corinthians 6:17, how are we to live?

5. According to Mathew 6:33, what are we to put first?

6. According to 1 Peter 5:8, why should we be sober and alert?

7. According to Matthew 5:16, how should we live?

8. According to Isaiah 59:12, what separates us from God?

9. What is the first and greatest commandment according to Mark 12:30?

10. According to 2 Timothy 2:22, what are we to flee from?