(Judges 13:24, 14:3; 16:1, 16:21, 16:30)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, if the anti-Christ is alive today, does he know he’s the anti-Christ or will this not become apparent to him until later?
ANSWER: Great question. I honestly am not 100% certain, though, I have a feeling someone who has the incredible abilities to bring together a one-world government, a one-world-economy, and a one-world religion, may even feel they are inspired by God! Another thing, none of these things are possible simply thru brute force, so the anti-Christ will be an incredibly charismatic, incredibly intelligent, incredibly gifted person to bring together the world under one single banner. Of course, once in control, the evil of one human being controlling the world will become apparent. Very scary.
No matter how long you have been saved, no matter how greatly God is using your life, the fact is that we each wake up in the morning and face the choice of who we will serve that day. I have used the life of Samson in various opportunities that I have had over my years in the ministry when I was speaking to pastors or men’s groups. Samson’s life is very applicable for this message today in regard to the choice that you will make today, and every day, as to exactly WHO you will serve.
Samson was miraculously born to a mother who was unable to conceive a child. He was dedicated to God’s service even before he was conceived. While many may scoff at this, I have known many women who were unable to have children, but after much prayer and seeking God, their once barren womb brought forth life! Just in the short 60 months Liveprayer has been online, we have had 2 such births that I can recall off of the top of my head. Samson was dedicated to the Lord’s service, grew up being taught all about God, and the Bible says that the “Spirit of God” was upon his life.
One of the points that I want to stress, today, is that here was a man dedicated to God even before he was conceived, raised in the “church” of his day, and had a heart so close to God that the Bible even says God’s Spirit was upon him. DESPITE THIS, SAMSON, JUST LIKE YOU AND I, WOKE UP EVERY MORNING AND HAD TO MAKE CHOICES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHO HE WOULD SERVE!
The Bible says that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. If you have accepted Christ into your heart by faith, the Bible says that you are saved (John 3:16, Romans 10:10, Ephesians 2:8,9). However, even though the devil can’t have your eternal soul, he can destroy your life, steal the joy, peace, and abundance, Jesus promised those who followed Him would know during our brief journey here, and kill us literally.
Over the years I have known many great men and women of God who allowed sin in their life to consume them to the point of death. One dear brother got into the bondage of drug addiction and died from an overdose. One pastor I know looked to alcohol instead of the Lord in times of trouble and alcohol eventually destroyed his liver and he died much earlier than he should have because of it. One sister who did many great things for God allowed the enemy to throw her into a state of depression to the point that she took her own life.
SATAN IS NOT THE CLASS CLOWN, A CARTOON CHARACTER, SOME MISCHIEVOUS PARTY ANIMAL THAT LOVES TO HAVE FUN. SATAN IS A VERY REAL ENEMY WHO PLAYS FOR KEEPS AND IS OUT TO DESTROY THE LIFE OF THE CHILD OF GOD, STEAL ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT THIS LIFE CAN OFFER, AND LITERALLY HELP YOU MAKE CHOICES THAT WILL KILL YOU! HE IS NOT PLAYING GAMES!
As you read through the life of Samson, he chose to turn from God over and over. Samson knew how God felt about being unequally yoked with non-believers. Samson knew God’s plan for marriage. Samson knew God forbids sex outside of marriage. Yet, Samson’s weakness was women, women who did not know or honor the God of Israel. The enemy is persistent. He will tempt the child of God over and over and over until he finds the weakness in their life. Samson’s weakness was women.
Every day, just like you and me, Samson had to choose who he would serve that day. As much as the anointing of God was on his life, even though he served God in miraculous ways, even though God used him to bless many, IT WAS SAMSON WHO HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE EVERY DAY WHO HE WOULD SERVE. Over and over, Samson chose sin over God. Over and over, God showed his love and grace to Samson and gave him chances to straighten his life out but Samson took God’s grace and mercy for granted, refused to turn from his sin, and it was his sin that ultimately destroyed his life, stole all of the blessings God had for him, and in the end, killed him.
Let me encourage you today. If you have chosen to serve sin, have allowed things to enter into your life that God does not approve of, TODAY is the day that you can stop. Is it that easy? NO WAY! It will be the hardest thing that you have ever done but if you take the first step, God will strengthen you and help you to turn away from sin and back to Him. THE CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE TODAY COULD LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE! BUT IT IS A CHOICE THAT YOU MUST MAKE. NOBODY CAN MAKE IT FOR YOU.
I love you and care for you so much. God loves you and cares for you even more. Every day, He gives you the choice to love Him and serve Him. Even those who have loved Him and served Him for many years, STILL, must make that choice each day. I pray today that you learn from Samson’s life and choose God. Every day, I get hundreds of emails from all over the world from people saying that what I write is intolerant, it isn’t for “today,” that there is nothing wrong with doing what we want.
They simply don’t understand that God loves us SO MUCH that He sent His Word to encourage us and guide us along our journey here. How He shows us to live our life is not to keep us from enjoying our life but to know the peace, joy, and abundance that this life can offer. However, He loves us enough to give us the free will to choose each day, whether we will serve Him or not. That is a choice that I will make today, and it is a choice that YOU will make today. My prayer for you is that you will choose to serve God.
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Comments
Post a Comment