From Vision to Blindness: The Samson Warning
Judges 16:21
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
All it takes to lose your vision is to lose your focus. Samson was a mighty man of God, but his sins brought him down to his knees, blind and miserable! We should never take the anointing of the Lord for granted! Do not allow your holy confidence to be turned into pride and arrogance! It is one thing to be confident in the Lord’s strength, yet another to be confident in yourself. I think of 1Co 10:12, where it says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Israel was once warned in Deut 8:17 against the temptation of saying “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” It is a common problem for sinful men to buy into the illusion that blessings which can only be received by the favor of the Lord can also be obtained through personal strength, wealth, or perseverance. Remember Simon (Acts 8:20) who thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money? The truth is, all of us need to guard ourselves against the tendencies of becoming puffed up with pride. Let’s remember what Paul said in 1 Cor 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” If there is any blessing, if there is any anointing, if there is any success or favor, all credit belongs to the Lord! Had it not been for Him, we would fall apart! By HIM all things consist (see Col 1:17)! He holds us together, and that is why we have made it thus far, and that is why we shall make it farther on! This Christian journey always boils down to faith; a total reliance upon our Savior Jesus Christ to finish what He has started in our lives. As long as we continue to rely upon Him, seeking His face and honoring His Word, we shall avoid the pitfalls associated with losing our focus, because we’ll always be looking to Him!
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
All it takes to lose your vision is to lose your focus. Samson was a mighty man of God, but his sins brought him down to his knees, blind and miserable! We should never take the anointing of the Lord for granted! Do not allow your holy confidence to be turned into pride and arrogance! It is one thing to be confident in the Lord’s strength, yet another to be confident in yourself. I think of 1Co 10:12, where it says, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Israel was once warned in Deut 8:17 against the temptation of saying “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” It is a common problem for sinful men to buy into the illusion that blessings which can only be received by the favor of the Lord can also be obtained through personal strength, wealth, or perseverance. Remember Simon (Acts 8:20) who thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money? The truth is, all of us need to guard ourselves against the tendencies of becoming puffed up with pride. Let’s remember what Paul said in 1 Cor 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” If there is any blessing, if there is any anointing, if there is any success or favor, all credit belongs to the Lord! Had it not been for Him, we would fall apart! By HIM all things consist (see Col 1:17)! He holds us together, and that is why we have made it thus far, and that is why we shall make it farther on! This Christian journey always boils down to faith; a total reliance upon our Savior Jesus Christ to finish what He has started in our lives. As long as we continue to rely upon Him, seeking His face and honoring His Word, we shall avoid the pitfalls associated with losing our focus, because we’ll always be looking to Him!
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill