HOW IS SPIRITUAL POWER LOST?

When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. (Judges 16:18-20 ESV)

One of the greatest inventions of all time is that of the light bulb. However... the light bulb is useless unless it is connected to a power source. It is the same with you and I - we are no good unless we are connected to the Holy Spirit's power.  Light illuminates the darkness!  Our purpose is to let our life shine.  We need the power of God to illuminate through us to a very dark world.

Over the years I have replaced many lights in my home because they burn out or simply they just weren't connected to the power source.  How does that happen in our spiritual lives?  How does a person start out with the power and fire of God only to burn out or to become disconnected to the source.

To understand this - we are going to look at the life of Sampson - Judges 13-16.  Sampson was the original Superman.  God gave him superhuman strength to lead the nation of Israel and defeat their enemies the Philistines. Sampson seemed to be unstoppable; he was invincible and indestructible.
Once Sampson killed a lion that attacked him with his bare hands. However, Sampson's strength was not superhuman; it was supernatural. Sampson was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately Sampson's story does not have a happy ending. Delilah found out the secret of his strength and cut Sampson's hair as he napped in her lap. When the Philistines came upon Sampson the fourth time he rose up to defeat them as he had before, but the Bible says, "he did not know that the Spirit of the Lord had left him!" (Judges 16:20 NIV).

This statement really bothers me - Sampson "didn't know that the Spirit of The Lord had left him!"  From then on - Sampson would have to fight his battle's on his own. Where God was once with him - he was now on his own to fight life's battles. Somehow, Sampson got unplugged from the power source - the Holy Spirit.

HOW IS SPIRITUAL POWER LOST IN OUR LIFE?

A. Spiritual Power Is Lost When We Forget The Source

Sampson forgot that God was the source of his strength; it is easy for us to forget that the Holy Spirit is the source of strength and power in God. Delilah had pestered Sampson to tell her the secret of his great strength, and she finally wore him down. Sampson told her everything...

And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.” (Judges 16:17 ESV)

In actuality - it wasn't his hair but the fact that he had been set forth as a Nazarite in holiness to God.  He confused the SYMBOL with the SOURCE. Sampson's hair was not the source of his strength - God was.

B. Spiritual Power Is Lost When We Have Unwholesome Relationships

Someone has said, "Show me your friends, and I will show you your future."  The people you choose as your close friends will make an impact upon the direction of your life.

Sampson was not careful of who he chose to be close to.  He hung out with the Philistines and he hung out with a prostitute.  Unwholesome friends led to his downfall.

C. Spiritual Power Is Lost Through Compromise

Sampson compromised and did not obey God in everything that God required of Him.  As a Nazarite, Sampson was not permitted to come in contact with a dead body at any time.  Yet, Sampson was responsible for the death of thousands of Philistines at his hand.

There were many other things that Sampson ignored which caused the diminishing power of the Holy Spirit in his life.

D. Spiritual Power Is Lost Through Foolishness Or A Loss Of Wisdom

Sampson acted foolishly; he let himself be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He lacked the discernment to even see the trap that was being set to take him captive. Sampson should have known better than to be with Delilah in the first place.

SIN MAKES YOU STUPID. Sin makes you do dumb things.  Don't be deceived by it's lures and promises.

We must learn from Sampson's example if we want to maintain our spiritual power -

1- Stay close to the power source - God's Holy Spirit
2- Develop godly Christian friendships
3- Stay in God's Word
4- Pray for the spirit of discernment
5- Walk in the disciplines of The Lord

I think the following prayer should be read and lived out for every person reading this blog -

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (Proverbs 1:8-10 ESV)