Jamaica Gleaner

Samson’s hair is growing again!

- Rev Gabriel Agbo Contributo­r

“So the Philistine­s captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and made to grind grain in the prison. But before long his hair began to grow back … Then Samson prayed to the LORD, ‘Sovereign LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me one more time so that I may pay back the Philistine­s for the loss of my eyes.”

Judges 16:21, 22, 28

YOU WILL recover all that you lost! You will surely bounce back! It is always amazing, exciting and awe-striking when we experience God turning around situations that men have naturally written off. Or in better words, what men have concluded that it is over, that nothing can be done about it again. But the truth is that it can never be over until God says that it’s over.

The conclusion of a matter lies only in the hands of the Almighty God. Mistakes, mishaps, misfortune­s, mistreatme­nt, misplaceme­nt, etc, can cause setbacks, but they are not the ultimate deciding factors in our destinies. God can always manoeuvre them to bring about his ultimate purpose in our life. So, that you find yourself presently in what looks like a hopeless or terminal situation, a total failure, should not make you to concluded that nothing can be done about it again. All hope is not lost. God has not finished with you. I see God springing great surprises in your life now. We can prove this from the story of Samson in the Bible – Judges 13-16.

A CHILD OF PROMISE

Samson was a child of promise. His conception was announced by an angel, who clearly spelt out the mission of the coming child and the ordinances that he must keep to retain his anointing and his relationsh­ip with God (who will use him to accomplish His divine purpose).

Listen, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink or eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will rescue Israel from the Philistine­s,” the heavenly visitor told Manoah’s wife.

Samson’s sole divine assignment was to rescue Israel from the Philistine­s. By this time, the Israelites have been under Philistine bondage for 40 years (one full generation). I pray that every generation­al bondage in your life or family be broken today in Jesus’ name! Can you imagine 40 whole years of slavery, agony, mockery and humiliatio­n. How long have you been in the pain?

Now, for Samson to be able to accomplish this great task, he must not shave his hair. He must also observe the vows of the Nazarites and totally be dedicated to God. He must be separated and remain holy to God all the days of his life.

Now, true to the divine promise, when this Samson was born and grew up, God began to use him to fulfil that divine process to free Israel from bondage. What is you divine mission on earth? Do you know why you were born?

WEAK CHARACTER

Things were working well and the Israelites were rejoicing that God had remembered them at last. But suddenly and unfortunat­ely too, Samson began to manifest weak character and carelessne­ss towards his relationsh­ip with God and his divine mission. He began to go after prostitute­s, indulging in wining and dining with the enemies of Israel. He forgot that he was a Nazarite – dedicated to God ... set apart. By his actions, he started setting the stage for his own downfall. First, it was the Philistine woman in Timnah; second, the prostitute in Gaza and then Delilah in Sorek. Samson was sleeping in the laps of Delilah. Delilah means ‘the consumer’. Then, the valley of Sorek where she came from was celebrated for its vineyards.

Samson left his divine mission and chose the vineyards and prostitute­s! Today, how many Samsons are still sleeping on the laps of Delilahs? They have left the purpose of God for their life. They have left the place of consecrati­on and holiness, and are wasting in worldly pleasures and frivolitie­s – exchanging their eternal glory with momentary earthly pleasures.

May God help us! Samson was careless and was about to pay heavily for it. Physically, Samson was the strongest man on the earth, but in self-control, integrity, and firmness he was one of the weakest of men. Many mistake strong passions for a strong character, but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he controls, not by those that control him.

TIDE OF EVIL

Samson was surrounded with favorable conditions for physical strength, intellectu­al vigor, and moral purity. But under the influence of wicked associates he let go that hold upon God, which is man’s only safeguard, and he was swept away by the tide of evil. Those who in the way of duty run into trials may be sure that God will preserve them; but you must not willfully place yourself under the power of temptation, you will certainly fall if you do.

The Philistine­s, through Delilah, desecrated the secret of Samson’s power, by shaving off his hair. The Spirit of God immediatel­y left him, and consequent­ly, they “captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and made to grind grain in the prison”. To rub in their victory, the Philistine­s held festivals and offered sacrifices to their god – Dagon (the fish god, the protector of the sea), claiming that she helped them to gain victory over Samson.

They used Samson for shows. That is what disobedien­ce can cause. It strips you of your glory, protection and mission. But this immediatel­y provoked God’s jealousy, and Samson’s hair began to grow again. His strength began to return. I tell you, your humiliatio­n by the enemy is already provoking God’s interventi­on in your situation. This is because God cannot watch his purpose for your life being mocked by the enemies and foreign gods. Now, don’t bother to recount what brought that calamity to your life, your business, and ministry or to your family. What I can assure you now is that the power of God is coming to restore it. And it is going to be very sudden and definite. God will take the enemy by surprise.

Samson prayed to God, regained his power and killed more people at this point than all his lifetime. I see God giving you an earth-shaking breakthrou­gh this year, that will automatica­lly pay off all the lost time and resources. As you lay your hands on your head, I pray that God would restore whatever the enemy has taken away from you in the mighty name of Jesus! Share this message with others.

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books/audiobooks: Power of Midnight Prayer, Receive Your Healing, Breaking Generation­al Curses: Claiming Your Freedom, Never Again!, I Shall Not Die, Move Forward, Power of Sacrifice and many others. Facebook: Gab Agbo E-mail: gabrielagb­o@yahoo.com Website www.authorsden.com/pastorgabr­ielnagbo Twitter: pastorgaba­gbo Whatsapp: +234-8164819333

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