July 24, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

#2 in the series: Becoming the People of God

Warnings, Wisdom & White Robes

Preface: It is important that we learn about and even pattern our lives after Biblical figures. However, we sometimes do not ‘get the point’ the Bible story is making. We interpret the actions of the Biblical figures in such a way that we fail to make a personal connection or the ability to be like a particular figure. This series, ‘Becoming the People of God’ will help you identify with the characters of the Bible and hopefully strengthen your faith and deepen your ability to believe in Jesus by ‘taking Him at His word’.

Rule #2. The story of Samson is a great example/story of how God works, and if you are going to become ‘a person of faith’ you must embrace the ‘Judgment of God’.

Samson is often portrayed as a person of physical strength. He did exhibit tremendous strength through the blessings of God but that is not the ‘focus-point’ of his story. It is not his strength that is important (though it was the means to the end) but rather it is his determination to see God’s judgment of his enemies. Everything he did, every decision he made, and every event of the story were Samson tempting his enemies (the people who were persecuting and harassing Jews) to commit injustices so he could manifest God’s judgment on them. Samson was setting up the Philistines who were oppressing the Israelite nation to make mistakes so he could act as a judge and bring freedom to his Jewish brethren. (Read the Book of Judges, chapters 13-16.)

Samson was skillful in manipulating the Philistines to make rash and inappropriate decisions thereby giving him justification in executing justice and consequences for their poor behavior. This story is about God’s judgment on humans that fail to do things that are right, just, and appropriate. Does God bring judgment on individuals for their bad behavior? Yes, He does! In fact, this is one of the primary jobs of the Holy Spirit working in us, (John 16:8), “and when he (Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (ESV).

Book of Revelation has many examples of such judgment. Even Christ spoke of God’s future judgment concerning Jerusalem, “And when Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:41-44 KJV).

Today’s Christian Church does two things right (convict the world of sin and righteousness) but has yet accepted the command and working of the Holy Spirit to execute God’s righteous judgment on the world…to convict the world of judgment. This is the last and final command of Christ given us. Isaiah 61: 2b, “to proclaim the day of vengeance (judgment) of our God.” Jesus left this for us to do when He spoke of His mission on the earth—He left this portion of the Scripture for the Holy Spirit to work through us in the last days. Come-on Church, convict/manifest to the world the judgment of God!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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