CHRIST FOR PRISONERS WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, April 29, 2007

Dangerous Self-Deception – Judges 16:1-31

When we refuse to admit our powerlessness we are only deceiving ourselves. The lies we tell ourselves and others are familiar: “I can stop anytime I want to.” “I’m in control; this one won’t hurt anything.” And all the while, we are inching closer to disaster.

Samson was one of Israel’s judges. As a child, he had been dedicated to God, and God had gifted him with supernatural strength. But Samson had a lifelong weakness-the way he related to women. Samson was especially blinded to the dangers he faced in his relationship with Delilah. His enemies were paying her to discover the secret of his strength. Three times she begged Samson to tell her his secret. Each time she set him up and tried to hand him over to the enemy. Three times Samson lied to her and was able to escape. But each time he got closer to telling her the truth. Finally, Samson revealed his secret, was taken captive, and died a slave in enemy hands.

Samson’s real problem can be found in the lies he told himself. By not admitting his powerlessness, he remained blind to the obvious danger that his pride and desire for beautiful foreign women were leading him into. This caused him to gradually inch his way toward an untimely death.

We need to be careful not to fall into a similar trap. As we learn to acknowledge our powerlessness over our addictive/compulsive tendencies daily, we will become more aware of behaviors that will likely lead us to destruction.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)
²⁹ He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
³¹ But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (RVR)
²⁹ El da esfuerzo al cansado, y multiplica las fuerzas al que no tiene ningunas.
³⁰ Los muchachos se fatigan y se cansan, los jóvenes flaquean y caen;
³¹ pero los que esperan a Jehová tendrán nuevas fuerzas; levantarán alas como las águilas; correrán, y no se cansarán; caminarán, y no se fatigarán.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (RVR)
⁷ Porque no nos ha dado Dios espíritu de cobardía, sino de poder, de amor y de dominio propio.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 1:8 (RVR)
⁸ pero recibiréis poder, cuando haya venido sobre vosotros el Espíritu Santo, y me seréis testigos en Jerusalén, en toda Judea, en Samaria, y hasta lo último de la tierra.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (RVR)
²⁰ Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder que actúa en nosotros,
²¹ a él sea gloria en la iglesia en Cristo Jesús por todas las edades, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 (RVR)
¹³ Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece.