Title Sometime (Judges 16:23-31)
Contents
God uses us. The word means to work or to serve and to be written.
The three major works of God in the Old Testament are 1. The work of breaking down idols 2. The missionary work to the Gentiles (the word Gentile is used 162 times in the Old Testament) 3. The work of enjoying freedom (the Exodus event).
God uses us appropriately for this ministry. A child of God means a person who is written to God. Today, we will look at some of the people in the Old Testament and how God used them.
end. God eventually used Samson.
Samson was a judge. He is a man specially chosen by God to be used holy. However, while playing with Delilah the prostitute, his hair is cut off, and he is caught by a Philistine, his eyes are plucked out, he becomes blind, and he becomes like a beast in prison turning a stone.
The Nazarites were 1. not to drink strong alcohol 2. forbidden to shave their heads and 3. not to eat unclean food. However, he lived in the region of Zorah, but went to the region of Timnah (the land of the Philistines) to cancel his vow. Finally, he went to the region of Gaza and cut off the knee of a prostitute, Delilah. At this time, Samson drank strong alcohol and fell asleep, and his hair was shaved. He becomes powerless.
It is said that Kim Jong-il's drinking party in the north is famous. It is said that you must bring in your aides and drink a large cup of strong alcohol at the entrance to the banquet hall to be admitted. And it is said that they have promiscuous sex in the room next to the banquet hall while intoxicated. This is enough to be a sign that the end of the society is near. No South Korean president has ever been shot and killed while having a drinking party at an house. Pompeii's last day was also a day of drinking in a fancy banquet hall.
A holy life is a state of being drunk with God. The early Christians were given the nickname New Drunkens. It is a life that is overcome by the Spirit of God.
Samson got drunk and lost the holiness of God. However, at the last moment, when he cried out and prayed to God in front of the image of Dagon at the last moment, God strengthened him and killed all the idolaters, and he died as well.
God used him in his last days to destroy idolaters.
I. God also used the silent man Jonah.
Jonah was a prophet. However, he was cowardly and, unsatisfied with his name, listened to God's command and fled.
Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah got up to escape the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa to flee to Tarshish, and just found a boat going to Tarshish. said And if possible, I went down to the bottom of the boat. To avoid God-. How stupid are you?
A lot is drawn and it is eventually thrown into the sea. The whale took it and swallowed it. After suffering for three days in a bowl of hunger, I vomited out, and it was the land of Nineveh that I did not want to go to. God told them to go to that city and cry out for repentance. Although the city is a foreign land. But Jonah was not convinced. Because they were the Gentiles who had troubled Israel. Rather, I would have liked it if I had told them to prophesy about destruction. Reluctantly, Jonah could only do his duty with an ant-sounding voice and reckless footsteps. Say "Repent". But the people of Nineveh sown ashes and repented even when they heard the loud cry. God accomplished the work of salvation for the Gentiles even through the silent Jonah. Malachi 1:11 says, “From the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts; and in every place I will offer incense and clean offerings to my name, because my name is among the nations. It will be great.” He is using us for a work in which the name of the Lord will be exalted among the Gentiles.
All. God also used the old man Moses.
Moses was a well-educated man. However, his 80-year-old old age and the fact that he had been buried in the wilderness for a long time was a decisive weakness. However, God picked him up and dedicated him to the ministry of enjoying freedom as a nation of Israel.
Ecclesiastes 6:2, "There is a man who has received from God riches, riches, and honor because he lacks all the desires of his soul, but is not able to enjoy it, so another enjoys it, and this is also vanity and an evil disease." It is important for us to enjoy the life of God's children.
Moses rescued Israel and contributed to the life of the chosen people. Today, many Christians have to face the pity that they are still seeking and not enjoying the freedom and peace that the Lord has achieved.
The Lord is everything. Jesus is the perfect answer to all your problems. We must live a life that enjoys the Lord.
God is using us for the ministry of enjoying the Lord. Hallelujah.