ForHisGlory37

I agree that his strength was out of "proportion to his physical appearance" but like I said, I think making Samson look like a strong man when he most likely wasn't in my humble opinion, distorts Christian's thinking. It takes away from the incredible way we look at God Almighty. How much more meaningful it is and how awesome is our God in that story when He uses an ordinary man and gives him supernatural strength?

All the people that the Lord used were separated unto Him. Set apart. Look at Jesus, they esteemed Him not. Isaiah 53 : 1-3 Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tnder plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. The Israelites were angry and rejected Jesus because He did not come as they expected Him to, a warrior King, but instead He came as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Most again will not recognize Him when He comes again because they will expect a Lamb but He will be coming as fearsome Judge, for those who don't know Him.

Samson's foundation was that he had his hair that was the source of his strength (supernatural strength from the Lord) and was to never cut it. But you know, God uses flawed people to show us how He redeems. Samson was a total womanizer....

Yes, but that's exactly my point, David was a young boy who volunteered to kill a 9ft giant Goliath when even the brave Israelite men were shaking in their boots, God used a young small boy to bring down the Giant Goliath. Don't you see the similarities here with the story of Samson?

No, not all cases, but I would venture to say that more than usually.... I guess we won't know until we actually meet the Samson! LOL

Yes, but neither does size..... God uses just the opposite because it points to Him, His power, His glory, His strength

If Samson was a huge and muscular guy, why would it be so remarkable that he would have such strength?

Yes, Samson received his strength from God through his uncut hair. But don't you think it would go more with the flow of the Bible to say that he was more of the average to scrawny guy rather than the Herculian type build? Maybe he was scrawny but good-looking? LOL This is why I believe that the wicked men just couldn't figure out how Samson was so strong. So many examples in the Bible gives us the opposite of what we think it should be. Look at David, the little kid killing the Giant Goliath. (It was the Lord who gave him the strength and quickness and ability to kill Goliath.) Look at the many examples of battles like Gideon using only 300 men to defeat the enemy (The Lord again did it) Gideon's story is the perfect example to compare to Samson. God said that He wanted to have the army dwindled down so that everyone would know that the victory came from the Lord and not from the strength and size of men.

You are probably right, but it galls me when they portray Samson as a huge Herculian looking guy because it portrays God as having to use a big guy.LOL

As a kid growing up, I've always seen cartoons or pictures of the story of Samson and they always portrayed him as some big and muscular guy much like Hercules or someone like that. I just love how the Holy Spirit will open one's eyes and reveal something new every time you read His Word. Such was the case with the story of Samson. A few years back, while reading on Samson, I found it puzzling that his enemies in Judges 16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. Now if Samson was such a huge and muscular guy, why would they be wondering where he got his strength from? It doesn't help when all the Christian pictures in your Sunday School lessons and cartoons portray Samson as a strong man. In my opinion, I think Samson was actually a scrawny, runty, and small guy. Maybe he was an average Joe. I lean towards the runty guy just because God always uses the "foolish" things of the world to confound the wise.

Really!? Wow, that just gave me goosebumps! twice the power? That reminded me of Elisha, asking a double portion of the power that Elijah had! Raising from the dead! And to think Justin, we are going to be seeing that more and more since we are in the last days, and we get to be a part of that! What a privilege!

Yes, very sad. Justin, there is a video on youtube Introduction to the Courts of Heaven. It talks about how we are to approach our "adversary" the devil in a courtroom setting. God is the judge. I listened to it and it made total sense why some prayers are not answered. We are approaching it in not the right way. I believe that we in the church lack power because of men like my old pastor and their wimpy teachings. They don't actually believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. That's why they are so easily indoctrinated into believing and teaching of the pre-trib rapture, the get out of jail free card, because they don't understand, or believe that the Holy Spirit is going to empower the believers to walk through the fire and testing of our faith. They should be preaching and really really believing the Word of God. Jesus said he overcame the world and through Him we can too. Do they really believe, If God is for us, who can be against us? Do they believe the words "By His stripes we are healed?" I really don't think they believe and this why we have such a wishy-washy-wimpy, powerless, whiny, scared, and defeated churches today. We need to recognize that the devil is the liar who really is trying to kill, steal, and destroy our faith in Jesus. What better way to do this if he convinces the pastors we have no more gifts of prophecy, healing, raising the dead? No more! In the last days, God will pour out His Spirit, He is pouring out right now.... and we will walk in power of the Holy Spirit and pointing to the King of Kings coming very soon!

Thanks Justin! I shall look into that. Wiggleseworth..... I know that the last pastor at our other church, he loved the Word of God but he was I believe very prideful. Even though he said to test what he said with Scripture, if you disagreed with him, he gave you a "talk" and if you still disagreed, he would tell you that you might be happier going to another church. He actually passed away a little over a year ago from cancer. He didn't even believe that prayer could help heal him!

Hmmm, maybe you can help me Nick. I studied with BSF International for a few years (bible study fellowship) I also was a discussion leader for the study on the Book of Romans. The Lord has led me to start a bible study, so I am with one lady in town. With the work of the Lord, my neighbor and I have been talking ( I cut her hair) and I just mentioned that I am doing a bible study. I know that she is searching. She and her husband grew up Catholic and Lutheran. So they are very much into the "rituals" . She wants to join us. Do you have any advice for me as to how I can help her to see the "religiosity of Catholicism " . I am also going to be going with however the Spirit leads me. I want her to see the false teachings of Catholicism without me saying anything about it. Just the Word of God to show her truth. I am hoping and praying that this will lead to revival in my little town as there has never been one. All Glory to the Father and our Lord Jesus! Have a Blessed Day!

Sister, are you thinking "tricked" in the sense that they think it will be implemented without their knowledge? I think we will be given a choice, just like God's gift of free will. I think they might be "tricked" into it by saying it will make your life easier, no more identity theft, or being told it really isn't the MOB. Revelation 3:10 says it will try all, the whole earth. This is the testing, to be obedient to God or not. This is where God is drawing the line, make a choice, stand strong in our faith in Jesus or give up and take the MOB trying to save themselves. We gotta continue to preach the Word of truth! Tribulation is coming! Be ready! Not get ready, BE READY! Jesus is coming! The King is Coming!

Thank you Waggles (Nick)! I don't live in CA anymore. I do attend an AOG right now. It is alive and healthy by the Grace of God even though we don't have a pastor. Our elders have been taking turns preaching and it's been really good for them! There is something about our church and that is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We left our other church because it was D.E.A.D. very sad really. How can it be alive when they don't even recognize the work of the Holy Spirit? God called us out of there and we thank Him. This is been very different for us because both my hubby and I grew up in Baptist and Presbyterian, never AOG. But wherever the Spirit of God leads us, we will obey and go He always has our best interest at heart. God is Good! All the time!

I didn't say they were parallel verses... I said that Matthew tells of when Jesus comes (immediately after the tribulation) and then Luke 21 tells what will happen before the tribulation comes....... not forcing anything.... you just need to let the Spirit open your eyes of understanding..... Here is an example of this from the movie God's Not Dead 2 on youtube God's Not Dead 2-James Warner Wallace In Matthew 26: 65-68 (when Jesus is brought before Caiphus) Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and beffeted him; and other smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Here we ask ourselves why would it be prophesy to ask who hit you? Well, when we read Luke we get the answer. Luke 22:63-64 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 2 Thessalonians 2 all talk about the last days, some what will happen before the tribulation, all from different perspectives but all giving the same narrative. No contradictions. No forcing of Scripture..... Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little..............

Yes, the temple will be built soon and they have all the preparations ready. We must sound the alarm! Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! No matter what, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST!!! .... many Christians believe that it will be easy not to take the MOB. Really? What if you have small children or babies crying of starvation? Do you think you will try and rationalize that God would understand because you were trying to feed your child? NO! This is the testing that will be upon the WHOLE EARTH. Pray and seek the Lord, He will guide and tell you what He wants you to do. Maybe move out of the cities? Buy land? Prepare? Why? because then you will be a blessing to others who did not heed the Lord in his warnings to get ready for the Beast system is already here. It will be implemented soon. Get your households in order. You don't need to waste your money on that bigger house. You don't need to go on that vacation. You don't need that bigger t.v., new version of smartphone, you don't need that nice car. Prepare your spirit, buy yourselves gold, ◄ Revelation 3:18 ► I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Again i say, Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!!!

Psalm37, why do you only choose Luke 21? You know very well that in Matthew 24:29 it says,immediately after the tribulation of those days.....v. 30 AND THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. v. 31 AND he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Luke 21 is another perspective but it's still the same. v.12-19 tells you the tribulations that we as saints are going to go through. Matthew 24 tells we will go through the tribulations and then Jesus comes whereas in Luke, it gives you more detail as to what will happen during that tribulation time, i.e. lay their hands on you, persecute you, deliver you up to the synagogues and prison. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relative, and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated y all for My name's sake. (Sounds like tribulation to me) God's Word never contradicts itself, you should know that.

Thank you for your insight. I still have a few more questions...... Why is it that the Pentecostal churches believe and operate the gift of prophecy and Baptists do not? When I heard that with my ears, even my spirit screamed that that was not truth. How can they totally ignore several chapters of Scripture and Paul exhorting the gift of prophecy in the Bible? I don't get it?

Amen Sister!!! And it will be a testimony unto Jesus! Yes, let us be like the wise virgins, buying gold (Holy Spirit) that we prepare ourselves spiritually for what is coming. Some of us might also be led by the Spirit of God to prepare physically. Joseph did this during the 7 years of plenty, so that when the famine hit, Joseph, his family, and the Egyptians did not starve. Noah prepared also, Hebrews 11: 7 by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his TRAINED SERVANTS, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. ( Abram wasn't just sitting around in his tent twiddling his thumbs. He was always prepared and ready for battle. So we too must be prepared spiritually and physically as well for the coming tribulation and the testing of our faith whether we will take the MOB or stand firm, endure to the end, and remain faithful to our LORD JESUS! We are in the last days, we are the last generation. Get your households in order, get out of debt. Pray and seek the Lord Jesus while there is still yet time and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and where and what the Lord wants you to do.

I test the men's words with God's Word and see if they match up because men are fallible and God is not.