04/09/2019
DANGEROUS REPORT
The biblical Samson, the strong man, did great exploits in devastating the Philistines, which were the arch-enemies of his nation, Israel. The accounts of the Bible showed that he performed the feats (Judges Chapters 14-15) without any prayer support(s) and nor did he himself pray (See Judges 13-15), except once when he was excessively athirst of water (Judges 15:18-19). By then, his loss of consecration was already advancing by the use of the jaw bone of an ass, which was against the rule of the Hebrews and the Nazarites (Lev.11:22; Num.6:6); first was his eating of the honey from the carcase of a lion (Judges 14:8-9). Little wonder then why he hid the source of the honey from his parents (Judges 14:9). Now, you parents, whenever your child brings any surprising thing or rare gift to you, do not just accept because it is a gift from him/her. Probe the source, and, perhaps, counsel him/her accordingly before you sign off your life. It might have been gotten through armed robbery, prostitution, drug pushing, kidnapping, ritual killing for fame and influence etc.
Yes, honey is sweet and, who will reject it? The honey here may represent money, the flashy cars, beautiful mansions, community infrastructural developments, the charitable foundations and philanthropic organizations going on here and there. Good as they are ( and in fact I need them for myself, for the ministries that the Lord has given to me, and for the Ukpor Solemn Assembly), but before you subscribe or begin to shower encomiums and conferring the benefactors with "chieftaincy" titles, integrity demands that, first inquire and be satisfied with the source. It is not even the size or content of the gifts that matters and we are talking against, for now. It may be little or small in quantity or size, but at the same too unhealthy and dangerous for you, both in time and in eternity.
Listen to me somebody, it is not every gift that edifies. There are some that are deadly dangerous to you. A woman of Israel offered hospitality to the captain of the host army of an enemy nation, Canaan. She gave him milk to drink instead of water he requested; gave him accommodation and cover for seemingly protection, and yet she killed him in the process (Judges 4:16-22). ( Fear women, lol; yet it was a woman that led that war, Judges4:4-9). Is that gift? Apostle Paul wrote in two places, saying, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. "...but all things edify not.", 1Cor.6:12; 10:23.
Nobody heard about the parents of Samson thereafter. It could be your own turn as parents. Act another biblical Naomi to your children and wards. Even though they were destitute of food and desperately needed some in their home; but when the daughter-in-law brought certain supply, she did not hesitate to ask, "Where did you glean today? and where did you work?" (Ruth 2:17-19), to ensure it was where she sent her. It is good that we have our lacks met, but knowing where and how they come is more important, than mortgage your conscience and destiny. Such is your duty as parents to the members of your family, and even neighbourhood. Also community leaders should act likewise. Achish, the King of the Philistines once asked David when he was sojourning in the country of the Philistines, "Whither have ye made a road today?" (1Sam.27:8-10).
Do not be intimidated at any time, anywhere by anything, anybody or any circumstance to the point that you cannot ask such soul saving question nor raise objection. It is very dangerous. If you keep mute and turn away your eyes in pretence that after all nothing concerns you; one day it will concern you like the brothers and village people of Samson (Judges 16:31), or like Adam of old, "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.", Genesis 3:12. Admonish them, as parents or community leaders, whether they obey or not. Apostle Paul wrote, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.", 1Timothy4:16.
But the moment Samson lost his consecration he began to look for support, prayer team to back him up and he began to pray too (Judges 15:18; 16:26,28). Because he lost the grace that goes with the consecration (Judges 13:24-25; Eph.4:7 comp. Judges 16:20). Thereafter, all he did was a show business, entertainments.
Likewise, if and when you loss your consecration:
1. You engage in marathon vigils, running from one prayer-mountain to another prayer-hill with little or nothing to show for it, than when you maintained your consecration.
You make yourself a prey, a prisoner and a mockery to your enemies (Judges 16:21, 23-24).
With your consecration in tact,you achieve more in life and ministry sweatlessly, without stress (Judges 16:2-3), than when you toy with it (Judges 16:21e,29-30).
There a measure of immunity one enjoys when you stay in your consecration and in your calling (Judges 16:21). No power will be able to bind you nor touch you (Psalm105:13-15).
2. You will be praying God to kill your own enemies, instead (1Peter3: 13), whereas your original calling and ministry was to destroy the enemies of your nation. What a difference it makes!
3. You will become like Esau of old, "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.", Hebrews 12:16-17.
Today, a lot of people, and youths in particular, are destroying their own destinies as well as losing their birthrights by deliberately playing away their consecrations in fornications, adultery, idolatry, lying and examination malpractices.
Samson losing his consecration was not a sudden incident. It took a gradual process over time.
So, guard against it. It may spark off with a lust of the other gender in your fellowship, neighbourhood, company or business premises, with the amorous smiles, touching or holding of hands. If it is not nipped in the bud, then it will metamorphose to having a go once. Chances are there that it was not uncovered after that first attempt. Then, because of the seeming familiarity with each other, the second goal is scored; and besides, you begin to date and both infect and infest other people here and there (See Eccl.8:11).
But know that God tolerating your sinful acts here and there does not mean that He approves of you doing them (See Psalm50:16-21*). He is just being what makes Him God, longsuffering (See 2Peter3:9,14-15a).
4. Samson was ordained exclusively for war-faring, but he slide into feast-making (Judges 14:10). When he staged feast for the young men in honour of his wife, no doubt he partook of the exotic strong wines which were forbidden him even from the womb (Judges 13:4-5,7,13-14).
Just as he was not used to going into his wife; in other words, the marriage was not consummated, probably, because he was so inclined to fighting wars, and he lost the wife to his friend (Judges 15:1-2). Now the question is, "Men, why do you go for things you do not need?"
5. When you lose your eyes by reason of losing your consecration (Judges 16:21), you become blind to the realities of life and your ministry, and you begin to grope about.
The rest you do, upon losing your consecration, is making a show buzz (Judges 16:24-27), not a ministry any longer; even though you draw a massive crowd, like Samson (Judges 16:27), who will perish with you also (Judges 16:27,30). Pulling a crowd is not bad in itself, after all Apostle Peter did that at least on two occasions (Acts2:41; 4:4).
6. Samson was so overconfident in himself, too stubborn and adamant. This 'notin me ga'; God understands attitudeology are in themself too dangerous. Samson's first dealing with his wife, in divulging the answer to the riddle of her young men could have served him as a danger signal. Again when he encountered Delilah and she tried out the first bait, then the second but they did not work for her expectations, Samson, could have cautioned himself and, knew she was not joking but was bent on destroying him, yet he continued until the last straw that broke the camel's back. Very unfortunate!
Men and brethren, I believe that every one called of God has his/her secret dealings, Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U), with God. That is your selling point; and you have to tenaciously guard it. In the economic world it is said to be the "business secret". Your success majorly or otherwise is tagged to that. The moment you trade off your own, or compromise it, your ministry is finished and your life is ended, even though you still walk around. For Samson, it was his consecration typified in his locks, seven of them at that; for Moses, it was his doggedness; David, his large-heartedness; Solomon, his liberality and generosity; and for Jesus Christ, it was His love/loving-kindness.
Now, for every one of us as a Christian; that is, Christ-like, it is summed up in one: The fruit (not fruits) of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22-23,24). It is important that you notice verse 24 also. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.", Galatians 5:24. In addition to any other thing you may have to covenant, or have covenanted, with the almighty God.
7. Samson desecrated his consecration and consequent upon which became possessed by the spirit of error. Thereupon he had a wrong guide(Judges16:26), took the wrong decision, uttered the wrong words, took the wrong action, died the wrong death and (apparently) ended in hell. All because he wanted a short cut. That is a great lesson for some of you out there, especially the youths, who always scheme to cut corners. Anyway, those are discussions for another season. You see, when the spirit of error takes abode in one, it will stop at nothing till it perfectly finishes destroying the individual.
Do not be carried off with the much noise in the air about grace. Grace, yes. It goes with consecration too.
King Solomon who had been on both sides of the divide said, "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.", Ecclesiastics 10:8-9.
On the other hand, Apostle Paul wrote, saying, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.", 1Corinthians15:10.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.", Galatians2:21.
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid ...", Romans6:1-2.
John the beloved wrote in two places, "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.", 2John8; and quoting Jesus Christ, he said, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.", Revelations3:11.
The account on Samson is the story of the strong made weak; whilst that of Apostle Paul is the weak made strong (2Corinthians12:9). And Joel told us, "...let the weak say, I am strong.", Joel3:10. What a contrast! Who says our destiny is not in our hands?
© # Rev. Apostle Ezennia Jeh Okolie-Ohamadike @ [email protected]
