(JUDGES 13:5)
What a happy surprise it was for Manoah and his wife to hear from God through the voice of an angel. They had experienced a married life without the happiness of children. So what a greater surprise, a happy surprise also, when the angel of the Lord declared that they would have a son, a peculiar son. This boy would be ordained of God to be a Nazarite from his birth to the day of his death.
A man became a Nazarite by two means, (1)being appointed of God before birth or at birth, (2)or by his own admission and consecration and devotion to God. Notice the vows of a Nazarite:
-Not to partake of the fruit of the vine in any form, -Not to go near or touch a dead body, -Not to cut the hair of his face or head, -To separate from his brethren or family.
This was, in the life of Samson, a very outstanding thing indeed. So was it with Samuel, and John the Baptist. But what is more outstanding in the life of Samson than being a Nazarite, is the fact that his birth herald the message of VICTORY to a nation that was in deep trouble. The angel told Manoah, “he shall begin to deliver Israel.”
Every man that was burdened by the oppressor rejoiced that a winner was born.
Every woman that toiled in the camp of the Philistines was made glad and sang because that in Israel a winner was born. Every child that bare the shame of their parent being in bondage, laughed and joked with the Philistine boys, that among them a winner was born. Every enemy of the children of God mocked, because it was said that in the house of Israel, a winner was born.
And we read, “—-the spirit of the Lord began to move on him at times”, because he was appointed to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines, and at times, “the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him”, because he was born to be a winner.
God has always had winners. And I believe, as long as God’s spirit and his people remain on this earth, He is going to let there be born those who will win.
Samson’s life was filled with wonderful stories of victory, not as a Captain of a large host, not as a King of great armies, not as a Commander of many warriors, but as a lone figure he stands against the enemies of God and defends the people of God.
There was the time when,—
-He went to Askelon and slew thirty men of them and took their goods,
-He caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together by twos, set their tails on fire, burnt every crop of the Philistines, and smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter,
-He went to the rock Etam, 3000 men of Judea cane to get him. He made them promise that they would not try to harm him themselves, because he knew that the spirit of the Lord would come on him again, they bound him tight, took him to the Philistines, the cords with which was bound brake, he slew 1000 men with the jaw bone of an ass.
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-He went to the city of Gaza, they shut the gates of the city hoping to catch him, he escaped by lifting the gates, with the post, out of their place and carrying them approximately 40 miles, and place them
down on a hill by the city of Hebron.
But Samson what are you doing working and grinding at the Philistines mills. This is not where you belong. “Howbeit the hair of his head grew–“, The spirit of the Lord returned and Samson died a winner.
Quitters never win and winners never quit.
I. THEN THERE WAS JESUS:
“She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins”. (Matt. 1:21) This verse speaks explicitly of a deliver, “He shall save his people from”. Devil, you’ve had men bound in sin and tradition, you’ve caused men to have sin benighted souls, you’ve caused millions to sink in the cesspool of iniquity,you’ve brought sorrow to fallen man with sin and debauchery, you’ve caused men to fall into the quick-sand of immorality and moral decay.
-I see the Red River with it’s swirling, twisting currents, and I say , that’s sin pulling and drowning all victims that fall within it’s banks.
-I see the great oceans of our world with their beautiful shades of blue, yet depth without measure, and I say, that’s sin that reaches to the depth of the heart, to cause men to drift to far from the calm and peaceful shore.
-I feel the mighty winds of the hurricanes as they strike our sea shores, and I say, that’s sin with it’s unseen, powerful force, causing men to go that way that seemeth right unto man, the way of the flesh.
-I see the destructiveness of the tornado, and I say that’s sin, it destroys, devastates and ravages the best of men with doubts and fears.
-I see the belching, boiling, horrid volcano, and I say, that’s sin spewing and spraying out its foul breath in the face of those who would live in this present world.
-I see the glassy smooth surface of the Niagara River, and I say, that’s sin it is so enjoyable for a while, but in reality it never fulfills it’s promise, but breaks the soul on the rocks of judgment.
Devil you’ve declared that every man has a price, for you told God of Job, “All a man hath will he give for his life”. You’ve said that if God would take down the hedge you could and would make Job (and all men) curse God to his face. Devil you’ve cause men of all walks of life to be led astray, you’ve filled mens hearts with hate and all vileness of sin, you’ve caught men in the net of selfishness and greed, and carried them to a Christless grave.
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BUT NOT SO WITH ONE MAN!
JESUS—–the outstanding miracle of the ages.
—–the root and off spring of David,
—–the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
—–the Good shepherd of the tender sheep,
—–the light of the world that shines through all darkness,
—–the bread of life to those who are hungry,
—–the rock of ages, a shade in a dreary land,
—–the cheifest among ten thousands, altogether lovely, Born to win, JESUS
—–the Wonderful, when life is dreadful.
—–the Counselor, when you need help.
—–the mighty God, when you need a miracle.
—–the everlasting Father, when you need shelter and provision.
—–the Prince of Peace, when you are in turmoil.
—–the desire of all nations, and the hope of Israel, Born to win, JESUS
—–the Rose of Sharon, the beautiful spot in a dreary land.
—–the Bright and Morning Star, that heralds hope in the dark night.
—–the Lily of the Valley, the bright spot in adverse circumstances.
—–the healer of my sicknesses,
—–the giver of my strength,
—–the Savior of my soul,
—–in whom all the Godhead dwelleth bodily,
—–he spake and it was done,
—–he commanded and it stood fast, Born to win.
-His name blossoms on the pages of history like the flowers of a thousand springtime’s in one bouquet.
-His name sounds down through the corridors of the centuries like the music of all choirs, past and present, poured forth in one sweet anthem.
-His name, like rain drops in drought, is seen in the harvest of blessings
along lives highway.
-His name, like our nations statue of liberty, high and exalted, is pointing to men the way out of sin, with power and love.
Without the beat of drums, without the playing of bugles, without the sound of marching feet, without the militaries famous salute, through his name, the flag of love and truth, like spicey breezes from heaven, has perfumed the air around us, were we praise and worship, with its glorious scent. Jesus was born to win.
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JESUS, He was man and He was God.
-As man he grew tired, as God he said “come unto me all that are weary and I will give you rest.
-As man he was hungry, as God he fed thousands with very little.
-As man he was thirsty, As God he said “I’ll give you living water and you will never thrist again.
-As man he prayed, as God he said “Ask what you will in my name and ye shall have it.”
-As man he was tempted in all points as we are, as God he was without sin.
-As man he was weary and slept, as God he never sleeps nor slumbers.
-As man he cross the sea in a ship. as God he walk on the waters.
-As man he said “I thrist”, as God he turned water into wine.
-As man he died, as God he came forth on the third day, victorious over death, hell and the grave.
JESUS, BORN TO WIN. He will swallow up death in victory. “Isaiah 25:8” The Jews hated him, the Roman soldiers mocked him, Herod desired to see a miracle of him, Pilate condemned him, the courts crucified him, those that stood about spat upon him, Joseph wrap him for burial, the tomb entrapped him, the stone locked him in, the cold icy fingers of death claimed him, BUT NAUGHT COULD HOLD HIM, BORN TO WIN.
II. THE CHURCH:
But all of this is not the end of the story, for Jesus promised——– “Another comforter, that he may abide with you ever”. (John 14:16) “Ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you”. (John 14:17 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”. (John 14:18) “But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you”. (Acts 1:8) A visitor to our country said, Niagara Falls was the greatest unused power of the world. But greater than all physical forces, greater than all solar energies, greater than all atomic blast, greater than all human ingenuities, is the ever present, triumphantly enabling, power of the HOLY GHOST. No fire for a motor, motor will not run. There are many reasons why the church often finds it difficult to make progress but most times it is for the obvious one—–THE MISSING FIRE. It is a piece of machinery without the power producer within it. There is no greater dynamic, no effectual contact, with the super-power. NO FIRE. Get some fire, you’ll have the power.
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Power for what?????
” To lie cold and breathless on the table of delivery?
” To lie lifelessly on the threshold of our birthdate?
” To lie weak, with the bottle of self-pity, in the crib of infancy?
” To crawl helplessly, in the dirt and filth, before the onslaught of the enemy?
” To wander aimlessly in the care free moments of childhood?
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, nor powers, things present, nor things to come, height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our lord.” (ROMANS 8:39) Sir! The church raises its head in victory, she was BORN TO WIN. Though foes assail, the fires of persecutions burn, the rains of temptation may fall, the storms of doubt may blow, the hail of unrighteousness may beat, I know! Yes I surely know, “It shall be well with the righteous.” For this body will be sown in corruption, it will be raised in incorruption. sown in dishonor, it will be raised in glory, sown in weakness, raised in power. sown in natural body, raised a spiritual body. “Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, for the last trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51) “But thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:57)
BORN TO WIN, THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH, BORN TO WIN. Fires have failed to burn it, Lions have failed to devour it, Swords have failed to destroy it, Kingdoms have failed to subdue it, Weaknesses have failed to take it, Armies of aliens have failed to conqueror it, Deaths have failed to tardy it, Cruel mockings have failed to restrain it, Scourgings have failed to pain it, Bonds have failed to limit it, Im-
prisonments have failed to contain it, Stones have failed to deform it, Temptations have failed to hinder it, Afflictions have failed to hinder it, The Rapture, The Rapture, IT WILL GLORIFY IT. THE CHURCH WAS BORN TO WIN. G—-The church is moving on, the Church is moving on, From the low lands, through the valleys, to the mountain tops we’ll rally. We’ll raise our banners high, we’ll raise them to the sky, With a sing and shout, we’ll praise the Lord, the church is moving on.
and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51)
“But thanks be unto God.”
