I will not become a prey to my enemies.
“And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.’ Judges 16:20-21
EXPOSITION:
It would amount to disgrace for anyone particularly, someone known as a valiant to become a prey in the hands of those who is he is meant to subjugate. A situation like that would be appalling and disgraceful, better imagined than experienced! God forbid this concerning us in the name of Jesus.
Samson, in today’s focal scripture was a valiant, a mighty man of valour who ended becoming a prey, a very cheap one for that matter in the hands to those he was meant to deal with. God chose, consecrate and anointed him on this special mission of delivering the Israelites from the menace of the Philistines. But he, Samson did contrary to God’s instruction to the Israelites not to inter-marry foreigners; his parents warned him against this, but he was defiant. He got involved with Delilah who was a set bait for him; he was careless and reckless in this relationship; Delilah the deceiver deceived him with sweet talks, until she got the secret of his power, and she eventually handed him over easily to his enemies.
The case of Samson end in shame and tragedy as written thus: “Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.” This is a typical case of ‘falling from grace to grass’, a case of ‘the arrester becoming the arrested’. Any Christian who chooses to live a careless and reckless live such Samson’s is likely suffer the same consequence. May God help us to guide against anything that can cause us to fall into the hands of our adversaries.
By the reason of this prayer journey, any attempt to lure us into what will bring us to shame, and ridicule in our Christian race will be averted; we receive grace for wisdom endowment in dealing with devil-incarnate people, foes relating with us as friends; the grace of God upon us will not turn to disgrace in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. God bless you SHALOM. – Pastor Jide Siwoku
Prayer Points:
1. Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your Spirit that is leading us and Your church in Jesus’ name. (Romans 8:14).
2. Father, we thank You for not allowing us to be preys in the hands of our enemies in Jesus’ name.
3. Father, we thank You because our lives will not end in shame and disgrace in the hands of our enemies in Jesus’ name.
4. Father, every sin in us that will make us preys to our enemies, have mercy and forgive us in Jesus’ name.
5. Father, destroy by fire the influence of glamour and allurements of sin from our lives in the name of Jesus.
6. Father, every root of sin in us that will take us away from You and cost us more than we can pay, be consumed fire in Jesus’ name. (Proverbs 4:23).
7. Father, meet us right where we are, and deliver us from the hands of our enemies in Jesus’ name. (James 4:8).
8. Father, every uncontrolled strong passion in us that will make us prey to our enemies, be consumed by Holy Ghost’s fire in Jesus’ name.
9. Father, I decree and declare, the consequences of my sin will not give glory to the enemies of God in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 6:6).
10. Father, let Your mercy overrule and prevail over my failures. I refuse to stumble or fall in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 130:7-8).
11. I declare and decree, from today there will be a demonstration of God’s power and the revelation of God’s nature in our lives and church in Jesus’ name.
12. Sing: Create in me a new heart, O Lord and renew a right spirit within me…Father, cast me not away from Your presence. O Lord, please don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me in Jesus’ name.
13. Father, give us the grace to put God first in our lives, so that other things can fall into proper order in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 6:33).
14. Father, everything that I am drawn to in my life, that is not meant for my good but seems enjoyable, let them be consumed by Holy Ghost’s fire in Jesus’ name. (James 1:15).
15. Father, we thank You for the answered prayers and the testimonies in Jesus’ name. Amen.