GOD’S BLESSINGS CAN BE LOST
by Bo Dunford
altered by Luther Sexton
“DON’T FOOL AROUND AND LOSE IT”
Scripture: Judges 16:15-21
Judges 16:20 “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”
INTRODUCTION:
Our lives today are full of questions! * We question the matter of security! Am I secure in Christ? Some denominations teach “once in grace, always in grace.” To the best of my ability, the Bible does not teach this doctrine. There are clear teachings that I can shipwreck my faith by making a conscious decision to do things my way and leave the Lord out of my plans!
Certainly, there are some blessings that can be lost!
* The Bible records many spiritual blessings which men received from God, and then lost!
* Let us look at some of them today:
I. Power with God can be lost.
II. Joy of Salvation can be lost.
III. Your testimony can be lost.
IV. Your “first love” can be lost.
V. Souls can be lost.
I. POWER WITH GOD CAN BE LOST!
* In our Scripture text today, we find a man who lost the power he had with God!
* He did so because he made some mistakes! * Let’s examine the life of Samson.
A. He was a man called by God to a deliverance ministry! * Judges 13:24-25
1. Birth announced by an angel. Judges 13
2. The Spirit of the Lord moved on him. Judges 13:25
B. Samson’s Fall Was Caused By Several Factors. We are not immune. These things could
happen to us too, so beware!
1. First, he broke his separation unto the Lord!
a. He fooled around with the enemies of God.
READ II Corinthians 6:14 – 18
6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
b. In chapter 14 he marries a wife from the Philistines.
c. In chapter 16, he spends the night with a prostitute.
Judges 16:1 “Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went
in unto her.”
d. Later in the same chapter, he falls in love with Delilah.
Judges 16:4 “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the
valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.”
2. He frustrated the will of God for his life by his failure to live a holy life.
God has called us to live a life of holiness ... Heb.12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
3. He sinned through presumption!
a. He presumed that because God had called him, . . .
b. And because he’d done exploits in the name of the Lord, he would be
forgiven, no matter what he did.
c. He fell because his life was controlled by fleshly desires.
4. The power of God restored in his life by repentance, but paid a high cost for it!
a. He died with his enemies after they had put out his eyes.
Judges 16:21 “But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him
down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”
Judges 16:30 “And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
b. Have you lost the power of God from your life?
C. Far too many Christians live their life on the battery system.
1. Some kids have these battery operated cars.
a. When the battery is charged all was well!
b. But when the battery goes dead, so goes the car.
2. There are Christian believers who seem to run their spiritual life & service on that
same system.
a. They go to an altar and ask God to give them a deeper life and when they
get up from the altar, they are altogether different ... for several weeks.
b. But something happens to them and their battery goes dead, and instead of
coming to church and getting their battery charged so they can keep on
going, they stay away from the charger!
D. Often, we do not realize how important little things are!
1. Samson did not.
a. Perhaps he thought that most of his sins were unknown.
b. A famous explorer in South America was once driven back and forced to
abandon his journey by an almost invisible foe.
(1) He was equipped to meet leopards and serpents and crocodiles.
(2) They proved to be no threat, but he had failed to reckon with the
little fellows - the million of "chiggers."
2. Today, watch the tiny things which may spoil your testimony!
a. Remember, Lk.16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful
also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
b. Be on guard against the "little foxes"
Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines:
for our vines have tender grapes.”
(1) that evil thought, that hasty word,
(2) that burst of temper,
(3) That snap judgment which may bring defeat!
3. Put on the whole armor of God
a. By Prayer,
b. By Bible study,
c. By other spiritual exercises,
and you will be able to ward off enemies both large and small!
II. JOY OF SALVATION CAN BE LOST!
A. David is known as a man after God’s own heart,
I Samuel 13:14 “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought
him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
(Saul proves that kingdoms can be lost.)
1. And on many occasions in his life, the joy of the Lord was certainly present,
and was one of the outstanding characteristics of his life.
2. But, because at a weak moment he gave in to the desires of the flesh, he lost
that joy.
B. David was called by God to his place of leadership in Israel.
1. He was a man used of God, and a man who had joy in the Lord.
2. An outstanding example was his joy at the return of the ark of the covenant to
Jerusalem - 1Chron.16:7-36
C. David’s fall was caused by several factors!
1. First, he was in a place where he should not have been! His place was leading the
people, not relaxing at home during a time of battle.
II Samuel 11:1 “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when
kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel;
2. Second, he did not control his eyes ... rather, they controlled him!
a. Did David sin by being on the roof of his house? No!
b. Did David sin by seeing Bathsheba? No!
c. He sinned through allowing temptation to stay in his mind!
d. He stayed to watch Bathsheba when he should at least have gone back
inside his house and quit looking.
3. Third, he fell because he allowed his life to be controlled by unbridled
passion! After sinning with Bathsheba, the rest reads like a bad soap opera.
D. The joy of the Lord was restored to him through repentance, but at a great personal cost!
1. The child born of this sin with Bathsheba died.
2. Amnon, his first-born, raped his half-sister Tamar (Absalom’s full sister).
a. II Samuel 13
b. II Sam13:21 “But when king David heard of all these things, he was
very wroth.”
c. II Sam 13:22 “And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good
nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar.”
d. II Sam 13:28 “Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye
now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you,
Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be
courageous, and be valiant.”
e. II Sam 13:34 “But Absalom fled.” (In self-exile for three years.)
3. Absalom
a. II Sam 14:25 “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as
Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of
his head there was no blemish in him.”
b. II Sam 15:4 “Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the
land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me,
and I would do him justice! 15:5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.”
c. II Sam 15:14 “And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from
Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring
evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.”
d. II Sam 18:9 “And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode
upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak,
and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the
heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.”
e. II Sam 18:14 “Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took
three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom,
while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.”
f. II Sam 18:33 “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber
over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son
Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!”
E. What happens on the inside shows on the outside!
Illustration: In one of his booklets, Adrian Rogers tells of some gold prospectors who discovered an exceptionally rich mine. One of them said, "Hey, we’ve got it made as long as we don’t tell anybody else before we stake our claims." So they each vowed to keep the secret. Because they had to have more tools and provisions, they headed for town. After buying all the supplies they needed, they hurried back to the mine site, but they weren’t alone. A crowd of people followed them because their discovery was written all over their faces.
1. Joyful Christians with the light of God on their faces are needed in the darkness
of this world.
2. Don’t do anything that will cost you the joy of the Lord.
III. TESTIMONY FOR THE LORD CAN BE LOST!
A. Peter knew what it was to have a personal testimony.
1. Had he not been among the first to be called, and the first to respond to the call of
the Lord?
2. Had he not walked with the Lord for over 3 years, seeing Christ perform many
signs and wonders, hearing Him preach and teach?
3. Had he not seen the ear of the high priest’s servant, which he himself had severed
from that man’s head, restored?
4. Yes, Peter knew what it was to have a testimony for the Lord.
5. Yet in a time of pressure, Peter lost what testimony he had - Luke 22:54-62
B. We never know who is watching us!
1. Peter was called by the Lord!
2. He was a spokesman for the 12 on several occasions!
3. He was a man destined to leadership, as shown later on the Day of Pentecost.
4. He was a man loved by Christ, who had asked him a series of searching questions
about Peter’s love, and ended with a commandment for him.
C. Peter’s fall was caused by several factors!
1. Peter was too boastful; too self-confident.
"All might desert you, but not me." How often we have to eat words spoken in haste.
Matthew 26:33 “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be
offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”
2. Peter followed the Lord that day, but afar off!
Matthew 26:58 “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and
went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.”
3. He did not stay close to the source of his power.
4. Peter was in the company of the wrong people that night! He was in the company
of unbelievers, warming around the fire.
5. Peter lacked the courage he thought he possessed. A little serving girl and her
questioning was enough to make him deny the Lord.
D. Peter was restored, but only after a time of extreme soul-searching and grief!
Matthew 26:75 “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him,
Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept
bitterly.”
E. Our testimony (witness) is so important!
IV. FIRST LOVE FOR THE LORD CAN BE LOST!
A. Ephesus was the church, to whom a message was sent in Revelation chapter 2:1-7!
This was a church called to serve the Lord!
Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love.”
1. It had been a great church, with the blessings of God.
2. Paul had written to this church, telling them in Ephesians 1:3-14 that they were
blessed, chosen, predestined to adoption as sons, they were accepted, had
received redemption, revelation, an inheritance, and were sealed with the
Holy Spirit.
B. Christ knew this church!
1. It had worked hard, had deeds in abundance, perseverance,
2. They had a lack of tolerance for evil people.
3. They had cleansed themselves from false leaders.
4. Had persevered and endured hardship, yet it fell.
Revelations 2:2 “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 2:3 And hast born, and hast
patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.”
C. This church fell for several reasons!
1. They had not stayed in a proper relationship with Christ.
2. They had grown proud of their accomplishments and works.
3. They had trusted in their own strength rather than the strength of God.
4. Knowing the Word, obeying part of it, worshipping in the church is not enough.
* We must have a heartfelt love for Jesus and His Word, which results in single-hearted
devotion to him, purity of life, and a love for the truth.
V. SOULS CAN BE LOST IN ETERNAL DARKNESS!
A. The loss of his soul is the most serious loss a person can suffer.
B. Yet we know that there are many who are going to do so!
C. The soul is a real thing and can be destroyed!
* Mt 10:28 "And fear not them which kill ..."
D. The soul can be saved!
Heb 10:39 "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul."
CONCLUSION:
A. Where are you today?
1. Are you conscious of God’s power and presence in your life?
2. Or are you unsure if it is there or not?
3. If you do not know, you must repent,
4. Bring your life back into a right relationship with God, and then the presence of
God, and His power will return to your life!
B. Is your life filled with the joy of the Lord today?
1. Are you daily delighting in the Lord, and His Word?
2. If you are not, you need to repent. Allow the Lord to cleanse you, and restore the
joy of His salvation to your life.
C. How about your love life with the Lord?
1. Do you still have that first love you felt when you had given your heart to Him, or
has your passion dimmed?
2. If you do not have a warm, vital, and loving relationship with the Lord, you must
also repent and return to Him, doing again the things you did when you were first saved.
D. Do you still have a love for the lost?
E. We must make sure all these things are still present in our lives!
* Make sure right now that you have not lost these blessings of the Lord.
