Author: Alexandra Mendez

Charismatic/Full Gospel. Equipping the saints.

THE BLOOD HAS PURCHASING POWER

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The blood of Christ redeems (Zechariah 9:11, 11:12-13, Matthew 27:9-10, which refers to Jeremiah 32:7-9, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14). In chronos, Jesus died on the cross a little over 2,000 years ago. In kairos, however, He was the sacrificial Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). So long before you were born, Christ made the conscious decision to be brutalized, scorned, mocked and killed in order to redeem you from sin and sin’s wages, death (Romans 6:23). He bought you with the purchasing power of His blood.
This means that any blood covenant made between you and a gang, a coven or anyone can be broken and that spiritual contract deemed null and void once you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. His precious blood covers, redeems and purchases your freedom. If you have made a contract with any of these groups or an individual, once you accept Christ in your heart and declare it with your mouth (please see my Self Deliverance post) then you can simply say the following prayer aloud:
Lord Jesus, thank You for freeing me from that bondage. I now declare my past affiliation(s) erased both in the spirit and in the natural. I render any and all contracts null and void. The blood of Jesus has paid for my freedom; it is the escape clause in every contract. I am no longer bound to (state the name of the gang, coven, group or individual). I have been set free by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May the pact this bloodline has now made with You never be broken. I declare this in complete assurance in the powerful name of Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.

Please, seek the Lord while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6). I pray this blesses you.

SELF DELIVERANCE

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A simple yet complete step by step guide to remove generational curses, soul ties and strongholds. Please be completely honest with yourself and with YHWH. This post is specifically for born again Christians; I don’t suggest you complete these steps if you have not surrendered your life to Christ. Make sure you are born again and are committed to living a sanctified life set apart and dedicated to Him. Looking for quick relief from torment only to go back to the very addiction, persons or places to which you were in bondage is extremely dangerous. Christ Himself warns that when a demon leaves, he will immediately look to return to what he considers his home, bringing seven more demons with him (Luke 11:26).

Deliverance is not a game, nor is it to be taken lightly. Over and over, we see in the bible that YHWH is a God of covenants (yes, even in the New Testament!): enter into covenant with Him today. Make the commitment to start a brand new life, denouncing whatever it was that had you bound.

How do you become born again? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Once you have made this confession of faith, ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5 and 8, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:1-4). Pray for the Lord to place you in a full gospel church that preaches repentance. Although it isn’t necessary for salvation I do suggest getting water baptized in your church.

Reading the Word is vitally important. Science in many aspects is right in line with Scripture: nature abhors a vacuum. As you are about to purge spiritually, it is vital that you fill that vacuum with the Holy Spirit. It takes seventy-two hours to read the bible cover to cover. Even if you only read for one hour a day, you will complete it in ten weeks. I also strongly suggest going on a week-long fast to prepare yourself for deliverance. So you understand exactly what you will be facing as you ask the Lord to deliver you, let me explain demonic spirits, soul ties and strongholds as simply as possible.

Soul tie: we get this term from 1 Sam 18:1, which states that the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together. Not every soul tie is demonic or toxic; most people have (or should have) healthy soul ties to their loved ones.

Strongman: demons understand rank and authority. They have the strongman (Matthew 12:29) and its familiar spirits. A good illustration is the skull and the spine attached to it. The skull is the strongman and each familiar spirit is a disc in the attached spine.

Stronghold: there are many verses in the Old Testament that speak of strongholds whenever the Israelites went into battle with an enemy and attacked their cities. Most notable is the battle of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-20). It was the Israelites’ obedience and praise that won them the victory. A stronghold can be a behavior or an addiction. Not only do you need to be delivered from it, you must retrain your thought patterns and discipline yourself to not fall back into it. This means making some serious life adjustments.

It is important to identify and bind the strongman first in order to cast out its familiar spirits. In some cases, serious strongholds and generational curses may take a stronger anointing; if you sense that seven days won’t be long enough, continue for another two weeks and complete a twenty-one day fast. It will be a whole lot easier on your body and spirit. If you are married or engaged, please have your spouse/fiance do this with you. Make every effort to enter into the covenant of marriage free from bondage. I pray this blesses you. Remember, Christ came to set the captives free!

First and foremost, anoint yourself. Grab a pen and paper and write down the names of all past lovers. Then, write the names any family members, friends (both past and current) and even co-workers with whom you have toxic relationships or with whom you just don’t get along. As you begin the process you may feel nauseous or actually vomit-don’t be frightened. This is perfectly natural and is even alluded to in Leviticus 18:25: “And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” You may want to have a wastepaper basket or tissue handy.

Say the following out loud: I break any and all soul ties with (say the names of the men and women with whom you have had sexual encounters of any kind). I send the piece of their souls back to each one, I take back the pieces of my soul that were left with them and I remove the residual DNA left in my body and theirs. I break any vow or covenant made with (name them one by one) and release them, as I also release myself. Father forgive me for any sexual deviancy, abominable acts, perversion and relations committed outside of the marriage bed. (This includes homosexuality/lesbianism, incest, bestiality and use of objects or sex toys. Do not be ashamed, simply repent.) I seal those doors behind me with the blood of Christ.

Now go through the rest of your list: Father, I sever all unhealthy soul ties with (name each person). I am sorry for harboring resentment towards them and release them as I release myself from bondage. Lord please teach me to develop healthy relationships with (whomever you wish to keep in your life, as long as they are not a danger to you or your christian walk). I forgive them for any wrongdoing. I also forgive myself and am heartily sorry for any wrong I have done to them. That is all now covered under the Blood.

This may sound odd, but we can indeed have soul ties with the dead. If you have suffered abuse and/or harbor bitterness and resentment towards the person who hurt you and who is now dead, you must make the conscious decision to forgive them and sever that tie. Think about it: you are dragging around a corpse in the spirit. Release them.

Now let us cover generational curses. This is vital! Someone needs to end the toxic cycles that plague your family, generation after generation. Think of any specific issue that seems to repeat itself in your family: that’s a generational curse. And to be crystal clear: even if it doesn’t affect you, it just might come after your children and their descendants. Don’t adopt the attitude of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:16-19). Please be the one in your family who is brave enough to face those demons and slay them.

Suggested Prayer:
“Father I come before Your throne of grace and humbly set before You my family. I ask You to break off of me any generational curses brought upon me by the sins committed by ancestors from both my mother and father’s bloodlines. I declare any and all generational curses covered under the blood. Neither I nor my descendants shall suffer the penalty of my ancestors’ sins. I break any demonic covenants and altars erected by any of my ancestors from either side of my family, including masonry and witchcraft.” Now ask the Holy Spirit to reveal every familiar spirit attached to each generational demon and renounce them one by one. Be as methodical and thorough as possible. If you reach a point in which you sense something surface but cannot identify it, simply say, “whatever stubborn spirit hiding must leave me right now in Jesus precious name!” Use godly wisdom and discernment. For instance, if you find yourself on the floor denounce every spirit holding you bound on the floor. Say aloud, “I renounce every evil, demonic inheritance and replace them with a godly inheritance to my bloodline, both in spirit and in the natural as stated in Proverbs 13:22.” Every generational curse is now covered under the Blood.

“Lastly, I renounce (any current strongholds-cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, fornication, overeating, etc.) and cast out each familiar spirit attached to them. I seal every last open door with the precious blood of the Lamb. Father, I take my cue from Genesis 3:14 and assign guardian angels to stand guard at my eye, mouth and eargates. Do not let me reopen those doors, ever. May the pact this bloodline has now made with You never be broken. Lord, take this newly cleaned vessel and make it a vessel of honor filled with the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 2:20-21). In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.”

Once you feel at peace you will know your deliverance is complete, or as much as the Lord will allow in His perfect timing. The key is truly wanting to be set free. All the Lord wants is a willing vessel. He will take care of the rest. As time progresses the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal other spirits that you need to be delivered from. Your Heavenly Father is merciful and gracious and will not burden you with more than you can bear. He will reveal them a bit at a time, so that you are not overwhelmed (Deuteronomy 7:22). Obey the Holy Spirit and renounce the bondage to each spirit immediately.

It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out process. As you mature in your faith it becomes easier. Continue to fast and pray, read your Word daily and live a holy life. Do not wander from the shadow of YHWH’s wing (Psalm 91). Keep pressing in. “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”-Jeremiah 29:13

A VISION OF LIGHTHOUSES

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During worship (warfare) one morning the Holy Spirit reminded me of a vision He had given me just prior to the election. I had been praying with a broken heart and contrite spirit for the future of this nation, which in all honesty looked dismal to me. As I cried out to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy, He graciously showed me a map of the United States covered with miniature lighthouses. They looked real, three dimensional, but very small. I wish I could say they covered all fifty states, but am comforted knowing that almost every state had at least one covering it. I include these “lighthouses” in my daily prayer and pray that eventually every U.S. state has an intercessor like this.

I interpreted it to be christians across the U.S. praying with one accord for the future of this nation. It brought me to tears. I shared my vision with the saints on my old periscope account and was encouraged to see so many believing with me for YHVH to transform this land and forgive the church for sleeping on the job. Needless to say, Athaliah did not take the throne and christians across the globe are breathing a sigh of relief. This is only a reprieve, for the end times are quickly approaching, but I for one appreciate the extra time, as I am sure Nineveh did.

My heart’s cry now is for the worldwide church to prepare for the coming persecution. Christians abroad already know what it means to suffer for their faith. We here in the States have been blessed; we have no idea what it means to be persecuted. I wish I could tell you that we won’t ever live through it-but I cannot in good faith do so. Persecution is coming to the U.S., and it is right around the corner. We are already seeing pastors being censored; they face fines and even incarceration for proclaiming homosexuality to be a sin. And this is just the beginning. We need to have the faith of Isaac as he allowed himself to be placed on the altar and watched his father Abraham bring the knife over his head (Genesis 22:6-12).

I have been warning anyone who will listen to create local networks of bartering systems. When the mark of the beast is enforced and as believers we refuse to take it, we will need to find a way to purchase goods and supplies. An underground network of christians would be an excellent strategy. I know most consider “prepping” and storing food and water is their most feasible option and I agree it’s important to protect your family’s interests. However, that stockpile will eventually disappear: where will you find more? History has shown us time and time again that in times of war, famine and persecution the only way to survive is through unity.

The Lord reminded me that morning of that vision of the lighthouses. And then it hit me: the lighthouses are the networks! Thank You, Jesus! I was overcome with joy. The Father is a master chess player who has His pieces in place and His moves planned out at least one hundred steps ahead of the enemy. 1 Kings 19:18 comes to mind, or even further back, Revelation 13:8 (yes, I said even further back-catch that). It is my duty as the watchman on the wall to share this with you. It is ultimately up to each and every one to do our part and prepare for the days ahead. And it is as simple as praying for like minded brethren with whom to connect. Ask and ye shall receive. I pray this blesses you.

PET SINS KILL  

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There is a boy in Cambodia who adopted a python as his pet. His parents have no problem with this, according to the interviews they have given once this story went viral. The boy plays with the enormous snake, allowing it to crawl over him and wrap itself around his body. He even sleeps with the python in his bed.

When I saw this video I immediately related it to a saying of mine: pet sins kill. What I mean by pet sin is that one sin you refuse to give up. You feed it, take it out for walks, pat it on the head for being your faithful companion. This is as dangerous as owning a pet snake. Any animal expert will tell you that when a large snake like a boa or python stretches itself out beside you, it is in fact measuring you; the snake is looking to overpower and eat you.

The same can be said about that pet sin. While you think you have your sin on a leash it in fact is waiting for the opportune moment to bite the very hand that feeds it. And before you even know what happened you’ll find yourself with the leash around your neck and your pet sin has become your master. That sin is looking to destroy your family, ruin your reputation and leave you with nothing but regret in the wake of your own destruction. Pet sins kill. Put it down.

DISBELIEF WILL COST YOU

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The Holy Spirit surprised me four years ago by telling me I had entered my promised land. A few months ago I thought about my biggest struggle and realized it no longer held any power over me. I had finally matured spiritually to the point that God could trust me with His plans.

The Israelites had spent four hundred years as slaves in Egypt. They were liberated and went on their way to a land flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 31:20). However, they were still in bondage to their fears. What would they eat? Where would they live? What if…? “At least in Egypt we ate well!” (Numbers 11:5)

They were finally free, yet all they wanted was to go back into captivity-because it was familiar. Fear of the unknown can be paralyzing. It reduced a people liberated from bondage into a group of whiny, ungrateful nonbelievers. And the worst part? Their own disbelief turned an eleven day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2) into a forty year colossal waste of time.

No matter how much you beg and plead, the Lord will not bring you into your promised land until Egypt has lost all of its allure. My only regret is how long it took me to get here. Do not allow yourself to be held captive by your own fears, misconceptions and desires only to miss out on the very best of God’s promises and plans. I pray this blesses you.

 

BEDTIME PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

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This is a simple prayer I pray over my children as I put my little one to bed, then over everyone else on my daily prayer list:

Father I put my children in Your hands and ask for Your protection as they sleep. I speak the peaceful sleep of Psalm 4:8 over them. Assign guardian angels around, over and under each bed. Put a wall of fire around their bed(s) as stated in Zechariah 2:5. I forbid any human (witch) or demonic spirits to attack them in their sleep. I bind night terrors, nightmares and any physical ailment that will interrupt their sleep. I loose shalom peace over them. Visit them in dreams, Lord. Protect my children in their sleep. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Parents, if your child has trouble sleeping or suffers from nightmares simply anoint your child nightly until you notice an improvement.

MORNING PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

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This is my prayer every morning for both of my children as well as every student, from daycare to university, in both my city and state. After I complete this particular prayer I then proceed to my morning prayer to set the day, in which I also include the same petitions for the adults in my prayer list:

Father, I cover both my children and every child in the city and state of _____ from infant to college age with the blood of Jesus. I put the complete armor on them, head to toe, front to back, including the robes of righteousness, the garments of salvation and praise and the cloak of zeal. I cancel every plan, attack and assignment of the enemy for them today in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. My children are the head and not the tail, they are blessed in the city and blessed in the field, they are blessed going in and blessed going out (Deutoronomy 28:13, 3, 6). Put a hedge of protection around them, a wall of fire (Zechariah 2:5). Protect their eye gates and ear gates.

I cover every inch of these children’s homes, school, daycare and babysitters’ homes, streets and highways in this city and state with the precious blood of Jesus. Line up each street and highway with angels. Assign guardian angels around the perimeter of each physical property and assign one to each classroom, bathroom, closet, hallway, office space, juvenile detention center, jail cell, shower room, rec room, library, gymnasium, cafeteria and abandoned room and hallway from attic to sub-basement. Cover every method of transportation with the blood of Christ and flank with angels every student that walks to and from school. Take them safely to their destination, bring them safely back home.

Father, protect every child and young adult from Molech-the sexual predator and devourer of the youth. Let not one hair on their heads be touched. Protect them from any sexual, physical, emotional, mental or spiritual abuse. Reveal and remove the predator and deal swiftly with him. Father, protect our older children from themselves. Forgive their rebellion as You forgave us, their parents for our stiff necked ways and hardness of heart. Help them to forgive so that they may be forgiven. Keep them from diving head first into the pit (Job 33:28). Break demonic soul ties and remove every demonic agent from their path, replacing them with godly friendships and relationships. Guide their head, heart, hands and feet. Remove every trap cast in their path (Proverbs 1:11) and set their feet on the path of righteousness (Proverbs 8:20). May their feet be firmly planted on the path You have assigned to them since before the foundation of the world.

Father I thank You for our children’s daily bread. I break any curse spoken over our children’s food and replace them with blessings. Remove any demonic item placed into their meals, whether in the spirit or in the natural. Lord, I ask You for a special blessing for every caretaker: parent, babysitter, bus driver, chaperone, and every staff member of their facility or school. May their health and finances prosper as their souls prosper (3 John 1:2). In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

TO THE HUSBAND AND FATHER

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You are the king of your castle and the guardian of your home. You are the provider, protector, and backbone of your family. It is a huge responsibility and a heavy weight to bear: to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). How easy it can be for the head of the household to cross the line from leader to abuser. It is only the man grounded in Christ who can assure his family security and not fear.

Unfortunately, many Christian men use certain verses aimed at the wife to their advantage. Yes, your wife is instructed to submit to you; however, the bible also spells out the behavior of a godly husband.
Your wife’s duty as your helpmate is to support your dreams and uphold your decisions, to make your home a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life. It should be a pleasure to arrive to the loving arms of your wife. Make sure she receives you with joy and not trepidation. Neither your queen nor your prince/princess should be trembling with fear at the thought of your arrival.

Whatever problems arise during the workday have nothing to do with your family: don’t make them pay for what others have done to irritate or hurt you. Pray on your way home. Worship. Give yourself time to adjust roles. You are not an employer/employee at home: you are husband and father. Also, bear in mind that the enemy loves to wreak havoc in christian homes. When you find yourself arguing with your spouse or kids and notice that one is mishearing the other, know that the devil is using scramblers to cause confusion and strife. Crush the scramblers underfoot bind miscommunication, confusion and strife as you loose understanding, clarity and peace. Take your God given spiritual authority over your home.

Always remember: the day you got married your wife took first place in your heart. As difficult as it may be for some mothers to take a step back, it is their obligation. Set the tone early on in your marriage; your queen should never feel like she’s competing with your mother. Allowing passive aggressive behavior from your parent to go unchecked guarantees discord in your home. There should only be one queen in your kingdom; as the king of your castle, make sure your wife knows without a shadow of a doubt that her place is on her throne by your side.
Don’t give the devil a foothold; he will kick the door open and wreak havoc on your family if you let him. Use godly wisdom in your marriage and with your children.

Remember, you are setting the model to your children for what a husband and father must be in their future. It is your obligation as their father to give them a godly example so that they will never settle for anything less. Be encouraged; your wife is praying for you.

Bible verses for husbands:
Genesis 2:24
Malachi 2:14
Ephesians 4:27
Ephesians 5:25
Colossians 3:19
1 Timothy 5:8
1 Peter 3:7-9

Verses from the book of Proverbs:
2:16-19
5:3-5, 8-11, 15-20
6:24-29, 32-35
7:5,21-23,25-27
9:16-18
10:12,19

11:17, 29
13:10,16, 24
14:29
15:1,16,18
16:2, 7, 8, 14, 24, 32

17:1, 13, 14
18:14, 21, 22
19:14, 18
21:14, 21-23
22:1, 6, 15, 24, 25
23:13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
24:14, 33, 34
25:11, 15, 28
26:4, 11, 12
27:8
28:10
29:11, 15, 17, 22
30:8, 9, 19, 32, 33
31:3, 28, 29

SPOKEN BLESSING OVER CHILDREN

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Children are an inheritance to the Lord (Psalm 127:3). When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because
her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the
world (John 16:21). All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children (Isaiah 54:13).

Many years ago, I watched a pastor in the church I attended at the time anoint and pronounce a blessing over the newborn babies brought to the altar. Seven years later I presented my second child to the Lord; he was two years old at the time. It was after the pastor and congregation of this new church prayed over my little one that I remembered the blessing I had witnessed years before. By this time my older son was fifteen, and the Holy Spirit had revealed to me that fifteen was the age in which strongholds took over in my bloodline. So I had my older son hold his two year old brother in his arms as I prayed this specific prayer over my little one first; afterwards I anointed my older boy and declared this same blessing over him, as well.

Firstborn children especially need to be dedicated to YHVH. Remember, Satan takes every thing godly and creates a twisted and perverse counterfeit. Just as the Lord declared all firstborn to Himself (Exodus 13:2, 34:19), so will the enemy try to do with our children. Be proactive in your faith; use all your weapons of warfare against the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Whenever I read the bible, I have at least three different versions open to compare translations. I find it interesting that the word “dedicate” in 1 Chronicles 26:27 is translated as “holy, set apart” in another version. When you dedicate your child to the Lord you are setting him apart to the Living God. Throughout the bible YHVH enters into covenant with His followers; put your children in covenant with the Lord today. I pray this blesses you.

Suggested Prayer: (Anoint each part of your child’s body as you pray over him.) Father, I come boldly before Your throne of grace and humbly present my child (say your child’s name) to You. I enter into a covenant with You, my Lord and Savior, and dedicate (set apart as holy and sanctified) my child unto You. I plead the precious blood of Jesus over him and dress him in the complete armor of Christ: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate and robes of righteousness, the garments of salvation and praise, the belt of truth, the cloak of zeal, shoes in preparation for the gospel of peace, double edged sword of the spirit in one hand and shield of faith in the other. Heavenly Father, assign guardian angels over my child to watch over and protect him every day of his life.

Right now I pray over his mind: may my child guard his thoughts, sharpen his wisdom and his discernment. I pray over his tongue: teach my child to think before he speaks (Prov 18:21). May his words be seasoned with grace, always (Col 4:6). Keep him in perfect peace as his mind is stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3).

Lord, I pray over his heart: may he grow to be kind, considerate and merciful (Prov 4:23-27). May his heart be given solely to the mate You have created specifically for him (Prov 5:18). I remove the harlot (or predator, if you’re praying for your daughter) from his path. I pray blessings over his marriage; I declare a godly wife and godly children who will serve You (Psalm 128:3).

I pray over his hands: may these hands never be idle. May these hands never lack work and always be able to provide for his family (Ecc 2:24, Col 3:23-24, Psalm 128:2). Lord, I pray these hands hold healthy babies. May these hands fold in prayer always. May my child’s hands never shed blood, and may his blood never be shed (Psalm 72:14).

Father, I pray over my child’s legs (SOS 5:15). Make them strong, YHVH, in order to stand guard over himself and his family (Prov 4:12). May his knee bend always in prayer and supplication and bow only to You (Eph 3:14-19).

Lastly, Father, I pray over my child’s feet. May his feet stay on the path You have designed for him, and may they never wander, stray or veer from it (Psalm 119:10). Keep his feet from ever stepping into the enemy’s traps (Prov 3:26, Psalm 91:12). Open doors for him that no man can close and seal shut those doors that no man should ever open (Rev 3:7).

I pronounce this blessing over (say your child’s name) in complete confidence as I put him in Your faithful hands. May the pact this bloodline has made with You never be broken. I seal this prayer in the mighty name and with the precious blood of Jesus. Amen.

SAMSON: AN EXAMPLE OF A CARNAL CHRISTIAN

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Ah, Samson. He is perhaps the man who most reminds us of ourselves with all his imperfections and shortcomings. Regardless, he was a key figure in biblical history. His mother was barren, so his birth was nothing short of a miracle. His parents received a visit from an angel announcing the wife’s pregnancy and the child’s destiny-he was to be a Nazarite. I find it interesting that the angel had to advise the woman to not eat any unclean food. For many years, Israel had been disobedient and adopted the practices of its neighboring lands. Perhaps they had gotten into the habit of eating food that God had deemed unclean. Another clue that they were far removed from godliness and were very comfortable adopting foreign customs: they named the child Samson, which means “sun” or “sun child”.

Christian: we are to be in the world but not of it (John 17:14-16). We are to be salt and light. Do not lose your flavor; do not allow the darkness to swallow you whole.

[Side note: In Judges 13:17-18 the husband asks the angel for his name, to which the angel curtly replies, “It is wonderful.” Remember that one of the many names used to describe the Messiah is, in fact, wonderful (Isaiah 9:6). So it would seem that the angel was Christ Himself. I have to then ask myself if the three angels that visited Abraham in Genesis 18:2 were in actuality the Triune God.]

Like so many others before as well as after him, Samson had some serious character flaws. His biggest weakness? Women. Samson repeatedly disappointed his parents and defied YHVH’s law by going after foreign women. The bible states that his desire to marry a Philistine woman (an enemy of the Israelites) was actually God’s will to destroy that nation (Judges 14:4). Reading through the rest of his story we see that over and over again, Samson lets his flesh rule his spirit. Not surprising (for we are creatures of habit and in many cases, driven by strongholds) he falls for yet another Philistine woman, Delilah. She brings to mind the harlot in Proverbs 7. Delilah betrayed him for money and was ultimately responsible for his torment and death. Just how many men did she lead to their untimely deaths as they followed her into Sheol (Proverbs 5:5)? Drugs, alcohol and every other vice as well as addictions of any sort (whatever has control over you, even something as necessary as food) also brings that verse to mind.

Christian: you must strengthen the inner man so as not to let your flesh dictate its appetites. Avoid certain people and certain places where you know you don’t belong. There are some doors that we are never to peek into.

Why did YHVH choose Samson knowing how weak he would be? 1 Corinthians 1:27 comes to mind. God chooses to use the foolish to confound the wise. It is not for us to decipher or even understand. How can we, when His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9)? Ultimately, He is a God of infinite mercy and grace. How else can such a flawed man be given the honor of having his story recorded in Scripture?

Christian: you have Samson’s example to where disobedience and sin can lead.

Do not be just another weak, carnal Christian that is so prevalent in the world today. The righteous man falls seven times, and then gets up (Proverbs 24:16).

Do not stay down; crawl out of the pit if you have to. Run! Run as if to win the race (1 Corinthians 9:24). Press on toward the goal to win the prize (Philippians 3:14). There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on, waiting for you at the finish line (Hebrews 12:1). I pray this blesses you.