Essentials of Divine Lifting! 

04 Jan Essentials of Divine Lifting! 

Strongman Samson’s story is often headlined as “Samson and Delilah” because of how blind love led to his ruin.

🎯But beneath the headline are many powerful takeaways: Samson was anointed to be a judge and he was blessed with exceptional strength, which he used to defeat his enemies.

🎯In one case, he own people bound him and handed him over to his enemies,

💥But “the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him; the ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. (Then), finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.”

After that he praised himself for the victory and complained of thirst, but God provided him water.

🎯In spite of all God did for Samson, almost pampering him, he was not known to show appreciation; not known for giving thanks, praising God – unlike heroes like Hezekiah, David, Solomon .

🎯In the Scripture the “praise singers” received more blessing and became heroes.

💥“As long as your hands are lifted in praise and thanksgiving, you will keep on rising.”

🎯When we are grateful to God for what He has done, He does more: as in the case of Solomon’s uncommon 100,000 burnt offerings.

💥That night, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

🎯But when were are ungrateful to God, He can withdraw what He has given us, as in the case of King Saul.

💥Even while he was on the throne, another king was anointed

🎯The greatest lesson of gratitude is that however rich and powerful we feel we are, one day – in the valley of the shadow of death – we will need God.

🎯Rather than waiting for that moment, we should surrender to God in appreciation of what He has done for us and continue to serve Him for more.

– From a sermon by Pastor Enoch Adeboye at RCCG Thanksgiving Service, yesterday.