Greetings, everyone. Let's examine Judges, Chapter 16. This chapter is practically a melodramatic soap opera. And who does this soap opera befall? It befalls Samson, whom God had chosen. Isn't that a tragedy?
The theme of this chapter is "God Departs from Samson, Controlled by a Woman." God truly dislikes being controlled.

We must all understand that control and dominion are essentially the same. In Samson's generation, dominion and control were the central themes of history. The Jews, the Israelites, were dominated by the Philistines. God chose Samson, signifying that even with only one person remaining, God could still bring about salvation. However, even this Samson was ultimately controlled by a woman, and his eyes were gouged out. Isn't that a melodramatic tragedy?

I. God Chooses People and Grants Them Extraordinary Abilities

In that generation, if Samson were to compete in martial arts, he would undoubtedly be the top champion. No one could defeat him; he was practically a dominant force of strength in that era, possessing immense power. It's hard for us to imagine him carrying city gates up a mountain, dismantling them. How much strength would that require? I often wonder, how could he even grip those city gates? We can't even grasp something that large, yet he lifted it and carried it up the mountain. It's difficult for us to comprehend.

In those days, no one could harm Samson. It was quite peculiar. The Philistines had truly encountered an invincible Samson. Samson possessed great strength, but his mind didn't seem as sharp. Later, upon closer observation of that generation, I noticed that many who were mighty, particularly gifted, and anointed pastors often didn't have good endings.

Later, I pondered this matter and realized that extraordinary wisdom is better than extraordinary ability. Being physically strong but mentally simple is a tragedy. I tell you, when you see a pastor standing on the stage with a microphone, don't envy that. What's there to envy? Envy someone like the Apostle Paul.

If you were to ask me if I have an idol in the Bible, my answer would definitely be yes. Some ask, "Teacher, you have an idol too?" I reply, "Yes, Jesus. Jesus is my idol. I admire Him greatly." Among Jesus's followers, who is the biggest fan? It's the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul inherited not only the power of Jesus Christ but also the wisdom that comes from God. That's remarkable. Who is the second biggest fan? I always try to squeeze in there. If you're asking about the second biggest fan, I think I could squeeze in.

Samson's strength came from God, but what did Samson seek? He sought to be satisfied with his strength. But I tell you, if you have strength and then you're satisfied with strength, that's a tragedy. Many people like anointing and great power, but great wisdom is better than great power.
Samson's strength was unprecedented. Why did God use him to save the Israelites? Did he save them? No, he only killed some people. The Israelites were still under dominion.

I tell you, what was Solomon's strength? Solomon sought wisdom. Chinese Mingding Destiny highly values one thing: being filled with the knowledge of God in understanding and having ample confidence in understanding. This is very important. Never pursue great anointing or great power. What's most feared is that a small woman can render you useless.

II. The Enemy Cannot Overcome Those Chosen by God

Everyone must understand that the enemy cannot overcome those chosen by God. This logic is very important. I've noticed that many Christians fear ghosts, haven't you? Christians fear ghosts, fear the dead, Christians fear all sorts of things. Recently, a pastor among us said, "Teacher, I'm ministering to someone who has fear. What should I do?" The reason is that their brains are too small; they don't know.

There was once a pastor who believed in what? He believed in witchcraft. He thought that his or others', the church's pastors' and co-workers' headaches came from witchcraft. Not only did he believe this, but he also believed that his cursing others would produce a kind of witchcraft power. But what's the problem? He hadn't read the Bible properly. You know, the Bible says, if you are Abraham, no one can curse you. If you are Isaac or Jacob, no one can curse you. Why? God will curse those who curse you, and God will bless those who bless you.

There was once a Balaam who wanted to curse the Israelites but couldn't. So, brothers and sisters, don't be afraid. What you need most is to fear God. You should fear God. Those who fear God lack no good thing. What's most feared is not fearing God. No matter how much anointing or power a person has, it won't solve the problem. The enemy cannot overcome those chosen by God.

How exactly was Samson overcome? I'll tell you about the enemy's schemes in a moment. Brothers and sisters, rest assured that people cannot curse you, and ghosts cannot overcome you. Do you understand? I don't have Samson's strength, but that doesn't matter. Why? Because you are chosen by God. If you are chosen by God, what do you fear? Fear only one thing: fear that God will leave you. Actually, God doesn't easily leave people; it's people who leave God.

So, when God gives you this strength, what do you do? Start seeking wisdom, to gain wisdom. Never be controlled, no matter who it is. No one can control you. To be honest, don't dislike hearing this, but I've seen many pastors controlled by their wives. That's peculiar. If you're controlled, how can you preach the pure gospel? A co-worker says, "Pastor, should I listen to you or your wife?" The pastor says, "Listen to my wife. I'm your pastor, but my wife is my pastor."

Once, I took my co-worker to visit a brother who was serving in this church. That service was interesting. After I arrived, the pastor's wife rushed out. Her face, I tell you, was a typical pastor's wife's face, with a lot of flesh, saying, "Pastor so-and-so, go do this and that." I thought the toilet was clogged, but it turned out the printer was broken. Couldn't it be fixed at another time? It had to be when there were guests at home, giving her husband absolutely no face.

I thought to myself, thankfully, God didn't give him Samson's great strength. If he had such great strength and was controlled, wouldn't that be a melodramatic soap opera? So, the enemy cannot overcome those chosen by God. Remember, never be controlled. Anything can be discussed, but controlling Samson won't work. When the pastor saw his wife, he was like a mouse seeing a cat.

III. The Enemy's Scheme Is to Make God Leave Us

If you are chosen by God, listen to my advice: the enemy's scheme is to make God leave you. You know the enemy can't overcome you, but the enemy has ways and means to make God leave you. That's too powerful. Do we have biblical basis for this? Of course, we do.

You know, this Balaam wanted to curse the Israelites but couldn't. As soon as he said a curse, he spoke a blessing. When Balaam opened his mouth, his mouth wouldn't obey him. God spoke blessings to the Israelites through his mouth. He wanted to say a curse, but he couldn't. It's a bit like when my mother had Alzheimer's; her mouth didn't work well.

But Balaam came up with an idea: let the Midianite women seduce the Israelite men. As a result, this honey trap, this feigned suffering. Were those Midianite women beautiful? It doesn't seem like they were beautiful; it wasn't exactly a honey trap, but it was definitely a woman trap. As a result, with this seduction, my goodness, the Israelite men were all hooked. They had a habit of chasing after women. As a result, one on the left and one on the right, the Midianite women were flirting in front of the Israelites. It's like Fei Yuqing imitating a certain female celebrity; he imitated her very well. The Israelite men couldn't resist, so they hooked up and brought the Midianite women back to camp to mess around.

In the end, God's anger flared up, and God's anger couldn't be stopped. As a result, one Israelite man brought in a Midianite woman. This matter is very similar to history, such as from the beginning when God created Adam and Eve; it was done this way. I feel that Samson didn't overcome it either. Samson went to Gaza, saw a prostitute there, and went to her. Samson, the servant chosen by God, had a habit of visiting prostitutes.

Do you know why Samson developed the habit of visiting prostitutes? Because after he visited prostitutes, he found that his ability was still strong and still there. But not necessarily; sometimes it left. Samson thought that God's ability had nothing to do with visiting prostitutes, and God didn't care. Did He really not care? He did care. Actually, God doesn't like people being controlled. This is a kind of control; it's too disgusting. During the process of visiting prostitutes, they wanted to surround Samson and kill him. As a result, Samson woke up in the middle of the night, took the city gates, doorposts, and bars, and carried them on his shoulders to the top of the hill in front of Hebron.

What are all these things? After reading it, you want to ask me, what are all these things? I don't quite understand. Someone asks, "Teacher, what is this passage saying?" Let's not worry about that first; let's just talk about carrying the city gates. Later, Samson loved a woman named Delilah in the Valley of Sorek. As a result, this Delilah accomplished one thing: she caused God to leave Samson.

Brothers and sisters, you must know that when God's Spirit leaves a person, that's the whole melodramatic soap opera. There are many places in the Bible that talk about what happens when God's Spirit leaves. King Saul, after God's Spirit left him, what happened? The Lord sent an evil spirit to torment Saul, and Saul became mentally ill.
As a result, Samson, God's Spirit also left. What happens when God's Spirit leaves? His eyes were gouged out, and he was grinding grain there. How did God's Spirit leave Samson? It was because Delilah controlled Samson.

IV. God Does Depart from Those He Has Chosen

Subjugating Samson was a scheme of the enemy, with the aim of causing God to depart from us. God does depart from those He has chosen. Can He be prevented from leaving? Actually, God is reluctant to leave; it is people who forsake God. God dwelt in Samson, yet he insisted on visiting prostitutes and indulging in women. After seeing this, you might say, "God, could you not have chosen someone better?"

In Israel, God sifted and searched, and eventually found Samson. He possessed the greatest faith among all Israelites, barely sufficient for God's use. God desired to save the Israelites, but needed a vessel, for God works through His vessels. Never think that God should do it Himself; God always works through the vessels He has chosen. This is the same logic we discussed in previous chapters regarding the sword of the Lord and of Gideon. People forsake God, understand?

Therefore, when you have performed a few miracles and cast out a few demons, do not think you are mighty. Do not think that is the key. The key is to have wisdom in understanding. Do not fall for the devil's schemes, for that power is from God, merely using you as a vessel. It has little to do with you. Remember, God chose Samson not because Samson was good, but because God intended to use him in this way.

V. Subjugation Leads to God's Departure

Thus, Delilah controlled Samson, and the strength of God departed from him. Delilah said, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" Samson awoke from his sleep, thinking, "I will go out as before, and shake myself free." But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Samson thought God would not leave, even if he told her he was a Nazirite and she cut off his hair. Was that the case? No, God does depart from people.

How was Samson controlled by Delilah? I tell you, when a person falls in love with another, they become controlled. To this day, I do not understand how he fell in love with Delilah. That woman possessed a spirit that enticed Samson, which is hard to comprehend. These matters of the spiritual realm, especially those concerning men and women, are difficult to grasp. It is like a toad and a mung bean, they just clicked, and he found her irresistible. Her every move captivated Samson's heart; he gave his whole heart to Delilah. And what was most deadly? The Philistine leaders came to Delilah.

The Philistine leaders came to Delilah and said, "If you can find a way to bind and control Samson, each of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver," which was a lot of money. Delilah, seeing this, was moved by the offer of eleven hundred shekels from each leader. Whether Delilah was a prostitute, we do not know; it is not mentioned. The previous one was a prostitute, now there is another. This one, seeing the money and Samson, Samson and the money, the woman ultimately chose money, which is quite normal, and betrayed her boyfriend.

How did Delilah betray him? She thought that eleven hundred shekels multiplied by eleven hundred shekels would mean she would never have to worry about money again. No matter how much Samson loved her, she would put him to death. And her words were very blunt. Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me, where does your great strength lie, and with what might you be bound to subdue you?" Samson, upon hearing this, "With what might you be bound to subdue you?" It was too obvious, a blatant scheme, "I want to control you." Samson then told her how to subdue him, acting like a fool, willing to die in love.

Brothers and sisters, we must understand that love is a very insidious thing. The tragedy of love has played out throughout history. In the West, there is Romeo and Juliet; in China, there is Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. During the Republican era, there were Dalian and Sixth Brother. So, when raising children, be careful when they reach the age of courtship. Do not create a Dalian and then a Sixth Brother. Climbing over walls at night, then being discovered by you, and jumping into the Qing River, committing suicide. This thing is too insidious!

Samson, at his age, can you imagine the extent of his longing for love? Samson was filled with a desire for love. He judged Israel for twenty years, and during those twenty years, he was truly lonely and isolated, with no one to comfort him. He desperately needed someone to love him, and he enjoyed sleeping on a woman's lap.

Then Delilah actually did it, she really bound Samson. Samson woke up and saw that he was bound with ropes, like flaxen cords burned with fire. Then she did it again, binding him with new ropes, a total of three times. Delilah said, "Tell me how you can be subdued! You must tell me how to subdue you!" Three times, Samson was blinded by love.

Among those I minister to, there are also people with such minds. I said, "You two, manage your marriage well, carefully consider each other's core interests. If the other person puts you and money on a scale, they will definitely choose money. Your spouse is also a Delilah, and you are probably a Samson."
Sometimes, I often encourage everyone to manage well, to manage in a way that makes your brain work better. Do not live your life as if it is a fiery pit. Know that you are with a Delilah.

Finally, Delilah said, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me?" Three times you have deceived me, and have not told me where your great strength lies. So she pestered Samson daily. Samson was troubled to death, and he became confused and told her his secret. He was immediately controlled, and God departed from Samson, do you understand? Immediately, God departed. God can tolerate Samson visiting prostitutes, but God cannot tolerate His chosen one being controlled. Can everyone understand? This is exactly what the Chinese say: "Love is precious, but life is more valuable. For freedom, both can be given up."

But Samson did not escape. Many people say that there should be no secrets between husband and wife, you must be honest. But honesty leads to tragedy. The lustful Samson finally caused God to leave. So the scheme of control is too powerful. Using love as a scheme to control people is like crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide.

Sometimes I feel, when can our brothers and sisters get rid of these controls? Being controlled is not pleasing to God; being controlled is what God hates. Never be foolish, when you are controlled, God departs. As a result, Samson had his eyes gouged out and was forced to grind grain. What happened? Actually, the hair is not important. Cutting the hair is not important. Behind this is control. Delilah controlled Samson. In other words, Samson was killed by this Delilah.

In the future, do not believe in the matters between husband and wife. Just ponder it slowly. I will not say it too explicitly. Put the affection between husband and wife on a scale and weigh it against money, and money is still greater. This is why people cannot love money, people cannot love the world. Those who love the world will certainly put money first.

VI. The Lessons from Samson's Tragedy

The first lesson: strength is not as good as wisdom. Among us is a colleague who was once in a church where the pastor had great anointing and power. The lame walked, the blind saw, the deaf heard, but he lacked wisdom. Without wisdom, he could not know God's will, understand God's plan, discern the devil's schemes, or overcome the control from family members.

The second lesson: family affection binds people. If you ask me, "Teacher, how are you sure?" God's word is decisive: a man's enemies are the members of his own household. Why? Because the devil will certainly use your family members to control you, without a doubt. Because strangers on the street cannot control you. If a stranger on the street wants to jump off a building, let them jump, go ahead, may you rest in peace, you will melt into the blue sky. But if your family member wants to jump off a building, you cannot bear it, especially if it is someone you love.

If someone says their family member wants to jump off a building, that is to control you. If you do not let them control you, they will jump. Then let them jump. Later, I often say that you have to take risks. If you do not take the risk, and they really jump, would that not be troublesome? I analyzed it over and over, and their goal is to control you, their goal is not to jump. I said, "Do not be afraid, do not worry, they will not jump." Why? They love themselves so much, would they jump for you? Even if you jumped, they would not jump.

I lamented that whoever wants to control others is bluffing, they will not jump for you. Do not take yourself too seriously. So brothers and sisters must know that a man's enemies, this is from the Bible, Jesus said, "A man's enemies are the members of his own household."

"and a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10:36)

Someone said, "Teacher, high school students here are jumping off buildings one after another." The high school students there are jumping off buildings one after another because they are studying too much, it is too painful. They are not trying to control their father or their mother, they are being forced by their studies. The lesson from Samson is very powerful, we must be careful, we must be very careful.

Samson received God's power, but he did not understand God's plan. So I think the third lesson is that people must know God's will, and must walk in God's will. Samson could have sought more revelation from God, but he was content with the power God gave him, and he did not know God's will.

If he knew God's will, what would he do? If he knew God's will, he could have learned from many people. Although Samuel and David had not yet arrived in that era, that was a later generation. But he could have learned from Moses, he could have learned from Gideon, he could even have learned from Jephthah. You know that Gideon had leadership ability, and Jephthah also had leadership ability. Even if a few ruffians followed Jephthah, that was still leadership. Samson was a loner. If there was someone, it would definitely be a prostitute, or that woman, someone like Delilah. He was a very strange person.

If Samson knew God's will, God first gave him power, immense power. If he sought further, God would give him wisdom, and he would know God's will and God's plan. Then he would do the ideological work of the Israelites. Just like Samuel did twenty years of ideological work, and the people of Israel turned to God. If you read the books of Samuel, you will find that Samuel consistently influenced the Israelites, so after twenty years, the hearts of the Israelites finally turned to God.

This is the third lesson: he only woke up when he was about to die. The Philistines he killed at his death were more than he killed when he was alive. But did killing a few Philistines solve the problem? It did not solve the problem. The key is to turn the hearts of the Israelites back to God. This is why Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology values brothers and sisters reading God's word. Constantly reflecting, then taking notes, and being filled with the knowledge of God in understanding.

Never think that Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology is just praying, praying, praying, persisting one more minute, ten more minutes than the devil. The most important thing in Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology is to walk in God's will, to build God's glorious church, this is our Mingding Destiny. Not that people are healed of diseases, this is not God's greatest plan. God's greatest plan is to build God's glorious church, which can release people from control. Therefore, Chinese Mingding Destiny Theology is climbing the mountain of the Lord, entering the temple of the God of Jacob, constantly climbing on God's truth, the holy mountain, to avoid the tragedy of Samson.

In the context of the charismatic church, we have witnessed many tragedies of charismatic churches, and we have also witnessed many tragedies of evangelical churches. So our brothers and sisters must break free from control and become free people, free in Jesus Christ. Because control leads to destruction. In any case, enter into God's will. In any case, become a wise person. Amen!

May God bless everyone!