Greetings, everyone. Let us examine Chapter 15 of the Book of Judges. I tell you, I listened to and read this chapter repeatedly, and I was quite perplexed. Later, I suddenly understood it thoroughly. How did I come to understand it? I only saw Samson and not the righteous. Upon looking at Samson, I realized he was quite an unreliable person, rather untrustworthy.

How did I eventually see through it? If I only saw Samson and not the righteous, this passage would be impossible to study. I truly wouldn't know how to approach it. But later, I only saw God and not the righteous, and I saw God's work. Therefore, Chinese Mingding Destiny has a crucial concept for Bible study: to discern God's heart and understand what He wants to tell us. If you don't read from this perspective, you'll be utterly confused. Just looking at Samson will leave you bewildered. In reality, Samson's era was a tragedy.

The theme of this chapter is "Even with Just One Person, God Can Still Deliver." This generation is truly sorrowful, but I thank God I am not in such a generation, being a solitary pastor. The most tragic thing for a pastor is to preach on the platform with no one listening below. I once read a very interesting article about a pastor who, when no one came to listen, made human-like figures out of grass from the yard and placed them in the seats. Alas, it was like a haunted house! But I tell you, this generation greatly needs this mindset: even if I am the only one, God can still deliver.

Samson, a Solitary Judge

That was a sorrowful generation. Samson was a judge of great power. Never have we seen such a powerful judge. Have you seen anyone as mighty as Samson? No. Even Gideon doesn't compare to Samson. Gideon had three hundred elite soldiers, but Samson had only one: himself. In that sorrowful generation, why did no one follow him despite seeing his great power? Oh, my goodness! I said, "God, I don't want to be Samson. It's too difficult; the feeling is not good."

Samson served as a judge for twenty years, and no one followed him, not even someone to carry his weapons. Samson went out on foot and fought with a donkey's jawbone. Oh, my goodness! And the remaining people wanted to hand him over to the enemy.

Do you know that there was only one Samson available in that generation? Do you know how God felt? Alas, let's not speak of it; I feel tears welling up. There was only one Samson available, and no one was willing to break free from oppression. What was everyone doing? The Israelites thought, "Oh well, let's just live like this. If they oppress us, they oppress us. Life can still go on." This kind of marital relationship, this kind of parent-child relationship, as the English say, "Don't Rock the Boat." We are all in a small boat; don't shake it, don't argue, don't make noise. Oppression is acceptable.

I often hear of people serving in this way: a couple where one wants to control the other, and the other doesn't want to be controlled. Then their pastor says, "Why don't you just willingly be controlled?" Actually, there are many such cases. You must thank God that I am not like that. I hate control and being controlled the most. Anything can be discussed, but authority cannot be discussed. Living freely is the most important thing.

People must know that living freely is the most important thing! From childhood to old age, being controlled by your mother when you're young, and controlled by your wife when you're older. Oh, my goodness, your whole life is psychologically twisted! As for me, anything can be discussed, but authority cannot be discussed, freedom cannot be discussed. I tell you, God is such a God. Our God doesn't like control, nor does He like being controlled. Our God wants to preach a gospel to us that allows us to receive grace and be free. Let us brothers and sisters all come out of oppression. Do you understand?

This sorrowful generation must pass away, the generation of the solitary judge must pass away, a generation of being controlled must pass away, and we must gain freedom. I tell you, many people like to use PUA. Do you know what PUA is? It's brainwashing, inexplicably using language to control you. For example, someone calls you, says a few insignificant words, and then you start to feel bad. Has that happened? Disturbing you. We must now break free from oppression.

Even If Only One Samson Remains, God Can Still Deliver

I searched online to see how others study this passage of Scripture, and they just kept saying, "Samson, Samson, Samson." God had only one Samson left to use. Even after searching around, they couldn't find someone to carry Samson's weapons. Samson searched around and couldn't find someone to be his assistant. Searching again, they couldn't even find someone to lead the horse or donkey, but there wasn't one. There was only a group of people who bound Samson. Wasn't that hard? But I tell you, this is God's work.

Samson's entire life, from beginning to end, is God's work! God's work from the previous chapter to this chapter, this matter is from the Lord, to seek an occasion against the Philistines. It was God who wanted to attack the Philistines. God hoped the Israelites could see: "Look! I have raised up a Samson for you, a judge of great power. He alone can defeat everyone." But the Israelites didn't see it. They saw a Samson, but they didn't want to break free from oppression; they wanted to live in oppression. Isn't that strange?

I tell you, being controlled is a very stifling feeling. Have you noticed? And stifling it leads to cancer. It's not that they don't want to be free in their minds; they want to be free. Everyone who is controlled suffers. Stifling it leads to cancer. Isn't that a tragedy? Behind being controlled is an evil spirit! God hoped the Israelites could see, but they didn't.

But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in. And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her. And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure. (Judges 15:1-3)

I tell you, Samson came to pick a fight. He knew his wife had been given to someone else; he knew. He didn't think it would be good to marry her younger sister as well; did he not know? He knew. But that's not the point. He now wanted to punish the Philistines; he wanted to find an excuse to punish the Philistines. I tell you, world wars also start with an excuse. Suddenly, there's an excuse to start a fight. World War II, World War III, they are all like this.

As a result, Samson went and caught three hundred foxes. I thought, "This guy is much more capable than Esau." How do you catch three hundred foxes? Oh, my goodness, that's a huge project! But I tell you, Samson ran faster than Elijah and was even more agile. Samson ran faster than the foxes. He took three steps as two, slap! caught one; slap! caught another. We don't know how he managed to catch three hundred foxes.

Later, I wondered how he caught those three hundred foxes. How difficult was that? Didn't Noah do something similar? Noah brought all the animals from the forests in pairs. These three hundred foxes reported to Samson. We don't know, but we know that someone who can catch three hundred foxes is no ordinary person; it must be God's work.

As a result, Samson caught three hundred foxes. He was quite creative, tying them together in pairs and attaching a torch to their tails. Wasn't it the time of wheat harvest? Looking out, the wheat fields were all yellow. Samson released these three hundred foxes to burn, and as a result, the Philistines' land was completely burned, and the unharvested crops were also burned. Doesn't that sound a bit strange? As for whether the Israelites' land was burned as well, we don't know. Maybe some of it was burned too. Your land is connected to my land, so who can you complain to?

What happened as a result? Samson had no one to use. Originally, he was going to get three hundred Israelites to burn, but now there was no one to use; only Samson was left. God said, "Samson, the Israelites are useless; use the foxes. The Israelites are useless; none of them are good, all rotten. Forget about them." Samson alone got three hundred foxes. The foxes became his army. Alas, I find this sounds particularly mysterious, but that is God's work.

It's like building a church, and someone is preaching on the platform, but no one is listening below. So, you get three hundred foxes to listen. Oh, my goodness, looking out, it's all weasels and foxes. How do you pastor them? It's truly sorrowful. We once prayed, "God, give us three hundred elite soldiers." Later, we said, "Alas, looking at the situation, three hundred is too difficult. Alas, God, give us one hundred and twenty mighty warriors." Alas, we couldn't even gather one hundred and twenty. Alas, what mighty warriors? God, seventy disciples will do. Later, even twelve disciples were too much; some left. I thank God. We brothers and sisters must all have a resolve: even if I am the only one left, I will build God's glorious church. What a wonderful character!

God uses a character like Samson, who is very strong in his bones. Even if I am the only one left, with no one to carry weapons, what then? Let the Philistines come; isn't defeating them like defeating a small chicken? God hoped to let the Israelites see through this, saying, "Hey, Samson lives so freely, serving as a judge alone, with no one following, getting three hundred foxes to work. Hey, Samson, I'm here to sign up!" Samson said, "What do you want to do?" The Israelite said, "I'll carry your weapons." In Gideon's time, thirty thousand came, but in Samson's time, no one came, only three hundred foxes. Alas, this desolate scene, this sorrowful scene, is truly not what God wants. God hopes that people will see this and say, "My God is mighty. Why should I live in oppression?"

The Spirit of God came mightily upon Samson, and he could kill a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone. That's no joke. A donkey's jawbone is not a very good weapon; it's short and dull if used as a knife. As a result, Samson killed a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone. We're not saying kill a thousand men; even killing a thousand chickens with a donkey's jawbone would be nerve-wracking. I tell you, it would be exhausting, truly miserable. Samson thought, "It doesn't matter; I have God's strength." As a result, the Spirit of God came upon him, and he was greatly empowered.

We must know that for the Spirit of God to come upon a person, it cannot be done without faith. You must have the faith to be used by God, not fearing even seeing the Philistines' vast army, not having the concept of fear. You must have faith, because we fight not by chariot, not by horse, not by human ability, but by the Spirit of the Lord God.

And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? (Judges 15:18)

Samson searched around and couldn't find a small convenience store, not even a place to sell mineral water. He wanted to find various drinks to replenish his energy, like Red Bull, drink a bottle, and his strength would start to recover. Samson was dying of thirst; his throat was about to smoke, and his sweat had stopped flowing. There was no sweat left.

But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is unto this day. (Judges 15:19)

Just such a Samson, this was a good opportunity to be released, but no one wanted it. The Israelites were willing to live a life of mediocrity. I have seen such people. I encouraged them, and there were many who were controlled. Alas, some people say, "Can't you willingly be controlled? It's good to be controlled by your wife, isn't it?" There are still such tragedies playing out among us. "Your husband controls you, so just let him control you. Can't you just live your life and maintain the family?"

Samson had God's presence, serving as a judge in that generation alone, a solitary judge. Then God used Samson, surpassing the previous generations. Samson served as a judge for twenty years, but the Israelites still didn't want to break free from oppression. Isn't that a tragedy?

The Tragedy of Being Controlled

Samson married a Philistine woman, and these Philistines told Samson's wife: "Trick him into telling us the answer. If you don't, we will burn your house and your father's house." Samson's wife, upon hearing this, thought: "Oh no, you're going to burn my house and my father's house? That won't do." So she tricked Samson and got the answer. What happened after that? Samson's wife and her father-in-law were both burned to death. Remember, there is no good ending for those who are controlled.

This isn't about whether or not there is control. I tell you, some people act up at home and in the church, and that's not a good thing. Why do they act up? They want to control others. But I tell you, who do you think you can control among us? You should come out of control and stop trying to control others. If a child wants to control people, they'll sit on the floor in the mall, crying and making a fuss. If you don't buy them what they want, they won't stop. Does this happen? Often. And parents have to give in.

Nowadays, parents raise a child, and even a one or two-year-old knows how to control people. From now on, you'll see how children control people, and you need to learn. You want to play the control game? No way. You cry, cry as hard as you can. With my methods, you need to see who you're dealing with. You want to cry? I love to hear you cry. Cry all you want, then come find me. After crying for two minutes, the child sees that no one is paying attention. I'm over here pouring a cup of tea and eating melon seeds. The child thinks: "Oh, you're eating melon seeds while I'm crying." Then they realize that control isn't working, so they stop crying.

Actually, I tell you, once you're controlled, the child is corrupted, and you are corrupted too. Always remember, some of our sisters work as nannies, taking care of other people's children, and they are also controlled. It's no good. Many years ago, one of our sisters went to a place to work as a nanny, taking care of a child, and she was controlled by the child all day long. I said: "That's not how you do it. You have to do it this way." The sister said: "No, what if the parents don't approve?" Oh, she was so tired, one child exhausted her. Later, she tried my way and found it worked. She came out of control, the child stopped controlling her, the child stopped attracting demons, and the adults stopped attracting demons. How wonderful!

We brothers and sisters must know that behind control is an evil spirit. If Samson's wife had said: "You guys, my husband is Samson. Don't make him angry. Try it. Come on, sit here, four of you sit across from him. My husband will sit here and arm wrestle. See if you can move him." All the problems would have been solved. Would you dare? Try burning something! Then nothing would have happened. Samson's wife was afraid, so she tricked her husband, gave the answer to the people, and then she was given to someone else. This time, she and her father were both burned. So if people are not afraid of coercion, not afraid of control, not afraid of threats, why would they be burned to death?

Everyone must know that behind control is an evil spirit, behind sexual immorality is an evil spirit. Don't be foolish anymore. When a husband and wife control each other, there is an evil spirit behind it. It's not that I don't want you to have a good life, it's that you can't go on like this. I want you to have a good life, but I tell you, if a lot of control is released in this house, it's definitely over. No need to think about it, there's an evil spirit behind it, and it will definitely end in tragedy.

Samson's wife's house was burned. If she knew it would really be burned, why would she do it? Evil spirits transmit. The Philistines controlled Samson's wife. Samson's wife, through lies, controlled her husband Samson. After she controlled him, her husband was fine. He was tricked, so what? At most, thirty people died, but her whole house was burned.

Samson's Twenty Years as a Judge Were Twenty Years of Israel's Control

"Samson judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines." (Judges 15:20)

The Israelites' mentality was very twisted, twisted to what extent? Samson came out of control, refusing to be controlled by the Philistines. If you just took one step with him, you wouldn't be controlled, right? The Israelites said: "No, I want to be controlled. That's just how I am." Were the Israelites controlled? They also had a habit of controlling others. For example, they bound Samson. That was control.

Later, I realized that people without ability especially like to control others. That's why there are so many bullies, bullies at home, bullies in bed. There are many such people. Observe carefully. As long as you see that someone is very capable outside, whether it's making money or doing things, they won't control people when they go home. It's the people who can't do anything right outside, who always mess things up, who are very powerful at home. Think about it carefully. That's how the Israelites' mentality was. They were controlled by the Philistines and couldn't do anything about it. But they were very good at binding Samson, even using new ropes to bind him.

So I tell you, it's a tragedy when people don't know the laws of the spiritual realm. Brothers and sisters, don't be controlled. It's a very serious problem. It's okay if you control someone, who told them to be willing to be controlled? But try not to control people, and don't be controlled either. If you don't manage them well, and they start acting foolishly, then manage them. Won't they stop acting foolishly then?

Everyone must know that you must understand God's power, you must know God's will, to avoid these tragedies. If people don't know God's will, don't understand God's power, and then have a compromising attitude, tragedies will continue to happen. You need to know that controlling people and being controlled are both painful. Because sometimes you successfully control them, and sometimes they break free. When you can control them, you're not comfortable either, and when you can't control them, you feel bad. Actually, why should they let you control them? In the end, your freedom is gradually controlled by them. They come home with a sour face, and your face immediately turns sour. What kind of problem is that? They have a sour face, can't we not be affected?

I tell you, a church that advocates control and compromise is definitely a tragedy. Why? Because they bring evil spirits into the church. Isn't that what I said? Observe the church carefully. Those churches that advocate control and compromise will not be good. I've encountered many such things, and in the end, they are all tragedies. So you know what? Our church doesn't advocate control, and it doesn't advocate compromise. We advocate freedom. You should live in Jesus Christ. You were graced to be free.

Between husband and wife, between pastor and congregation, between parents and children, mutual control, mutual compromise, all of these things are extremely corrupt, and people live very uncomfortably. Don't you know that living is important? Living a dog-blood drama is not a good thing. Living is important. You have to see through what living is all about to live well. Always remember, control and compromise bring tragedy, bring discomfort.

Coming Out of Control

"Then three thousand men of Judah went to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.” (Judges 15:11)

The story goes like this: Samson burned the Philistines' things, so the Philistines burned Samson's wife and her father. As a result, Samson came to take revenge and greatly struck down those people. I think he probably slaughtered the village. It was a village slaughter, not a city slaughter, but he probably killed many people. You know, these people often intermarry, like this village with that village, and also with other counties. As a result, the Philistines were not happy. They came to Judah. Isn't that strange? They didn't go to fight Samson, they had to go to fight Judah.

The Philistines went to fight Judah, and the men of Judah came up and said: "Why are you attacking us?" The Philistines couldn't beat Samson, couldn't catch Samson, because he ran faster than a fox, faster than a wild boar. But they were more than capable of beating Judah. As a result, the men of Judah looked and said: "Oh no, what should we do? You go bind Samson for me. We'll take care of it." Listen to those words. Something doesn't sound right. What kind of logic is that?

The men of Judah went to the cave and said to Samson: "Don't you know that the Philistines are rulers over us?" How could Samson not know? He knew. The men of Judah asked Samson: "What is this that you have done to us?" Then he answered: "As they did to me, so I have done to them." The meaning is that it has nothing to do with you. As they treat me, so I treat them. I tell you, this is a very important attitude.

I tell you one thing, if you are controlled, you must be a timid person. You won't dare to do anything. If you are a controlled person, you will definitely compromise. So what do you do now? The Bible gives you an answer: As they do to you, so you do to them. Doesn't that mean fighting? That's what it was supposed to be. Remember, coming out of control is a spiritual battle, a very fierce battle. If it doesn't become chaotic, you can't come out of control.

I tell you, if the Japanese devils bully us, you either willingly be bullied, or you rise up and resist. If you rise up and resist, blood will be shed. That's fighting. This is a spiritual battle. The evil spirit behind control is a spiritual battle. So Samson came up with an idea. If you can listen, listen. If you can't listen, don't listen. Don't listen and then say: "Teacher, you said this, and now we're all in chaos." That chaos was supposed to happen. "As they did to me, so I have done to them." This is a spiritual battle. This is a very good attitude.

Someone said: "Teacher, that's not what the Bible says. It says this." I tell you, what happened? As a result, Samson saw that the men of Judah were so cowardly, all weak and powerless. He thought: "Oh, forget it. I won't make things difficult for you. You bind me and send me over." Samson's mentality was quite interesting: "As long as you don't kill me, you send me to the Philistines, and see how I deal with them." As a result, Samson was bound and sent to the front lines. My goodness, that was terrible. The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson.

What happened? The ropes on Samson's body fell off like flax that was burned with fire. My goodness, amazing! That was falling off with faith, that was breaking the bonds on his body with faith, breaking the chains on his body. As a result, Samson looked and saw that he had no other weapon. There was a fresh jawbone of a donkey that had not yet dried. After it dried, it would be too brittle. God prepared a fresh jawbone of a donkey for him. Then he picked it up and struck down a thousand men. You know, the last time he struck down those Philistines, he cut off their legs and hips. This time, he also cut off their legs and hips, going all out.

If you are not ruthless enough, how can you come out of control? People want to control you. Either you are willing to be controlled, or you come out of control. If you want to come out of control, it will definitely be a very bloody battle, a chaotic scene. You either be a traitor, or you be an anti-Japanese fighter. I tell you, brothers and sisters, don't be traitors. Some people were traitors in 1944 and 1945, and they lost their lives in 1946, because traitors were shot. We must have backbone when we live, not be controlled. Whoever controls me, let them try. We would rather die than be traitors, especially in 1944 and 1945. People scare you, and you say you'll be a traitor. As a result, you die in 1946, so miserable.

Let's have some backbone in our bones, be God's elite soldiers. Let the evil spirits come! Whatever comes, we will trample on it. We neither control people, nor are we controlled by people. We want to be elite soldiers in Jesus Christ. Have backbone, come out of control, no longer be deceived by lies. You can't maintain things by compromise. How can you maintain things by compromise? I know some brothers like to compromise, and they live so uncomfortably that tears come out. Can they feel good? Oh, their relationship with their wives, it sounds like a dog-blood drama. Can we put a period to that dog-blood drama, stop acting in that dog-blood drama?

Remember, anyone can live without anyone else. Even if life is about to end, be a spiritual elite soldier in the spiritual world. We brothers and sisters must know that Chinese Mingding Destiny is a theology of freedom, not a church that advocates compromise, nor a church that advocates control. I encourage everyone to never live in degradation. Anything is fine, but the heart to serve God cannot be taken away by anything. Nothing can take away my destiny. I was born for this, I came into this world for this, I live for this, and I will die for this. No matter how powerful the evil spirits are, let them come. I will use a donkey's jawbone to knock them down, these evil spirits that control people.

May God bless everyone!