Judges 16:20, "...And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."

What you read about Samson is exciting and sad at the same time. He was a great deliverer of Israel who accomplished great things for God when the Spirit of God was upon him. However, he often operated in the realm of the flesh, and when such was the case he as a great failure. 

Today's verse is sobering because Samson was in such a condition that the Spirit of God departed from him and he didn't even know that it had happened. It led to him being taken by the Philistines, who "...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." (16:21)

I wonder how often we experience spiritual defeat in our lives because we don't even realize the Spirit of God isn't in control of our lives. You see, the Holy Spirit dwells permanently in the believer, so it is not possible for the Spirit of God to depart from us, but it is very possible that we are not living with the filling of the Holy Spirit. Are you allowing God's Holy Spirit to control you and empower you? Or are you just walking along every day unaware and maybe even unconcerned about the power and presence of God in your life?

I don't want to get in the position where I become inattentive to the power and control of the Holy Spirit in my life. May we obey the command of Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.  What often makes the difference between success and failure in your life as a believer?

2.  What were the consequences of Samson's failure to realize the Spirit had departed from him?

3.  Do you keep a spiritual inventory of your life to help you maintain a consistent Spirit filled life?  What do you inventory?

4.  What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit at this moment?  Is He in control of your life or are you walking in the flesh?