You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
“No Shave Clause”
Judges 14-16

Israel
	Living in the Promised Land
	Drifted from God
	They repented
	God rescues them by a leader (Judge)

Samson
	Miracle Baby
	Born with a God-given purpose
	Had a way to enjoy God’s plan (Nazarite vow)
	
Nazirite vow
No haircut during the vow
Don’t drink anything made from grapes
No contact with anything dead
Voluntary

Samson
	Violent
	Impulsive
	Sexually addicted
	Emotionally immature
	Selfish man
	
Judges 13:24

How can Samson be so empowered by the Spirit, yet live with no patience, humility or self-control?

Failure is seldom an explosion, but usually an erosion.

Samson sabotaged God’s plan by being…
	Impulsive
	Unteachable 
	Self-reliant 
Careless
Proud 

It is never too late to cry out to God.

How can Samson be so empowered by the Spirit and yet live with no patience, humility or self-control? It’s possible to have external success and shallow character.

Vital Distinction
	It’s possible to have gifts, but lack fruit
	Gifts are skills for doing
	Fruits are character traits of being 

Galatians 5:22-23

What do we do?
	Recognize the difference and evaluate 
	Assess our prayer life
	Seek intimate community