7 Lessons from Samson—Surviving the Anointing Shane Idleman
The word anointing has been used and abused by charlatans and schemers, but the word is thoroughly biblical. It’s when God fills a person with His Spirit for the purpose of using him or her in a mighty way. In the time of Samson, Israel was in bondage, and God anointed Samson as a judge and a deliver. God’s anointing is absolutely necessary to accomplishing His will. Make no mistake, our families and our nation need more men and women anointed by God (watch more here).
First John 2:20 says that all true believers “have an anointing from the Holy One.” In Acts 10:38, we read that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” The word Christ actually means “Anointed One.” Ironically, the more anointed a person is, the more the world will hate them. The world loves the darkness of sin and depravity. They lash out at those truly filled with God’s Spirit. Truth is offensive to those caught in darkness. Even Daniel warned of a time when Satan will “wear down the saints of the Highest One” (Dan. 7:25).
Francis Frangipane made a brilliant point about this: “This battle to wear out the saints may be rooted in conflicts with children or spouses; perhaps it is some unresolved issue or division within their churches. . . . Like a skilled and masterful thief, the enemy daily steals the joy, strength and passion of Christians, and many do not even realize what they have lost or how much.” As you can see, it’s absolutely crucial for believers to survive the anointing. Here are seven lessons from Samson’s life that can help along the way.
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1. Survive the anointing by knowing Who to run to when pressured. Judges 16:16 says that Delilah “pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death.” When he was beat down and worn out, “he told her all his heart, and said to her, ‘No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man’” (v. 17). His power was not in his hair but in his consecration to the Lord. The same holds true for us—spiritual power is found in obedience and consecration.
When we are continually pressured and pressed, we often run back to sin—back to anger, alcohol, porn, pills, doubt, unbelief, and on and on. Where do your feet take you in times of despair? Run to the Strong Tower and build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ! Proverbs 18:10 says that “the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
2. Survive the anointing by guarding your heart. In verses 18–19 we read, “When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.’” Then she lulled him to sleep and called for a man to shave his hair. Samson should have fled her presence once he noticed her deception in prior encounters. Sin lulls us to sleep via compromise and complacency. Sin fascinates then assassinates. You can’t defeat your demons if you’re still enjoying their company! Guarding your heart means guarding your emotions and decisions as well as your time. Choose your words and friends carefully, and spend time doing things that build you up spiritually, not things that pull you down.
3. Survive the anointing by staying humble. You’d be amazed at what God does with humility and equally amazed at how much pride blocks His blessings: “He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). “[When Delilah] said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’” (v. 20). He thought, “I can handle this; I got this. I’m Samson, the mighty man of God,” but “he did not know that the Lord had departed from him” (v. 20). In the Old Testament, the Spirit would completely withdraw from a person, but in the New Testament, we can quench and grieve the Spirit within. Is there an area where compromise has entered in because your guard is down? Then humble yourself today, and turn back to God.
