Lighthouse Ministries, affectionately known as LHM, was recently host to Pastor Israel Claytor and his lovely wife Pastor Victoria Claytor of Rock Church Tabernacle, USA and the title of this blog was the message that Pastor Israel delivered to the Lighthouse (LHM) faithful on Sunday 19th October 2008.

The main text of his message was from Judges 16, which is the story of Samson and Delilah. Pastor Isaiah drew several lessons from that text namely:

• Whatever God says will come to pass. Samson’ birth to a woman who was barren was announced by an angel, so we see that word of God trascends physical limitations.
• Samson had a weekness, that he could not resist Delilah despite the fact that she was seeking his end. Although he gets a bad press for this, the bible is a mirror and we can see ourselves in the story of Samson. There are several things that we know are bad for us and yet we cannot resist indulging in them.
• Persistence is a weapon which Delilah used to great effect. We as Christians should also be persistent in holding onto the promises of God regardless of any setbacks along the way. Then like Delilah, we shall receive the expected result of our persistence.
• When we fall God is there to pick us up. Whilst Samson spent that time chained to a grinding mill his hair whioch had been shorn off grew back. That, pastor Isaiah remarked, was a sign of Restoration and God once again responded to the prayer of Samson.
• We actually are better placed than Samson, because God has already paid the price through Jesus Christ for every single one of our failings and short comings. We can walk victorious all the time in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we fall and repent, God is read urging on and lifting us up. What a great life.

Pastor Isaiah conluded us by reminding us of the story of Abraham, Genesis 23:14, where God provided the ram fro sacrifice and revealed himself as Jehovah Jireh, the God who sees and then meets our needs.