From Battles to Blessings: Sharing Christ's Sweetness

Samson himself is a riddle he was not only a riddle maker but he was himself an enigma very difficult to explain with his personal character I have at this time little or nothing to do we are not this day resting at the house of gas mine host where the pilgrims amused themselves with a dish of nuts after dinner but we are on the March and must attend to the more important matter of refreshing and inspiring those who are in our company. [00:01:20]

The believer has been helped by divine grace in his spiritual conflicts and he has known the victory which overcometh the world even our faith he is thus been made more than a conqueror through him that loved us and now he stands in the midst of his fellow men inviting them to Jesus with the honey in his hands which he continues still to Feast upon he displays the Heavenly sweetness to all that are around about him saying oh taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him. [00:05:18]

To become a Christian is to enlist for a soldier to become a Believer is to enter Upon A pilgrimage and the road is often rough the hills are steep the valleys are dark Giants block the way and robbers lurk in Corners the man who reckons that he can glide into heaven without a struggle has made a great mistake no cross no Crown no sweat no sweet no conflict no Conquest. [00:07:06]

This early combat with the Savage Beast was was intended by God to let him know his strength when under the influence of the spirit and to train him for his future combats with Israel's enemies he that is to Smite the Philistines hip and thigh with a great Slaughter until he has laid them heaps on heaps by his single prowess must begin by rending a lion with his naked hands. [00:09:15]

Let the Holy Spirit help us in our trouble and we need neither company nor weapon but without him what can we do good Bishop Hall says if that roaring lion that goes about continually seeking whom he may devour find us alone among The Vineyards of the Philistines where is our hope not in our heel he is swifter than we not in our weapons we are naturally unarmed not in our hands which are weak and languishing but in the spirit of God by whom we can do all things if God fight in us who can resist us. [00:19:03]

We are not always killing Lions we are sometimes eating honey certain of us do both at a time we kill lions and yet cease not to eat honey and truly it has become so sweet a thing to enter into Conflict for for Christ's sake that it is a joy to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints the same Lord who hath bidden us quit yourselves like men be strong has also said rejoice in the lord always and again I say rejoice. [00:23:33]

I would sooner possess the joy of Christ 5 minutes than I would Revel in the mirth of fools for half a century there is more bliss in the tear of repentance than in the laughter of gayety our holy Sorrows are sweeter than the worldlings joys but oh when our Joys grow full divinely full then are they unspeakably like those above and Heaven begins below. [00:25:28]

In the love of Christ in pardon sin in Acceptance in the Beloved in resting in God in perfectly acquiescing in his will in the hope of Heaven there is such joy that none can measure it we have such a living swarm of bees to make honey for us in the precious Promises of God that there is more Delight in store than any of us can possibly realize there is infinitely more of Christ beyond our comprehension that we have as yet been able to comprehend. [00:28:10]

As soon as we have tasted the honey of forgiven sin and perceived the Bliss that God has laid up for his people in Christ Jesus we feel it to be both our duty and our privilege to communicate the good news to others here let my ideal statue stand in our midst the strong man conqueror of the lion holding forth his hands full of Honey to his parents we are to be modeled according to this fashion. [00:35:09]

Nothing is so powerful as an exhibition of Grace itself to others do not talk about it but carry it in your hands I cannot do that says one yes you can by your life your temper your spirit your whole bearing if your hands serve God if your heart serves God if your face beams with joy in the service of God you will carry Grace wherever you go and those who see you will perceive it. [00:42:18]

I would stir up all Christian people to continue from day to day exhibiting to needy Sinners the blessedness of Christ that unbelievers may come and eat thereof by doing this you will be blessing men far far more than Samson could bless his parents for our honey is honey unto eternity our sweets are sweets that last to heaven and are best enjoyed there call upon others to taste and see that the Lord is good and you shall have therein much joy. [00:48:32]

What will be the felicities of heaven when we shall meet those who are turn to righteousness by our holding forth the Word of Life our heaven will be seven Heavens as we see them there if you have done nothing but exhibit in your lives the precious results of Grace you will have done well if you have presented to your companions truths that were sweetness itself to you and try to say in broken accents oh that you knew his peace it shall give you joy unspeakable to meet those in glory who are attracted to Christ by such simple means. [00:49:33]