Arise and Shine

1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

To arise means

++To be stirred up

++To be awake

++To prepare for action

Introduction:

Judges recored a time when the people rebel and transgress against God. They were a people that did not know God or the works he did for their ancestors. Without God they embraced the Gods of the land and were punished by God.

God used their enemies to oppress them. But the Lord still loved Israel.

Judges 2:18 NLT

18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.

Judges 13:1-25

We can arise from barrenness to fruitfulness.

Judges 13:3 NLT

3 The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.

God knew her condition

She was

++Nameless

++Barren

++Childless

++Chosen

Things were about to change

No matter your current situation or limitation

Our God

++Knows where we are

++Knows what we are facing

++Is about to bring a change

Judges 13:4 NLT

4 So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.

We can arise in our obedience.

We must remember

++Parents have a powerful influence on their children.

++Children copy the behavior of the parents. They watch what we do.

What are we watching or reading?

What legacy are we passing on?

Judges 13:5 NLT

5 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

We can arise in our influence

Influence is powerful

++Provides direction

++Establishes boundaries

Influence declares “You are here for more”

Maturing is alway forward looking

++Rather raising children

++Teaching a lesson

++Living or God

We do not build down, we build up!

We do not grow down, we grow up!

We do not drive back, we drive forward!

We must keep

++Looking to Jesus

++Believing in Jesus

++Trusting Jesus

Judges 13:24–25 NLT

24 When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.

His name was called Samson

Samson was

++The 5th and last Judge of Israel

++A man of extraordinary physical strength

The power of a name

Samsons name in Hebrew meant

++Sun Child

++Bright Sun

++Like the Son

He was meant to shine

To shine

++To stand out

++To stand up

++To be extraordinary

He was a rising star

He failed to follow God’s Command

His disobedience left him

++Blind

++Defeated

++A Broken man

He was suppose to shine

Conclusion

It is our time to shine.

Isaiah 60:1–2 ESV

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.