Because of Your Love, Hosanna (Praise Is Rising), O How Great, Hope in the Precious Cross, Never Once

What New Year’s resolution for 2025 have you accomplished, or have made progress on so far?

Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years. 2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. 4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him.

INTRO (Galatians 5:22-23, Proverbs 25:28, Judges 13:1-7, Numbers 6:2, 8)

1. MASTER YOUR EMOTIONS (Judges 14:1-4, Deuteronomy 7:3-4, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Psalm 139:23-24)
2. MIND YOUR WEAKNESSES (Judges 14:5-9, 19-20, 15:3-5, 14-15, 20)
3. MAGNIFY YOUR GOD (Judges 16:1-30, 1 Peter 2:24)

Restate the verse in your own words.

• What did you like about these verses?
• What did you learn about God?
• What did you learn about People?
• What did you learn about practicing self-control?
• What did you learn about following Jesus?

Based on this lesson on “SAMSON: PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL”, write down your action point to apply what you learned. Make it your “I Will…” statement and follow the S.M.A.R.T guideline to come up with a do-able action point.

Simple

Measurable

Appropriate

Realistic

Time-bound

“I Will _____________________________”

Who will you share these truths to this week?

There may be people in your life who are experiencing the painful consequences of a lack of self-control.

Pray for them to turn to the Lord and let Him take control of their lives.

Be a Spirit-filled witness and share the gospel to them.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word.

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented.

• For the rest of the Israeli hostages to be restored to their families safely. For Israel’s war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory.

• For the civil war in Syria to end peacefully, protection for Christians and other minorities; that there will be freedom from oppression for Syrians. Pray for the gospel to spread rapidly throughout the country.

• Pray for Sudan and persecuted Christians there; earnestly seek God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed. Pray for freedom from oppression, that God’s word and His people bring them comfort and hope.

• Earthquake victims in Burma, Thailand, other countries.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).

• Ministries and churches expand worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.