On a bright sunday afternoon while returning from church with some ministers, we met an old timer we knew way back. I was a young boy in his heydays. He was vibrant and mightily used by God those days. However, he backslid so bad and lost the anointing. He became alcoholic and sexually immoral.
When this old minister saw him, he asked how he was faring. His response touched me. He said: "I am a soldier wounded in battle but thank God I didn't die in battle".
At that time, he was restored and had started pastoring. Apparently, he was also returning from church that day. Hallelujah!!!
We have preached great sermons about Samson's fall but only a few message about his restoration. We easily forget that God restored him and even made him achieve more at his death than when he was in his prime.
When his hair grew again after spending time away from sinful entanglement, the anointing he lost was restored after he prayed.
The bible said, "And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes" (Judges16:28).
God answered the prayer of Samson. In Judges 16:30, it was said that, "And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life".
Though he died with the Philistines, he fulfilled his purpose in life. That you messed up isn't a license for you to stop your journey where you fell. You may have been wounded in battle but God can restore you.
We often wound wounded soldiers because we think God has written them off. We do not associate with them and even think they are trapped in their old ways of life after they have repented and forgiven by God. We add to their guilt instead of helping them to gain confidence.
If you have been wounded by sin, I want to let you know that you can rise again and do exploits for the Lord.
Guilt and self condemnation is one potent tool the enemy uses to make people fellowship with their errors and to stop their progress in the kingdom.
The bible says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"(Isa1:18).
God is not condemning you, accept his love and acknowledge his gracious power to forgive and cleanse your sins (1John1:9), then go and sin no more.
Ensure you avoid the things that brought you down and pray for grace to stand. Do not focus on the perception of people about your mess. It will make you grow cold. Simply turn your mess to a message of repentance, restoration and healing .
The devil may have given you blows and knocked you down. Thank God he didn't succeed in giving you a total knock out. You're still in the ring, kingdom soldier, rise up and keep fighting.
