Judges 16:20
She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
When Delilah enticed Samson to tell him the secret to his strength he failed to realize and remember what God had done for him, with him and in him. He fell into the trap that we all fall into from time to time: Our strength is from within ourselves rather than from God's grace based on our faith demonstrated in obedience. God gives us all "giftedness" when we put our faith in Him. Through the Spirit He entrusts us with gifts that we can, in turn, use to glorify Him. When we fail to remember where the gift comes from and who it is ultimately for in regard to its use, we fall into the same trap of Samson. He began to use his gift for show rather than for the purpose it was intended. God doesn't give us gifts to use for ourselves or for our profit. In Acts 8:9ff we have the story of a magician who observed the power of the Spirit in Peter's life. He thought he could purchase the Spirit for his own profit. Peter cursed him in God's name and the man discovered you can buy the Spirit and use Him for your own profit. When God gives us a gift we are to use it the way it was intended and for the purpose of its intent. Use your gifts for God. He alone gets the praise of them and the use for them.
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