Samson, a biblical figure, is depicted as a judge of Israel who sought personal revenge against the Philistines rather than leading his people effectively. His relationships with women, particularly with Delilah, highlight his struggles with lust and betrayal. Ultimately, Samson's strength, given by God, was misused for selfish purposes, reflecting his flawed character. Addiction: The devotion of a person to something, whether sin in general or food, alcohol, or wealth in particular, to become dependent upon it. A person will never be satisfied in such a state of slavery. The answer to addiction is self-control through the resources of the new life in Christ. How Can Addiction Destroy Your Life Judges 16:1-2  1. It Takes Hold One Step At A Time Samsonwas a sex addict, and the text tells us of his visits to prostitutes as well as his passion for Philistine women.  One day—David and Bathsheba. It will only take one day to ruin your whole life, but you get there one step at a time. When we allow something to be our motivating factor other than what God has for us, we risk destroying our lives. Judges 16:4  2. Rationalized Sin The story of Samson and Delilah is the longest vignette in the Samson cycle. It is infamous in literature with its classic themes of lust, greed, betrayal, tragedy, vengeance, and restoration. It is easy to categorize Samson as a “he-man with a she-weakness,” an idiot with a femme fatal flaw—and thus dismiss him from serious consideration, other than a warning to men about the temptations of the flesh. But this is far too easy and doesn’t cut deeply enough.  Samson’s lust was a symptom of a greater problem: Samson was the center of Samson’s world. We are naive to think that God has different standards for us than those in the Bible. God understands that my wife doesn’t sleep with me enough, that my life is stressful, and that God knows my heart. These are all terrible excuses. Sin is sin, if it’s in the Bible, your life circumstances do not change the TRUTH. Judges 16:20-21  3. Think It Won’t Catch Up To You The Lord had left him. This is undoubtedly one of the saddest statements in Scripture. Samson had stubbornly resisted God to the point that he did not even recognize that God was no longer with him.  Samson is one of the best examples of those believers who think that God will remain with them even though they continue to behave in sinful and immoral ways. The Lord left this judge because of his persistent disobedience. Eventually, your choices in your life will catch up to you. Your life may not fall apart immediately, but the weight of your choices will ultimately catch up with you. Sin doesn’t devour us all at once; it is like a cancer that slowly eats us alive, it is working in silence, and will slowly kill us before we realize we are even afflicted. Judges 16:23-25  4. You Allow One Event To Define You TWO RESPONSES TO FAILURE THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS REMORSE. THE BETTER RESPONSE IS REPENTANCE.  Remorse: Feel bad. Horrible person. Got caught.  Blame: Delilah’s fault, seductive, nagging. Didn’t want to be chosen, ask for strength.  Repentance: I’m sorry. My fault. God entrusted me. Blew it. Didn’t take the vow seriously. Wanted it. Deserve it. Handle it. Anger. Pride. Took steps. Just because you failed at something doesn’t mean you’re a failure.  What are our transformational moments? What sin have you been downplaying in your life? Do you need to lay it down today? Do you need to rest on the fact that your failures do not define you? Health Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8MPMH9B