The Set Appart Man

The Israelites did not obey God. They did not live up to the covenant. We know that it is impossible to do without the life God provides, and they turned away from that life. Many times throughout history this happened, and was recorded as a picture for us. Take the time when they were delivered into the hands of the Philistines for a generation (forty years in this case). Given over to the flesh, the natural desires, the idolaters. During this time a angel appeared to Manoah's wife who was barren, and informed her that she would bring forth a son, and he would be a Nazirite. (If you do not recall the story of Samson, perhaps read it now before proceeding, it begins in Judges 13)

Now, being a Nazirite in essence means you are one set appart for God. In that time, God's boundary for separation, His word, was that no razor would touch Samson's head, he would drink no wine, touch or eat any unclean thing. Now, don't be confused by that which is physical and that which is a picture. You and I are to be Nazirites as well. We are separated from the world and bound together in faith. But the sign of that consecration is not long hair or abstinence. The sign is the Spirit that dwells within you, and your imersion and life in that Spirit. It is in the drinking of the new wine, the eating of the eternal fruit, the permeation of your soul with the overflowing fountain that the sign of our separation is evident.

Why is it this way? Well, lets return to Samson for a bit. He was strengthened by the Spirit and wreaked havoc upon the Philistines. He was conquering the natural man. Overcoming the fleshly desires, the abhorrent practices. The end result of that path would be the overthrowing of Philistine rule. Freedom for the Israelites. Yet what did his brethren do?

And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines.

They went for appeasement, they continued in fear and rejected God.

Of course this is a picture of Jesus. He performed miracles. He had mastery over evil spirits, sickness, blindness. He was conquering the "Philistines", i.e. overcoming the broken nature of man. The proof was in His work, He was on a path to overcome death itself. And yet, the religious leaders of the day, the leaders of Israel, delivered Him over to execution.

Jesus is the true Nazirite. He was set appart from the world, one with the Father. He drank wine, probably cut His hair, ate with harlots, touched the unclean sick, yet was perfectly set appart. Perfectly consecrated unto God by the Spirit.

Samson could not fulfill his promise. He was a man, imperfect, flawed. He fell not when his hair was cut, but when he decided to listen to a voice other than God. He consciously or not, wanted to find out for himself. The result was the loss of his strength. Gone. His vision was taken away, he became blind. The eyes of the spirit go dark when we listen to the flesh, the natural desires. We can not see the Glory, we can not see the Body of Christ if our heart is turned to the Philistine temptress.

In the end Samson turned his heart back to God. He was willing to forgo his own life to destroy the Philistines. It is quoted thus:

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 that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.

He overcame more of the flesh in death than his struggle while alive.

Our beloved Savior conquered the flesh totally. The end of all natural desire is death. None can escape it. Yet Christ overcame death. He died, and rose again. Not only that, but in the establishment of the New Kingdom, the eternal government, He destroyed the old house, and all the lords and people within. Yes, Jesus overcame the natural man completely, and created a path for all to do the same. Consequently, He removed the old house, and the rulers of that house.

Consider the picture. Israel was ruled by those same lords Samson destroyed. Israel was controled by that Philistine house. The people were given over to their own desires, and did not desire God. When Christ proclaimed that not a stone should be left upon another, 'within this generation', He was indicating the destruction of the old system, ruled by men who had turned from God and were enslaved by the natural desires. They were not free of Roman rule either.

Christ bowed Himself with all His might, and shook the foundations of the house. He yielded up His life as the perfect sacrifice, so that we could attain the source of eternal life, so we could break free of death. And in that shaking, in that bowing down, the house was destroyed. Jerusalem was erased. Burnt and destroyed. The heart of Judaism was ripped out and crushed. God moved on. Opened the doors to a greater kingdom, a greater nation. One that will never turn away from Him.

This is a nation of Nazirites, all are set appart for God. And that separation comes from the Spirit. It is a product of the life Christ provides to us. Separation happens as we get more of Jesus in us. As we find that fountain inside our mind, our heart, we are thrust into the New Kingdom. Separated from this temporal finite existence. And we become strong. The power flows in the collection of believers who are bound together in faith, separated in their hearts and spirits from the world. Unencumbered by the flesh, the natural desires. Christ moves powerfully in that body, doing things more miraculous that Samson's feats, performing works beyond our imagination.

The Body of Christ is that Nazirite, the one with God's strength. The slayer of the Philistine enemy today. And you will find that power by finding the source of life. You will become attached to the eternally set apart man, Christ our King. You will live the consecrated life. Just get ahold of that life, it should be your desparate wish.