Focus: 5 Smooth Stones (Pt.3)

Text: 1Sam.17:40

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him FIVE SMOOTH STONE out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine"

We have looked at two of our SMOOTH STONES: the NAME of the Lord and the WORD of God. The next is the stone of the SPIRIT of God.

The Pharisees accused the Lord Jesus of using evil powers to cast out demons, and He responded by telling them that Satan casting out Satan could only mean that Satan's kingdom was divided and dislodged, and then He went on to say, "But if I cast out devils by the SPIRIT OF GOD, then the kingdom of God is come upon you" (Mt.12:28). Our Master Jesus cleared out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ had the Spirit without measure. John records, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (Jh.3:34). So each time the Lord Jesus cast out demons, He did so by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the same applies to us as believers in Christ.

It is always by the Spirit's anointing that yokes are broken and burdens are removed. In Acts 10:38, we read, "How God ANOINTED Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with POWER: who went about doing good, and HEALING all that were oppressed of the DEVIL; for God was with him." The Sovereign Spirit of God reigns in our universe and keeps the forces of evil in check. Man cannot handle Satan and his cohorts except by the power of the Spirit. It is by the Spirit that the Christian can resist the devil and make him to flee. We steadfastly resist him in the faith. By the Spirit we are lifted above the powers of darkness. Isaiah tells us, "When the ENEMY shall come in like a flood, the SPIRIT of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isa.59:19).

In Luke 9:1, the Lord gave His disciples "power and authority over ALL devils, and to cure diseases." In verse 6, we read that "they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and HEALING EVERYWHERE." Also, when the seventy-two disciples returned from their mission, they reported to the Lord that "even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (Lk.10:17). The Spirit was with them, enforcing the power and authority of Christ.

The power of the Spirit dwells and works in the believer. Micah says, "But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might…" (Mic.3:8). The place and role of the Spirit in our lives is crucial, for He possesses the power of the Godhead. I repeat, the whole power of God is lodged in the Spirit, and this power surges in us by the Spirit. The Spirit exposes us to the limitless possibilities of God.

For Zerubbabel to accomplish a mighty feat, the Lord said to him, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty - you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak" (Zech.4:6 TLB). Yes, the Spirit works marvels amid human weaknesses and limitations!

We win an overwhelming victory by the Spirit of God. In Christ we dominate and by the Spirit we ride on high. Let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not vex the Spirit, for Isaiah says, "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them" (Isa.63:10). So make the Spirit your ally, not your enemy.

We'll continue with the next stone tomorrow.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter