Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-01-23

of illustrations of
the truth of this statement.
For instance, spiritual power does
not depend on a mans acquired abil-
ity, as witness Moses. He was learned
In all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
but this could not enable him to set
the children of Israel free. He must
spend forty years in the backside OF
the desert unlearning much that he
had acquired in the schools of Egypt,
before he was ready to be an instru-
ment of Gods power. All of his ac-
quired ability was useless in bringing
about the plaques which cursed Egypt.
for feeding the people in the wilder
ness and bringing water from the rock.
But, linked with God, he had only to
speak and the mama fell for the sus-
tenance of the people. He had but to
snite the solid rock with the rod and
the pure, fresh water came forth.
Learning Alone of No Avail.
Again, this power is not found in
the learning of the schools. Witness
| the work of Peter, who was an ''un-
learned and ignorant man." as far as
| the schools were concerned. He
breaches, with three thousand souls
saved as the result of one sermon. he
| breaches to the confusion of the schol-
arly leaders in Jerusalem, making them
| feel their crime of numbering Jesus
| Christ Such power belongs not to
mere learning which men may get,
but unto God, who stands behind a
man yielded to him.
| Again, this power is not found in
any special natural aptitude or fitness
of men. Most people think Samson
was giant in his physical develop
ment They imagine him as a broad
chested, heavy-muscled man, to whom
feats of physical prowess were as
nothing But if such were the case,
the woman Delilah would never have
inquired wherein his strength lay.
Rather, Samson was frail-looking,
effeminate sort of man, with his long
hair and soft, smooth skin, and the
surprise to his enemies and the WON,
an was his supernatural strength when
there was no sign of it in his make
up 1t was Gods power, not Sam
sons.
Once more, this power is not in out
ward equipment, but inward relianct
upon God. When Goliath came fortl
to meet David, he had all the outward
equipment and physical power to con
quer an army. David had none Of
this, but was a mere slip of a boy
with a sling and stone to match Go
liath's sword and shield. But the
event proved that an arm and hant
yielded to and directed by God were
mightier than the power of the mar
who by his very presence, so terri
Bile was it, could make an army quake
Again, there are those who thinf
that great numbers will accomplish
the Lords work, but the story of Gid
con and his small band refutes thi
idea. AS in Gideon's case, large mum
bers sometimes tend only to steal ava.
the power and make human effort i'm
potent Power, real power, belonged
unto God. 1t works all unseen ant
waits for the one who will obey. TIL
measure of the Christians obedienc
will be the measure of that Christian
power. The question is not how mucl
natural or acquired ability is pos
sessed, not how much outward equip
ment is at hand, not how great tn
number present, but how far will the
obey?
The Power of the Spirit.
Zechariah, the prophet. says th
, Lords work is done mot by might no
by power, but by my Spirit, saith tn
Lord" Jesus says the things 'impos
sible with man are possible with God.
He does not say they are possible t
, God. that is a self-evident fact, bu
he says they are possible with Got
Things impossible with man, linke
though he may be with all the naturs
or acquired ability in the world, wit
all the learning and wisdom of th
worldj become not only possible bt
easy of accomplishment to the ma
, who is linked with God. And the holt
ing, binding and unchanging link owe
which Gods power runs is simple obed
ence unto him.