The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-01-22

For instance, spiritual power does
not depend on 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 &C
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 mamma fell for the sus-
tenance of the people. He had but to
Smite 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 Gun
learned and ignorant man." as far AS
the schools were concerned. He
breaches, with three thousand souls
saved as the result of one sermon. de
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 a giant in his physical develop
ment. They imagine hira 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 a frail-loOking,
effeminate sort of man, with his long
hair and soft, smooth skin, and the
surprise to his enemies and the wOm-
an was his supernatural strength when
there was no sign of it in his make
up. It was Gods power, not Sam
sons.
Once more, this power is not in out
ward equipment, but inward reliance
upon God. When Goliath came forth
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 Co
liath's sword and shield. But the
event proved that an arm and hand
yielded to and directed by God were
mightier than the power of the man
who by his very presence, so terri
BILE was it, could make an army quake.
Again, there are those who think
that great numbers will accomplish
the Lords work, but the story of Gid
con and his small band refutes this
idea. AS in Gideon's case, large num-
bers sometimes tend only to steal away
the power and make human effort i'm.
potent. Power, real power, belongeth
INTO God. It works all unseen and
waits for the one who will obey. The
measure of the Christians obedience
will be the measure of that Christians
mower. The question is not how much
natural or acquired ability is pos
sessed, not how much outward equip
ment Is at hand, not how great the
number present, but how far will they
obey?
The Power Of the Spirit.
Zechariah, the prophet, says the
Lords work is done mot by might nor
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the
Lord" Jesus says the things "impos-
sfhle with man are possible with God"
He does not say they are possible to
God, that is a self-evident fact, but
he says they are possible with God.
Things impossible with man, linked
though he may be with all the natural
or acquired ability in the world, with
all the learning and wisdom of the
world, become not only possible but
easy of accomplishment to the man
who is linked with God. And the hold |
ing. binding and unchanging link over
which Gods power runs is simple Obedi- |