“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:13
How important is the Spirit of God to the believer? To answer that question we might ask another or two: How important is water and food to the body? How important is light and air for one to live? The answer to both of these questions lies in the matter of life or death. Being deprived of that which is essential to live will eventually reveal itself by the end of one’s existence on this earth. And so it is with the Spirit of God from a spiritual standpoint, which has ramifications or effects in the physical world. How then do we begin to grasp the significance, importance, and power of the Spirit of God, in particular with regard to the believer? Let us begin at the beginning.
Creation began with God. Indeed, Paul writes of the Lord Jesus Christ: “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” (Col. 1:16) When we come to Moses’ account in Genesis of the creation, we also read: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:2) The triune God who asked Isaiah, “…and who will go for us…, is the One who from eternity designed the universe, called it into being, the Father, by Christ, the Holy Spirit moving to bring it to pass. The Person of the Holy Spirit was the means, in power and might, by which creation came into being. Christ, by His Spirit, for the glory of the Father, did fashion all things as He desired and willed, revealing His infinite power and goodness. What does this knowledge have to do with the believer today, living in a fallen world, faced with enemies without and within? The answer is found in several statements, one by Christ directly, and the others through His messengers, the prophets and apostles.
In John’s gospel, the Lord Jesus specifically said: “…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you except ye abide in Me.” (15:4) He went on to declare: “…He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.” (15:5) In both statements the Lord is very clear that man cannot do the works of God, unless he receieve by faith the “life-giving stream,” the gift of God, Christ’s life, by the Spirit. This is again very clearly declared when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:5,6) Unless the Spirit of God, the Spirit of creation, come and move in the heart and life of the sinner who is dead in his trespasses and sins, there is no hope for him escaping the downward pull of sin unto death. True life begins BY the Spirit, and must be lived, or maintained by the Spirit.
How important was the Spirit of God to David? In David’s confession in Psalm 51, he asks God: “…Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” (v.10) Though anointed by God to be king of Israel, and perfectly equipped by that anointing to be so, David knew that he was nothing, and could do nothing, without the Spirit. He also knew, as Jeremiah recorded the Lord’s words: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (31:27) All is possible to God, to Christ the power of God in us by the Spirit. Essential to glorifying God is the utter reliance, and submission to the Spirit of God.
Dear Father, Blow blessed wind of God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.