THE SPIRIT OF GOD

THE SPIRIT
It is amazing to learn how much has been accomplished by the Spirit of God coming upon individuals and empowering them to do certain things which could not be done by human effort.
Of course, our attention turns to Samson, and his feats of strength when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
And there is the account of the young man, Saul, when he met the Prophet Samuel. I Samuel 10:6 And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
Then there is David when he was called in from the sheep to stand before Samuel. I Samuel 16:13 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. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Listen to David, later. Psalms 78:70-72 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Ironically, the next verse says: I Samuel 16:14 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
Disobedient people have also felt the results of God's Spirit in a negative way. Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
God is capable of forcing obedience upon His messengers when He wants to. Numbers 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: It cost him dearly to say what he was forced to say there that day.
Gideon also felt the touch of the Spirit. Judges 6:34 But the spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
Bezaleel and Aholiab had a "mind altering" experience when the Spirit of the Lord touched them. Exodus 35:35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, [even] of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
Things can happen when hands are laid on a person. Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
We find an interesting note in Haggai 1:14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, How often God "works on both ends" to get a job done. It is recorded that He stirred up the spirit of 1) Zerubbabel the governor, 2) Joshua the high priest, and 3) the remnant of the people.
We read of a mighty "prayer meeting", with repentance, which is to be accomplished by the Spirit of God, in Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
Never under estimate what the Spirit of God can do through you, or any one else, when He finds a channel available.
It was children He used, to cry "Hosanna" in the Temple the day He rode into Jerusalem. He was riding on the donkey He had put His Spirit upon to let Him ride. No one had ridden that animal yet. It was people, influenced by His Spirit, who laid garments and palm branches for His entry.
Matthew 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, (earthquake of humanity) saying, Who is this?
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.