The Power of God
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BY FRED HUSTED.
MANY people to-day, like those people of Samaria, whom Simon the sorcerer had deceived, are ready to believe that a manifestation is of God simply because it cannot be accounted for from a natural point of view. “This is the great power of God,” is heard on almost every hand. “To the law and to the testimony,” says Isaiah (8: 19, 20); “if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light [knowledge, truth] in them.” “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [prove]the spirits whether they are of God” (1st John 4: 1); because many false prophets have gone out into the world. As the spirits in the time of the law and the prophets were proved or tried by the law and the testimony, so are the spirits of to-day to be tried by that which is truth to-day, the perfect law (James 1: 25) and testimony (1st John 4: 1 to 6; Revelation 19: 10).
The fact that prophecies of signs and wonders came to pass did not in the Mosaic times prove the one who foretold them a prophet of God. See Deuteronomy 13: 1 to 5. “Thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God proveth, you to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.”- Verse 3. Neither because things spoken by such prophets to-day come to pass, are they proved to be of God. As there were lying signs and wonders then, so are there now (2nd Thessalonians 2: 7 to 12) lying manifestations which are believed by those who have not or will not receive a love of the truth.
“For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, in so much, that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”- Matthew 24: 24. “For they are the spirits of devils working miracles” (Revelation 16: 14) with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” (2nd Thessalonians 2: 9, 10). These spirits of devils are the authors of false doctrines (1st Timothy 4: 1) whose object it is to seduce the unlearned and unstable by wresting the truth.
That the enemy of all souls, with his agents carries on a general work of deception, counterfeiting or imitating God’s works, is evident, not only from the above texts, but from actual observation. This was true when Philip carried the gospel into Samaria, and Paul and Silas preached at Philippi, and God-sent ministers of to-day will find that workers of lying signs and wonders have in many localities preceded them also. While many of Satan’s deceptions are imitations, more or less like the God-given experiences, many of them are evidently made almost entirely of whole cloth. Truly the Word of God is the only sure safeguard, and to its infallible bar must we bring every spirit, miracle, sign and wonder to be tried or proved before we accept it as coming from God. Should a man appear in our midst actually putting new limbs on people who had lost arms and legs and new eyes in empty sockets, we would be under no obligation to believe him a true messenger of God, unless he measured up to the Word and worked according to it.
Many say, “I am led to do this,” or “I am led to do that,” and while we can not question the fact that they are led or influenced, it is necessary to our spiritual welfare not only to question but to demand and know by whom they are led.
” As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”- Romans 8: 14. John’s way of testing such cases was set forth plainly when he wrote: “We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby this is how] know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”- 1st John 4: 6. Many of us, dear readers, have seen professors do things and have heard them say things which were solemnly affirmed to be the direct workings of God’s power in them, and which they have warned us not to resist on pain of God’s displeasure, a favorite expression of one class of such people being “Do not resist the power.” While volumes might be written and not exhaust this theme, we will now notice this particular delusion of “Going under the power,” or “Falling under the power,” as it is called.
When asked why we should not resist the “power,” these “power ” believers refer us at once to Romans 13: 1 to 3. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained [ordered] of God.”- Verse 1. It is evident that the power of God is not mentioned or thought of in this case. If it were, then the expression would also indicate that Satan’s power was ordained or ordered (margin) of God. “Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance [statute, decree] of God: and they that resist shall also receive to themselves damnation: for rulers are no terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power? do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he [the ruler] is the minister of God to thee for good. And if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore we must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this cause pay we tribute [taxes] also; for they are God’s ministers attending continually on this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” That the civil powers are here meant, surely will not be gainsaid by any sensible man, especially if he will read the Emphatic Diaglott, which places the word “authorities” in place of “powers.” Truly the possessor of a sign or wonder must be in a sorry plight who is obliged to resort to such glaring, evident, and shameless wresting of the truth, to uphold his pet hobby.
There are but two cases of “trance” mentioned in the New Testament and we will endeavor to prove by the Word that neither of them had any semblance to the ridiculous manifestations of the ” Going under the power” class of to-day. The trances of the New Testament are found in Acts 10: 10. Peter in secret prayer on the housetop, and Acts 22: 17. Paul at prayer in the temple. In each case the person (Peter and Paul) received a commission that affected their entire life work. In each case the import of their vision caused a radical departure from what the previous course of the church and the ministry had been. Formerly the ministry had confined their effort to the ministry of the gospel to the Jews, the Gentiles not yet being considered, by many at least, as heirs apparent to the plan of salvation. See Acts 10th and 11th chapters. If then Paul and Peter in each “trance” received such a message, of such a wonderful import, what have these so-called trances of our day to show as a reason that we should believe in them? Some writer has declared that “comparisons are odious.”
They are indeed, we think, to the trance advocates of the present. Permit a thought that has often occurred to the writer: How many Peters and Pauls have we to-day? and if so great men as they were had but one trance each in a lifetime, how great must he be who could have a trance each meeting service, and how the world would shake under his preaching!
Again, “Let all things be done unto edifying [instruction]” is a Bible rule for conducting a meeting. 1st Corinthians 14: 26. “Let all things be done decently and in order,” is another rule to the same end. Verse 40. “God is not the author of confusion [margin, tumult or unquietness], but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”— Verse 33. Now, many of us as eye witnesses of such scenes as those presented by people ‘falling under the power,” can see neither order nor decency, peace nor edification in such things. Sinners at the altar seeking pardon would surely desire the power manifested in prayer and faith for their deliverance, and instruction in things of the Spirit, rather than have so many supposed to be capable of instructing, laid helpless on the benches or floors at the very time their help was needed. If God had anything at all to do with such manifestations at such a time, the writer would consider it a sure sign that God desired the parties in “helpless state” to keep away from the sinners at the altar; a by no means encouraging mark of his “pleasure,” as some might think.
Power is needed in such cases in preaching the Word, prayer and faith. We are told to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, to give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Imagine or rather picture a scene; ladies dressed in a summer costume of white, going under the power and falling on the floor or on the ground as the case might be. This has happened no doubt more than once; but at least once: and after a time rising with dirt stained dresses and faces and declaring it to be the power of God. Truly I believe that God is such a lover of cleanliness, decency, and order, that his power would select a clean place out of sight of vulgar prying eyes, did he wish to take such a way of showing his pleasure. If I am mistaken in this, who shall set me right?
Is not the profession we are to hold fast one that will make noble the ignoble? Is it not one that will cause men, to glorify God and seek his face? ‘We do not say that people at this time do not have such experiences as that of Peter or Paul in Acts 10 and 22, but we give it as a self-evident fact that God being the same, they are as scarce, circumstances considered, as they evidently were then. We do not say that James or John never had a trance. We do not know. It is not recorded if they did. Seek for things that pertain to life and godliness, and even if you never have a trance, console yourself with the fact that the Word neither commands you nor advises you to seek to have them. While it is true that Peter and Paul had what the translators are pleased to call a trance, it is also a fact that the Devil has counterfeited it or claims to have done so. Spiritualistic seances are conducted quite often by mediums who have what is also called a trance. Their similarity to these professed trances are proved by the symptoms before, at the time, and after, to be the same. People testify to being all worn out next day, after lying rigid for hours, and yet believe it to be of God. We read of messengers of Satan “wearing out the saints,” but never read of God doing it.
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