When the Apostle Paul addressed the Athenians, he began by discreetly deprecating the idolatry that was so prevalent in their city, and enlightened his audience as to “the God Who made the world and all things therein,.... He is Lord of heaven and earth.... For in Him, we live and move and have our being.”1 This teaching discredited the superstition and made vain the idolatry of ancient religions, according to which, each form of life and power had a separate or independent source, cause or creator. Hence there were gods of war and thunder, gods of hills and valleys, gods of waters and flies. The saying is true that “the heathen created gods like themselves.” Heathen principles, in effect, still hold sway in the world. Consider such expressions as “the power of money,” “the power of pleasure,” and “the power of politics.” The modern gods are centred on earth and not in other worlds. The root of the whole matter was, and still is, in the passions and promptings of the human heart. Hence the French proverb, “The more it changes, the more it remains the same”—only a seeming paradox.
In contrast to the conceptions of idolatry, the Bible teaches that the Godhead is the Uncreate and Infinite; Almighty God is the Underived Word. In the natural world, God has made Himself known as Creator, Preserver, Possessor and Sovereign. In the spiritual world, He has revealed Himself as Father, Saviour and Judge. “God our Saviour” is an apostolic expression.2 God is unsearchable, but He is not unknowable. “Let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me.”3 It is written, “The Egyptians are men and not God; and their horses flesh and not spirit.”4 Christ taught “God is a spirit” or “God is spirit.”5 Deity’s nature, being and power is spirit and not flesh. Spirit nature is incorruptible6 and spirit power is underived. Spirit nature, spirit state, or spirit being is divine. From Deity issues forth “the power of the Most High,” otherwise the Holy Spirit.7 This anointing power is designated in the Scriptures as “the finger of God,” “the hand of God” and “the arm of God.” “Thou hast a mighty arm,” writes the Psalmist, “and high is Thy right hand.”8 When Paul told the Athenians, “In God we live, and move and have our being,” he was in harmony with Jeremiah and David. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” saith the Lord.9“Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?”10 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power”; and as a consequence, “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”11
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Author: J. Bailie
Keywords: spirit, ghost, apparition, angel, angel spirit, spirit of God, Holy spirit, holy ghost, evil spirit, false prophet, lying spirit, spirit of deception, spirit of delusion, seducing spirit, wind of doctrine, ministering spirits
Bible reference(s): 1 Kings 22:21-23, Psalm 139:7, Proverbs 16:2, Zechariah 6:5, Zech 13:2, 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Tim 5:21, Hebrew 1:14, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Peter 4:6, 1 John 4:1, Revelation 1:4, Rev 3:1, Revelation 4:5, Rev 5:6, Rev 18:2
Source: “Spirits: Divine and Human,” The Testimony, Vol. 9, No. 99, March 1939, pp. 84-6.
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