Our weaknesses are known to Satan. He is patient and continues to look for the opportunity to destroy the effectiveness of Spirit filled soul winning believers. Samson had the power of the Holy Spirit upon him as he needed it to defeat the enemies of Israel. Because of the power of the Holy Spirit, Samson was not like any other man. It is exciting to see men of God with this enduement of power from the Holy Ghost. But Samson had a weakness. His eyes could not fail to be hypnotized by a pretty woman. As long as he did not shave his head, the promise of God’s supernatural Holy Spirit given strength remained. But, if his enemies could find out the secret of his strength, his seven uncut locks, the LORD would depart from him. This did not mean that he would lose his salvation, but his power to carry out his Divine calling as a savior(judge) who was raised up to defeat Israel’s enemies. Examples of this Holy Spirit power to carry out one’s calling are seen in King Saul. The Spirit of God came upon him after Samuel revealed that he would be the first king of Israel. The Bible says, “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” (I Sam. 10:1) This pouring out of oil on his head was a physical symbol of the pouring out upon this man of the power of the Holy Spirit which would give him the ability to lead Israel to defeat their enemies. Samuel then prophesies over Saul and says, “And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee…and thou shalt be turned into another man.” (I Sam. 10:6) What made Saul “be turned into another man?” It was this pouring out, this coming upon him of the Holy Spirit to empower him to do a job for God! Thus, Samson told Delilah that if he gave up the secret of his strength, “then shall I be weak, and be as another man.” (Judges 16:7) He would lose this empowering of the Holy Spirit to do his God called ministry.
Interestingly, Saul lost this empowering, anointing, or filling of the Holy Spirit for his service and he never got it back. He lost it when he failed to obey God and to destroy all of the Amalekites and their animals. After him, David was anointed with oil and then with the power of the Holy Spirit to do the job that Saul had done. When David sinned with Bathsheba, he prayed that God would not take his Holy Spirit from him. God heard his prayer. Although David was greatly chastened for his adultery and murder, yet God did not take the anointing power from David. In fact, throughout David’s service he expected fresh anointings as his responsibilities grew. David said of this power of God’s Spirit, “I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” (Ps. 92:10) Samson, after Delilah found the source of his strength and shaved his seven locks, experienced this anointing power of God’s Spirit departing from him. (Judges 16:20). But, unlike Saul, he prayed and he was anointed with fresh oil. The Spirit empowered him again after the chastening of losing his two eyes(the source of his sin). In Judges 16:28 he prays for the empowering of the Spirit. He receives it and pushes down the two pillars of the Philistine arena. In doing so, it falls upon him and his enemies. By this final act of supernatural strength, he defeats more Philistines than in his whole life before that!
During the N.T. harvest time that began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and will continue until the rapture, believers are promised this empowering of the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ with great effect(read Acts 1:8). Peter and the apostles experienced it and 3,000 were saved and added to the church. After persecution, the church prayed and they were anointed with fresh oil in Acts 4 and went out and many more were saved. Men, women, young and old may seek and find this power of the Holy Spirit to witness and win more to Christ! Peter spoke of this for the church dispensation when he applied Joel’s second coming prophecy to the church gospel harvest as well. Peter says, in quoting Joel, “And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit…” (Acts 2:18). No matter how you slice this power of the Spirit pie, make sure you get a big piece of it for your life and ministry for the Lord!