“It was told King Saul, saying ‘Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.‘ Then went Saul also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu; and Saul asked and said, ‘Where are Samuel and David?’ Then one said, ‘Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.’ Then Saul went to Naioth in Ramah and the Spirit of God was upon him also as he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. Then he stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets'” (I Samuel 19:19,22-24).

There is a change that comes to us when we are in the presence of the Almighty. This is made very clear to us in the story of King Saul. Saul commanded his officers to kill David (cf. 1 Samuel 19:11), but Michal, David’s wife helped him escape. David fled to Samuel to seek counsel at Naioth at Ramah, where there were dwellings at the School of the Prophets, headed by Samuel. When Saul heard that David had fled there, he pursued David sending messengers ahead to take him captive. However, when the messengers “saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied” (1 Samuel 19:20).

The Atmosphere of the Spirit changes everything. All are made subject to the power of the Spirit as they are subdued and overtaken by the power of God.

The Apostle John recorded the arrest of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane with these words:

“Judas having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus, therefore knowing all things that should come upon Him went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He’. Then Judas also which betrayed Him stood with them. As soon then as Jesus had said, ‘I am He’ they went backward and fell to the ground” (John 18:3-6).

The Atmosphere of the Spirit creates a powerful influence upon the heart, the soul and body with a demonstration of the reality of God’s Presence. There is a working of the Spirit that causes a change in the immediate conditions at hand to bring a change of attitude, emotion, purpose and will and alters the behavior of the one who enters therein.

Saul of Tarsus entered the Atmosphere of the Spirit on his way to Damascus and the impact was life changing, transforming him from an enemy of God to one of the great Apostles of the Lord.

“As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shone round about him a Light from Heaven, and he fell to the earth and heard a voice, saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?'” (Acts 9:3-4).

The Atmosphere of the Spirit at times is very specific, as Luke records:

“It came to pass on a certain day as Christ was teaching, there were Pharisees and Doctors of the Law sitting by which had come out of every town of Galilee and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present to heal them” (Luke 5:17).

The above occasion shows us just how gracious and good God is to all, whether Pharisee or Lawyer or the lowliest of saints when the Atmosphere of the Spirit is present the power of God is demonstrated for the benefit of all. Whether for healing, prophesy, miracles of all kinds, commanding winds and waves to cease, raising the dead, or multiplying loaves and fish, anything is possible with God in the Presence of the Lord.

Oh, how we should long for the Presence of the Lord among us. Dead religion, rituals, ceremonies, rites and following the traditions of men without the Spirit profit nothing. But, oh, in the Atmosphere of the Spirit there is Life!

It is time to repent of our dead religion and enter the realm of the Spirit, where Christ, the Anointed One is. Pray for revival. Pray for the change that the Spirit can bring to us. Life changing change that transforms the sinner into the saint. From Saul of Tarsus to Paul, the Apostle of the Lord.

Are you ready? Are you hungry, and thirsty and desire greatly the Atmosphere of the Spirit? This change is for all of us today. It will transform your home, your church, your neighborhood, your city and eventually your country and the world.

“Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! Lord, change our atmosphere today.

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