RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” (Luke 11:20)
The year was 1970, and young people had “turned on, tuned in, and dropped out.” A counter-culture had emerged among the youth in America. Many had taken to the streets. Scores were experimenting with drugs. Cults were popping up everywhere. In that context my wife and I moved to one of the highest crime areas of Chicago. We were newlyweds and had a deep burden to reach our generation with the gospel.
Late one night we were passing out gospel pamphlets on a street filled with youth hangouts and clubs. We passed by a man dressed in black who was barking for people to come into a club. As the man tried to coerce us into the club, I said to him, “Jesus loves you, and He will change your life.”
“Jesus!” he exclaimed. “I don’t believe in Jesus. I believe in Satan. In fact, Satan has given me power. I have more power in my little finger than all the Christians in this city will ever have.”
The challenge was too much for me to allow it to pass. “Prove it,” I said.
“What are you talking about?”
I don’t think anyone had ever challenged him like that. “Prove it,” I said as I looked him straight in the eyes. “I challenge you and your statement. I’m just one believer. Prove that you have more power than I have.”
“Get out of here,” he yelled. “Go on. Leave me alone!”
My wife and I walked the streets late that night and prayed, “O God, remove the very power and presence of Satan from these streets.” When we returned to the streets the next evening, the Satanist was gone. Within two weeks, a coffee house run by a satanic cult closed. God answered our prayers as the Holy Spirit drove out the forces of evil and cleaned up that part of the city.
But I’ll never forget that Satanist lifting his little finger and challenging God. There was something he didn’t understand. He hadn’t heard about the finger of God. One of the names the Bible gives to the Holy Spirit is the finger of God. Jesus referred to casting out devils by the finger of God (Luke 11:20). When Moses worked miracles in Egypt, the magicians referred to them happening by the finger of God (Exodus 8:19). When God gave the Ten Commandments, He wrote them on stone by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18).
The name finger of God gives us insight into the character, nature, and ways of God. The finger of God shows us the power, holiness, and knowledge of God applied to specific situations. When God touches something or someone with His finger, evil has to flee. Satan and all of the forces of hell can’t remain in the presence of God’s touch because God is holy — and almighty. Demons have to flee when the finger of God touches a person or a situation. When the finger of God touches our lives, holiness is written on the tablets of our hearts. The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the finger of God. He’s specific in His touch, and He’s powerful when His finger reaches into our lives. He’s the Holy Spirit. Let Him touch you, and you’ll never again doubt that. Evil will flee, and holiness will flood your soul.