What is God doing in the earth today? There are many different camps expressing points of view on this subject. This lesson will choose to look at scripture and compare what some would call “the history of the Church”. Moves of God are often interpreted after the fact. Peter in the book of Acts explained the move of God immediately. If we go by history we find that it requires man made interpretations. Not that these interpretation are wrong or right but the meaning of those events must be interpreted into some category of events that supposedly declares it so. For example, some believe that we are living in the 7th day from Adam. Nowhere in the scripture is this stated emphatically. It is taken from the idea that there are seven days of creation (a biblical fact) and the scripture that says a thousand years is as a day with the Lord.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. This becomes the jumping off point for the discussion that leads to the seven day theory; the seventh feast or feast of tabernacles. While, this may be true we do not see it stated as a fact in the scriptures. Therefore, we cannot state emphatically that we are living in the seventh day or the third day or that Jesus will appear or is appearing in us because of these events. History has taught us that in the 1900 there was great outpouring of the Holy Spirit started on Azusa Street. This was interpreted by many historians as the proof that The Feast of Pentecost was now being celebrated in the Church. Later there was another outpouring called the Feast of Tabernacles which some by interpretation believe took place in the 1940’s referred as Latter Rain. Although these were wonderful days we cannot prove it by the scriptures without making assumption nor can we emphatically state like Peter; But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Acts 2:16. We find in this passage of scripture this was the Day of Pentecost not the 1900’s. We may conclude only by the scriptures that the day of Pentecost had come and we are still living in that day. There is no where that tells us the day of Pentecost ended. Still many Christians are looking for something that may not be there since there is no clear evidence that we ever left the Day of Pentecost.
It is also interesting that the Apostles never referred to Feast of Tabernacles as a future event to take place in the year 2000+. Most of their writings focus on the soon return of Christ after the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church. This ended any confusion that Jesus had already returned as some in that day said. 2Tim 2:18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Another example was the Charismatic Movement in the 70’s. This movement was most characterized as the time of Restoration. The leaders of this movement spent much time expounding the scriptures on restoration. They applied the restoration scriptures in the Old Testament and the book Acts to this period. This was the time when God was restoring to the church all that she had lost. This included all the gifts and all the power we hadn’t seen since the early church. The Tabernacle of David was being restored. What had taken place during 1900’s at Pentecost did not compare to what God was doing at that time. Apparently, Pentecost was insufficient and could not be compared to the outpouring of the Spirit of God during the Charismatic Renewal. However, this period was lost as it was engulfed by the Sheppard Movement which created great division among the Charismatic revival and renewal. This caused the movement to wane away, off into small cells and some hearts.
The sad thing about this revival is most of the prophecy never found a place to reside. And the power and the gifts that were restored only resided in a few. It was a great time but it was a short time and only left a small residue of influence among a few. That generation is almost gone leaving only a few Caleb’s and Joshua’s behind. This seems to be the case when we look back at most of the movements defined by man. These movements tend to lean to one side claiming great things appeared yet they never really maintain their sense of importance for more than 20 years. It is not that these times did not exist. It is that they were not really founded in true identity of the scriptures. What really took place was the discovery of a truth found in context but then applied outside of it meaning. They were taken out of context and placed into a period of time that may not have really existed in the time table of God. Those who are still aware of these times can only talk of the past and not the future. Many broken hearts lay by the waste side because of the broken promises and the lost prophecies they embraced during these movements. Their confidence in God shattered because he did not bring forth the results that man prophesied during these times. Some of these lonely hearts still have not realized that it was not God talking but it was man.
Perhaps what we need to change is the term history. History means His-Story, the process of Christ life in the church. But what we need is to coin a new word, Our story. Our story means how we wish God would move and not His-Story. The discovery of truth must remain within the context that it is discovered. The application of that discovery must remain in the frame work of the scriptures. There still are groups writing Our stories trying to manufacture the next move of God. Ironically telling God what he must do does not really make it so. The phrase often used is, “God is going to! or God is doing…”and like cheerleaders many church leaders rally their congregations like teams into believing they have the mind of God for the next move that God will do in the earth. This is merely rallying the troops into a wave of hysteria demanding that certain outcomes are surely to take place as long as you follow their leading. This is simply another form of kingdom building for their glory and a way to control the lives of people so they will follow them.
Here is how the early church was instructed to get ready for the first move of God in the earth. This records the New Testament pattern of the move of God. We can compare this with Israel as they came out of Egypt a place of darkness for 400+ years led by Joshua into the promise land. Israel was in darkness for 400 years before the appearing of Jesus who led his church to an upper room to wait.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
No one had preached for 10 days what God was going to do. No one knew what he was going to do. God moved in a way unknown to any man except the man called Jesus. Suddenly, aphno , unawares unexpectedly there came from heaven, the abode of God Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Yes, they were sitting.
Sitting means they were in a place of rest not working or prophesying what God was going to do. No one knew they just experienced the move of God in their midst, in their minds and tongues. This great event was immediately understood by Peter as he declared, But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; It wasn’t years later but it was immediately understood what God was doing. Peter never wrote or defined this out pouring in a book. He did mention how the Apostles had conducted themselves.
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. We may conclude that this move of God has not ended but continues today but for some reason it is not articulated by the church at large. There seems to be many voices speaking for God but not having his mind. These voices are distraction from the mind of God, who, Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets [in visions, dreams, and even face to face], telling them little by little about his plans. 2 But now in these days he has spoken to us through his Son to whom he has given everything and through whom he made the world and everything there is.TLB. We may be looking in the wrong places and speaking the wrong words that often cause distraction from what God has already spoken and already doing. We keep looking ahead instead of looking behind us. These voices are always telling us what God is going to do. We need to hear his voice today telling us what he has already done in us and for us.
Listen to the words in
Heb 4:1 Although God's promise still stands-his promise that all may enter his place of rest-we ought to tremble with fear because some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. 2 For this wonderful news-the message that God wants to save us-has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn't do them any good because they didn't believe it. They didn't mix it with faith. 3 For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest. He has said, "I have sworn in my anger that those who don't believe me will never get in," even though he has been ready and waiting for them since the world began. 4 We know he is ready and waiting because it is written that God rested on the seventh day of creation, having finished all that he had planned to make. 5 Even so they didn't get in, for God finally said, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 Yet the promise remains and some get in-but not those who had the first chance, for they disobeyed God and failed to enter. 7 But he has set another time for coming in, and that time is now. He announced this through King David long years after man's first failure to enter, saying in the words already quoted, "Today when you hear him calling, do not harden your hearts against him." 8 This new place of rest he is talking about does not mean the land of Israel that Joshua led them into. If that were what God meant, he would not have spoken long afterwards about "today" being the time to get in. 9 So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after the creation. 11 Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in. TLB
First his promise still stands it has never changed to some other movement or out pouring. The move of God is to enter into his rest. It is not for us to become great and powerful people who can destroy all the enemies of God. This message of God points out to us what is God’s priority in our lives and gives us a clear warning as what we need to do today! We cannot have faith unless we truly hear what the Spirit is saying to us now. Our firm foundation is in what God has already said not in what he is going to do. If we believe other stories, fables or movements of God projected into the future we may miss the present. In missing the present we will also miss his presence. The great move of God is to move into his rest. When we move into his rest we will see that his work has done. We do not have to work to bring about a move of God.
Some of the same tactics are used by some to interpret the end times. Many make millions on fabricated stories on the Tribulation. They use the scriptures to interpret the end times. They make the book of Revelation a daily newspaper by taking the events occurring in everyday life to prove their theories. Suffice to say that many Christians read these books before they read the bible. In fact some are so sure of its truth they will talk of these books as if they are the Gospel. The only way one can interpret the book of Revelation is to get into the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
In the above scripture note two important facts left behind by these writer. First, John was a companion of tribulation. He wasn’t waiting for tribulation he was already in it along with the church. So how can you write in the future something that has already happened? Secondly, he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Do any of these writings start out by saying? “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” These are two important facts left behind by those so called prophets of doom. This is the way the book of Revelation must be examined not by looking at the World conditions. The book of Revelation must not be interpreted by speculation and stretching scriptures to prove a point. In fact scripture should not be use to prove any point on the calendar of man or the events of the future. Scripture must stand alone without the need to prove anything. Read what it tells you and do what scripture says. Do not tell the scriptures what to say. Truth from the scriptures rises out from it not into it.
Today we are faced with so many interpretations of the scriptures that the faith of most Christians is weak not because of unbelief but because of confusion. They are not confident in the love and admonition of the Lord. They are not sure what to believe. Thus they become venerable to any strong personality with powers of persuasion. Sheep are weak and must be protected but they do not have to be fooled for My Sheep know my voice.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: The fold of God has built within them the hearing of the masters voice. Yes, every believer has the capacity not to fall off the cliff. They have the ability to separate themselves and not be drawn away by desires to super cede the scriptures. They do not have to be wolves’ food. They can resist the lust and enticements offered. We are drawn away by lust. Lust for the future, lust that projects itself into the hope of a better world; the desire to be great; the desire to know more than others; the desire to be the greatest in the kingdom. These are the things that try our souls and lead us to paths unknown. He restores my soul and leads me to paths of righteousness not paths of greatness.
1John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Special endowment from the Holy One is the unction we have been given by the Holy Spirit. It is his “Chrisma” which anoints you and furnishes you with what you need. You are priest and you have everything you need to perform his service. Do you have the confidence that you already know all things that pertain to the Kingdom of God? Don’t let any man rob you of your confidence. This should be your first warning. The leader should build upon your confidence not create doubt and erode your confidence into dependence upon him. 1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Oh, look and listen the anointing is living in you! You do not need to search for a greater anointing or substance for your confidence. You do not need man to teach you for you only learn from the anointing that is in you. You have the ability to judge the words that you hear.
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THE MOVE OF GOD: