What is a "Move of God"? Is it Bible or Culture?

[Sam]

Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost per 1 Peter 1:21

The Spirit of the Lord moved on Samson in Judges 13:25

The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (or fluid face of the earth) in Genesis 1:2 bringing order out of chaos and light into darkness.

We use the term of the Spirit "moving" to describe His working on people or things or His working through people, or His activating or influencing people, things, situations, circumstances, etc.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

A move of God - n. A situation wherein the presence of God is manifested in such a way through prayer, dedicaton, consecration, and total submission that repentance and faith is strengthened, and the people who experience it walk out of the place of worship with a definite change that effects their entire life and lifestyle.

I had mentioned that the above post had some theological implications that I feel are incorrect. I wanted to bring them up here, because surely his view is also held by others. For the most part... it sounds deeply spiritual and devotional. However, there is a subtle problem that turns the concept of a "move of God" upside down. I'll try to show why I think this. I love you bro, not pickin' on ya. Just offering this as "food for thought".

The first thing said in this post is...

A move of God - n. A situation wherein the presence of God is manifested in such a way through prayer, dedicaton, consecration, and total submission

Notice that this statement does something. It sets "conditions" with regards to God being able to move. Those conditions are listed:

-Prayer
-Dedication
-Consecration
-Total Submission

The implication is that God will not move unless these requirements are met. Now, here's where this will get sticky. If there are indeed conditions for a "move of God" they must be adequately defined. One brother might disagree and add "fasting" to the list. Another might mention various standards of outward "holiness" as being necessary. While all these conditions that might be considered sound noble... we have to notice something. We've moved from the objective reality of a sovereign almighty God choosing to move among His people to a subjective reality setting conditions in which God will move according to our "opinions". Now were in the realm of emotion, feeling, and opinion. Therefore the implications of the above definition not only limit God, but make reality subjective. The feelings and opinions of the individual become issue for debate. We need objective truth that we can stand upon. Not opinions or feelings regarding conditions that must be met for God to move.

The issue for me, is that I believe that God is a living being, who is sovereign. Therefore He will move when He chooses to move... no conditions necessary. Or else, how do we define those "moves of God" wherein these conditions aren't entirely met??? Those things listed as conditions for God to move are actually the results after a true move of God. When God's Spirit moves, the very presence and power of the Holy breaks the human will, softens the heart, and brings increased desire for prayer, dedication, consecration, and submission. The post above got this concept right when it was worded as follows,

that repentance and faith is strengthened, and the people who experience it walk out of the place of worship with a definite change that effects their entire life and lifestyle.

The issue with regards to the posts logic are that... to have a move of God we need steadfast prayer, dedication, consecration, and submission... and the results of a move of God will be... strengthened repentance, faith, and lifestyle change (i.e. increased prayer, dedication, consecration, and submission). If these things were necessary to bring the move of God... the move of God truly benefited nothing. However, if God moves sovereignly in spite of our carnality... that true move of God will awaken the human spirit, convict the soul, and bring total change in all areas listed. This is known as... "revival".

Those are my issues with the post on a theological level. I'm not trying to be mean or contradictory. Just trying to share my thoughts.

Love y'all. God bless.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Aquila

...Those are my issues with the post on a theological level. I'm not trying to be mean or contradictory. Just trying to share my thoughts.

Love y'all. God bless.

and they are good thoughts.

I do not believe God is capricious.
Some times He just moves sovereignly.
Other times He moves in response to our cries to Him.

[Amanah]

so we need to just stand still, not pray,not dance, not fast, not devote ourselves in anyway, just be passive recipients . . .

2 Chr 5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets 13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Sam

and they are good thoughts.

I do not believe God is capricious.
Some times He just moves sovereignly.
Other times He moves in response to our cries to Him.

Amen.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

so we need to just stand still, not pray,not dance, not fast, not devote ourselves in anyway, just be passive recipients . . .

2 Chr 5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets 13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Wow. I'm learning that few people around here know what "sovereign" means. lol

Everyone is convinced God acts because we do things. I know I've been attending a Baptist church for several months now... but I'm starting to see some glaring issues.

First, God does often move in response to our prayers.
Second, sometimes God moves sovereignly.

It's all divine prerogative as to when to do what. God isn't a machine predicated upon an "input-output" paradigm.

[Aquila]

The most sovereign move of God I've read about happened at a Baptist Bible college. Their little chapel service was closing as it typically does. However, one young man felt deep conviction from the Holy Spirit for His sins. The young man was overcome by the Spirit's conviction and he stood up weeping. He began to confess his sins openly, his hidden struggles, his hidden life. Weeping he pleaded for God to forgive him and change him. He apologized to staff and students for things he'd done and for bringing shame on Jesus Christ. As he weepingly confessed the staff and students began crying. When he was done confessing and lay crying on the floor, another student stood up and began confessing. Soon entire groups of students began confessing their sins and weeping together. Staff began confessing sin and weeping. Soon, nearly the entire gathering was on their faces weeping before God in sincere heartfelt repentance. The weeping and prayer continued for hours. The college decided to keep the chapel open for prayer instead of closing it, seeing that few had left the gathering. The move of God was so powerful they had to close the school and cancel classes. After several days, the local paper got wind of the issue and sent reporters. Once on the seen, they discovered that inside there were students and staff crying and praying for transformation, laying scattered on the ground... who hadn't left since the move of God began. Several reporters were even moved to repentance and accepting Jesus Christ.

This was a sovereign move of God. It was a tired ol' baptist chapel service. No fancy pants evangelist rolling in with a scheduled revival with a two to three week time frame. This was the real deal. A sovereign move of the Almighty God among Bible believers. A move that broke and humbled the staff and student body of a baptist Bible college.

Now, that's a sovereign move of God.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Aquila

The most sovereign move of God I've read about happened at a Baptist Bible college. Their little chapel service was closing as it typically does. However, one young man felt deep conviction from the Holy Spirit for His sins. The young man was overcome by the Spirit's conviction and he stood up weeping. He began to confess his sins openly, his hidden struggles, his hidden life. Weeping he pleaded for God to forgive him and change him. He apologized to staff and students for things he'd done and for bringing shame on Jesus Christ. As he weepingly confessed the staff and students began crying. When he was done confessing and lay crying on the floor, another student stood up and began confessing. Soon entire groups of students began confessing their sins and weeping together. Staff began confessing sin and weeping. Soon, nearly the entire gathering was on their faces weeping before God in sincere heartfelt repentance. The weeping and prayer continued for hours. The college decided to keep the chapel open for prayer instead of closing it, seeing that few had left the gathering. The move of God was so powerful they had to close the school and cancel classes. After several days, the local paper got wind of the issue and sent reporters. Once on the seen, they discovered that inside there were students and staff crying and praying for transformation, laying scattered on the ground... who hadn't left since the move of God began. Several reporters were even moved to repentance and accepting Jesus Christ.

This was a sovereign move of God. It was a tired ol' baptist chapel service. No fancy pants evangelist rolling in with a scheduled revival with a two to three week time frame. This was the real deal. A sovereign move of the Almighty God among Bible believers. A move that broke and humbled the staff and student body of a baptist Bible college.

Now, that's a sovereign move of God.

But...
I wonder if there wasn't an individual, or a group of people who had been praying for "revival" or "a move of God" or an "awakening" for some time before this seemed to "break out." I'm not arguing or making a statement, just wondering--just wondering if this was an answer to somebody's prayers.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Sam

But...
I wonder if there wasn't an individual, or a group of people who had been praying for "revival" or "a move of God" or an "awakening" for some time before this seemed to "break out." I'm not arguing or making a statement, just wondering--just wondering if this was an answer to somebody's prayers.

Could have been. But it was claimed to be a sovereign move of God. God will move when He desires, someone praying or not.

[Brandall]

Isaiah 43:13
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?