(Written by Rudi Swanepoel)

An Act of God

God’s acts are singular events in the life of a person that is distinctly divine. They leave the fingerprint of God on your life along with a testimony of His power and grace in you.  Salvation is an act of God. Healing is an act of God. An answer to your prayer is an act of God. God’s acts are individual moments of wonder and awe. Psalm 150:2 says: “Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness.”

The Hebrew word used here for “mighty acts” is “geboraw” and means “force, victory, mastery, power, acts.” God’s acts are distinctly miraculous but not always visible. He is an active God, ready to act on behalf of the ones He loves. He is a force to be reckoned with, not a “jack of all trades” but a Master of all things. He has the power and mastery to accomplish anything. The Bible is clear: “Nothing is impossible with God.”

In fact most people when in trouble would pray for an act of God. Sadly many people are not looking for a deeper relationship with God beyond His random acts of kindness. We have to remember that Almighty God is not only almighty but also personal. What makes Christianity distinct from other religions is that our God loves to be in us and with us. Yes, He acts on our behalf from time to time, but He desires a richer, closer and more personal relationship than merely being an “acting” or random God. He is not our genie that is at our beck and call. He wants to be so much more than a wish-granting, wand-wielding, wizard-like being. That is not Who He is.  

So, how can we increase the acts of God in our lives? We should ask. The Bible says: “Keep on asking and you will receive; keep on seeking and you will find, keep on knocking and the door will be opened to” (Matt 7:7) There are three levels of pursuit in this verse. Asking, seeking and knocking. When it comes to the acts of God we should simply ask. “Everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives.” (Luke 11:10)

A Move of God

We thank God for His acts, but we long for a move of God in our lives. Random acts, great as they are cannot sustain a passion for more of God. Acts make us grateful to know Him but a move of God in our lives ignites His fire and fervor in our souls. A move of God is a series of His acts stringed together to form a season of intense and marvelous movement of the Spirit of God in our lives. Not only do we see His mighty acts but revel in Him powerful presence. A move of God is more lingering than His acts. It takes us into His divine destiny and moves us to a next level in our pursuit of Him. Jesus said: “The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going.” John 3:8. We are leaves in a tree that experience and are moved by the movement of the wind of Heaven in our lives. The more we surrender the further His Spirit will lift us up into the realms of God. A move of God stirs revival in our hearts. It creates precious spiritual momentum and generates Spirit life that will sustain you for extended seasons.

During a move of God in your life the acts of God becomes common place. Heaven’s interruptions are not only common, but welcomed. Testimonies singing the praises of God are frequent and you see God’s hand active every day in your life. Where acts of God represent moments of divine intervention in our lives His moves represent seasonal saturation. You eat, sleep and live the Lord; not in a religious or normal level, but a move of God in your life represents high octane, flaming fire, soaking presence in your life. The purpose of a move of God in your life is to defibrillate your flat-lining spiritual heart. When you are “code blue” in the spirit you need an awakening to bring you back to life and to infuse fresh creativity and new direction in your life. A move of God stirs spirit momentum in a special way in you.

So how can I ensure a move of God in my life?

Again, let’s look at Matt. 7:7 “Continue to seek and you will find.” Asking for acts is one thing, but seeking for a move of God brings your pursuit of God on another level. Seeking is more intense than asking. It involves more time, effort and tenacity. Seeking implies that you are looking for something really wondrous; something you have to discover. A move of God is that treasure you lay a hold of because you positioned your life, time and resources to acquire it. “Repent  (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of God.” (Acts 3:19)

 

A Work of God   

While the acts of God represent miraculous moments, the moves of God seasons of revival and renewal. Both are temporary.  We are transformed by them, but the Lord’s main interest in us is not temporal. From the moment we surrender our lives to Him, He starts to establish His work in us. Just like a true master artist will take his or her time to complete the masterpiece they labor on, God takes His time to mold, shape, repurpose and perfect our lives.  God’s work in us is a lifetime achievement. He signs His work in us, making us distinctly His.

“Not in your own strength for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” Philippians 2:13 The work of God establishes His will, order and destiny in our lives. We are the workmanship of the Lord.  His wok in us represents the culmination of all His acts and moves combined to bring Him the utmost glory in and through our lives.