God’s move and Man’s move

God’s move is from His throne. Man’s move is from his own counsel and work.

In Revelation 4:5, it says “out of the throne come forth lightnings and voices and thunders”. These are not random sounds, but God’s directing and administration from the throne to reach His goal, the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2.

In Acts 5:37-38, Gamaliel, an honored Pharisee who was addressing the Jewish Sanhedrin’s persecution of the apostles, said “withdraw from [the apostles] and leave them alone; for should this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown; But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you be found to be even fighters against God”. Man’s move from his own counsel and work will be overthrown, but God’s move (the work of the apostles at the time) is not able to be overthrown.

The motivation of God’s move comes from the seven lamps of burning fire. The motivation of man’s move comes from his natural energy.

In Exodus 3:1-22, the Angel of Jehovah appeared to Moses to bring His people, the Israelites, out of the captivity in Egypt. How did God appear to Moses? From a flame of fire in a thornbush that did not consume the bush. This bush signifies Moses, and more generally us, for how God’s move is carried out. The bush (which is us, thorny and natural) is not what is used as the fire’s source, but instead a divine source that does not burn the bush. Moses was already eighty years old when God called him. He had the highest education in Egypt for forty years, but after forty more years as a meek and lowly shepherd, he was brought to his lowest point. However, it was only at this lowest point that God considered Moses ready to lead the Israelites out of Egypt: when he had no more natural strength and could only depend on God.

In Acts 2:1-4, God the Spirit poured out among the believers at Pentecost to speak, which in turn supplied them to begin meeting as the church (Acts 2:42-47). How did the outpouring of the Spirit manifest? It “appeared to them tongues of fire, which were distributed; and it sat on each one of them” (Acts 2:3). The establishing of the church after the Lord’s ascension was through the operation of the burning Spirit, not by man’s own plan or wisdom.

In Revelation, a prophecy with symbols for how the current age will be completed, we see the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Rev. 4:5). The Spirit operates sevenfold as the seven lamps of fire to complete this age. Even today, we are currently under this administration, where He “walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (Rev. 2:1) — the churches — and the believers individually.

To know God’s move we need to know God, but for man’s move we do not need to know God.

If we do not know God and attempt to serve Him by our own concepts, we will be like the sons of Aaron who “presented strange fire before Jehovah… fire came out from before Jehovah and consumed them” (Leviticus 10:1-2). The sons of Aaron were physically consumed in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament the Lord says to those who work according to their own ways, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23).

So how can we know God and His move?

It starts with a personal relationship with God. This starts by praying, not in a religious or repetitious way, but genuinely coming to talk with God. As we come to Him, He causes us to love Him a little more, “[making] His home in [our hearts]” (Eph. 3:17). Then, with prayer to “give [us] a spirit of wisdom and revelation” and to “[open] the eyes of [our] heart (Eph. 1:18), we can prayerfully read the Bible. Every time we open up to Him, He can shine as light in His word not only for individual cares, but also for His move on earth today. May we learn to “fan into flame the gift of God which is in [us]” (2 Tim. 1:6) and “come to the full knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).

I didn’t intend for the portion above to be that long, but abbreviating it didn’t feel complete.

At the Friday night meeting, we were in a home that had a table that tripled(?) as a foosball table, ping pong table, and a pool table. Definitely kid-sized. There were students ranging from elementary to high school in the meeting and, although simple, was great.

On Sunday, we set up a table for giving away free bibles. Here’s one of my teammates putting up a sign in the distance.

On the same day, I went to a brother’s house for a meal and bible study. Afterwards, we played soccer with his son in the same park as above.

Eating ramen after an unexpected study encounter during my break was refreshing.

Although I am getting used to the classes and studying, I’m not quite settled yet. For example, I’ve been losing miscellaneous things like my sunscreen and favorite pen. Thankfully, these are just more opportunities to turn to the Lord throughout the day.