Focus: The Spirit Still Moves

Text: Gen.1:2

"And the Spirit of God MOVED upon the face of the waters."

The Spirit was right there at creation. He was behind everything God made. He is the Spirit of art - the number one expert of the art world. He is creator. He made possible the creation of things and man, the incarnation of Christ, and the redemption of humanity - our redemption is indeed the re-creation of a brand new humanity.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus." We are His POIEMA. That's the Greek, meaning 'work of art, a product of a creative mind, of intelligence and artistry, a masterpiece.'

Say to yourself: I am brilliantly, intelligently, skillfully, masterfully, and creatively designed by God's Spirit.

How did the Spirit do it? Good question. While I was in my raw state - 'formless and empty' - the Spirit moved on me. The word 'moved' is 'rachaph' in Hebrew. It means 'to brood, to flutter, to hover, to incubate, to shake, to be relaxed.'

Let's look at Dt.32:11,12. It says, "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, FLUTTERETH over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him…" That's the word - flutter!

Let's see Jer.23:9, which says, "…all my bones SHAKE…" Again, that's the word - shake!

The Holy Spirit took over my raw state. I was shapeless, empty and useless, and as Paul says, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Rom.7:18). In verse 17 and 20, he says, "But sin that dwelleth in me." I am a mess without grace. I looked ugly and broken in my raw state. No beauty to behold in me. And to make matters worse, I was empty - no content, no substance, no richness, no gravity. I was a vacuum, completely an unoccupied vessel, an unfilled space. Right there and then, the Spirit brooded over and breathed into me. He took me into the beauty shop of grace, unmessed my mess, applied the cosmetics of grace, and adorned me with beauty so unique and perfect. He gave me form and filled my void.

From one point, the Spirit birthed and incubated me. He gave me warmth and care, and protected me. He attended to my needs of love and care, and nourished me. Yes, he lavished His love on me. I felt so sweetly His warm embrace. He covered my shame and nakedness.

See the picture of the Virgin Mary as she encounters the Holy Spirit! Luke reports, "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall COME UPON thee, and the power of the Highest shall OVERSHADOW thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be BORN of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Lk.1:35). The Spirit brooded, fluttered, and hovered over Mary, planting a holy seed in her womb. She was, if you like, supernaturally impregnated. She was supernaturally empowered for supernatural feat - making God into a man.

From yet another point, the Spirit came over me, shaking me up and tearing my nest, and moving me out of my comfort zone, and enabling me for a life beyond the nest. He taught me to fly. The Spirit is both creator and tutor. He teaches me the things of Christ and the things to come. According to John, the Spirit dwells forever WITH, and IN me (Jh.14:16,17).

Also, from time to time, the Spirit incubates me, shakes me up, tears my nest, stirs me up, ignites fire in me, frees my soul to fly, and makes the best out of me.

O, Spirit of God, incubate me! I need your warmth. Let me have the light of your word and the heat of your Spirit. Let your presence get hell out of me and bring all of heaven into me. Let me not live and die in my comfort zone. Chase away lethargy and apathy from me, and restore my spiritual sympathy and strength. O yes, the Spirit still moves! Allow Him in your life. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter