Evangelist Dea Warford

He was a hippy. He had long hair. But, he had a reputation for being quite an evangelist. Pastor John Wimber had asked him to speak in his Orange County church. When he stepped up to the pulpit, he spoke just three words: “Move Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit immediately moved and the service was no longer under the control of man, but of the Spirit Himself. Shouts, slain of the Spirit, cryings out: it was a new experience for their church. John Wimber went on a biblical pursuit to see the Scripturalness of praying for the Holy Spirit to “move”. After his study, he came to the conclusion that it was unscriptural to pray for the Holy Spirit to move. John is in heaven now, so I can’t ask Him how he came to that conclusion.

But, though I have the greatest respect for a man who God used to help raise up a movement (The Vineyard Churches: with now over 1500 churches in America), I have to pause to differ with John’s conclusion about asking the Holy Spirit to move. I believe it is not only perfectly Scriptural, but should be one of the most diligent prayers of every church and every believer who longs for the manifestation of more of God’s presence in his life and church. This month, I want us to study four portions of scripture which talk about the Holy Spirit moving. Whether you agree with Wimber’s conclusion or mine, I am sure you and I (and John too) would agree that the church sure needs the Holy Spirit to move more among us!

      The Holy Spirit moves in four primary ways . . .

1.Creating . . . Genesis 1:1-3 (NKJV)
¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
²The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering (moved upon KJV) over the face of the waters.
³Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

The Holy Spirit was active in the creation of our world. The earth was “without form, and void”. The NAB says “a formless wasteland”. Do you feel like some areas of your life are a wasteland? The YLT says it was a “waste”. Do you feel like your life is a “waste”. Do you feel like your finances are a “waste”. Do you feel like your marriage or your ministry is a “wasteland”? If so, you need the creative power to transform your life. Know that all the power you need is at the disposal of the Holy Spirit. When He moves, you change!
Notice too that there was darkness everywhere. The stuff that life is made of, water, was there but it was yet lifeless. You may feel that your world is “lifeless” now. But, in your spiritual genetic makeup is the “stuff” that life is made of. You need only for the Holy Spirit to move upon you! Upon this wasted darkness, v.2 says the Spirit “moved upon” (KJV). A number of translations say, “was hovering over” as the NKJ says. The YLT says, “was fluttering over”. Can you see the picture? Upon a wasted, lifeless world, the Spirit of God was preparing to do something. He was, like the Dove that He is, “hovering” or “fluttering” over all. He was preparing to land and do something. Even as a Dove would carefully ponder where and when to land safely, the Holy Spirit anticipated when and how He would partner with the other members of the Trinity to create a living planet. “Then God said, ‘let there be light’ and there was light.” The darkness was at last over. The beginning of a light-filled universe was birthed. From darkness to light, from death to life: all it took was one word from God: “Let there be light.” But, before this happened the Holy Spirit “was hovering over” it all.
See how your life could change dramatically in a moment’s time? All it takes is one life-giving word from heaven. But, before that happens, the Holy Spirit will be “hovering over” you: planning, scheming and waiting for the perfect time to create His new thing in you. Don’t despair because of the darkness. By faith, feel the wind from the wings of the Dove of the Spirit gently assuring you of His nearby presence. Wait patiently; but expectantly. The Holy Spirit moves in the invisible realm before He manifests himself in the physical realm. You can’t yet see it, but He’s creating a new life, new ministry, a new (or renewed) faith. Meanwhile, trust and pray for Him to move (hover over) your life.
2. Empowering . . .   Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . .
They had been huddled in an upper room: 120 of them. They had been praying for 10 days straight. They desperately needed power to fulfill the great commission. A baptism of fire, a heaven-born language, and an infilling of the Holy Spirit was about to happen: an event that Christian historians consider the “birth of the church”. You, like I, have probably read the above verses many times. But, did you ever notice the first that happened on this Day of Pentecost was that “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind.” This “rushing mighty wind” was nothing less than the moving of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek, the word here translated “wind” in English is in the original text “pneuma”. It is the one word used in Greek that means four things: spirit, breath, air and wind.
This “mighty wind” was the “hovering” dove of the Holy Spirit now lighting upon the people of God to empower them for service. Nothing had happened for 10 days. But, they continued to wait in His presence. Then, the Bible says, “suddenly”! This is how the Spirit operates. He broods quietly over people praying, trusting and waiting patiently (whether it is 10 days or 10 years) and then, without warning, “suddenly” He empowers us and answers our prayer. See the importance of believing that the Holy Spirit is “moving” (hovering) over your life? If you believe He’s faithful; ; that He is watching over you in the invisible realm: then you can expect your “sudden” empowerment to do what you want do and what God wants you to do!
3. Delivering . . . Judges 13:24-25 (NKJV)
²⁴So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
²⁵And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him . . . Judges 14:4-6 (NKJV)
⁴But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord--that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. ⁵So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him.
⁶And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
Judges 13:25 says, “The Spirit of God began to move upon Samson.” To do what? God “was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines.” Why? Because “at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” The Spirit of God was moving in Samson’s life because He wanted to deliver Israel from their bondage to their enemy.
Any half-regular attending Sunday school student knows that the Philistines picture the forces of Satan. Christians are in bondage. They need the Spirit to move upon them and deliver them from the works of hell. Notice the first thing that the scriptures record Samson doing once the Spirit began to move him was to “tear the lion apart” that had come “roaring against him” (14:5, 6). God is trying to tell us something in this Old Testament story (1 Cor. 10:11). The devil, “walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:7). Before you can accomplish the ministry, the good works, the destined tasks that the Lord has in mind for your life, you need first to be delivered from areas of your life where the devil is devouring you: sexual sin, bondage to alcohol, a man-fearing spirit, depression, rejection, etc: these are but a few of the Philistine-like tools that the “roaring lion” uses to impede our progress as Christians.
I know what I’m talking about! For many years in my early Christian experience, I had a great weakness: I was a quitter. I would move forward fine for awhile, but then if I fell into some sin or experienced some ministry setback, I would become terribly depressed and “give up” my forward progress. Sometimes it would be days or weeks before I was back progressing again. I might be praising the Lord in the church with great joy and a sense of authority, and then go next door into the parsonage and get into an argument with my wife. I’d cuss and leave mad! Then, all the victory and sense of wellness I had had just moments ago would be gone. This was the story of my life for many years. Then, I had a dream. In this dream, I was on the ground literally wrestling with a demon from hell. I even knew his name: it was Magamba! I understood in the dream that this was “the strong man”; the demon assigned from hell to stop Dea Warford. Well, I am here to joyfully report that the Holy Spirit moved in my life and gave the faith and authority to defeat Magamba. I am not a quitter anymore! Oh, I get discouraged at times and experience set backs, as most of us do. But, I NEVER lose all my forward progress. I guess it’s the old one step backward, two steps forward truth! I had to pray much. I had to fight the “fight of faith”. But, I at last discovered that the Holy Spirit was about to “move” in my life to deliver me. And, thank God, now He has given me a deliverance ministry to help many others find freedom from their “Magambas, or whatever their “roaring lion” may be named. The Holy Spirit is getting read to move you, like Samson. You are about to “tear apart” your personal "roaring lion”.
4. Revealing . . .   2 Peter 1:19-21 (NKJV)
¹⁹And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
²⁰knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
²¹for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Verses 19 and 20 above possibly have been interpreted more diversely through the years than any other text of scripture. What I am about to write is solely my “take” on the above scripture. Even if this isn’t precisely what the Holy Spirit intended to say specifically in this context, I believe it can be supported by many other scriptures and certainly by my personal experience with “the prophetic word” (as verse 19 says). “The prophetic word”, I believe, has broad application. It is “revelation knowledge.” It can mean Old Testament prophecies that have already come to pass, a prophecy from the book of Revelation that has yet to come to pass, or any other “word” that you have personally received either by dream, vision, prophetic utterance, or just a revelatory “word” to your heart. This is the v. 21, “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” God communicates with His people through “words”. As the verses following these words in II Pet. 2:1-3 explains, there can be “false prophets” and “deceptive words.” We are thus warned that “first of all” (“foundational” to understanding any revelation) is the truth that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation”.
The Scripture stands as the plumb-line by which every other “word” is judged: first and always. It’s not to be privately interpreted: that is, you can’t trust any “ideas” you get that aren’t consistent with the Word or haven’t already been confirmed through His church led by “holy men of God”. With this caveat, we come to the truth about all revelation knowledge: “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Prophecy can be both foretelling and forth telling. In fact, even, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10). God inspired words is what prophecy is all about. The holy writers of Scriptural prophecies were inspired of the Holy Spirit. They were “moved” by the Spirit to write. Holy prophets through the ages were “moved” by the Spirit to speak prophetic words. And, any holy man or woman of God today can experience words coming to them or out of them as they are moved by the Holy Spirit.
Revelation knowledge is what Jesus is saying: whether to the universal church, a local church, or an individual church member. It can be a word God “speaks” by the Spirit from the written word (subject to confirmation by the church if it has any doctrinal ramifications that seem contrary to other Scriptures). It can be a heavenly dream or vision. It can be someone else speaking into your life (sometimes prophesying without even knowing it!) Or it can simply be the Spirit moving on your heart, speaking in a still small voice to you. If a “word” is from the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit must help us “interpret” it and apply it to our lives. The Holy Spirit inspired the scriptures and the Holy Spirit will inspire the perception of the meaning. In the middle of the night, I was contemplating these scriptures in Peter and I believe the Holy Spirit “revealed” to me the following insight: SINCE THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED THE SCRIPTURES AND SPEAKS WORDS TO OUR HEARTS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVING US THE INTERPRETATION. This is why it says, “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” Leaning on our intellect, our bias, our fleshly wisdom (or some false teacher) can lead to a misapplication or even deception from the enemy. Thus Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 2:10, 13-14 (NKJV): ^{10 “}But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God . . .¹³These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Verse 10 says, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.”
All revelation knowledge comes through the Holy Spirit. Then, v. 13 says, “The Holy Spirit teaches us.” Hallelujah! The Lord wants to speak to you prophetically. He wants to give you a “word”. He wants to “teach” what it means to you personally. The dove of the Spirit is hovering over you, ready at any moment to “move” you into revelation knowledge. Wait patiently; listen; and be ready to receive!