The purpose of this teaching is to reveal certain keys which help enable believers to move in the realm of the Spirit. Every human being is a spirit with the body, rather than a body with the spirit. As a spirit being, we are to walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, be born of the spirit, and be filled with the Spirit as an eternal functioning member of the Body of Christ. Understanding these keys will help enliven and release you so that you might learn how to receive from God Spirit to your eternally redeemed human spirit without the distractions and contamination's of the human soul and body.
KEY 1 – KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
A. KNOWLEDGE OF BIBLICAL TRUTH
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
Dan 11:32 “…but the people who do know their God shall be strong and do exploits”
The first key that opens the lock into the spirit realm is biblical knowledge. Just as the heathen cannot be saved until the Gospel has been preached them. (Romans 10: 14). The saved cannot operate in the Spirit until they have heard the truth about moving in the Spirit. Hearing the truth sets us free to operate in all that God has for us.
Procuring biblical knowledge sets the conscious mind free to receive from the Spirit of God. Ps 119:105 also states, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
As we acquire biblical knowledge, it appears it clears the communication channels so that God can speak and we can hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
B. SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT
Eph 1:16-19
I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Being spiritually enlightened gives the believer insight beyond natural knowledge and opens the window of the soul to the spirit realm. The soul receives information from the spirit, and then conveys it to the human body so that revelation can be transferred either by tongue (verbally), or by physical actions such as laying on of hands.
The Bible, being the Word of God (John 1:1, 2 Tim 3:16), is an expression of God’s thoughts which dwell in God’s mind. Many people want to know what God thinks but never open God’s mouth (which is His Word), and see what God has to say through His revealed will. God’s Word is the mouth of God speaking to us, His Church. Growing in the knowledge of God makes known to us the mind of Christ.
So what blocks or hinders us from receiving the truth?
1. We don’t understand the reality of the word or in other words, we are biblically ignorant.
2. Weare not willing to accept it even if or when we hear it.
3. We don’t want it bad enough – but we must strongly desire it and be willing to contend with any negatives that comes our way as we hold fast to the promises.
KEY 2. EXERCISE OF USE
A. SKILLED ABILITY ONLY COMES THROUGH DOING AND USING
Heb 5:14
Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the
skill to recognise the difference between right and wrong.
Growing in spiritual maturity is like learning to use a new computer – the only way to learn is by sitting in front of the keyboard/screen and doing it. Likewise, we only grow in our spiritual perception by continually exercising our spiritual senses to obtain spiritual experience and discernment.
B. DOING BRINGS US INTO HEART KNOWING.
John 7:17
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
C. WE ONLY REALLY BELIEVE WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO AND ACT UPON.
James 2:17-19
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
The Apostle James also exhorts the believer to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves• (James 1:22). Our willingness to step out and obey the word of God demonstrates to God, to us, and those around us what we really believe in our hearts. Again, we only really believe what we are willing to do.
KEY 3. FAITH BELIEVING
Rom 12:3
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Matt 9:29
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
A. FAITH IS AN ACTIVATOR, A DOOR OPENER
Faith causes the spiritual realm to become a workable reality.
B. FAITH HAS NO EMOTION
Man is a three part being comprised of spirit (where the fruit of the spirit originate from), soul (mind, will, and emotions) and body (physical sensations, flesh and blood) - 1 Thes.5:23. Of the three elements, the soulish realm of man is comprised of the 1)human mind, 2)the human will, and 3)the emotional realm - i.e. anger, excitement, fear, depression, anxiety, etc.
There is no emotion in the spirit and the fruit of the spirit must get into the soul to become emotional. As an example - love is a spirit attribute, faith is a spirit attribute. Moving in the spirit is a spirit attribute and therefore there is no physical sensations or emotions in the spirit until the spirit moves out into the soul, and the soul moves out into the body. As an example, one can begin to worship God from their spirit, then their soul becomes joyful and finally, they step out and begin to praise God with physical involvement.
Therefore, when you are moving in the there is likely no physical involvement. This is the reason that it is so intimidating and frightening to move in the Gifts. Most people want a feeling, a sensation, an emotion, or something to help confirm their faith. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, not of the flesh or of the soul and for that reason, it has no emotion. We do not have to wait for an emotional feeling to move in the gifts since they are activated by the spirit attribute of faith.
C. THE HEART – THE INNER MAN/SPIRIT
The natural human faith must believe and trust in the divine faith of the son of God.. God's divine faith enables us to act, decide, do, speak, and minister the mind of Christ. As an example of this principle, we can see it demonstrated in the ·"born- again” experience.
Those who become saved first hear the "good news" and then believe in thelr hearts and confess with their mouths Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9). By believing and speaking, 1. it opens the channels of man's spirit for Christ to come in, therefore establishing and manifesting the gift of eternal life. How this all works is a mystery to the finite human mind but we don't have to understand it to believe in it.
The Gospel only profits those who mix faith with it. Those who don't believe, fail to receive. Likewise, by speaking with the mouth, the heart is released to minister the mind of Christ to meet the needs of mankind. It is not based solely upon our analytical and logical reasoning but on a trust and faith in an almighty, all-knowing God and His Word.
God is only as big as our faith in Him. The more you know and understand of God, the bigger God can be, We must believe in our hearts in order to manifest. Remember, God gives us faith to believe what He has gifted us to do.
JOY
As the Prophet Isaiah stated (Is. 12:3), joy is the bucket to draw out of the wells of salvation. Joy acts a switch, pump primer or faucet handle to release the mind of Christ (water) which is deposited in our inner redeemed spirit (the well).
A natural correlation is that of oil or water which is hidden underground. The first step to drawing it out is to drill through layers of soil. This step can be compared to allowing the word of God to drill through -our fears; anxieties, feelings of unworthiness, doubts, or bad doctrine. Once the source has been tapped into, a pump is needed to draw the fluids up and out for the benefit of others. Likewise, joy acts as the pump to our redeemed human spirit and draws the mind of Christ up and out so that others receive a blessing.
PRAISE
Praise is a spiritual force that clears the mind, tunes the soul and opens a channel to the spirit. Once the channels to the spirit are opened, divine joy, life of Christ and divine thoughts flow from the Spirit and flood the conscious mind. This flooding brings with it life and a refreshing to the natural body.
D. TALKING IN TONGUES (your personal prayer language)
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
THE SPIRIT USES TALKING IN TONGUES
The Holy Spirit uses the born again, Spirit-filled believer's ability to pray in tongues as a power generator. As in 1 Cor. 14:4 states, praying in the spirit edifies one’s self. The word edify in the Greek means to "charge like a battery." Speaking in tongues activates the mighty motor of the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN AN ENABLER OF THE SAINTS
As Zechariah stated in Zech. 4:6, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Speaking in tongues enables the believer to:
1. Minister the mind of Christ - Pure thoughts from the throne of God.
2. Activate the gifts of the Spirit - (I Cor. 12:8-10)
3. Manifest mighty miracles.
4. Move into one’s destiny or identity (giftedness) in the Body of Christ.
GRACE
“Grace” is God's divine unmerited enablements. It is having God's unearned
supernatural ability to perform and execute what-ever He wills.
1 Peter 4:10,11:
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. "
GIFT VERSUS FRUIT
I Cor. 12:7 states that "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to ever yman...." The key to the manifestation of the Spirit (the supernatural gifts), is that they are GIVEN. The gifts of the Spirit are given as a manifestation of the love of the Giver, while the fruit of the Spirit is grown as we become trees of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3).
SPIRITUALITY VS. MATURITY
1 Cor. 14:1:
"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
We are commanded by scripture to "pursue love”,· which is the divine mature nature of God. Maturity is comprised of such qualities as steadfastness, integrity, honesty, manhood, dependability. forthrightness, solidness, quality, etc. and it can not be imparted through the laying on of hands. It must be worked into, developed, and matured in every believer. You can not grow from a baby to manhood overnight. Maturity is a process and operation of time, while spirituality (that which we manifest by grace) is not. Spirituality is based upon faith and grace to bring manifestation, not on how much we know or how mature we are. (We can manifest the gifts by faith and grace but to maintain them in purity and holiness, we must grow in Christian maturity.)
IDEAL VS. REAL
Many saints believe that every Christian must be I00% perfected in every area of their lives before they can move in the gifts. If this were the case, no one would ever be able to move in the gifts! The ideal is that the believer think and act like Jesus 100% of the time, but the real is that they are the best that God has! As stated above, it does require continued sanctification to mature in the gifts, but activating the gifts requires only two prerequisites - faith and grace.
Also, because they are gifts, a saint can be 80% doctrinally wrong and still move in the gifts!
They might even have 6 moral problems in their life but they can still move in the gifts. MANIFESTING THE GIFTS DOES NOT PROVE MORAL UPRIGHTNESS, DOCTRINAL ACCURACY. OR BUSINESS ETHICS!! Again, the gifts are not based on what a believer does but upon what He, Jesus, has already done.
They are free gifts and are not earned by the believer's personal merits. The IDEAL is that we be like Jesus but the REAL is that we are the best that He has. As an example, one only has to look at the Corinthian church to see their gross carnality yet they had great manifestations of the gifts. There were so many manifestations that the Apostle Paul had to give them constructive guidelines on how to operate the gifts in a corporate assembly. Was the church at Corinth experiencing doctrinal problems? - Yes! Were they experiencing carnality and moral problems? - Yes!