Our New Reality as Christians Is That We Are Born of and Walk by the Spirit

John G. Lake was a powerful healing evangelist who walked and lived by the Spirit. Lake and his team of “Divine Healing Technicians” were used by God to effect over 100,000 healings between 1915 and 1920. Following is an excerpt from John G. Lake’s article, The Power of the Name:

“In the beginning, man’s spirit was the dominant force in the world. When he sinned, his mind became dominant. Sin dethroned the spirit and crowned the intellect. But grace is restoring the spirit to its place of dominion. When man comes to realize this, he will live in the realm of the supernatural without effort.”

Born of the Spirit:

“Unless one is born of…the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Receive the Spirit:

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Live/Walk by the Spirit:

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63).

Worship in Spirit:

“We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

HOW Do I Live and Walk by the Holy Spirit?

1. Define It: If we can define something, we can go after it. So in order to ensure we walk and live by the Spirit,which is the heart of the New Covenant, and the heart of our salvation experience (Acts 2:38), we are providing a glossary of precise working definitions of the spiritual realities one is to pursue. By living in these realities, you live and walk by the Spirit.
2. Focus Intently: Lifestyle changes are a result of focus and practice. One who looks intently and puts it into effect, will be blessed (James 1:25). It is one thing to define an experience, and another thing to walk in it. To walk in it, you must focus on it and intentionally practice it for a while until it becomes a natural, instinctive part of your life.
3. Receive Coaching: Teaming up with counselors, coaches and others lets you gain a skill more quickly. In-depth training on these realities is available through these Spirit-life training modules or hard copy materials.

We Honor BOTH the Word and the Spirit

Logos

Greek word translated “word;” it means “the entire communication process.” One example of Logos is the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible is to be meditated on (Joshua 1:8) and treasured in your heart (Ps. 119:11).

Rhema

Greek word translated “word;” it means “when words leave one’s lips.” The Spirit’s voice in our hearts is one example of rhema, while verses leaping off the pages of Scripture and into our hearts is another example.

God’s voice

sounds like flowing, spontaneous thoughts that light upon our mind (Jn. 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit is sensed as a river which flows within.

Naba

Hebrew word translated “prophecy;” it means “bubbling up,” so when I want to prophesy, I see Jesus present in the situation (Acts 2:25; Ps. 16:8) and ask for His thoughts and speak forth the thoughts and words that are bubbling up within me.

Paga

Hebrew word translated “intercession” – God’s voice leading me in prayer. The literal definition is “to strike or light upon by chance,” or “an accidental intersecting.” Spirit-led intercession is sensed as spontaneous thoughts that light upon my mind while I am praying. I honor these thoughts as they have been sent by God. So I fix my eyes upon Jesus, and tune to flow and pray, being guided by the flow (Heb. 12:1-2; Jn. 7:37-39).  

Moving from the Mind to the Heart

Language of the mind

man’s un-anointed, analytical reason, which is rebuked by Jesus three times in the Gospels (Matt. 16:5-12; Mk. 2:5-12; 8:15-18 KJV).  Scripture tells us to reason together with God (Isa. 1:18). People who strongly favor their left brain must be instructed to turn away from this or they will naturally do it when they seek to come into the Lord’s presence. Sometimes more right-brain individuals, after hearing from God, will add to that word with left-brain thinking and will believe they are still in the right brain and still hearing from God. Both left-brainers and right-brainers must learn to distinguish what is from the Spirit (flow) and what is from their own minds (analytical).

Language of the heart

is flowing thoughts (see John 7:38), flowing pictures (see Acts 2:17), flowing emotions (see Galatians 5:22-23), pondering and meditation (see Psalm 77:6). Sensing God’s movement in our hearts can be called illumination, revelation, revelation knowledge, perception, discernment, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, or prophecy.

Centrality of the heart

from it flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:23), so we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). Wisdom rests there (Prov. 14:33), it provides health to our entire body (Prov. 14:30), it ponders how to answer (Prov. 15:28) and can make our life a continual feast (Prov. 15:15). Note God’s emphasis in the Bible: The words “heart” and “spirit” show up 1300 times while “mind” and “think,” less than 200 times. God wants us to live out of our hearts rather than our heads.

Man’s spirit

is sensed as underlying attitudes, underlying motivations, and underlying character traits. For example, we could tune to God with an attitude of reverence, awe and respect, a motivation of seeking Him diligently, and a character trait of humility and dependence upon Him.

Man’s spirit or heart

largely interchangeable words. Probably 95% overlap.

The function of the human spirit:

  • To be joined to the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:17).
  • To receive and transmit the life of the Holy Spirit to man through the fruits and gifts.

God's fuel for our hearts

faith, hope, and love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). If you journal daily, God will automatically fill you up on this fuel so you can run well.

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