How to Hear the Voice of God in the Details of Life (part 4):

You Are an Eternal Spirit

8.23.2020

Review

It is more important than ever today to know the voice of God.

There are challenges now and in our future that we have never navigated in this way. The world is changing.

Romans 8:14-16 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

August 2

Judges 6 – Gideon was called by God to lead Israel into battle, and Gideon “put out a fleece,” that is, he looked to circumstances to confirm what God was saying to him.

The only time I have ever done that I missed God’s plan completely! I was 22-23 years old. It was a great life lesson.

God’s leading is often unreasonable, because it doesn’t make sense to the natural mind.

August 9

There are two ways we receive direction from God: General Guidance and Specific Guidance.

Logos and Rhema

: Logos – the sum total of all of the expressions of God.

: Rhema – when the Holy Spirit quickens a thought to your spirit, and gives you specific direction about a situation or issue in life.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (15) All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

August 16

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT)

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

We are spirit beings, we possess a soul, and we live in a physical body.

The deepest, most eternal part of you is your spirit nature.

You are a spirit being made in God’s image to fellowship with Him.

Do you think of yourself as spirit first?

Or do you consider first of all your appearance, your weight, your muscles, or lack of them?

Or do you think of your intelligence, your pedigree (the family you’re from), or your educational background first.

Or do you think first of all of your skills and abilities, your wealth, or lack of it?

Or do you think of your ethnicity first of all?

A spiritually-minded person will think of spiritual things first.

The first thing we should think of is our relationship with Jesus, and how that relationship relates us to life in general!

Today I want to go a bit further into us being spiritual beings first.

Job 32:8 (NLT)

But there is a within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.

 

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

 

Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

The Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 1:9 (NKJV)

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the , rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the is being renewed day by day.

 

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT)

For we know that when this earthly tent is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

If you concentrate on the physical more than the spiritual, you will become more and more disappointed, and will not handle aging well.

2 Corinthians 5:2-8 (NLT)

grow weary, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. (3) For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be without bodies. (4) While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. (5) God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (6) So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. (7) For we live by believing and not by seeing. (8) Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:22-24 (NKJV)

But if, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (24) Nevertheless is more needful for you.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

2 Peter 1:13-14 (NKJV)

Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, (14) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

1 Peter 3:4 (NKJV)

But rather let it be the , with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. (20) At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. (21) As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. (22) Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, (23) and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. (24) The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ (25) But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. (26) And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ (27) Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. (28) For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ (29) But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ (30) The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.'”

Matthew 17:1-3 (NLT)

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. (2) As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. (3) Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

 

So, I am an eternal spirit being, I have or possess a soul, and I live in a physical body.

When God speaks to us, He speaks by the Holy Spirit in our human spirit.

Begin now to think of yourself as a spirit being living in a body. Think of yourself as a spirit being before thinking of yourself as having a mind (education, skills) or a body (physical appearance).

Thinking of ourselves first of all as a spirit made in God’s image will put us in a position to hear more clearly the voice of God.

Put spiritual values over natural things

Philippians 4:11 (A.S.Way)

I have learned in whatever condition I am, to be independent of circumstances. I am schooled to bear the depths of poverty, I am schooled to bear abundance. In life as a whole and all its circumstances, I have mastered the secret of living – How to be the same amidst repletion and starvation, amidst abundance and privation. I am equal to every lot through the help of Him who gives me inward strength.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit enhances our spiritual perceptions.

1 Corinthians 14:14 (AMPC)

For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by theHoly Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (Phillips)

If I pray in a “tongue” my spirit is praying but my mind is inactive. I am therefore determined to pray with my spirit and my mind, and if I sing I will sing with both spirit and mind.

1 Corinthians 14:15 (TPT)

So here’s what I’ve concluded. I will pray in the Spirit, but I will also pray with my mind engaged. I will sing rapturous praises in the Spirit, but I will also sing with my mind engaged.

Praying in the spirit makes us more perceptive of our human spirit, and of the Holy Spirit within our spirit.

If you are not baptized with the Holy Spirit, you can be today!

 

Action Points:

1. We are spirit beings created to walk and talk with God!

2. Take some time to get quiet and meditate the Word of God, and then listen to what God says through His Word within you.

3. Ask your pastor to pray for you, or get alone with God, and ask Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.