Summary of "How to Walk by the Spirit (2021) - Session 6"
Overview
Speaker Mark Virkler teaches Session 6 in a series on “becoming aware of your spirit.” The session explains both what the human spirit does outwardly (five capacities) and inwardly toward God (four wholehearted activities). The talk mixes biblical teaching, practical instruction, personal stories, and contemporary references to encourage intentional use and strengthening of the spirit.
Main ideas / lessons
- The human spirit is more than a connector to God — it has multiple active capacities you can develop.
- There are five distinct abilities of the spirit that function outward toward others and the world.
- There are four wholehearted activities the spirit performs toward God; these are commanded and produce prosperity, revelation, and spiritual power.
- Imagination and other spirit functions can be used for good (divine creativity) or evil (devising sinful things); choose and train a God-centered imagination.
- Spiritual skills can be strengthened by intentional practice (like muscles); regular spiritual disciplines, journaling, and acting on dreams/revelation are emphasized.
- Prayer in the spirit (tongues), worship, meditative pondering of Scripture, and listening for God’s voice are practical ways to activate spirit functions.
Five abilities of the spirit (directed outward)
Each ability is described with what it does, supporting biblical or illustrative notes, and suggestions for cultivation.
1. Imagination (creative, formative)
- What it does: Frames reality, invents, devises, and pictures possibilities; can produce godly creativity or evil devising.
- Biblical notes: Jeremiah 7:24 (evil imagination); Isaiah 26:3 (Hebrew term often translated “imagination” — a steadfast imagination keeps one in peace).
- How to cultivate:
- Intentionally picture God’s truth (God as shield, defender, ruler).
- Refuse to dwell on fearful or ungodly scenarios; reject imaginations contrary to Scripture.
- Ask God to give creative visions and use imagination to celebrate divine benefits.
2. Pondering / meditation (receptive revelation)
- What it does: Spirit-level pondering and meditation bring revelation, insight, and creative solutions; involves heart, senses, and emotion (not merely intellectual thought).
- Biblical support: Joshua 1:8 (meditate day and night); Psalm 77:6; Strong’s analysis shows biblical meditation includes praying, muttering, imagining, pondering, studying, mourning, and singing.
- How to cultivate:
- Meditate with heart and spirit on Scripture and key questions.
- Journal revelations and insights.
- Quiet and tune to the inward flow; make Scripture-centered meditation a habit rather than only intellectual study.
3. Persuasiveness added to speech
- What it does: The spirit adds power and persuasion to speech when you speak from the heart and from flow/vision.
- Biblical support: Proverbs 16:23; examples include inspired preaching and godly requests for giving (Exodus 35:21).
- How to cultivate:
- Ask God before speaking what to say.
- Speak from passion and vision; practice sharing from the heart.
- Tune to flow and emotion to move listeners.
4. Perceiving others’ thoughts / spiritual sensing
- What it does: The spirit can sense what is in other people’s hearts — impressions, needs, and the right response.
- Supporting ideas: Mark 2:8 (Jesus aware by his spirit); analogies from HeartMath research on electromagnetic fields; accounts of prayer-touch ministry and maternal awareness.
- How to cultivate:
- Practice tuned listening and sensitivity.
- Practice laying-on-of-hands prayer and expect spontaneous words of knowledge/wisdom.
- Treat this as a skill to strengthen by repetition and practice.
5. Endurance through sickness / inner perseverance
- What it does: The spirit supplies inner strength to endure pain, hardship, and long processes until victory.
- Biblical support: Proverbs 18:14 (“the spirit of a man can endure his sickness”).
- How to cultivate:
- Build perseverance by pressing in to prayer and obedience repeatedly.
- Trust God’s sustaining power; remember long obedience examples (e.g., Abram waited years).
- Choose not to quit until God’s purpose is accomplished.
Four wholehearted activities directed toward God
These are inward activities the spirit performs toward God; each is both commanded and practical.
1. Search for God (wholehearted seeking)
- Meaning: Pursuing God with all heart, soul, and spirit — actively seeking His presence.
- Primary means:
- Meditating on Scripture to receive revelation.
- Listening for God’s voice (tuning to inward flow and impressions).
- Practice:
- Daily Scripture meditation.
- Ask before sleep for revelation; journal dreams and night insights.
- Respond immediately to revelations.
2. Love, serve, and trust God (wholehearted devotion)
- Meaning: Loving God with all heart (Matthew 22:37), serving with a whole heart (1 Chronicles 28:9), trusting God rather than one’s own understanding (see Proverbs and Isaiah).
- Practice:
- Set aside focused seasons to seek hearing God (example: a dedicated year).
- Confess and return when off course.
- Intentionally acknowledge God in decisions so He directs your paths (Proverbs 3:5–6).
3. Worship (wholehearted praise)
- Meaning: Passionate praise, singing, rejoicing, and blessing God with all faculties (Psalm examples, Song of Solomon imagery).
- Practice:
- Regular energetic worship (singing in spirit, dancing, shouting, thanksgiving).
- Cultivate exuberant, not half-hearted, gratitude.
4. Prayer (wholehearted communication)
- Meaning: Praying, crying out, returning to God, and doing work as unto the Lord.
- Specific scriptural points:
- Praying in tongues = spirit praying (1 Corinthians 14).
- Singing in the spirit builds up the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15).
- Work as worship: do every job heartily as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23–24).
- Practice:
- Use tongues and spirit-led prayer to build your inner life.
- Sing and pray in the spirit for refreshment.
- Bring revelation from dreams into immediate action and treat daily work as spiritual service.
Recommended practical methodology (action steps)
- Daily meditation and journaling: use Scripture-centered meditation and record impressions, dreams, and revelations promptly.
- Nighttime seeking: ask God before sleep for insight; record dreams/ideas on waking; act on dreams when appropriate.
- Practice imagination intentionally: picture God’s character and God-ordered outcomes; reject fearful or ungodly imaginings.
- Strengthen sensing skills: practice laying on of hands, intentional listening, and expecting words of knowledge; train this like a muscle.
- Speak from the spirit: ask God what to say before speaking; share from heart and flow to be persuasive.
- Use spirit prayer/tongues and sing in the spirit for personal edification and to energize your spirit.
- Do daily work as worship: bring creativity and excellence as service to Christ, expecting God to reward and open doors.
- Persevere: press in until victory; do not quit when facing long processes.
Supporting stories, examples, and references
- Frequent biblical citations: Jeremiah 7:24; Isaiah 26:3; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 77; Psalm 119; Exodus 35:21; Deuteronomy 30:2; Isaiah 26:9; Mark 2:8; Proverbs 16:23; Proverbs 18:14; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 22:37; Romans 1:9; Colossians 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Jeremiah 24:7.
- Personal examples: Mark Virkler’s year focused on learning to hear God; long-term projects persevered and passed to his son; using journaling to receive revelation.
- Contemporary illustrations:
- Chris Vallotton: a business owner received three lines of computer code in a dream that solved a software problem (allowed additional discount levels).
- HeartMath research: the heart’s electromagnetic field carries information (used as an analogy for spirit-to-spirit sensing).
- Larry Page (Google co-founder): dream-inspired rules for the search algorithm — an example of night revelation producing societal impact.
- Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein: examples of perseverance and repeated experimentation.
- Organizations/ministries mentioned: HeartMath.org; Bethel Church and Bill Johnson; Chris Vallotton.
Speakers / sources featured
- Mark Virkler — primary speaker/teacher.
- Chris Vallotton — author/practitioner referenced (story about software & dream).
- Bill Johnson — leader referenced (Bethel Church).
- HeartMath (HeartMath.org) — research organization used for analogy.
- Larry Page — example of dream/revelation impact.
- Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein — historical examples illustrating perseverance and creativity.
- The Bible and its authors/figures (Jesus, Paul, Abram/Abraham, etc.) — primary scriptural source for the teaching.
End note (action invitation)
Journal and ask God what He wants to say to you about the spirit’s abilities (endurance, pondering, perceiving, persuading, imagining) and about wholehearted activities (praying, trusting, loving, searching, worshiping). Record and share what you receive.
Category
Educational
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