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Turn aside from all else. 

This is the secret of encountering Jesus. He is already fully with us. He could not be more with us. But this turning aside is our intentional, intense, singular gaze at Christ within. 

When precious Holy Spirit breathes on our weak hearts He carries us into the chamber awareness of God’s presence, and helps us recognize Christ in us. This is why He is called The Helper. We cannot do this without His great and loving help. Even if we are not hungry for Him, even if we are not filled with longing, even if our hearts feel cold, if we will simply ask, He will provide the fire from heaven. He always says yes to the feeblest cry for more.  

Like Moses in the desert, we turn aside to behold the mystery of the One who burns with fiery love. It was when Moses made this choice to turn aside, that God called out to him. This is our greatest experience, to hear His voice, to enjoy sweet communion with Him, to be completely preoccupied with His beauty. As we slip away from all other distractions and demands, He becomes our life’s  magnificent obsession.  When we say, “Come Lord,” it is not because He is not here. It is just a realization that He is here. And saying, ‘Come,” is giving a voice to our innermost longing and utmost welcome of His beautiful Person.

“For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him.” Hebrews 11: 6

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The Awakened Spirit

As spirit beings, we exist in the eternal realm. We are housed inside a body on earth. This is the physical realm. We also have invisible human parts, such as our mind, our emotions, and our will. This is sometimes called “the soul”.

But who we truly are is made from love, and for love. We were breathed into existence by Yahweh, God who is love. And from our innermost being rivers of living water flow. (John 4:14)

But some spirit beings are asleep, unaware of eternal life. The body, the mind and emotions dominate their being. And spirit is inactive, or sometimes worse, interacting with the realm of darkness. The awakening of spirit comes through believing into Jesus, by the power of Holy Spirit. The human spirit being then becomes joined to Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17) This is what it means to be alive! To truly live, and never die. Spirit beings are eternal entities. And although physical death may come, spirit does not die.

Spirit beings, who have been made alive by faith in Jesus, have capacities to open and to release, to see and to hear, to receive and to rest. These are basic spiritual functions. There is always a sense of purpose and freedom in spirit activities. We exist in the heavenly, eternal realm while also experiencing the physical, natural realm on earth.

But how do we function, how do we move in spirit capacities? Much of what believers are taught today is designed to improve or strengthen the human soul. This is not unholy. But it is my belief that as we strengthen and mature in spirit, soul is healed and made whole. Our beings come into proper order and alignment: awakened spirit beings, with thriving souls, housed in a physical body. When we are awakened spirit beings, rivers of living water flow from our innermost being. We hear the voice of Yahweh, and deepen in our perceptions of His beauty. We are filled with the glory of the Lord.

Some ancient rabbis taught that before the fall, spirit was external and visible, housing body and soul within. Since spirit is made in the image and likeness of Yahweh, this is a beautiful idea. Can you just see Adam, Eve and their loving Creator enjoying one another in spiritual joy and play?

This interpretation of life in the garden would explain why Adam and Eve experienced nakedness when they sinned. As spirit beings, they had only known life clothed in glory. But when spirit death came, physical dominance began.