3 May 09
Genesis 2:15 - “The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress and keep it”.
· God measured out a ‘metron’, a sphere of influence, a garden to guard and cultivate.
· Your ‘metron’ includes everything over which God wants you to take responsibility.
· Every person has their own unique metron and you are responsible to God for that area/garden.
· To govern your metron you must be present and engaged not absent and disconnected.
· Your metron must know you are there => (1) Spiritually and Relationally present, spiritual watchman (2) Practical Activity, cultivate it.
· ‘Engaged’ = to occupy your thoughts and attitude, be involved, enter a conflict with a determined purpose.
Proverbs 4:24 - “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life”.
· Your heart => your inner man i.e. your spirit and soul.
· You are designed by God to release spiritual energy and life or ‘presence’.
· When some people enter a room others can sense their presence and respond.
· They are feeling or sensing the spiritual energy or life of that person.
Functions of Your Spirit:
(1) Gives Your Body Life and Energy:
· James 2:26 – “The body without the spirit is dead”.
· Your spirit gives life and energy and vitality to your body.
· The spirit of the believer is joined with the Holy Spirit.
· The Holy Spirit can energize our Spirit man and the soul and body become full of life.
(2) Quicken Your Thoughts – Help you think and make decisions:
· 1 Corinthians 2:11 – “What man knows the things of man serve the spirit of man which is in him?”
· When the energy and the life of your spirit flow it enables you to think clearly.
· If the spiritual flow within a person is weak, the person is unable to think clearly, indecisive.
· The Holy Spirit within you also quickens you thoughts when you yield to Him.
· 1 John 2:27 – “The anointing which you have received from Him abides … the same anointing teaches you concerning all things”.
(3) Enables Life and Personal Authority to flow out with your words:
· John 6:63 – “The words that I speak to you are spirit, they are life”.
· Your spirit enables life and energy to flow out with your words.
· Words are not just sound waves travelling from your mouth to others ears.
· Your words carry spiritual substance which gives people authority as you speak.
· The greater your personal authority the greater the ‘weight’ of your words.
(4) Releases a ‘Presence’ or ‘Charisma’ that flows from within and impacts others:
· John 7:38 – “He who believes in Me … out of His heart shall flow rivers of living waters”.
· The invisible part of man is as real as the physical body.
· Your spirit flows from within you and influences people – they ‘feel’ your presence.
· The presence of a person is felt, and triggers off thoughts in the minds of others.
· The thoughts that become stimulated within you are influenced by the presence of people you are in contact with especially people who carry authority.
· The Holy Spirit within us not only stirs our thoughts but also the thoughts of others around us.
3. How to Activate the Flow of Your Spirit:
1 Timothy 1:6 – “Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gifts of God which is in you …”
· The life of your spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit of God can be activated or stirred up.
· What kind of energy and presence do you bring?
(1) Energise Your Spirit - Keys:
· Strong praying in tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:4
· Meditate in the Word of God – Jeremiah 15:16
· Focus on the indwelling Presence of God – Acts 3:19
(2) Focus Your Soul:
· Your soul is the gate through which your spirit can flow e.g. mind and emotions.
· When your soul is focused in agreement with your spirit, life flows from within.
· When you soul is strong (prospers) there is a strong flow of spirit life.
· People call this ‘Charisma’ – a felt presence.
· Keys:
a) Purpose and Direction:
· Your soul is pointed in a certain direction
· Your purpose and direction is sensed by others
· Without strong sense of purpose – people do not challenge those around or influence them
· A focused life releases energy that impacts others.
b) Accepting Personal Responsibility:
· When you accept and embrace responsibility people sense it and tend to yield
· When you accept and embrace responsibility you become aware of a bigger picture
· When you accept and embrace responsibility you character begins to develop and grow
c) Determination:
· Determination = to be strong or firm in your purpose, nor easily moved
· Maintaining purpose and responsibility requires determination
· It is much easier to shrink back, lose focus without determination
4. How Spirit Flow is Quenched:
1 Timothy 1:6 – “Stir up the gift of God … for God has not given you a spirit of fear ...”
· The life of your spirit flows through the gate of your soul.
· When your soul is clouded or chocked the spirit flow diminishes.
· Consequences:
(1) Little or no spirit flow
(2) Little or no “presence”
(3) Become passive and shut down
(4) Become affected by thoughts and others
(5) ‘Came under’ the spiritual influence
· What causes this?
Ø Fear, disappointment, doubt, rejection, pain, self-pity, lack of ownership, lack of purpose, laziness
· Example: Acts 3:1-6 - Peter
i) Internal Positioning: ii) External Behaviour:
1) Assume responsibility 1) Stand up
2) Heart Embrace People 2) Engage with eyes
3) Clear sense of purpose 3) Listen from the heart – engage
4) Expect God to work 4) Speak words, direct, confident, warm
5) Be aware of inner thoughts 5) Do acts of kindness