Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................................................v
Chapter 1 What the Spirit Is .......................................................................................1
Chapter 2 The Nature of Mans Spirit ..................................................................... 11
Chapter 3 Becoming Aware of Your SpiritIts Emotions ................................... 19
Chapter 4 Becoming Aware of Your SpiritIts Character Traits........................ 27
Chapter 5 Becoming Aware of Your SpiritIts Activities.................................... 35
Chapter 6 One ActivityWholeheartedness unto God ....................................... 45
Chapter 7 Things Done to Mans Spirit................................................................... 53
Chapter 8 Things God Gives to the Heart .............................................................. 63
Chapter 9 Ways the Spirit Communicates .............................................................. 71
Chapter 10 Sensing God Within............................................................................. 77
Chapter 11 Sharpening the SpiritMaking it Alert and Ready.......................... 85
Chapter 12 Birthing the Miraculous Through Ones Spirit by Incubating
the Rhema and Vision of God ...................................................... 91
Chapter 13 Ministering to the Heart ...................................................................... 97
Chapter 14 Transference of Spirits......................................................................... 103
Chapter 15 Our Spirits Activity While We Sleep................................................ 105
Chapter 16 Two Practical Problems of Living Tuned to Your Spirit.................. 109
Chapter 17 The Day Dawnsthe Morning Star Arises in Our Hearts ........... 113
Chapter 18 Your Summary on Abiding ................................................................. 117
Appendix A The Spirit-Heart Connection in the Bible....................................... 121
Appendix B Science Discovers Three Brains......................................................... 123
Appendix C The Spiritual World and the Physical World .................................. 125
Appendix D The Dividing Asunder of Soul and Spirit ....................................... 129
Appendix E A Personal Testimony......................................................................... 131

Introduction
The vision of spiritual intimacy
After living as a Christian for a number of years,
a passion began to grow within me to live as Jesus
lived. I saw Jesus release the power and wisdom and
love of God to the hearts of hurting people around
Him. And Jesus was my example.
I became convinced that I could learn to live as
Jesus lived. I, too, could release the power and
anointing and wisdom of God to those who hurt
around me.
It became clear to me that Jesus ministered the
power of God to the people He met by releasing
the anointing of the Holy Spirit who dwelt within
Him. Jesus was lled with the Spirit of God, just as
we are able to be lled with the Spirit of God. Jesus
ministered the power and love of God just as we are
to minister the power and love of God.
The Bible says,
And immediately when Jesus perceived
in his spirit that they so reasoned within
themselves, he said unto them, Why reason
ye these things in your hearts?Mk. 2:8
Jesus perceived on a spirit level. He spoke and ministered from these perceptions in His spirit.
The hunger within me was to learn to sense my
spirit as Jesus sensed His spirit, and to learn to sense
the moving of the Holy Spirit within my spirit.
That is the objective of this book. We will look up
many verses in the Bible on heart and/or spirit,
building a basic understanding of what our spirits
are and how we can sense them and the movements
within them. As a foundation for the understand-

ings examined in this book, I looked up all 1400

verses in the Bible on heart and spirit. This book
is the result of that research.
We will start by providing a clear denition of what
ones spirit feels like. Often we are told where our
spirits are located (the innermost part of us) and
what they do (commune with God). However, we
will begin by developing a working denition of
how you can sense your spirit, so you can learn
to live comfortably spirit-conscious rather than
simply mind-conscious. Then we will build from
there in the future chapters, discussing your spirits
emotions, character traits and activities, plus much
more.

Let go and let God???

You may have heard the phrase, Let go and let
God. If you do not comprehend how to live in your
spirit, you are not able to let go and let God. God
lives in your spirit through the fusing of His Spirit
to yours. If God is going to ow, He will most likely
do so through your spirit, radiating forth the gifts
and fruit of His Spirit from within you. In abiding,
you are essentially living in your spirit.
Therefore, it is of primary importance that you be
aware and discerning of your spirit and what it is
transmitting, because in actuality it is very often
what the Holy Spirit within you is transmitting.
Many are hardly aware they have a spirit, much less
how it is sensed and acted upon, the dierent sensors it has and, most important, the various ways
Christ manifests Himself through their spirits.
Once you learn to discern your own spirit, you will
also become discerning of Christs Spirit, as well as
the spirits of others. Jesus was well-experienced

vi How to Walk by the Spirit

in discerning the heart and, as He ministered, He
ministered straight to the heart. This acquired or
learned ability to discern and detect the heart in
no way detracts from the necessity to ow in the
supernatural gift of discerning of spirits.
In the Bible, the words heart and spirit are basically used interchangeably. Therefore, as we examine the spirit, we will also be examining the heart.
Appendix A at the end of this manual shows the
relationship between the heart and the spirit.
Please read it NOW.

How to get the most from this book

As you work through the assignments in this text,
please use the following steps so that the teaching
becomes spirit life for you.
As an example, in Chapter Seven you are asked to
examine the passages concerning emotions that
the Bible indicates can be owing from ones heart
or spirit. (I didnt even know we had emotions on
the level of our spirits before I did this research.)
Use the following steps to help you acquire greater
spiritual sensitivity.
l. Carefully read and examine the verse that
is given. For example, under Sullen you
would prayerfully examine I Kings 21:5. (In
writing these verses I have used the New
American Standard Bible, often drawing
from the more literal marginal interpretations. In a very few cases I have used the
King James Version.)
But Jezebel his wife came to him and
said to him, How is it that your spirit
is so sullen that you are not eating
food?
2. Note and highlight the specic relationship you nd between heart/spirit and the
trait or activity being observed, by circling
the word heart or spirit and the corresponding trait or activity. For instance, in
this case you would observe that sullenness
is located on the level of the spirit, and you
would circle the words spirit and sullen.

3. Next observe any other outer or inner

manifestations that are mentioned as a reection of this characteristic in ones spirit.
You may wish to read a few verses on both
sides of this verse to gain a deeper understanding and perspective. In this case you
would observe the following:
v. 1-4The event that caused this emotion
in Ahabs spirit was not getting his own
way.
v. 4,5Outer manifestations of one with
a sullen heart/spirit: he lay down in his
bed (in the middle of the day), turned
his face away from others, and ate not
food. In other words, he was sulking or
pouting.
Observe that all this is a result of a movement in his spirit. Notice how the underlying emotions of the spirit aect outer
behavior, and thus one can often detect
the condition of the spirit if he carefully
observes outer actions.
4. Finally pray, God, please remind me of
how it felt when I experienced this emotion in my spirit. Without wracking your
brain to dig up something, or concerning
yourself about dates, times, etc., in inner
quietness let the Lord gently, spontaneously impress upon you what it was like to
experience this characteristic in your spirit.
Room will be given for you to jot it down.
5. Now thank Him that you have become
aware of one more spirit sensation! You
have gained one more level in learning
spirit sensitivity. You have learned to live
and minister a bit more deeply.

Review of the five steps that help

enhance spiritual sensitivity
l. Dig: Carefully read and prayerfully meditate on the the verse.
2. Dig: Circle the word heart or spirit
and any corresponding trait or activity you
nd in the verse (or surrounding verses).
3. Dig: Write any other inner or outer resulting manifestations you observe.

Introduction vii
4. Personal Reection: Ask God to remind
you of how you have felt this particular
spirit experience. Write them, along with
anything you learn from this insight.
5. Worship: Thank Him for what He has
shown you.

How to receive revelation knowledge as

you complete the exercises in this book
An example of revelation knowledge is when you
are reading the Bible and a verse leaps o the page,
hits you between the eyes, and God says, This is
for you right now. These are precious experiences

for the believer. However, for many, they do not

happen often enough. There are seven things I do
which allow me the privilege of receiving revelation
knowledge every time I read the Bible. Truth and
insights leap o the page and an understanding
of how they are to adjust my life permeates my
spirit and soul. I love this experience and hunger
for it every time I read the Scriptures. That is why I
prepare myself by doing the following seven things.
Prayerfully reect on these steps and determine
which ones you do and dont use. Make sure you
use all of them as you complete the exercises in
this book, as well as during your regular devotional
times.

Biblical Meditation
Resulting in illumination, revelation knowledge, anointed reasoning
Do Not Do This:
Left-brain
Study/Rational Humanism
1. Have unconfessed sin
2. Have a pre-conceived attitude
3. Be independent: I can...
4. Read quickly
5. Rely on reason and analysis
only
6. Read without specic purpose
7. Take credit for insights

But Do This:
Whole-brain/Heart
Meditation/Divine Revelation
1. Be washed by Jesus blood
2. Have a teachable attitude
3. Pray: Lord, show me
4. Slow down, ponder, muse
5. Combine anointed reason,
owing pictures, music and
speech
6. Read with focused purpose
7. Glorify God for insights

The seven steps of biblical meditation explained

1. Lord, cleanse me by Your blood: Since
receiving divine revelation is at the heart
of biblical meditation, you must prepare
yourself to receive from the Holy Spirit by
repenting and being cleansed by the blood
of the Lamb. You must be obedient to previous revelations from God (Matt. 7:6), and
confess any sin in your life, so you are not
cut o from ongoing revelation (Is. 59:1,2;
I Jn. 1:9).

2. Lord, grant me a teachable attitude:

Revelation is given to those who maintain
an attitude of humility, and it is withheld
from the proud and the arrogant. So keep
an open, humble attitude before God, allowing Him the freedom to shed greater
light on any ideas you currently hold and
to alter them as He sees t (Jas. 4:6; II Pet.
1:19).

viii How to Walk by the Spirit

3. Lord, I will not use my faculties myself:
You can do nothing of your own initiative
but only what you hear and see by the Spirit
(Jn. 5:19,20,30). You do not have a mind to
use, but a mind to present to God so He can
use it and fill it with anointed reason and
divine vision (Prov. 3:5-7; Rom. 12:1,2). If
you use your mind yourself, it is a dead work
(Heb. 6:1,2).
4. Lord, I pray that the eyes of my heart
might be enlightened: Slow down as you
read, mulling the text over and over in your
heart and mind, praying constantly for God
to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of Him (Eph. 1:17,18; Ps.
119:18).
5. Lord, I present the abilities to reason
and to imagine to You to ll and ow
through by Your Spirit: Meditation involves
presenting your faculties to God for Him
to fill and use. These include your left-brain
reasoning capacities as well as your rightbrain visual capacities. Look for the river
of God (i.e. Spirit flow) to guide and ll
both hemispheres, granting you anointed
reasoning and dream and vision (Jn. 7:3739). Music can assist you, as can muttering,
speaking, and writing as you go through the
discovery process (II Kings 3:15).
6. Lord, show me the solution to the problem I am facing: Focused attention brings
additional energies of concentration of heart
and mind, which help release revelation. For
example, note the dierence between a ray
of sunlight hitting a piece of paper, and sunlight going through a magnifying glass to hit
a piece of paper. The focused energy creates
a ray so concentrated that the paper bursts
into ames. When you have a hunger to
master a new understanding and discipline,
that hungry and searching heart will cause
you to see things you would not normally see
(Matt. 5:6).
7. Thank You, Lord, for what You
have shown me: Realizing that the revelation came from the indwelling Holy Spirit,
give all the glory to God for what has been
revealed (Eph. 3:21).

The Hebrew and Greek definitions of

meditation
According to Strongs Exhaustive Concordance,
there are several Hebrew and Greek words which
underlie the words meditate and meditation
in the Old and New Testaments. The Strongs
numbers for these words in the Old Testament
are: 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 7878, 7879, 7881. The
New Testament numbers are 3191 and 4304.
The literal meanings of meditate and meditation
as listed by Strongs Exhaustive Concordance
are:
To murmur; to converse with oneself,
and hence aloud; speak; talk; babbling;
communication; mutter; roar; mourn; a
murmuring sound; i.e. a musical notation; to study; to ponder; revolve in the
mind; imagine; pray; prayer; reection;
devotion.

Left-hemisphere functions listed above include:

study, revolve in the mind, murmur,
mutter, converse, speak, talk, communication (Note: Reason and speech are
left-brain.)

Right-hemisphere functions listed above include:

imagine, a musical notation, mourn,
babbling (Note: Tongue speaking has
been registered in experiments at Fuller
Theological Seminary as taking place in
the right hemisphere. Pictures, music and
emotion are also right-brain.)

Heart (or third-brain) functions listed above

include:
pray, prayer, devotion, reection, ponder
(i.e. enlightened reasoning by adding
Spirit-ow to the reasoning process
Eph. 1:17,18)
Meditation results in illumined verses every time
you read the Bible and every time you meditate
on any subject. Illumination is experienced as
insights jumping o the page and hitting you
between the eyes.

Introduction ix

Meditation is a whole-brain and

heart process, and study is often lefthemisphere only

so I can put truths I am understanding in my own

words and in a framework which is meaningful
for me.

I asked a pastor who scored as extremely leftbrain (2.4) on the left/right-hemisphere brain test
how he studied the Bible. Did he use pictures a
fair amount? He replied, Never. Then I asked a
right-brain pastor (6.7) how he studied the Bible.
Did he use pictures much? He said, Always. He
had a constant stream of flowing pictures when he
studied. (Note: 5.0 is perfectly balanced.)

The following is the law which God gave for new

kings who had just been crowned and were coming
to sit upon their throne for the rst time:

Do you see that a left-brain person will tend to

study the Bible dierently than a right-brain person? We tend to miss this, because we assume that
everyone else studies the way we do. This could
not be further from the truth. Left-brain people
study using primarily logic, reason, and analysis.
Right-brain people study (or could we say, meditate) using primarily pictures and ow combined
with reason, analysis, speech, and song.
Repenting for studying: So, in meditation, the
whole brain is being controlled and guided by
the indwelling Holy Spirit, whereas in study,
primarily the left brain is being used, and it is
under the control of self. Wow! What a startling
insight, especially when we realize that the Bible
(NASB) never encourages study, but 20 times does
encourage meditation. Look up the Greek in the
three instances that the King James Version uses
study, and you will see that they are all inaccurate
translations. So I, a left-brain individual, repented
for studying, and purposed in my heart to only
meditate from now on when I come to the Word
of God or to any topic that God sets before me to
explore.

Another great aid to seeing: Writing

out Scripture
When you write or type out a verse, you discover
words which you otherwise might have missed.
Therefore, I write out verses which I know are key
truths for my life. I pray over them, diagram them,
analyze them, meditate on them. That is why I have
written many of my books. I write so I can learn,

Now it shall come about when he sits on

the throne of his kingdom, he shall write
for himself a copy of this law on a scroll
in the presence of the Levitical priests
(Deut. 17:18).
Since we are kings and priests, are we to do any
less (I Pet 2:9)? Let us make the writing out of
Scriptures an important part of our lives.

May you develop

greater spiritual sensitivity
Journaling assignments
Most chapters will end with a journaling assignment. Journaling is recording two-way dialogue
between you and God as you pray. If you are not
used to doing this, the following four keys to hearing Gods voice will prove helpful. We also recommend that you read the book Dialogue With God
by Mark and Patti Virkler, as it expands greatly the
teaching of these four keys.

Four Keys to Hearing Gods Voice

Christianity is unique among religions, for it alone
oers a personal relationship with the Creator beginning here and now, and lasting throughout eternity. Jesus declared, This is eternal life that they
may know God (Jn. 17:2). Unfortunately, many in
the Church miss the great blessing of fellowship
with our Lord because we have lost the ability to
recognize His voice within us. Though we have the
promise that My sheep hear My voice, too many
believers are starved for that intimate relationship
that alone can satisfy the desire of their hearts.

x How to Walk by the Spirit

I was one of those sheep who was deaf to his
Shepherd until the Lord revealed four very simple
keys (found in Habakkuk 2:1, 2) that unlocked the
treasure of His voice.

Key #1: Gods voice in your heart

often sounds like a flow of spontaneous
thoughts.
Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him
(Hab. 2:2). Elijah described it as a still, small voice
(I Kings 19:12). I had always listened for an inner
audible voice, and God does speak that way at
times. However, I have found that usually, Gods
voice comes as spontaneous thoughts, visions,
feelings, or impressions.
For example, havent you been driving down the
road and had a thought come to you to pray for a
certain person? Didnt you believe it was God telling you to pray? What did Gods voice sound like?
Was it an audible voice, or was it a spontaneous
thought that lit upon your mind?
Experience indicates that we perceive spirit-level
communication as spontaneous thoughts, impressions and visions, and Scripture confirms this in
many ways. For example, one definition of paga,
a Hebrew word for intercession, is a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting. When God
lays people on our hearts, He does it through paga,
a chance-encounter thought accidentally intersecting our minds.
Therefore, when you want to hear from God, tune
to chance-encounter or spontaneous thoughts.

Key #2: Become still so you can sense

Gods flow of thoughts and emotions
within.
Habakkuk said, I will stand on my guard post...
(Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that to hear Gods
quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to
rst go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts
and emotions. Psalm 46:10 encourages us to be
still, and know that He is God. There is a deep
inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits

that each of us can experience when we quiet our

flesh and our minds. If we are not still, we will sense
only our own thoughts.
Loving God through a quiet worship song is one
very eective way to become still. (Note II Kings
3:15.) After I worship and become silent within, I
open myself for that spontaneous ow. If thoughts
come of things I have forgotten to do, I write them
down and dismiss them. If thoughts of guilt or
unworthiness come, I repent thoroughly, receive
the washing of the blood of the Lamb, putting on
His robe of righteousness, seeing myself spotless
before God (Is. 61:10; Col. 1:22).
To receive the pure word of God, it is very important that my heart be properly focused as I become
still because my focus is the source of the intuitive
ow. If I x my eyes upon Jesus, the intuitive ow
comes from Jesus. But if I x my gaze upon some
desire of my heart, the intuitive ow comes out of
that desire. To have a pure ow I must become still
and carefully x my eyes upon Jesus. Again, quietly
worshiping the King, and receiving out of the stillness that follows quite easily accomplishes this.
Fix your gaze upon Jesus (Heb. 12:2), becoming
quiet in His presence and sharing with Him what
is on your heart. Spontaneous thoughts will begin
to ow from the throne of God to you, and you will
actually be conversing with the King of Kings!

Key #3: As you pray, fix the eyes

of your heart upon Jesus, seeing in
the Spirit the dreams and visions of
Almighty God.
Habakkuk said, I will keep watch to see, and God
said, Record the vision (Hab. 2:1,2). Habakkuk
was actually looking for vision as he prayed. He
opened the eyes of his heart, and looked into the
spirit world to see what God wanted to show him.
This is an intriguing idea.
God has always spoken through dreams and visions, and He specically said that they would
come to those upon whom the Holy Spirit is
poured out (Acts 2:1-4, 17).

Introduction xi
I had never thought of opening the eyes of my heart
and looking for vision. However, I have come to
believe that this is exactly what God wants me to
do. He gave me eyes in my heart to see in the spirit
the vision and movement of Almighty God. There
is an active spirit world all around us, full of angels,
demons, the Holy Spirit, the omnipresent Father,
and His omnipresent Son, Jesus. The only reasons
for me not to see this reality are unbelief or lack
of knowledge.
In order to see, we must look. Daniel saw a vision in his mind and said, I was looking...I kept
looking...I kept looking (Dan. 7:2,9,13). As I pray,
I look for Jesus, and I watch as He speaks to me,
doing and saying the things that are on His heart.
Many Christians will nd that if they will only
look, they will see, in the same way they receive
spontaneous thoughts. Jesus is Emmanuel, God
with us (Matt. 1:23). It is as simple as that. You
can see Christ present with you because Christ is
present with you. In fact, the vision may come so
easily that you will be tempted to reject it, thinking
that it is just you. But if you persist in recording
these visions, your doubt will soon be overcome
by faith as you recognize that the content of them
could only be birthed in Almighty God.
Jesus demonstrated the ability of living out of constant contact with God, declaring that He did nothing on His own initiative, but only what He saw the
Father doing, and heard the Father saying (Jn. 5:
19,20,30). What an incredible way to live!
Is it possible for you to live out of divine initiative
as Jesus did? Yes! Fix your eyes upon Jesus. The veil
has been torn, giving access into the immediate
presence of God, and He calls you to draw near
(Lk. 23:45; Heb. l0: 19-22). I pray that the eyes of
your heart will be enlightened.

Key #4: Journaling, the writing out of

your prayers and Gods answers, brings
great freedom in hearing Gods voice.
God told Habakkuk to record the vision (Hab. 2:2).
This was not an isolated command. The Scriptures
record many examples of individuals prayers and
Gods replies (e.g. the Psalms, many of the prophets, Revelation).
I call the process two-way journaling, and I have
found it to be a fabulous catalyst for clearly discerning Gods inner, spontaneous flow, because as
I journal I am able to write in faith for long periods
of time, simply believing it is God. I know that what
I believe I have received from God must be tested.
However, testing involves doubt and doubt blocks
divine communication, so I do not want to test
while I am trying to receive. With journaling, I can
receive in faith, knowing that when the flow has
ended I can test and examine it carefully, making
sure that it lines up with Scripture.
You will be amazed when you journal. Doubt may
hinder you at rst, but throw it o, reminding
yourself that it is a biblical concept, and that God
is present, speaking to His children. Relax. When
we cease our labors and enter His rest, God is free
to ow (Heb. 4:10). Sit back comfortably, take out
your pen and paper, smile, and turn your attention
toward the Lord in praise and worship, seeking His
face. After you write your question to Him, become
still, xing your gaze on Jesus You will suddenly
have a very good thought. Dont doubt it; simply
write it down. Later, as you read your journaling,
you, too, will be blessed to discover that you are
indeed dialoguing with God.
Some final notes: Knowing God through the
Bible is a vital foundation to hearing His voice in
your heart, so you must have a solid commitment
to knowing and obeying the Scriptures. It is also
very important for your growth and safety that you
be related to solid, spiritual counselors All major
directional moves that come through journaling
should be conrmed by your counselors before
you act upon them.

xii How to Walk by the Spirit

Notes

Chapter 1
What the Spirit Is

Definition:
Mans spirit is the deep, underlying
motivations and attitudes and character of a man.

Faithful

Contrite

Ch Unde
ara rly
cte ing
r Tr
ait
s

Fervent
Gentle/Quiet

ing
rly s
de de
Un ttitu
A

Cool

Mans Spirit

Impatient
Sullen

Willing

Overwhelmed

Broken
Underlying
Motivations
Selfish
Destructive

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man. (Prov. 27:19)
Motivationinner need or desire that causes one to act
Attitudeyour position (mental or emotional) toward a thing
Characterdistinctive quality
(Webster)

2 How to Walk by the Spirit

Defining mans spirit

If you were asked to define what your spirit is, would you be able to answer the question with confidence
and completeness, or would you feel uncertain? Many Christians would be uncertain, and our uncertainty leads to a weakness in walking in the Spirit, in enjoying a deep inner experience with God, and in
realizing the flow of life from the Holy Spirit within our spirits as we minister to others.
After carefully examining all references to spirit in the Bible, we would like to dene spirit as the deep,
underlying motivations, attitudes and character of a man. Since they underlie ones being, they guide
the actions of the soul and body.
For instance, if you met a person with an underlying attitude of pride, that attitude would be manifested
and seen in the way he walked, held himself, his tone of voice, the things he spoke and just the entire
sense he gave to you as he was with you. And that underlying attitude would be there no matter what
subject he was talking about or what activity he was doing.
On the other hand, a person with an underlying attitude of humility may yet have a more surface pride
in a particular item, which would only show up slightly in one area. In this case, his spirits attitude is
humility but an area of his soul has been captured by pride.

A. Underlying motivations (inner needs or desires that cause one to actWebster)

The Bible speaks of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12) and the Lord weighing the motivesor spirits (Prov. 16:2), thereby placing underlying motives in the spirit or heart of man. Of course,
God looks at the heart of man while man looks on the outside (I Sam. 16:7). However, we are hoping
that as we become mature spiritually, we, too, will learn to look at the heart.
Note the various motives of the heart in operation in the following texts. Circle the word heart or
spirit in each passage and record any corresponding actions which might demonstrate the motive of
the persons heart.
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, do You want us to command
re to come down from heaven and consume them? But He turned and rebuked them, and said,
You do not know what kind of spirit you are of: for the Son of Man did not come to destroy
mens lives, but to save them, and they went on to another village. (Lk. 9:54-56)
Some to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former
proclaim Christ out of selsh ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me
distress in my imprisonment. (Phil. 1:15-17)
List the motives found to be located on a heart level in the above passages.

What the Spirit Is 3

Have you ever sensed any of these motives within your own heart? Describe what the experience was
like. Did you present all your motives to Christ to be healed by Him?

We find that even good deeds can be done from an impure heart. Therefore it is imperative that we keep
our motives pure. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives
(Prov. 16:2).

B. Underlying attitudes (your position, mental or emotional, toward a thingWebster)

The Bible records various underlying attitudes of the heart or spirit. To help you in learning to discern
the attitude of the heart, consider the following biblical examples. Circle the word heart or spirit in
each verse along with any underlying attitudes which you nd.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are contrite in spirit. (Ps. 34:18)
For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high
and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the
lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Is. 57:15)
What are the heart attitudes you discovered in these verses? Have you experienced these attitudes within
your own spirit? Describe the experience.

4 How to Walk by the Spirit

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I
walk they have hidden a trap for me. (Ps. 142:3)
Have you felt this within your spirit? Describe what it felt like. Did you take it to Christ to heal, or did
you struggle with it yourself?

As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should my spirit not be impatient? (Job 21:4)
Have you ever felt your spirit get impatient? Describe the sensation, and circumstances. Did you take
the sensation to Christ to heal?

But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you
are not eating food? (I Kings 21:5)
Have you experienced this attitude within your spirit? Describe its sensation. King Ahabs outward
actions were being influenced by his sullen spirit. Were your outward actions also influenced by your
spirit? Describe them. Did you take this whole thing to Jesus to heal, or did you just struggle along with
it, trying to overcome it yourself? Record your answers.

What the Spirit Is 5

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. (Prov. 15:13)
Have you ever experienced a broken spirit? If so, describe the experience.

C. Underlying character traits (distinctive qualitiesWebster)

The Bible records various underlying character traits of the heart or spirit. To help you in learning to
discern the character traits of the heart, consider the following biblical examples. Circle the word heart
or spirit and any accompanying character traits.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. (Ps. 51:12)
Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak. (Matt. 26:41)
Did you ever know that you had a will on the level of your spirit that was to be attuned to God? When
you have had to strengthen your will, have you sought to do it with your own eort or have you prayed,
Lord, You sustain me with a willing spirit? The rst turns Christianity into a religion, the second allows
it to be the supernatural movement of Almighty God. Record your answers.

but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. (I Pet. 3:4)
Are you currently walking in this character trait? Have you received it as a gift from God? Record your
answers.

6 How to Walk by the Spirit

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism
of John (Acts 18:25)
Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. (Rom. 12:11)
Is fervency a substitute for accurate knowledge? Are you currently experiencing a fervent spirit?

He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. (Prov. 17:27)
Are you currently living in this gift from God? If not, ask Him for it now.

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is faithful of spirit conceals a
matter. (Prov. 11:13)
Are you faithful of spirit? If not, ask God to implant that character trait within you over the next several
months. Thank Him for His gift to you.

What the Spirit Is 7

Mans Spirit Fused to the Holy Spirit

The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (I Cor. 6:17)

When the Holy Spirit is joined to man's

spirit, the fruit of the Spirit comes out
through man's spirit (Gal. 5:22,23).
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

ing
rly s
de de .
Un ttitu
A

U
Ch nd
ara erly
cte ing
rT
rai
ts

Goodness

Fused

Kindness
Patience

Underlying
Motivations
Love
Joy
Peace

Motivationinner need or desire that causes one to act

Attitudeyour position (mental or emotional) toward a thing
Charactera distinctive quality
(Webster)

8 How to Walk by the Spirit

Mans spirit fused to the Holy Spirit

As you look at the second diagram, you see that the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit flow beautifully out through
the various parts of mans spirit, transforming mans motivations, attitudes and character traits.

Underlying motivations
Love
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good
will; the latter do it out of love knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the
former proclaim Christ out of selsh ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to
cause me distress in my imprisonment. (Phil. 1:15-17)
Notice that the underlying motivation for some mentioned in the above verses, for preaching the
gospel, is love, a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Joy
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Heb. 12:2)
Notice that in this case Jesus motivation was joy.

Peace
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Rom. 12:18)
Notice that in this verse the motivation for ones action is peace.
Rather than going through the entire list, I think you see the point. If we look at Jesus of Nazareth, we
see all these fruit in operation as He lived and ministered.

Application and Journaling Response:

Begin discerning your own spirit/heart as well as the Holy Spirit within your spirit. Review this chapter
prayerfully, asking God to reveal to you underlying motivations, attitudes and character traits that are
operating or have operated within you. Note how they were formed, experienced and expressed, recording what you learn. This will help you accomplish spirit-awareness, which is the key to abiding. Dont
make this a striving, by wracking your mind to dig these up yourself, but simply make yourself available
to God to impress spontaneous thoughts upon your heart and mind as you wait focused upon Him.
Allow God to reveal these insights to you through journaling.
Lord, please show me my underlying motivations, both godly and ungodly.

What the Spirit Is 9

Lord, please show me my underlying attitudes, both godly and ungodly.

Lord, please show me my underlying character traits, both godly and ungodly.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for what You have shown me!

Group Activities:
1. Share your answers to the questions in this chapter.
2. Share your journaling with one another.
3. Discuss how these truths can and will aect your life and ministry from this point on.