by Isaiah Keller

God enabled humans to smell the steam of a freshly baked apple pie; He then allowed us to enjoy the savoring flavor of that apple pie; He afforded us opportunity to behold the beauty of a sunset, hear the coo of the American Morning Dove and touch the innocent hands of a newborn baby. Our reality is observed by perceiving our surroundings. It is understood, to a large degree, by what we smell, taste, see, hear, and touch. These are what modern psychologists call the “Five Senses.” In essence, God created mankind in His own image and likeness. We function like He did; God became a human on this earth in the form and likeness of the man Jesus Christ

Yet, God also created man with a human spirit. The human spirit is the invisible center within man. Because people were created in the image of God, Jesus Christ also possessed a human spirit. The Bible speaks of the spirit of man in this context. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly (Proverbs 20:27, KJV).

In other words, the spirit which God breathed into Adam at his creation was designed to search our intentions, motives, thoughts, and actions. Yes; it is this same spirit which died at the moment of sin’s curse in the Garden of Eden. However, the Bible speaks of the resurrection of the human spirit. Upon its resurrection, it connects and restores the broken relationship once present between people and God. Jesus testifies of Himself as being the one who resurrects the dead.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25, KJV, emphasis added).

Jesus is the Holy Spirit; He is the one who baptized  and resurrected the people who were gathered together in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts. He used the Holy Ghost to resurrect the spiritually dead. Even today, Jesus continues to pour out His Spirit to transform lives. As children of God, to maintain our connection with Him through the Spirit, our human spirit must be continually refreshed. Our initial experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit was miraculous. Even so, we who have been born of the Holy Spirit must also live and be led by the Holy Spirit. The questions are often asked by born-again believers.
1. “How can I successfully live for God now that I have been redeemed?
2. “How can I be used by God to impact my family, city, and world?”

The answers to these questions are found in understanding how we must connect or “plug in” to the power of the Holy Spirit. One cannot contact God by merely using the “Five Senses.” A deeper connection must be established and maintained.

When God filled us on that wonderful day, we spoke in a language unknown to us. However, this experience must be ever-present and active within our lives. It is vital to our salvation; it is the rest wherein we cease from old works.

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear (Isaiah 28:11-12, KJV).

Paul affirms the need for consistent “renewal” in his letter to Titus.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:4-5, KJV, emphasis added).

When we feel the impression of carnal desires or thoughts, this is a sign that we are taking up our old dead works again. When we begin resist spiritual authority or find pleasure in vanity, this is a sign that we taking up our old dead works. To avoid this rollercoaster ride on the spiritual highway, we are wise to connect with God in an intimate level of prayer each and every day. When we pray with understanding, that is, when we use our mind in prayer to God, we connect with God in a special way. However, we must also pray in the spirit. Paul writes of the contrasting dynamics between praying with understanding and praying with the spirit—a deeper, more spiritual dimension of prayer.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (1 Corinthians 14:14-15, KJV, emphasis added).

This “Secret Place” in prayer is not a drudgery; it is not boring or exhaustive. It is a place of rest and renewal. Praying in the spirit bring joy to my soul, peace to my mind, and power to my life. We can access the throne room twenty-four hours a day, from any place in the world! As our church enters into the end-time harvest, many souls will be saved by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be equipped, prepared, and ready to handle those who are in need of knowing how to experience the power of the “Secret Place.”

Remember; the devil is not subject to man’s wisdom and intellect. Satan submits to the power and authority of God. The psalmist speaks of this.

Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee (Psalms 66:3, KJV).

Human ingenuity brings about destruction, chaos, and spiritual death. Therefore, it is paramount that ministers of this Gospel bring the invisible power of God into the visible. The expansion of the Kingdom of God in this city, and in the surrounding satellite cities, will only manifest through the Spirit of God. As God calls our church to a deeper dimension of prayer and relationship with Him, the world will witness revival and the Body of Christ will experience edification, empowerment, and renewal! As the psalmist declares,

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1, KJV).

Isaiah Keller

Isaiah Keller is a young minister at Apostolic Faith Church. While furthering his education through Wilson University, he is involved in many capacities such as leading a great group towards a dynamic van ministry; the church is witnessing tremendous results. Isaiah sees Minot, ND as a city in need of Jesus Christ and has dedicated himself to determined prayer and personal evangelism.