How to change your experience of God on this side of Heaven

The Bible encourages us, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). 

This verse reminds us, first of all, that we’re born of the Spirit. When Nicodemus asked Jesus how a grown man could be "born again,” Jesus explained the nature of this new birth. Here’s part of the conversation (John 3:4-7 NKJV): 

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

Jesus referred to being born of the water (i.e., a mother’s “water breaks” when she goes into labor) and of the Spirit (being born again) here. Whereas Nicodemus wondered if we needed to be “born of the flesh" again, Jesus taught that this Spirit-birth was a completely different kind of experience than physical birth.

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When we bring these concepts together, we see that: 

👉 You were born of the Spirit (John 3:5-7). 

👉 Therefore, continuing to “live by the Spirit” is the best way to move forward (Galatians 5:25). Or, to say it as Paul does, “keep in step with the Spirit.”

The term “keep in step” is a military marching term. Just as soldiers match step-for-step with the officer in front of them, so also should we align ourselves with the Spirit. And, just as a soldier does, this demands that we tune out the environment around us— the grenades and the bombs— and listen to His rhythm. That is, tune in to the cadence of Christ.  

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Paul also asks a great rhetorical question-- especially for those of us who might tend to move forward in our own strength, stepping to our own beat, “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). 

Here, he beckons the Galatians to recall the way in which they attained the new birth. Quite simply, it wasn’t by their efforts, it was by the Spirit. He tells them, then, to continue by walking in the Spirit. 

The correlation for us would be to continue walking from the inner man.

Moreover, if you can trust God for your sins and your salvation, surely you can trust Him for the much smaller matters— things like overcoming the hurts, the habits, and the hangups of the past and rebuilding a restored life.

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In Romans we read the statement that “... those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

This verse is interesting, because there are two words for son Paul could have used.

👉 Tecknon refers to a “child, an immature offspring.” This son clearly has a relationship with his father. There’s no question.

👉 Huois refers to a “mature son, an heir.”  This is the son who receives the inheritance of his father.

Notably, anyone can be a tecknon, but only the mature are huois. To be clear, both are still sons, but one gets to experience more of the father’s wealth and goodness while walking in more freedom.

Here’s another way to view the difference: 

👉 You’re a tecknon by virtue of birth.

👉 You're a huois by virtue of your growth. 

The word used in Romans 8:14 is a form of huois— mature son, heir. You could read it like this: 

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the mature ones.

Mature sons of God demonstrate it by walking in sync with and being led by the Spirit. Immature sons don't. 

Both are still sons, though.

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We don’t earn our sonship by walking in the Spirit, that is, by living from 

the inner man. We are sons, either way… 

However, we display maturity when we walk in the Spirit. At that point, we show that we are not tecknon but huois.

And that changes our experience… this side of Heaven.

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Links = 

Listen to the complete audiobook of Freedom Recovery = https://www.freedomrecovery.online/podcasts/freedom-recovery

Watch the video, Emotional Wholeness Checklist = https://www.jenkins.tv/blog/checklist 

Watch the video, denoting the difference between the soul and the spirit = https://www.jenkins.tv/freedom  

Tell us where to ship your free paperback book, Purpose: How to Find & Fulfill God’s Plan for Your Life: www.Jenkins.tv/purpose