[Aquila]

CONTINUED...

Since then God has shown me how this is impossible to do without truly being a, “branch”, or a “living extension”, of God Himself, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. And so I asked how can we better attain this reality? God’s answer was rather simple, in fact, it was something that I’ve heard many times, and yet… I’ve only now begun to realize it’s meaning and reality. God said,

”My child, you become a branch by being FILLED with ME. When you have your entire being saturated with ME, then we are one. Then are you a branch of Me, the True Vine.”

And so I began to realize that there is a level of prayer, or a kind of prayer, wherein we become saturated or soaked with God’s own Spirit. As a result, we become like sponges filled with Him. We become “branches” through which the power and life of the “True Vine” flows. This “saturation prayer” essentially must empty us of self… and open us up to be literally “filled” with Him. When we are literally “filled” with God, we will see His works pouring forth from us in the Gifts of the Spirit. We will have dreams and visions. We shall hear from Him, intimately and personally knowing His voice as He calls us by name. Here are some Scriptures to contemplate on this understanding:

Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Romans 8:9 - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Romans 5:5 - And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Acts 9:17 - And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Acts 11:16 - Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Titus 3:5 - 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;

1 Thessalonians 5:19 - Quench not the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:22 - Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.


1 Corinthians 12:11 - But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.


Acts 13:52 - And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

These verses speak of being filled with the Spirit. These speak of our Oneness with God through the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.


John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 John 4:13 - Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

2 Peter 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, .

This “oneness” is a “mutual indwelling”. We in Him… and He in us. It is through this spiritual reality that we are prepared to love with divine love… prepared to love with God’s own love flowing through us.

And so I’ve begun this journey of seeking to live “incarnationally”. I’m far from perfect… but it seems that God wants to be made manifest (known) in me… and as a result, I pray that I’m conformed into the very image and likeness of Jesus.

God's desire is that we attain a holiness that is only possible through a spiritual oneness with Him. And to attain this, we must be saturated (or soaked) with His Spirit as a result of our prayer and meditation. I'll elaborate more on how I've experienced this kind of prayer in posts to come. But the basics are:

1.) The humbling of self. I confess all known sin and human carnality. I plead the blood of Jesus over myself, my family, and my location of prayer.

2.) Take authority over any spiritual influences that are not of God and remove them.

3.) I meditate on the Scripture or focus on feeling God's presence in Spirit.

4.) I pray until there is a sense of the loss of self, you can feel when God is filling your being, living in you, breathing through you, and wanting to speak through you. It's like being "charged" with power or electricity.

5.) Pray until God reveals His purpose to you. It might be to go and witness to an individual or group. It might be to visit the sick or to help the needy. It might be to engage in spiritual warfare, it might be to post something on the internet, it might be to simply take a time out and play with your children, whom you've been neglecting.

6.) Don't be surprised if you find yourself in a "trance" during this state. This is where visions often take place. This is also where you might hear straight from God directly on any number of subjects.

7.) Pray until the Spirit tells you that He is finished with you.

You might not feel worthy of this kind of intimacy. And the truth is... you're not. None of us are. Therefore, to enter into this realm one must properly understand grace. You must stand in the atonement, propitiation, and justification provided by Christ at Calvary. Only then can you (a weak, frail, and often carnal, human being) experience this regeneration and oneness of the Spirit. You must come unworthy, humbled, and with arms wide open. And if you think about it... isn't this how you received the Spirit by faith originally? Trusting in the cross... the very blood of Jesus for your entire redemption? Go back to that place. Go back to the foot of the cross and it is here that you will be called to enter into this "Holy of Holies" through the blood, by grace. This is the very reason why God has chosen grace. Only through this kind of grace can you enter into His presence this deeply. Relying on your own works, performance, or righteousness will prevent you from entering in. You must get rid of your "list". You must be humbled before Him. Allow His grace to absolutely humble you to strictly relying on His mercy and forgiveness... His love... alone. Here you will meet Him face to face. Here you will behold Him as He is... as you really are.

I gotta go for now. May God bless and keep you.

Chris