Feb 16
Q & A Spiritual Communication
How do you communicate with God in a spiritual sense?
There are several ways to have communication with God. To get back to basics, let’s begin with just two. If you can master just these two life will be sooooooo different.
1. Start with Who He is
- The first step to communion with Him is worship by acknowledging who He is. It is the recognition of who He is that releases our spirit to commune with Him. In this moment His Spirit releases our spirit. This is why it is important that we ingest/in-filled with His Spirit. His presence in us really shortens the time between “the ask and the answer.”
- Worship - this is the basic structure of the Lord’s Prayer (MT. 6). Start with who He is. Most of us start with what we need. It is the identification of who He is that gives us confidence that He is capable of answering what we may later ask. It is the reality of who He is that separates Him from all the gods of this world – He answers they do not.
2. The need for peace
- Begging, pleading and the like are more closely related to the false prophets who did such at Elijah’s challenge to them on Mount Carmel. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Peace. His presence in you will always produce peace – yes, in the midst of down town traffic. Even Elijah found that the small voice is where God spends most of His time.
- This is why so many hear from God when they relax, or they are driving, working, or doing anything but pleading. If God answers us by our pleading, then he has just said we can earn His love. Peace before Him says we “trust” or have “faith” in Him.
Why am I continually frustrated in my desire to be spiritual?
- For those of you who have been frustrated in your search for spirituality, frustration when the One, True, Spirit – God does not answer is usually an indicator of us having an agenda that is not His. I have found, when I have had these times- and I have - that I need to back up and ask different questions such as, “Am I doing what you want,” or “Is there something I am missing or not seeing, or “Is there a question You want me to ask that I am not asking?”
- The less we are concerned about the solution – the clearer the solution becomes. Why? Because we no longer predetermine the boundaries His response to us needs to be within – we’ll accept anything He says. Sometimes the greatest peace comes when we are at the end of our rope.
Going to “hot spots”
- The greatest “hot spot” we can run to is within our own heart.
Can we communicate with other believers when we are asleep?
- The man from Macedonia did. He came to the Apostle Paul and asked him to come and help them. Why? God wants us to be interdependent on others to fulfill our purpose and call. Paul needed direction and the Macedonians needed help. None of us are Islands unto ourselves.
Are we always aware of how God flows through us or is this just a part of “being” in God?
- I have gone through a few spiritual growth stages. During the first stage I was more aware that God was not on me, because I seldom felt He was. In the second stage, I felt God only came to me during Dreams or at the altar when I was repenting - so I got re-saved every Sunday. In the third stage, I felt God’s spirit pushing me all the time. I could not get away with what I used to get away with.
- In the fourth stage, there was a major change. I walked into something infinitely spiritual or I should say, something infinitely more spiritual (the Holy Spirit) walked into me. In the fifth stage, I was aware when He was not as intense some times as He was at others. Here I learned that when the Holy Spirit lifts His intense presence it is because we are not located where He wants us to be. In the sixth stage, I learned to find where the One, True, Pure Spirit was. Here I learned to feel the weight (Kabod) of His presence or glory. I began to long for that weight of His presence.
- But, it is in this stage that I am in now, the seventh stage that I have found a deeper contentment and joy in my walk with God. Here, I feel Him in me every moment. I truly know that I live and move and have my being in Him. Being in Him, yet He enjoys being in me. This is true “being.” It is here that I have noticed the presence of God’s Spirit within me has marvelous impact on others. It is here that He radiates from me, beyond me. Here He touches others before I get to them, whether it is across the table or across the room. Yes, He will flow through your eyes, your smile, and through anything else that you will let Him have.
This is what I want you to experience. This is why I write this blog so He may become such, within each one of you.
I’ll answer more of your previous blog questions next blog.
Blessings,
John Paul
28 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Loading ...
Thanks John Paul, this post was very help and encouraging.
Z
thank you for talking about “stages”; that both sets me at ease and also spurs me on to want more of God!
as with number one, its interesting sometimes when I am praying and I thanking God for who he is, and for the wonderful people and creatures he has sent before our manifested existence, etc etc, sometimes i never get to my needs, but in my heart it is as if I have already made peace with God and the asking was more in the rejoicing, and sure enough those things come naturally, or somethings its the simple time of just saying ‘wow God that would be so cool if..” and then a few weeks later that ‘if’ has transpired.. God is so rad!!
The whole stage 2, what you said about ‘begging’ is so good, it eliminates a whole lot of ‘revival culture’ doesn’t it? Oh that is good, john paul, you talk me some good language. LOL
in regards to communicating to other beleivers in our sleep, I have had encounters where I actually interacted with people while awake, one time when I was two hours away a man who I knew said in the spirit “Please come tonight to church, i need to talk to you” and so i walked up to him and asked him what he needed to talk to me about after my two hour drive to get to the church, he said “oh i am so glad you came tonight” and then stood their shocked realizing what I said. I told him i heard his voice calling for me to come which is why I made the journey. again its this wonderful spirit life that is so WOW GOD!!
John Paul your last paragraph brings great delight to me, I have tried to explain this very thing to so many christians, and they act like i am some kind of green eyed alien from another world. Jesus is indeed always with us, and the joy of him moving everywhere we go!! It reminds me of the ‘intimacy with God’ tapes you put out a while ago, you referred to the next stage of Gods awakening in his people, and you said it would be marked with JOY. That was when you talked about the bleecher dream/vision as well i think. Isn’t it interesting that now some years later, indeed the JOY and the PEACE Of God is totally manifesting in people, and how wonderful and glorious it is that you are moving right along with what God is doing, instead of being like some prophets have been and staying back in ‘old wine.’
I have told many people that the ‘annointing’ in my opinion is simply the residue of Gods presence on a person who dwells in the presence of God regularly. What some call the annointing, and what the annointing truly is, is very different in my book. I have had people grab my coat and put it on so they could ’soak’ the annointing out of it, which angered me greatly, and I told them that I was not a superheroe, simply a lover of Jesus. They apologized later, and I told them sternly that the only way to get a ‘real’ annointing was to sit at Jesus feet. Its the most beautiful thing to know like you said, that ‘hot spots’ are really inside us.
“where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” I beleive if we make God our treasure, that the flowing river of life, the tree of life, and the entire throne room of heaven is simply inside us as the mystery of the gospel. That is the hottest spot for feeling Gods presence! yeeeee hawww!!
thanks John Paul, for being light on many peoples journey, but most importantly for me, I say thank you to you, for continually pursuing JESUS. It gives me absolute pleasure to hear the things you are saying….i like this music!
There is some seasoning on those words. Very tasty. Cleaning my plate off.
Holy Spirit can we have some more through JP and the others here?
Wonderful…
It is amazing to see how God is bringing to pass Malachi 4 in these days…
It will take all eternity for us to truly and fully comprehend the depth of what Jesus paid and bought us in 3 days. It is a privilege to be able to begin to see and comprehend the depth of His sacrifice and love for us, while we are in this “fase”…
Thank you Jesus and Thank you John Paul
God Bless!
JPJ you are a blessing. I love you!
He has me crying….Lord Jesus thank you! Thank you Father, oh God– thank YOU. JP I adore your obedience. You’ve blessed me beyond measure.
I couldn’t help but hang on to every word you’ve written, in anticipation of the next. It is like a love letter from God to us…. I feel so incredibly blessed to be here. It is an answer to prayer and also yet another confirmation of my timely connection to your ministry. I’m at a loss for words because I am starting to finally see something beautiful blossoming. The stages you spoke of– I am nearly to the beginning and yet to see how much the Lord loves ME through your words is the greatest gift… I’m in desperation to let Him have all of me. To experience what you experience. I’m ready to do whatever it takes, whatever He asks, to have the kind of communion my heart is crying out to have with Him.
With all the people in the world for John Paul to teach, God chose us. Right here, right now. This is the time for something new and I’m expecting! I immeasurely thank you!
Dear JPJ,
It seems we have to go through the rubble and shake off all the religion we can so easily pick up. JPJ, I am stirred within every ounce of my being especially by the truths you share on “Are we always aware on how God flows though us…………….” in this post. Thanks JPJ! I must also say that the truths of God in “The Anointing and The Trash” are killer: what depth!
Amen! I’m shooting for the top, to see his glory. Thanks Holy Spirit.Thanks John Paul for knowing the HS.
First off, I just want you to know, I love you man. This is cool. While I was reading this I remembered, or I guess was reminded back to when my heart stopped and I had this, (I guess)near death thing, but more like an experience with God. The day after I still felt like I was trapped inside the spiritual realm. Sounds weird I know but I could still feel what ever happened in the encounter with God on me. Since the heart stopping thing was drug related I figured I would make the feeling go away cause I tried passing the whole thing off as just the drugs(age 16). However I looked for a way to sin so it to make it leave. “it”? So why if it was drug did I sin to make the feeling go away?
OW!
Well I never really thought about it till now, but reading this for some reason unlocked the memory a bit further. So I asked for forgiveness. So even though I still have a lot of questions a weight lifted like no other. So again, I love you man,and a whole hearted thank you from a guy at the end of his rope:).
Thanks John Paul, the blog is so encouraging. I only recently did the 101 course in the UK and sense God causing me to grow… just seeing the tip of the tip of the iceberg in view. I am so looking forward to the next on understanding dreams and visions. I have dreamed all my life but as a christian never really understood what to do with them and what they mean, or even that they could possibly be God speaking to me through them. Thanks for sharing the stuff God has taught you it is making me really hungry for more of God.
I loved this blog! Thank you!
Jena
I truly know that I live and move and have my being in Him. Being in Him, yet He enjoys being in me. This is true “being.” It is here that I have noticed the presence of God’s Spirit within me has marvelous impact on others. It is here that He radiates from me, beyond me. Here He touches others before I get to them, whether it is across the table or across the room. Yes, He will flow through your eyes, your smile, and through anything else that you will let Him have.
Yes! This is what its all about. Thankyou, John Paul for your insights!
Blessings Always!
Shirley C.
John Paul, thank you for the wisdom and direction in this and your discernment, evidence of the Word being alive and part of you (Heb 4:12).
I had an experience about 20 years or so ago after a service where the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully. I went to a Dunkin Donuts after, and as I was looking at the little Brazilian girl (not more than 17,18 or 19) serving me, the love of God just leapt out of me and hit her. I can’t explain it any more than that, but it was like the Lord just rose up out of me and touched her. I’m sure she felt it. It was very cool. I want so much more of that, this blog is encouraging that there is more and that it’s not sterile.
I also read yesterday where Jesus says that if our eye is good, our whole body will be full of light. I used to think that this meant that we’d be morally pure; I now believe that this is literal - if my eye is good, I will be full of the light of the Lord. This is a little out there for me, but in a good way!
I know I echo the others who come here in saying that I love you John Paul. You encourage me (us),give me (us) hope and inspire me (us) in connecting at a greater level with the true living God, not just someone we read about in a book but a true, living Person. That’s exciting (and scary! in a good way).
Blessings,
Dennis
I have found myself in the last year saying it would take nothing short of a miracle beyond my imagination for me to return to a close walk with God. I felt life events had driven an irreversible wedge between us.
Over the last week or so I had a few good dreams. The dreams were of things I wish would happen. They inspired me go to a church. It was a long drive but I tried the two steps to pass time. I felt a little awkward in the service but I noticed after I left I felt better. In fact, I felt so much better that I’ve been trying to be in the presence of God since then…with success I might add.
I hope that I will be able to continue walking in this.
Since you are answering questions I thought I might ask how long these stages were for you. Are you talking about years long stages? I don’t know too much about you but I guess I was under the impression that you have always had lots of spiritual experiences. I was surprised to see you describe your stage one and two.
Awesome John Paul!
It’s just what I needed to hear today!!
Especially the begging part.
bless you
Lois
Hi John Paul, You said ~ “In the fifth stage, I was aware when He was not as intense some times as He was at others. Here I learned that when the Holy Spirit lifts His intense presence it is because we are not located where He wants us to be.”
I get disturbed when I don’t feel Him on me intensely. I had heard from someone that you said that our relationship with Him ebbs and flows, as a cycle, or orbit -sometimes you are pulled closer ect. Is this different than legitimately being disturbed when you feel His presence lesson on you?
Blessings,
Vincent
Wow, thanks John Paul. I love to see what a huge impact obedience makes. I am so glad that you obey Dad. Your ministry is so needed and I am speechless and how awesome Our Father is.
JP, YOU SAID IN THE FIFTH STAGE YOU LEARNED THAT WHEN HIS PRESENCE WAS AS INTENSE AS IT USE TO BE YOU WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE. WELL I FEEL THAT MINE IS NOT AS INTENSE AS IT USE TO BE AND THAT FRUSTRATES ME TO NO END!!! MY SPIRITUAL SENSES SEEM DULL COMPARED TO MY PAST. I HAVE REPENTED FOR EVERYTHING THAT I COULD ASK GOD TO DELIVER ME IF I WAS OPPRESSED BUT MY GIFTS DON’T SEEM AS KEEN AS THEY USE TO BE. I DON’T THINK WE ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE WHETHER IT IS MY WORK, CHURCH, OR EVEN LOCATION GEOGRAPHICALLY SO DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER INSIGHT TO HELP ME? I STILL HAVE A LOT OF DREAMS THOUGH AND SOME PROPHETIC WORDS COME FORTH WHEN MY PEN IS TO PAPER BUT I
DON’T SEE “STUFF” IN THE SPIRIT REALM SO VIVIDLY AS I DID AND TO BE HONEST I HATE THAT I DON’T! WHAT SHOULD I DO TO GET MY “VISION” BACK?
THANKS FOR DOING THIS BLOG I LOVE TO READ WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING THRU YOU AND OTHER’S COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS TOO.
I”m seventeen and After reading your stages. I know i desire to just sit and rest in Gods weighty presence. I desire to know God’s glory. But for one reason or another it doesn’t seem to be being released into my life. Is it part of God’s desire for you to feel the weight of his glory at times and not at others. Am i too young to be pressing into the deep deep things of God and desire to just know the intimacy of his glory and of his presence? The answer to both of those questions i believe is no, But i don’t know why breakthrough isn’t occurring. I desire to be blasted by God and know the measure of who he is? Is my character not there so he can’t reveal himself to me? I”m not sure?
Thank you JP for your insight and how you bring this revelation across to us. I am totally amazed and hope that one day I might carry this same annointing with all humility!!
God Bless you, your family and ministry.
Thank you for your Father’s heart and for your desire to see “us” experience all of this! It’s our desire too! It’s so encouraging to have someone willing to take the time to teach and share with us - and one who is willing to be real and transparent as well. Holy Spirit has flowed through you and the Streams staff in so many ways over the past 8 years to encourage me and exhort me to seek God wholeheartedly! I’m continually maturing and growing in Him. My worship and relationship with God has exploded in the past 8 years! Thanks for being willing and obedient to share, teach, and train others to walk in the fullness of God!
Love and Blessings,
Kim
Thank you for taking the time to write regularly
By the way, John Paul, I’ve been putting into practice your teaching on “Increasing Your Spirit’s Capacity” and “The Biblical Model of Dream Interpretation.” I was able to help 2 of my daughters understand God’s meaning of their dreams. I have also been praying your “Declarative Prayer”. People are being touched by God, even without me speaking to them. This week I have had 2 men approach me for a chat. I had never met them before but they were drawn to speak to me. In both cases my wife thought I must have known them for years. But it was the first time I met them. I felt that they were being drawn to Jesus. They were so happy to talk with me. It was weird - it just has not happened to me before.
You challenged my negative thinking too. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve looked for God to act in my every day hassles. I now stand in long shopping ques with a smile on me face, wondering who is being touched by God. Today my prearranged transport fell through. Rather then panicking, I just believed God would get me to the location. I praised Him and was happy rather then frustrated. Then at the right time a friend came along. He had been delayed and offered to give me a lift. Wow
Bob - Australia
Hi John Paul. I recently was up at Streams and sat in on your talk about Spirituality. I wanted to ask you this question there, but chicken out.
Anyway, my question is regarding those who have demons inhabiting his or her body. In chemistry, I learned that matter breaks down quicker in heat. Would that be true for a demon? Because, demons are composed of some sort of spiritual matter. Would they deteriorate at a quicker pace when inhabiting someone’s body? The person they inhabit seems to deteriorate at a more rapid pace than one who does not have a demon. So are the subject to the same trends of matter as we are?
I know this may seem like a strange question. It was just something I thought of when you were speaking.
Thank you for having a blog!
Have a very blessed day.
“This is why so many hear from God when they relax, or they are driving, working, or doing anything but pleading. If God answers us by our pleading, then he has just said we can earn His love. Peace before Him says we “trust” or have “faith” in Him.”
-John Paul
I totally love the idea of resting in Him. One thing that stood out to me when i watched the Ghandi movie was how when Ghandi fasted he just kind of layed around and found peace. I want to be like that.
But i spoke of this with a dear friend the other night and was reminded of the Psalms. In the ‘Davidic pattern-we see crying out and being in awe, crying out and then being in awe. It repeats itself. There is worship and thankfulness, then crying out and crying out. David cried out to God for freedom from those who camped around him trying to take his life!! hmm should we possess any kind of shrewdness or deliberative expression in our talkativeness with the Father!!!
I would LOVE to hear what anyone here thinks!!
Dear John Paul,
I have been listening to you online for some time now. I feel very blessed to have two teachers online (yourself and another) that though the approach to the word is different, the focus is Christ and message is the same. I just wanted to let you know that this ministry is reaching me and teaching me and that I am thankful for everyone involved. May the Lord bless all of you. I am learning more today than when I went to Bible College and I have many questions I wish I could ask but this is not really the format. So, I will sit here and quietly absorb everything. Please let me know if there is a format where questions may be posed. Thank you!
Thanks for this! Great points about the Lord’s prayer, as well as our desire to be spiritual. Thanks, and shalom.