The most frequent question asked from Christians is “How do I know the Will of God?” Countless thousands of sincere, hungry Christians long to know God’s perfect Will for their lives.
The key to flowing into God’s perfect Will is learning to be led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). The leading of the Spirit consists of five inward witnesses, The voice of the human spirit and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will light up something someone said to me, and it just seems to shout at me, I have a witness that it is a Word from God.
The way I usually hear Him is through spontaneous thoughts that just enter my mind through my spirit, this is part of my spirit speaking to me, I know it is just not my mind thinking, but my spirit speaking.
The voice of the Lord flows through my spirit into my mind in spontaneous thoughts, and I know it is God speaking to me because I am illuminated, and my spirit bears witness with it.
I also speak from my spirit words, and I know it is God speaking through my voice. But usually, it is just my soul speaking, but I am working on it, and putting spirit in my words, so that I can always speak from my spirit, so that it is Jesus speaking through me and the words are filled with Spirit and life. That is how Jesus spoke when He was teaching, or prophesying things that would happen.
Each of the areas we are learning consists of five inward witnesses. Each of these areas of the five inward witnesses can be taught and acquired.
As we grow in being led by the Holy Spirit, we will grow to be truly the sheep who hear the voice of our Lord (John 10:27).
May God by His grace and mercy enable all of us to flow in the river of His perfect Will.
THE INWARD WITNESS
The Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways but the basic way by which the Holy Spirit leads us is the inward witness. Most of the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives is by means of the inward witness.
He does give visions and prophecies as confirmation in our lives, but we still need to be led by the inward witness. Even those in the fivefold ministry must learn to be led by the inward witness.
Some people think that all the five-fold ministers see visions every day, but I don’t think that even most of them know how to be in The Spirit, like the Apostle John did-Revelation 4
They may operate spectacularly in their ministries, but God still requires them to be sensitive to the inward witness in their daily affairs of life.
People have always associated the spectacular with the supernatural, but the supernatural may not be spectacular.
For example, it is a supernatural act for us to speak in tongues every day, at any time, but it may not be that spectacular.
DEFINITION OF THE INNER WITNESS
The inward witness is a spiritual sensation in our newborn spirit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).
After we are born again, the Holy Spirit dwells in our spirits and leads us the rest of our lives through our newborn spirits (Ezekiel 36:26, 27). We are under His guardianship until Jesus comes again for us (Ephesians 1:13, 14).
The inward witness is also called the anointing within. The anointing within will teach and lead us in all things (1 John 2:27).
The manifestation of this anointing within produces the sensation that we call the inward witness.
In a sense, the anointing within is like the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the great and terrible wilderness (Numbers 9:15-23; Deuteronomy 8:15).
The distinct difference is that in the Old Testament, the leading was outward whereas in the New Testament, the leading is inward.
The basic sensation of the inward witness is that of right or wrong, red light or green light, although there are five variations to this spiritual sensation. It is also the working of the conscience, which bears witness to the rightness or wrongness of a thing (Romans 9:1).
In the same way that Paul served God with his spirit, Paul also served God with his conscience, one of the senses of his soul (2 Timothy 1:3; Romans 1:9). Our inward witness of our spirit and the senses of our soul can be trained. But our soul must first be renewed.
For example, if you were raised up in the drug culture, or criminal activities and you break one of our governments laws, your conscious will tell you that the police are bad, but God ordained them to be servants of people, unfortunately not all police men are good.
The spiritual senses of our spirit can be trained to discern the voice of God. (Hebrews 5:14). The conscience needs to be trained and guided by the Word of God.
The conscience can be tender or hard; it can be seared or deadened with sin and unrighteousness (1 Timothy 4:2).
When we were born again, our conscience has the potential to be restored by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:22).
Henceforth, we should like Paul, seek to live our lives with a pure conscience. When we are walking with God, we want to avoid a sin consciousness when we are overcoming bad habits.
Our mind is not our brain. Our mind is a function of our soul and is closely related to our brain.
Our brain is like a computer and has been trained by our habits and life experiences. That is why it is hard to stop cursing and swearing, it has been programed into the subconsciousness of our brain.
If we swear when something goes wrong we usually use the Lord’s name in vain. But immediately our spirit convicts us and we are sorry.
Don’t focus on it, replace it by learning how to praise God when we stub our toe. It takes a lot and a lot of practice. Purposely bump into something and say praise God because our brain is programed by habit. And this is how we renew our mind, by confessing the word, and thinking God’s thoughts.
Our conscience should work together with our faith to keep us operating at a level of faith and not in presumption.
Acting on presumption is acting on something which we do not have faith for in our spirit. Our conscience is the barometer of our faith level. It tells us if we are stepping out beyond our faith level. Paul told the Corinthians that those who do not walk in their faith and revelation level will defile their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:7).
Although in First Corinthians, Paul was speaking about food offered to Idols, the principle of operating at our personal faith level in agreement with conscience applies to all aspects of our daily lives.
We must learn to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, otherwise we will be shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19; 3:9).
THE FIVE SENSES OF OUR SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE.
Our spirit has more than five senses, bit I found these in the bible, it would take some time to find the others, and I redeem the time because I am so, busy that sometimes It is hard to believe what time it goes by so fast’, I have another message on my ‘website about them, I will look for it and put the link up. This is an important message.
There are five incidents in the New Testament which speak about the working of the inward witness in the spirit man. Each of these demonstrates a different area to which the inward witness bears witness. There are different levels of the working of the inward witness. We need to develop sensitivity to these various levels of the inward witness.
When Jesus was conversing with the Pharisees, He sighed deeply in His spirit (Mark 8:12). Something was obviously happening in His spirit. The word ‘sighed’ comes from the Greek word ‘stenazo.’ This same word has been used when Jesus prayed for the deaf and dumb man. Jesus looked up into heaven and sighed. After that He spoke the words ‘Be opened’ and the man was healed (Mark 7:34).
When the phrase Jesus looked up it means he looked into heaven to see what the Father would do.
The word ‘stenazo’ has also been translated as ‘groan’ (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4). It is very clear from the context of the book of Romans that the groaning referred to has to do with prayer.
We can therefore soundly conclude that the word ‘stenazo’, when used in reference to the spirit of a person, speaks of the prayer burden that the Holy Spirit imparts.
The first sensation of the inward witness is therefore a sensation to pray.
Jesus also groaned in his spirit when he saw Mary and the Jews weeping over Lazarus (John 11:33, 38). However, the word ‘groaned’ here does not come from the same word as in the first sensation of the inward witness.
The Greek word in this passage is the word ‘embrimaomai’ which carries a totally different meaning. The word ‘embrimaomai’ has been translated as ‘sternly warned’ (Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; 8:30). Jesus sternly warned those healed not to advertise their healing because if he had too much publicity it would prevent Him from entering the towns He desired to preach in. When His orders went unheeded, the crowds that came were so great that Jesus could no longer enter the city (Mark 1:45). ‘Embrimaomai’ is speaking in an authoritative tone.
Based on these passages, what Jesus was experiencing at Lazarus’ tomb was not just mere sorrow. Jesus was experiencing an infusion of authority. It was an authoritative sensation in His spirit.
He was sensing a special anointing of the Holy Spirit to take authority over the situation. At the tomb, Jesus called out with an authoritative and loud voice saying, “Lazarus, come forth.” Immediately, Lazarus arose and came out in his graveclothes.
Jesus told his disciples to loose him (take off the grave clothes and also has a spiritual meaning of setting our brothers and sisters of whatever is hindering them) Jesus was always getting his disciples involved in what he was doing,
This second sensation of our spirit is a leading of the Holy Spirit to take authority over a situation. This is always experienced in the casting out of demons and in the healing ministry. Those who desire to flow in the anointing and minister by the Holy Spirit must sense this second sensation of the spirit man before they take authority over demons or sickness, other wise in my experience it doesn’t work, and it is no good to pray for people if your prayer’s do not work, the person may have doubt in them, we have to learn these things, Jesus always removed the doubters in the houses he ministered to sick and dead people.
As Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He was troubled in His spirit (John 13:21). The word ‘troubled’ comes from the Greek word ‘tarasso.’ Jesus sensed a betrayal was taking place at the very moment that He was speaking (John 13:21).
This third sensation of the spirit is like an early warning system. This term is used in nuclear warfare strategies of early warning in the probability of first strike by opposing nations. God has built into us an early warning system by which we know of impending dangers supernaturally through our spirit. Satan should never be able to take Christians by surprise. Jesus knew every move of Satan before it even happened. He was sensitive to the Holy Spirit working in His spirit.
The third sensation is like a troubled stirring within the spirit. Its purpose is to warn us of strategic moves by the enemy against us. The right response to this sensation would be to exercise spiritual warfare by intercession and prayer.
After the reception of this sensation in His spirit, Jesus went into deep prayer. He prayed until His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44).
He received a breakthrough in the spirit realm through His prayers (Hebrews 5:7; Luke 22:43).
I believe the victory was won in the garden, which empowered him to die on the cross. The greatest thing he has ever done.
This third sensation works like an alarm bell that calls our attention to the great need of immediate intercession and spiritual warfare.
When Paul was in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him at the sight of the idolatry that prevailed in the city (Acts 17:16). The word ‘provoked’ comes from the Greek word ‘paroxunomai.’ Paul was experiencing a positive stirring in his spirit.
This fourth sensation of the spirit is a positive stirring to minister.
It is different from the third sensation.
The fourth sensation carries an element of excitement and zeal whereas the third sensation carries an element of being troubled.
Upon sensing the positive stirring, Paul went into the synagogue and in the marketplaces to preach and to teach God’s Word (Acts 17:17).
This fourth sensation of the inward witness is like a bubbling(I cannot think of a better word to describe it, I have to make up words to describe spirit words and then you cannot find them in a dictionary) in the spirit to perform a work of God.
When Jesus was led by the spirit, he was driven by the spirit, I found once looking up words in the bible, it was a long time ago, I want to preach the word, but I study by writing, and then I am going to use outlings so that it is powerful. I used to preach in a church, and it was hard, when I looked at people I got distracted and broke connection with the Lord, I really have to focus on the Lord, but I was preaching without an outline. Once I start making them, I will start preaching, the Lord told me to go on Y tube years ago. He told me to start an internet church and gave me the name for it, so I got an internet church dominion name trough go-daddy and they were charging me two dollars a day, I found out I can have ten websites on my blue hosting so I paid $ 13.38 from blue hosting for two years, and tomorrow I am going to pay $ 16 dollars for security and protection for a year so no one can hack it. I am off subject, that happens when I am not listening to the Lord and edit it when I put this message on my website. I am trying to write them in segments, so they are not so long, back to the message.
If this sensation is not obeyed, a quenching of the Spirit takes place (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Later when Paul went to Corinth, he experienced a stronger sensation of the inward witness. He was constrained by the Holy Spirit (Acts 18:5).
In some translations, the word Spirit” is not capitalized to convey that the spirit of Paul was involved. These are sensations of our spirit.
This is the fifth and the strongest sensation. It is very much like the fourth sensation except that it is multiplied many times in strength and intensity.
It is a stirring to perform a work of God through the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Unlike the fifth sensation, the fourth sensation is a stirring to perform a work of God without the gifts of the Holy Spirit in manifestation.
Paul stayed in Corinth for about a year and six months (Acts 18:11). Jesus even appeared to him and encouraged him to stay and minister boldly (Acts 18:9,10). Mighty signs and wonders were performed in Paul’s ministry with the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:12). The word ‘constrained’ comes from the Greek word ‘sunecho’ which speaks about being pressed or held together.
In this sensation the Holy Spirit and the human spirit works as one entity together.
This sensation is always present whenever the anointing upon us is in manifestation.
Those without spiritual training will not be able to sense these five sensations of the spirit man clearly, it is going to take practice. Ask God to help you, and he will.
We need to train our spirit man through the Word of God and through prayer. I pray in tongues a lot because it helps my spirit to be more sensitive to God. Fasting and prayer can also increase the sensitivity of a person to the experiences in our spirit.
In total, there are nine various sensations that we experience in the our spirit which we need to differentiate:
Our spirit convicting us which flows into our conscience.
The sense of red light – this is when we are heading the wrong direction or are doing something wrong. The conscience can also function differently for different people because of their spiritual knowledge; where it can be wrong to another weaker but right to another stronger (1 Corinthians 8:7-10). Or a person cannot sense wrong any more in a particular area because their conscience is seared (1 Timothy 4:2)
2. The sense of green light – this is when we are doing something right or in the presence of God. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus sensed a burning sensation in their hearts when they unknowingly were speaking to Jesus (Luke 24:32)
There are Five sensations of our spirit, I write on my website, so you ought to read my timeline looking at the dates the messages are written (and mostly may not be the same day from bottom to top). Because I mainly write on my website editing it or creating new messages or reading books.
- The sense to pray or stenazo. It is also a sense of expectation and release of something in the Spiritual realm.
- The sense of spiritual authority or embrimaomai. This is an inner sense of taking spiritual authority over a situation. In prayer in the spirit, sometimes the tone changes and a more authoritative voice and tongue flows forth.
- The sense of a prayer burden or tarasso. Although it also functions as a red alert, it is very different from the sense of a red light inward witness for in this situation, it can be God’s perfect Will but one must pray through. Jesus has this sensation when He went to Gethsemane to pray through.
- The sense of stirring to perform or do a spiritual task. It is a sense of paroxunomai or a sense of spiritual expectation or the anointing within. It is an energizing sensation that increases as one continues to release the works that God has deposited into one’s spirit.
5. The sense of the anointing upon or sunecho. The Holy Spirit coming upon a person creates a special sensation that one must recognized just as Elisha recognized when the Spirit of God was upon him (2 Kings 3:15). The apostle Paul also recognized this sensation (Acts 13:9).
There are two sensations in working with the Holy Spirit 1. The sensation of quenching the Spirit. This is a spiritual sense of dryness or a troubled sense that one has not allowed the Holy Spirit to perform a gifting or work that He wants to do through our spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20). It is not a sense of condemnation but more like feeling a fire has been put out when it should be strengthened and embolden.
2. The sensation of grieving the Holy Spirit. This is when we are not walking according to the attributes of God. It is when we are not walking in Agape love. Love is the most important attribute that we must walk in 24 hours a day, and when we do not do so but walk the opposite of agape love, and a grieving sensation results (Ephesians 4:30). It can involve words or actions or attitudes not in line with the love of God that needs to be changed and renewed into Christ’s attributes.
All nine sensations that I have(the Lord will give me more in timer) are essential to confirm the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
When we hear the voice of the human spirit or the voice of the Holy Spirit, these spiritual sensations will accompany the leadings to confirm the leadings. Those who are led by the Spirit are called are mature male and sons of God (Romans 8:14).