There are two species of Humans on Earth. The New Creation and the Lost.

I see people talking about, and posting about, how the Holy Spirit comes to live in you when you are born-again. When I finally came to Jesus at a particularly low point in my life, the idea of part of God living in me was incredibly cool! And that’s probably how I would have described it when I was twenty-six years old.

Actually, almost everything in the Bible blew my mind. The miracles and how everything came together like the perfect plot in the best sci-fi novel of all time. I devoured the Word. The Truth about Jesus changed me from the inside out. I finally understood life, and I had peace. 

I had no idea what any of what I read in the Word meant for me. My concept of Jesus and Heaven was typical of someone with no Christian background. I thought I had to work hard at not sinning. I hoped I did enough in the end to go to Heaven. Whatever that was.

The idea of the free gift of Jesus’s death on the cross had barely registered. I just took all of what I had read at face value. After all, Jesus was God, and I was just another desperate man.

It took me a long time and many painful experiences to learn how to pray, which began to draw me closer to the Holy Spirit. Now, I pray to hear the things He wants to share with me that day. With the Holy Spirit’s coaching, I realized that I have everything I need to live in collaboration with Him. I depend on Him to lead me in the morning when it’s time for my devotions and to collaborate with me when I write.

I depend on the Holy Spirit in every aspect of my life. I feel sorry for those who still resist Jesus. Being born-again is an everyday adventure. Being an entirely different species (at least that’s how I like to describe it) provides many opportunities to explore His word.

The only way I can relate to the sad reality of the lost is to remember when I was lost and desperate. This prompts me to pray.

The lost have an excuse for why they flounder through life. For those born-again, however, floundering without engaging with the Holy Spirit is like trying to fight a battle with a sword when the enemy has modern weapons. 

We have been given every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly realms. So, why don’t we pursue that supernatural relationship to destroy those strongholds?

I remember a cartoon I saw a long time ago. It was used as a teaching tool to get a prospect’s attention.

The idea that we are in a war is appropriate because we are. So, how do we fight in this war since we cannot physically see the enemy? We need help. As I said above, we have been given every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly realms. 

Paul made it very clear in 2 Corinthians 10:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

So, how do we pull down strongholds if we can’t see them? Jesus tells His disciples, after they go out, to announce that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. They are amazed by how even the demons obey them. They are operating under Jesus’s authority.

“ Luke 10:18 So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

But we can only access that Authority through the Holy Spirit. 

It is easy to go about our days without thinking of the Holy Spirit—very easy! Learning to walk in that authority requires digging into the Scriptures and developing a relentless prayer life. Most of all, we need to be so close to the Holy Spirit that we can discern His voice and collaborate with Him on applying His authority in any given situation.

So, keeping our heads on a swivel means we must be aware of when the Holy Spirit directs our attention to something that requires prayer or a loving touch with His Love.

There is another reason to stay tuned to the Holy Spirit’s work. We don’t want to miss our visitations or those moments of surprise blessings.

Pursue His face, pray to discern His voice, and hunger for His touch. The Kingdom life is challenging and sometimes difficult, but we have everything we need to live it.