In his letter, John encourages us to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Although this is taken as a practical instruction, of correct behaviour and attitude that flows from a connection to our supreme God, Jesus’ life was dynamic. He lived in the dual reality of spirit and earthly existence, into which we have been given new birth from above.

 

Jesus’ connection to our Father often caused a yearning inside of him that lead him to draw away from the crowds to connect, one-on-one, with our Father in heaven. During these times of intimacy, he would receive heavenly revelation from which he lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Cultivated throughout decades of intimate companionship in spirit, Jesus was recognised his Father’s voice with such efficiency that he always did whatever he saw his Father doing.

 

The things of our Father, the business of heaven, are hidden from the natural mind and heart. Psalm 42:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 2:10 tell us they can only be perceived through Holy Spirit perception, from the deep parts of God, conveyed into the deep parts of our spirit.

 

God wants us to grow in our intimacy with him in spirit. As we spend more time in spirit, whether through soaking in worship music, reading and meditating on the word of God, prayer, praying in tongues or meditating in psalms, whatever our method, spirit-to-spirit connection opens the eyes of our heart (Ephesians 1:18).

 

As we open our hearts to God we attune our spirit into his, the eyes of our hearts are enlightened and our spiritual senses awaken with increased sensitivity. As a result, we may have new experiences of the spirit realms in ways that may surprise us.

 

As we grow in our spiritual communion with our Father in heaven, just like Jesus, our spiritual senses sharpen. With enlightened hearts we can discern the will of God and the move of his spirit, including his tangible presence within us and around us, with ease. As we purposefully cultivate our time spent in the spiritual presence of God, naturally we will become aware of the presence of the heavenly realms. Acclimated to the culture of heaven, we will see with a filter of pure eyes, seeing God’s light in the world around us. Spending time with our Father purifies our hearts and so we will see God and his Kingdom (Matthew 5:8).

 

How this will look is different for each one of us. For example, some have a gift that enables them to literally see the spirit realms and what is in them, with such clarity that they appear just as real as the physical world. By increasing intimacy with our Father, their senses will be fine tuned and sharpened, enabling them to quickly discern what it is they are seeing, its meaning and purpose.

 

While others are sharp in the word of God, able to recount scripture and verse in any situation. Their discernment of truth and whatever aligns with the nature and character of God will sharpen.

 

As we press on with setting our hearts on developing our intimacy with God, in deep devotion and spirit connection to our Father in heaven, we may have increased spiritual experiences. God may reveal himself through a variety of methods that are completely new to us. Some of these methods may even be out of our comfort zone, such as visions, trances, spiritual experiences (much like visions), our imagination, dreams, through an inner knowledge or prompting of the Holy Spirit. We may even experience hearing an audible voice, as if someone is speaking to us directly in our mind, conversing with us about God’s mysteries and truths.

 

As the reality of the heavenly realms around us become more prevalent, we may even sense the presence of angels and spirits from God. Some people may even see them in physical form, while others may be able to sense their presence through changes in their personal feelings or body reactions (this is covered in later chapters).