How to Cultivate Christian Spirituality

• Where Do I Begin?
• Intensity of Focus Releases My Breakthrough!
• Uniting With a Multi-gifted Team Accelerates My Growth
• It Is Easiest if I Acquire Spiritual Skills in an Orderly Fashion
• I Will Be a Doer of the Word!
• God’s Roadmap to Producing a Bountiful Harvest

---

Check Out This 90-Second Welcome by Dr. Mark Virkler

Where Do I Begin?

Mark and Patti have written more than fifty books, and people often ask, "Where should I begin? What book or training module should I order first?"  Great questions, and here is their answer.

The first skill you will want to sharpen is the ability Adam and Eve had to enjoy two-way conversations with Almighty God. They walked and talked with Him in the cool of the day, and He longs to delight in the same fellowship with you. This foundational skill allows us to receive God’s counsel and wisdom as we walk through life. Therefore, the first materials you order should be from the series on “4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice” or the accompanying college course, “Communion with God.” This is the turning point in all our lives, as we learn to do Spirit-anointed works by living out of His voice. This is the first required skill for one who wants to walk and live by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice."

Confess out loud: "I will learn to daily hear God’s voice."

Intensity of Focus Brings My Breakthrough!

Mastering a skill is different than learning facts. Academics can be limited to simple memorization, whereas lifestyle changes take time. Our desire is that you not be content with simply filling your mind with new information, but that you commit yourself to being transformed by the knowledge and revelation you receive. So give yourself at least three months of focused effort to allow the Holy Spirit to work a lifestyle change in you.

Jesus told me (Mark Virkler) in my journaling that:

“Whatever you focus on grows within you, and whatever grows within you, you become.”  

This gave birth to my understanding of "intensity of focus" or “laser light focus.” Both 2 Cor. 4:17, 18  and James 1:25 discuss the idea of being transformed by looking.

It was in 1979 that I discovered the power of concentrated attention. I had previously spent ten years dabbling with trying to hear the voice of God. Then I spent one year of focused effort to recognize His voice, and I found the breakthrough which had eluded me for so long. “Focused effort” meant that I spent every spare hour that year exploring this area.

• All my Bible meditation was in this area.
• All the books I read were in this area.
• All the conferences I attended were in this area.
• All my experimentation was in this area.
• All my preaching was in this area.

By focusing all my energies for twelve months, I received a breakthrough in an area where I had been defeated for ten years. I learned to hear God's voice!

Confess out loud: "I will focus intensely until I experience my breakthrough!"

Uniting With a Multi-gifted Team Accelerates My Growth

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor, for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Eccl. 4:9-12)

If you have an excellent mentor, someone who has gone in front of you and who is working closely with you, you can generally get a breakthrough in much less time than if you try to grow on your own.

Four Ways of Teaming Up:

1. Ask your spouse or a small group to meet weekly with you for 10-12 weeks, and go through the training module together with them. As an alternative, you may ask two or three spiritual friends to be advisers with whom you can share your growing experiences.
2. Hire a Personal Spiritual Trainer from Communion with God Ministries to function as a coach for three months.
3. Take the training through our electronic School of the Spirit downloads.
4. Take the training as a college course from Christian Leadership University and have an instructor at your side.

Confess out loud: "I will unite with a multi-gifted team and enhance my success!"

It Is Easiest if I Acquire Spiritual Skills in an Orderly Fashion 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25 & Rom. 8:13, 14)

Growing in intimacy with the Holy Spirit is a step-by-step process. Our passion is to provide training modules that will help you to acquire skill after skill as you grow in your relationship with God, through the Holy Spirit.

Below is your opportunity to discover your current skill level so you can easily discern what your next step of mastery should be. We have listed the first skills you are to acquire as the foundational abilities and the place to begin. The "Expansion" training modules are skills which build upon this solid foundation.

Enjoy your growth in the Spirit. We want you to succeed!

Confess out loud: "I will acquire the skills necessary to live and walk in the Spirit!"

FOUNDATION: Establishing Intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit

In this category, we encourage you to master the skills in the order listed below, as the skills build upon each other as you move down the list.

   Select 1-5 as you answer the statements below:

1. Not at all or not much
2. Sometimes or a little bit
3. A fair amount or about half way
4. Most of the time or mostly
5. All the time or completely

Throughout the day I recognize God’s voice and see visions:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
         If less than 4, we recommend 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice Training Module

I exude faith, hope and love because I receive God’s counsel daily:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Counseled by God Training Module

My heart is free because my deep heart wounds have been healed through prayer ministry:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Prayers That Heal the Heart Training Module

I receive wisdom from the Wonderful Counselor nightly through my dreams:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend the Dream Interpretation Training Module

EXPANSION: Releasing the Holy Spirit Into Various Areas of My Life

In the "Expansion" category (which you begin after completing the "Foundation" category), you follow the Spirit’s guidance by recognizing the desires and passions of your heart. You will not necessarily go through these in the order listed below, but in the order your heart tells you to go through them, taking into account your life’s needs and your spouse’s recommendations. You may even seek input from spiritual advisors.

My body is vibrantly healthy. I am full of energy and free of pain:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Go Natural Training Module

I know the Bible (I scored over 70% on all eight free online Bible Quizzes)  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Through the Bible Training Module

I impart God’s grace, blessing and joy to my children daily:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend the Parenting Training Module

I am working and succeeding, utilizing the unique gift mix God has given me:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Gifted to Succeed Training Module

I release Jesus’ anointing of life, wisdom and power throughout the day:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend Naturally Supernatural & Intimacy with the Holy Spirit Training Modules

I easily, constantly identify S/spirit sensations within myself and others:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend How to Walk by the Spirit Training Module

I live in financial freedom (I lend and don’t borrow):  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend the Fulfill Your Financial Destiny Training Module

I speak in tongues daily, building up my spirit:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend the Introduction to the Supernatural Training Module

I continuously release divine creativity:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend the Spirit Born Creativity Training Module

I bring out the best in people I supervise. They grow while working with me:  1,  2,  3,  4,  5
        If less than 4, we recommend 20 Key Principles of Management Training Module

I Will Be a Doer of the Word (James 1:22)!

Spiritual maturity is not determined by what we know or have heard, but by the lifestyle we live. Jesus warned in the Parable of the Soils (Matt. 13:3-9; Mk. 4:14-20), that many would hear the word, but it would not profit them because they would make the following mistakes.

Confess out loud: "I will be a doer of the word and not a hearer only!"

God's Roadmap to Producing a Bountiful Harvest

 

Click here to view the roadmap