Spiritual Capacity.
Genesis 26:22
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:6–8 [NKJV]
1 However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ!
1 Corinthians 3:1 [AMP]
How To Expand Your Spiritual Capacity.
1. Protect A Strong Private Life.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 [NIV]
20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.
Isaiah 26:20 [NIV]
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 [NIV]
10 For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…
Hebrews 4:10-11 [NIV]
2. Prioritize A Committed Word Life.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 [NKJV]
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 14:26 [NKJV]
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8 [KJV]
3 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.
Matthew 4:3-11 [NIV]
25 Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.
Ephesians 5:25-26 [AMPC]
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]
3. Practice A Devoted Prayer Life.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:4–11 [NIV]
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…
Ephesians 5:18 [NLT]
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 [NIV]
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
Proverbs 20:5 [NIV]
38 “Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 7:38 [NIV]
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
1 Corinthians 14:18 [NIV]
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:5–8 [NIV]
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:2 [NIV]
18 Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18 [NIV]
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:26-28 [NIV]
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…
Jude 1:20 [NIV]
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…
1 Corinthians 14:32-33 [NKJV]
4. Pursue A Worship-Led Life.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Acts 16:25-26 [NIV]
23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
1 Samuel 16:23 [NKJV]
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16 [NIV]
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:1-4 [ESV]
