However, spirit-to-Spirit encounters with God have become much too rare among Western Christians. Since rationalism has taken over the Western world in the past few hundred years, the Church has also come under its influence and has not given the attention it should to the work of the Spirit in our lives. Therefore, we are often bound by rationalism and miss the fullness of relationship with our Father that the early Church enjoyed. Mark Virkler

As I began to examine my own life, I realised that I often took antagonistic and adversarial attitudes toward people with whom I didn’t agree. I felt it was what God wanted me to do. However, finally it dawned upon me that the accuser’s stance is satan’s attitude (the word devil literally means “accuser”) and the comforter’s stance is the Holy Spirit’s position. Mark Virkler

It is absolutely essential that you not miss this step of recognising two or three spiritual counsellors in your life, and that you go to them on a regular basis to confirm that what you felt you heard from God actually came from God. The Lord has created us to live in relationship with one another. Mark Virkler

While they were vigorously defending Christianity, formulating creeds (propositional statements of doctrine), and attempting to vanquish heresy by excommunicating heretics, somewhere along the line they forgot that Christianity is a relationship to be lived, not merely a theory to be proved. Mark Virkler

Instead, Christians have discovered the freedom simply to rest in the Vine, experiencing the flow of the river of life that wells up within them by the Holy Spirit as they cease from their own labours and simply attune themselves to God. Mark Virkler

New Agers contact demons, familiar spirits, and evil spirits. Christians who are covered by the blood of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit are led into the throne room of God as John was in Revelation. Mark Virkler

Christianity is much more than a code of ethics; it is much more than a religion. It is a love relationship with the King of kings. It is a direct encounter with Him through the indwelling work of His Holy Spirit, which we freely receive as His gift to us. Mark Virkler

The essence of prayer is my love relationship with the King of kings, not simply going to Him to get things. Mark Virkler

Prayer is our link to God. Therefore, prayer is the most important activity in which we can engage. Prayer is supposed to be powerful, effective, and meaningful in our lives. Yet many times it is nothing more than a dutiful recitation of the items on our prayer list. We need to learn how to make prayer what it should be—a dynamic dialogue with the Lover of our souls. Mark Virkler

When the Lord’s words do not come to pass as you expected, go back and ask Him why. He will tell you. If the issue degenerates into a confusing mess that you can’t comprehend, that’s fine. Just put it on the back burner and maybe someday you will receive understanding about it. Mark Virkler