This morning, as I was sitting with the Word and then listening to a message, I felt a real nudge to share this.
It lines up so clearly with what I’ve been talking about lately — intentional faith, living awake, living on purpose. But it also takes it a step further.
It reminds us who we truly are, who we were designed and recreated to be in Christ… and therefore how we’re meant to live.
Not as people who simply react to life, but as those who stand in our right spiritual position (Spirit‑first, not flesh‑first) and become initiators rather than responders.
This is the life Jesus restored to us, and I believe what follows will help anchor that truth even deeper.
⚙️ 1. The Common Misalignment: When Our Senses Lead and Our Spirit Follows
Most Christians love Jesus sincerely, yet many of us still live our daily lives from the outside in — led by feelings, circumstances, habits, and the old patterns of the flesh. We pray, we worship, we serve… but when pressure comes, we default to the natural first and the spiritual second.
But that is the wrong order for the born‑again believer.
When Christ saved us, He didn’t just forgive us — He reordered us.
He restored us to live from the inside out, Spirit → soul → body.
🕊️ 2. Salvation restores the right order: Spirit first, not flesh
Jesus said something radical:
“That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
— John 3:6
Your first birth was flesh.
Your second birth (the one that defines you) is Spirit.
This means:
- Your truest identity is spiritual
- Your truest strength is spiritual
- Your truest life is spiritual
Paul says it plainly:
“You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…”
— Romans 8:9
If you are in Christ, the Spirit is not an accessory to your life; He is the source of your life.
🌬️ 3. The Night Conversation: Why Jesus Told Nicodemus We Must Be Born Again
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night; a respected teacher, a moral man, a religious leader.
If anyone could have claimed to live a “good life,” it was him.
Yet Jesus went straight to the core:
“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
— John 3:3
Nicodemus was thinking flesh‑first.
Jesus was speaking Spirit‑first.
Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?”
Jesus answered:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
— John 3:6
This is the dividing line of the Christian life.
– Flesh gives birth to flesh.
– Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Nicodemus had religion, discipline, morality, and knowledge — but he didn’t have new life.
Jesus wasn’t offering him improvement.
He was offering him rebirth.
And that rebirth restores the order of life:
Spirit first, flesh second.
🔄 4. Why many Christians still live flesh‑first
Because the flesh is loud.
The spirit is gentle.
And the soul (mind, will, emotions) often sides with whichever voice is strongest.
This is why Paul warns:
“Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16
He doesn’t say, “Fight the flesh first.”
He says, “Walk in the Spirit first.”
The order matters.
When the Spirit leads, the flesh follows.
When the flesh leads, the Spirit is grieved.
🔥 5. E.W. Kenyon taught this beautifully
Kenyon often said that the greatest tragedy in the Church is that believers:
“Live as mere men.”
Meaning:
We live as if we are only natural, when God has made us supernatural.
Kenyon’s teaching on this is what he called the “great reversal” — the tragic inversion where the believer’s senses rise above their spirit.
Instead of living from the inside out, many Christians live from the outside in.
A Summary of Kenyon’s Insight
Kenyon taught that humans are three‑part beings — spirit, soul, and body — and that God designed us to live with the spirit ruling, the soul agreeing, and the body serving.
But in many believers, this order is reversed.
The senses dominate, the soul follows, and the spirit is silenced.
This inversion produces a defeated life where circumstances dictate reality.
He explained that the central battle of the Christian life is not with the devil, but:
“Between the believer’s spirit and the believer’s senses.”
The enemy whispers to the body, the body reports to the soul, and if the soul is governed by the senses, it accepts the report as truth. But a trained spirit intercepts the report, measures it against the Word, and overrules it before it can take root.
Kenyon then outlined how to train the spirit:
- Daily affirmation of identity — recognising you are a spirit being
- Deliberate practice — repeatedly acting on the Word
- Refusing to be moved by sense evidence — standing firm on truth regardless of feelings
The goal is not to eliminate the senses, but to restore them to their rightful place under the spirit.
This restoration transforms the believer from someone tossed about by life into someone anchored and governed from within by the life of God.
Kenyon also taught something deeply hopeful:
When the believer trains his spirit to rule, the spirit intercepts the report, measures it against the Word, and overrules it before it can take root.
That is the shift from victim to victor.
That is the difference between living flesh‑first and Spirit‑first.
🎧 I Strongly Encourage You to Watch the Short Kenyon Video
Everything in this post — living from the inside out, walking Spirit‑first, breaking the dominance of the senses — is explained with a clarity that can transform your understanding.
I sincerely and genuinely believe this short video can help turn believers from:
- confusion to clarity
- reaction to response
- defeat to dominion
- victim to victor
Tap Link 👉🏾 Train your spirit to rule your senses (E.W. Kenyon’s forgotten method)
🌱 6. The Christian life grows from the inside out
Here’s the restored order:
Spirit → Soul → Body
- The Spirit receives truth
- The Soul agrees with truth
- The Body expresses truth
This is why Paul says:
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
— Romans 12:2
Transformation doesn’t start with behaviour.
It starts with identity.
You don’t change by trying harder.
You change by living from who you already are in Christ.
✨ 7. A simple daily practice to live Spirit‑first
Morning Alignment Prayer
“Holy Spirit, You lead today.
My spirit listens.
My soul agrees.
My body follows.
I live from the inside out.”
🌟 8. A closing call to you
“You were not born again to live a flesh‑first life.
You were reborn to live Spirit‑first; to think, walk, speak, and respond from the life of God within you.
Christ restored the order.
Now walk in it.” ❤️🙌🏾
🙏🏾 Closing Prayer
Father, we come before You with open hearts, grateful for the new life You have given us through Jesus Christ.
Thank You that we are born of the Spirit, made alive from within, and called to walk in the power of Your presence.
Holy Spirit, teach us to live Spirit‑first.
Quiet the noise of the flesh.
Strengthen our inner man.
Align our thoughts, desires, and decisions with Your voice.
Lead us today.
Help us to listen quickly, obey willingly, and trust deeply.
Where we have lived from our emotions, redirect us.
Where we have lived from old patterns, renew us.
Where we have lived from fear, fill us with faith.
Let Your life within us rise above every distraction, every temptation, and every pressure.
Spirit of God, guide our steps, shape our responses, and empower our walk.
May our lives reflect the order You restored:
Spirit leading, soul agreeing, body following.
We surrender again to Your leadership.
We choose to walk in the Spirit.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Audio Blog version: Spirit‑First: Restoring the Right Order for the Born‑Again Life
May God bless you all,
‘But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.’
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)
Note from Brother Don — click to open
I would love for this space to become more interactive as we walk together in faith. If there are subjects you’d like to explore from a Christian perspective, or if you have prayer needs for yourself, your family, or your friends, please feel free to reach out.
You can send a private message through the site — these are confidential and not visible to anyone else. The only exception would be if a safeguarding concern were raised; in that case, it may need to be passed on to the appropriate agency or person, as you would expect.
Above all, I want to ensure that what is shared here reflects what the Lord desires to say. Sometimes the “signal” of life can get in the way, and your feedback helps me stay prayerful, discerning, and aligned with His heart. Whether you simply read along or choose to share, I’m grateful you’re here.
Beginning a Journey With Jesus — click to open
If you’re exploring the Christian faith or wondering what it means to follow Jesus, you’re in the right place. Beginning a journey with Him is the most life‑changing decision a person can make — and it’s open to everyone.
Below is a simple explanation of the gospel message, followed by a prayer you can use if you feel ready to invite Jesus into your life.
A Brief Summary of the Gospel Message:
- God created you for relationship with Him.
- Sin — the things we do wrong — separates us from God.
- We cannot fix this separation by our own efforts.
- Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth, lived without sin, and died on the cross to take our place.
- He rose again, defeating sin and death.
- Through Jesus, we can be forgiven, restored, and made new.
- Salvation is a gift — received by faith, not earned by good works.
- When we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and begins transforming our lives.
- We become children of God, with a new identity and a new future.
A Simple Prayer to Begin Your Journey:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You today because I want to know You. I admit that I have sinned and fallen short, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for me and rose again so that I could be made new. Today, I choose to turn away from my old life and follow You. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and help me to live for You from this day forward. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and making me Your child. Amen.”
What to Do Next:
1. Find a Local Church
Look for a Bible‑believing church in your area. Speak to the pastor or leadership team
and let them know about the commitment you’ve made. They will be able to support you,
pray with you, and help you grow.
2. Consider the Alpha Course
I strongly recommend the Alpha Course, which runs worldwide. It’s a safe, friendly place
to explore questions about life, the Christian faith, and God — whether you’re brand new
or simply curious.
Visit the Alpha Course website
3. Reach Out if You’d Like Support
If you’d like prayer, have questions, or want to talk privately, you can send a confidential
message through the site. Nothing you share will be visible to others. The only exception is
if a safeguarding concern is raised — in that case, it may need to be passed on to the
appropriate agency or person, as you would expect.
