Dear friends,
Ever muse on just what the Bible means by our human spirit? Does it really matter or is it just a theological term with little importance?
We Christians can use ‘faith words’ so casually, they can fail to have significant meaning to us or to others that may inquire. This happened to me some time ago when an unbeliever truly was interested in what the spirit meant to me. This followed on the heels of one of our passions, natural health, where we help people live a fruitful lifestyle in 4 areas: heath, mind, money, and spirit.
I thought I knew and answered him accordingly. But the Holy Spirit asked me to delve further and really know the true truth. This would then help us be better equipped to bring all interested parties into the realm of the spirit, the super-natural, and eventually to the cross of Christ.
We know from the Word that as humans our earthy existence is made up of three rather distinct parts: body, soul, and spirit. We read:
1 Thes. 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the spirit?
Can we physically see it?
And does it matter?
Our spirit is:
- a place somewhere in a physical human being, the whole man.
- where we’re most open, sensitive, and responsive to supernatural things.
- where God and other supernatural spirits, both good and evil, most immediately encounter, relate with power, and interact with us.
- where our soul (mind, will, and emotions or personality) is engaged and we experience firsthand supernatural power (a force, ability, or might) with messages and signals when relating to the spiritual realm.
- where we then experience spiritual reality beyond both human observation and control.
- the actual place of residence of Jesus’ Holy Spirit.
- where we’re also most open, sensitive, and responsive to demonic influence.
- always filled and controlled by some force: either our own flesh, a demonic spirit(s), and/or God’s Holy Spirit.
- extremely fascinating to other spiritual people like New Agers, Occultists, Buddhists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- of extreme value and importance in the East vs. the West as witnessed by all their spiritual idols that connect them to the demonic spirit world.
- a mystery at best to created finite human beings who want to “see” everything.
- one special attribute that lives on for eternity long after our physical death.
We not only belong to the physical or natural world, but we also “belong” to the spirit or supernatural world. That’s God’s intended purpose for us.
The Bible primarily uses the Greek word pneuma to render this English term we call spirit. The word itself is defined as the breath of God. It’s like the wind…we can see the effects of the wind, but you can’t “see” the wind itself.
There’s lots of things in life like that. Our soul, which often is described as our mind, will and emotions or personality, can’t be “seen” to put your finger on it but we certainly can see it in action!
Jesus described all this to Nicodemas as such, our spirit unseen in the physical realm, but fully alive and functioning in the spirit-supernatural realm:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Does it matter if we have the spirit or not? Seems like a silly question now, doesn’t it?
Where would we be if He didn’t cast out demons and devils from our spirit?
Where would we be if we couldn’t commune with Him, and others in His body, and express our love and devotion?
To clearly hear His voice so we may follow ever so closely?
To know He warns us daily of things that harm our relationship to Him and others?
Let’s meditate deeply and seek Jesus for His wisdom in all this. And can we too praise the Father for His immense gracious love that creates sinners and deposits the spirit in us so He can initiate the rescue from His wrath?!
What a God. What a Savior. What a Friend.
Next time we’ll explore exactly the role of the spirit in our lives here on God’s green earth. In other words, what it does.
You can read Part 2 on our human spirit by clicking here.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
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