Part 1
Human Spirit
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. Job 32:8 (NIV)
This subject is more vitally important for us to understand than most of us realize. It is so important to God that He has a wealth of passages that talk about our Human Spirit. In fact, there are more references to our human spirit than there are to The Holy Spirit or evil spirits. Before I begin, let me ask you a few questions.
How often do you think about what is happening in your spirit?
Do you ever pay attention to your spirit? (Does that language even sound strange to you?)
Can you remember a class or sermon that taught about the human spirit?
Wherever I go to speak and teach on this subject I do this little survey. Almost without exception few, if any, people have ever heard teaching that they can remember about the human spirit.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard someone teach on it. I was in England and a couple, Joe and Ruth Hawkey, were teaching and using overheads that were full of scripture. I immediately realized the incredible significance of what they were saying and had to do my own research. I thought they must be using scripture out of context and just finding verses to make they say what they wanted them to say. That night as I began my own study I was amazed. God has so much to say about this vital subject.
Let’s start this multi-part blog with GOD’S DESIGN.
Scripture clearly teaches us that God created our spirit, our human spirit, as well as our soul and body. Our spirit is the core essence of who we are, the part that lasts for ever. Oops, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s look at just a few passages to start that point to the reality of our human spirit.
- . . .God of the spirits of all mankind. . . .Numbers 16:22 (NIV)
- But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. Job 32:8 (NIV)
- …the Lord …who forms the spirit of man within him…. Zechariah 12:1b (NIV)
- …He that gives… spirit to those who walk on it . . . . Isaiah 42:5(NKJV)
- …the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NKJV)
Let me just mention a few reasons why this teaching and truth are so significant. First of all, we in the western world put so much emphasis on the physical, our outward selves and what we feel, think and see. The most important part of our being is our Spirit. Secondly, few of us have been taught how to build up our spirit, heal a broken spirit or strengthen a weak or timid spirit. And there is so much more to ministering to the spirits of people than we can imagine. Thirdly, our spirit is at the essence of our true communion with God. If we don’t know how to connect with God via our spirit something is sadly lacking in our Christian walk.
Check out our teaching on the human spirit at Light Force Institute at www.operationlightforce.com. Also, keep your eyes open for more blogs on this subject…
Blessings!