UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPIRIT
Tonight, I’d like to introduce you to someone you have known for a long time—but not very well. Your very own spirit. Often confused with the Holy Spirit, or even the old nature. It is an important study, because by not knowing much about the spirit, we may neglect committing this very important part of yourself.
1. WHAT DOES YOUR SPIRIT DO ?
A. THE IS THE EMOTIONAL PART OF YOUR WHOLE BEING.
We know this from how the word spirit is used throughout Scripture. It most often shows the emotional side of God.
Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” [ 07363 ףחר rachaph raw-khaf’–an emotional response]
This week a chicken caused San Francisco commuters to be hours late as it ran between cars on the highway. After a spirited chase, Animal Services now has the chicken in custody where it laid an egg. They want to take the egg away, but say they must replace it with a non-fertilized egg, or the chicken will be emotionally unstable. This shows us that even a chicken cares for it’s young, an emotion attributed to the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 32:11 “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”
Jeremiah 23:9 “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake ; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.”
Matthew 4:1 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”
John 11:35-38 “Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.”
B. OUR SPIRIT IS DISTINCT FROM THE WORK OF THE HEART (SOUL).
Psalms 143:4 “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.”
C. THE SPIRIT AFFECTS THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH. (as with Moses).
Psalms 106:33 “Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.”
Job 15:13 “That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?”
D. IT IS A PART OF MAN WHICH IS MOLDED AND CHANGED OVER TIME.
Zechariah 12:1 “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.” [“FORMETH” literally means =“CONTINUALLY SHAPING AND FASHIONING“].
Studies have shown that even before birth, a baby’s surroundings and attitudes around them will shape the spirit of the child. So, surround the child with singing praises to God and Scripture even before it is born. That will influence the child and set it on a good course before being born.
E. THE SPIRIT CAN CREATE A DESIRE, OR WILL, IN A PERSON.
–DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD.
Exodus 35:21 “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. Can be weak, or strong.”
–DESIRES OF THE FLESH AFFECT THE SPIRIT.
Judges 15:19 “But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.”
–DESIRES TO SEE OTHERS SAVED AND ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF JESUS.
Acts 17:16 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”
F. OUR SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF CURIOSITY.
—IT SEARCHES OUT THE THINGS OF GOD.
Psalms 77:6 “I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.”
—SEARCHES OUT OUR OWN MOTIVES, AND REASONS. (“Now WHY did I do that ?“)
Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
2. YOUR SPIRIT RESPONDS TO CONDITIONS IN AND AROUND YOU.
A. YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH CAN EFFECT THE SPIRIT.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DISCOURAGE OR DEPRESS THE SPIRIT BY PHYSICAL AILMENTS. HOWEVER, IF TOTALLY SUBMITTED TO THE LORD, PHYSICAL PROBLEMS CAN ACTUALLY ASSIST THE SPIRIT IN SUBMISSION TO THE LORD.
One man was diagnosed with cancer. “You have 6 months to live,” said the doctor. His spirit was depressed, and he just laid around waiting to die. ANOTHER man got the same diagnosis, and took a different turn. He said to himself, “I shall soon be with the Lord, so I want to please him in the time I have left.”
1 Samuel 30:12 “And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.”
B. YOUR SPIRIT IS AFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
THE CLOSER THE PRESENCE, THE MORE YOU MAY FEEL HIM NEAR.
Ezekiel 3:14 “So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.” [BITTERNESS=bitterness, discontent, pain].
Why ? The scene was one of absolute holiness. The spirit of Isaiah, also (Isaiah 6) was moved at the holiness of God, and the obvious shortcomings in himself that were exposed.
C. YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE AFFECTED BY UNEXPLAINED OR UNKNOWN THINGS.
Daniel 2:3 “And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.”
D. YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE AFFECTED BY OTHER SPIRITS.
THEY MAY BE FROM GOD, OR THEY MAY BE FALLEN ANGELS, OR EVIL SPIRITS.
Job 4:15 “Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:”
YOUR SPIRIT MAY NOT RESPOND TO THESE THINGS. SOMETIMES A PERSON’S OWN SPIRIT IS AFFECTED BY SOME THINGS, AND NOT OTHERS.
3. THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SPIRITUAL HEALTH.
A. GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR SPIRIT.
2 Timothy 4:22 “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”
B. GOD IS ABLE TO KEEP OUR SPIRIT BLAMELESS.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
MOST IMPORTANT IS WHETHER YOUR SPIRIT CAN RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT OF GOD, AND RESPOND IN FAITH TO HIM !
”Understanding Your Spirit”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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