As we have received from the Lord concerning man; we have discussed extensively on the body and the soul of man. And the Lord by His Holy Spirit has opened our eyes to truly see the issue of the body and soul as it relates to every man; just as God sees. All praise is unto our God!
So, as the Lord wills, we shall be moving forward on our journey of rediscovering man. Man as we have discussed is the spirit creature of God, created in the image and likeness of God to represent the will of God on the earth. And we have seen that no man under the control or influence of his body can truly pursue the will of God on the earth; and any man with a dead soul will naturally be capable of minding the things of God and the things that are of the world, and he will be self-willed and self-glorifying. Thus, possessing a body is not enough for doing the will of God on the earth; and neither is just having a soul – whether dead or alive enough. But each man must receive grace from God to continually keep his body under; and each man must possess a living and growing soul – such that will be preoccupied with magnifying (exalting) God.
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
Luke 1:46-47
Now, to the subject matter of today, “the spirit of man”; let us quickly check some things in the book of Genesis:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all* the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Genesis 1:26
Sir and Ma, supposing that Genesis Chapter 1 verse 26 is not included in the Bible; then, we might be left with a conviction that God (who is the King of heaven) is willing to continue as the King of the earth – that is, we would have believed that God wanted to rule the earth directly with heaven. But based on Genesis 1:26, God; although, the Maker of heaven and earth, chose to be the King of heaven, while man (the new spirit creature) would be the king of the earth.
So, man was created by God as the king of the earth. However, God did not just create man as the king of the earth; but He created him to be just like Him – God created man to be a god over the earth. No wonder God told Moses in exodus 4:16 that He has made him as God to his brother – Aaron; and in Exodus 7:1, God told him that He has made him as God to Pharaoh! What an eye-opener about the true nature of man: For he was made in the image (appearance) and likeness (nature) of God! No wonder that the Scriptures states clearly in Daniel 11;32 that the people (children of men) that know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
Thus, the influence of every man; the dominion of every man on the earth is linked to how much knowledge he has about his God: For the more a man knows God; the more he gets to know about himself.
And the LORD God formed (the body of) man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (soul).
Genesis 2:7
If you may ask; “What is this breath of life?” According to some translations of the Bible; that breath of life is rendered as the Spirit – hence, it is the release of a measure of the Holy Spirit into the formed body that produced a living soul (being) out of man.
Since, we have seen that God created man in His image and likeness; then we should also know that God used His Spirit to create or give birth to the spirit of man.
Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:5-6
Hmm! “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit!” Wao! What a revelation! Indeed, God is able to create (or born) children; and whosoever is born of God is a spirit. Hence, man is a spirit – For God has given birth to (created) him! And since every being (whether plant, animal, man or spirit) necessarily reproduce after their kind (Genesis 1:11 & 24); then, man is a spirit and good – representing the will of the almighty God (of heaven) on the earth.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
Worship is actually not a religious act that is peculiar or exclusive to religious centres; rather, worship is a way of life – in fact, worship is the culture of heaven! For in heaven, the inhabitants thereof are preoccupied with worship! And if worship is an exercise, then they would need to rest from it; but to the contrary – the hosts of heaven enjoy it. Thus, worship is way of life! Worship is ministering to God and honouring Him in everything and at every time. So, whenever the creatures of God do anything to honour God or in mode of service; they are worshipping God.
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Brethren, that portion of the Scriptures above give us the entire definition of worship – “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” For that is how God is worshipped in heaven continually. Thus, worship is not limited to saying slows songs; but worship is doing the will of God for the glory of God on the earth. And that is why Jesus told His disciples in John 4:34 (the same chapter) that His meat (source of passionfulfillment) was to do the will of God that sent Him and to finish His work – brethren, that is true worship!
However, to effectively worship God on this earth (to do his will and finish His work); one must be a spirit indeed! (John 4:24)
It is one thing for a man to say that he is a spirit and even for people to him a spiritual man and it is another thing for such a man to be a spirit indeed! Therefore, the effectiveness of any man in the pursuit of the will of God on the earth is dependent on the sincerity of his spirituality on the earth: For it is only a spirit that can worship God acceptably!
Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
Psalms 104:4
May I say, only a spirit can minister acceptably before God – For God is Spirit!
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:8-9
Indeed, no flesh can please God – that is, no flesh can worship God acceptably. But since man (although a spirit) dwells in a body; hence, a man can choose whether to live in the flesh or in the Spirit – but such choices usually carry either life and peace or death.
Although, every man is a spirit, but because every man dwells in an earthen vessel (bodyflesh); therefore, not all men patterns their lives after the Spirit. Now, the danger is this; although, the spirit of man was born by the Spirit of God, not all men are willing to be led, ruled, governed, guided, guarded and taught by the Spirit of God – their Father. And no wonder the Scriptures says that only those who are led (taught, guided, guarded and mentored) by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. Hence, although, we all claim to come out of God, but by our choices, we are not all God’s children: For some have chosen another father (the devil), who now rules them by the flesh – turning them to prisoners within their own bodies!
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1:24-25
Indeed, God can never be mocked: For whatever a man sows, even so shall he reap – if he sows unto the flesh or unto the Spirit.
Brethren, the flesh profits nothing (the devil has nothing good to add into your life), it is the Spirit that quickens (gives life). (John 6:63). Thus, instead of wallowing continually in the defeat of the flesh in sin, sickness and sorrow; why not allow the Spirit of Christ that gave birth to your spirit, to lead your life (teach you, mentor you, guide you, preserve you and pour Himself continually into you) unto victory on the earth?
For whatever is born of God Spirit) overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world (satan) — our* faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4-5
Remember, Jesus (as the Son of Man) grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke2:40). Hence, each man must make conscious effort to become strong and stronger in spirit – For only a spirit (especially, a strong spirit) can please God by doing His will on the earth.
Sir and Ma, never become complacent with your current spiritual strength; and never attempt to compartmentalize (classifysort out) your life (that is, “My spiritual life”; “My social life”; “My business life”, etc.): For your life is one and it is that of a spirit! Hence, beyond growing your body and your soul; you must be totally given to growing your spirit day by day – For that is your life and the essence of your presence on the earth!
Give attention to fellowshipping with the Spirit of Christ inside of you daily in the Word and prayer; for those are the “fufu and salads” of your spirit. And whenever you perceive that your flesh is growing more than your spirit or that your flesh is getting too much attention from your soul; then, go into fasting, starve the body a little and nourish your spirit for growth and maturity.
And note, until your spirit grows, you can never walk in faith: For faith is the life of the Spirit. That is, the spirit of man lives by and on faith in achieving anything on the earth. Hence, without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God – do His will effectively. (Hebrews 11:6)
Sir and Ma, even just as a child walks better by walking; even so a man’s spirit matures more whenever a man walks (lives) by faith.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “the just shall live by faith”.
Romans 1:17
Indeed, the spirits live by faith! Hence, a man’s spirit feeds on the Word of God, and that it is expressed or exercised through prayer by faith!
