GUARD YOUR SPIRIT
OBSERVATION: THE SPIRIT IN MAN IS A PRINCIPLE OF LIFE. GOD IS CALLED THE FATHER OF SPIRITS. HEBREWS 12:9 (NKJV) FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE HAD HUMAN FATHERS WHO CORRECTED US, AND WE PAID THEM RESPECT. SHALL WE NOT MUCH MORE READILY BE IN SUBJECTION TO THE FATHER OF SPIRITS AND LIVE?
INTERPRETATION: ECCLESIASTES 8:8 (NKJV) NO ONE HAS THE POWER OVER THE SPIRIT TO RETAIN THE SPIRIT, AND NO ONE HAS POWER IN THE DAY OF DEATH. THERE IS NO RELEASE FROM THAT WAR, AND WICKEDNESS WILL NOT DELIVER THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN TO IT. ECCLESIASTES 8:8 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) THERE IS NO MAN WHO HAS POWER OVER THE SPIRIT TO RETAIN THE BREATH OF LIFE, NEITHER HAS HE POWER OVER THE DAY OF DEATH; AND THERE IS NO DISCHARGE IN BATTLE (AGAINST DEATH) , NEITHER WILL WICKEDNESS DELIVER THOSE WHO ARE ITS POSSESSORS AND GIVEN TO IT.
THE SPIRIT IN MAN DISTINGUISHES HIM FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. IN DEATH, THE SPIRIT IS YIELDED TO THE LORD. ACTS 7:59 (NKJV) AND THEY STONED STEPHEN AS HE WAS CALLING ON GOD AND SAYING, LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT.
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION TO GOD? READ JOHN 4:23-24. DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL: HEBREWS 4:12 (NIV) FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE. SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART. THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT ARE CONNECTED BUT SEPARATE. THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF A PERSON; IT IS WHO YOU ARE.
A BELIEVER MUST FEED HIS SPIRIT BY THE WORD OF GOD. IT IS VITAL TO YOUR CARE. PSALMS 119:105 (NKJV) YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH.
YOU SHOULD KEEP THE SPIRIT READY FOR ITS EXIT. READINESS REQUIRES CORRECTING ERRORS, REMOVAL OF GUILT AND POLLUTION OF SIN. PSALMS 51:10 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT, PERSEVERING AND STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME.
APPLICATION: GUARD YOUR SPIRIT AND FEED IT BY THE WORD!
