ICS Daily Devotions
Our Physical Body
1Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This scripture reveals to us that we are three-part beings consisting of spirit, soul and body. We need to identify ourselves in the spirit being in order to know how the Holy Spirit speaks to us or leads us. It is the spirit being that will live on eternally. Our soul is self-centered but our spirit is God-centric. The Word of God and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit will enable us to discern the source of the prompting which we receive, whether it is originating from the Holy Spirit or from our own soul. Therefore, we should seek to be well grounded in the Word, so that we can know more clearly what is right or wrong from God’s perspective.
James 2:26 (NKJV) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Our physical body enables us to connect with the physical world through our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. We exist on earth through our body, just as an astronaut needs a space suit to survive in the harsh environment of outer space. The behavior of our body is dictated by our soul or spirit man. Many people have focused too much attention on their body, developed their soul through academic studies, but have neglected the spirit man. The body is temporal, corruptible and mortal. Sickness, illness and pain came into this world and caused the life span of mankind to be shortened after Adam and Eve sinned against God. And due to the fallen nature of mankind, the body and its organs will continue to age, deteriorate and weaken until we pass on into glory. But, we can look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise that one day, all believers will be clothed in an incorruptible new body.
2 Corinthians 5:1 (NKJV) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Sermon Series: How to be Led by the Holy Spirit in your Daily Living (Part 2)
