ICS Daily Devotions
Understanding Our Tripartite Self Is a Foundational Truth
Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit does not happen overnight or start during an emergency, but it begins in the CLOSET. This is a place where you can go to alone, have privacy in order to have quality and focused prayer time.
We need to understand the make-up of man in order to train and develop our spirit to be conscious of the Holy Spirit’s leading. When we understand the make-up of man then we will know how to receive from God in the closet, in our daily activities and also in the boardroom.
1 Thessalonians 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.
Man is made up of three parts – Spirit, Soul (which includes the mind, will and emotions) and Body. Some people only recognize 2 parts (i.e. the soul and the body), and some only one (i.e. the body). But the Scripture clearly differentiates between the spirit, soul and body.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is able to divide between the soul (thoughts) and spirit (intents of the heart). The soul and the spirit of man are clearly and distinctly different! A wise man will use the Word to help differentiate what is emanating from the heart that is led by the Spirit and what is emanating from his intellect which is part of the soul.
When we are receptive to the fact that God leads us by the Spirit then we are responsive to new things given to us intuitively and spontaneously. We are open to new ideas from the Lord because His thoughts are not our thoughts neither are His ways ours! In order to be accessible to His way of doing things in our lives including in our businesses and strategies, we need to tap into His creativity by receiving from Him in our spirit during our closet time, in the car, while walking or in a business discussion. Sometimes when we have just woken up, God will drop an idea into us before our soul (i.e. intellect and mind) is overwhelmed by the input from the world. It is important to emphasize that our mind needs to be renewed so that it will not reject what we have received spontaneously and intuitively in our “spirit man”.
The importance of knowing the difference between our spirit, soul and body is a foundational truth. It will affect our understanding in many areas of the Christian life. It will aid us in growing and developing spiritually, and in developing the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Faith is of the spirit, so it will help us in living a life of faith. It will affect our understanding of righteousness. It will also help us to walk in the spirit and to live a holy life. It will affect our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in our life, including being led by the Holy Spirit.
Each of the three parts requires certain responsibilities from us and God’s Word specifically tells us what to do with each part of our being. Not properly dividing the three will hinder us in many areas of our Christian life.
Sermon Series : From The Closet to the Street (Part 2)
