Proverbs 20: King James Bible
Spirit of Man – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twenty, Verse 27
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Daily Inspiration from This Verse – Spirit of Man
What would the Lord be searching for within all of our inward parts of the belly I wonder? The wording here is interesting, and a reminder that Jesus calls us the light of the world, and tells us to let our light so shine.
There is one thing though, the flesh has a tendency to act as a blacked out light shade, not allowing any of that light, the light of Christ, to shine through. Some would say, that this is a reason that the Lord chooses to use broken vessels, because the light can shine through the cracks. But I digress…
In the days of Solomon, the Holy Ghost did not dwell within a person as he has been since the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Instead, he dwelt with people. Jesus made that perfectly clear (see scripture below).
It appears, that the verse above gives us insight as to how the Lord used the spirit of man, to stir up and search out the soul. The Holy Ghost is working within us right now, doing whatever needs doing, to help us as we walk our walk (and doing so many other things), but also being a literal connection between us and the Father.
I did a page on this during the infancy of this site called Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and You. If you’re at all confused how our connection to the Father works, I suggest you have a look, as it will clear things up a bit.
But if we remove the Holy Ghost connection we enjoy by way of Christ Jesus, the Lord would use our own spirit to search out our inward parts, and probably through our conscience, move people toward righteousness with him, as much as a person would allow.
Bear in mind, the only thing that will ever hamper the Lord’s effectiveness in our lives, is our own blend of ignorance and free will. On top of that, without the manner of salvation by which we are now saved in Christ, the Lord was limited with what he could do from the inside, because we were spiritually dead.
Everything was different before Christ, including the means to salvation, where people went after death, spiritual condition, how the Lord most often communicated with people, etc.. The Lord used the spirit of man as a flashlight in those days.
But now, because of us being born again, having birthed a new spirit within us, our spirit has life! We do all kinds of things using our own living spirit, like worshiping in spirit and in truth. Our spirit (through the Holy Ghost) can overtake the flesh, crucifying it so the spirit may live through it, instead of being that blackened out lamp shade. All made possible only through Christ Jesus.
Related New Testament Scripture
John 4: King James Bible
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 7: King James Bible
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 14: King James Bible
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Romans 8: King James Bible
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for the riches of your Word, and for allowing us all to be alive in this current age. We are blessed in ways that weren’t available in the past, and we thank you for your grace toward us is all that you do. Help us to better understand what you’d like for us to learn to do with our own spirit Lord, and to use all that you’ve given us in your service, and as you desire. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Did you know that there’s a difference between the soul and spirit of man?