Man Fails The Choice Test
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. – Genesis 3:6
When God formed man from the dust and breathed life into him man was perfect. He was a spirit man in a fleshly body. The only life he knew was the breath, or Spirit, of God that was breathed into him.
Man was created body, spirit and soul, but his soul was dormant at creation. His body was from the dust of the earth and his spirit was from the breath of God. The life in the body came directly from the breath of God. This thing we call “life” that is in man is the eternal spark that God ignited with his own breath.
As long as man lived in innocence he was dominated by his spirit man. He walked and talked with God without any resistance. His flesh was guided by his spirit and his spirit was fully given to God.
That was man’s state of existence in innocence. However, God had also given man a soul at creation. The purpose of soul seems to be to answer the cravings of the flesh. As long as the soul lay dormant and man was guided by his spirit, he continued in innocence. God warned man about the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because he knew that the knowledge of evil would awaken the soul. When man becomes awakened to the pleasures of evil his soul begins to dominate the spirit and leads man to fulfill his desires.
The serpent appealed to the human side of mankind. He addressed the needs and desires of the flesh. When Adam and Eve listened to the serpent their soul person began to have desire. When the soul person saw what was desirable to the flesh they traded their innocence for the empty promises of their soul man.
Living in the kingdom frees us from soul dominance and releases the spirit man to pursue righteousness. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5p6).
Prayer: Father, it is so easy to live after the flesh, but grant me grace to live in the spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.
Message: Living in the kingdom frees us from soul dominance and releases the spirit man to pursue righteousness. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Affirmation: I am no longer dominated by my soulish nature which leads to death but I am submitted to the spirit man which leads to life and peace.
Reflection: There seems to be a fine line between the soul and spirit in man and the words themselves seem to be used interchangeably. Can you explain what is the "soul" of man and what is the "Spirit" of man?
This month of devotions on the King and His Kingdom is something you won't want to miss. Beginning with creation and moving through Abraham and Moses on to the birth of Christ and finally the eternal kingdom. To get the book free of charge and absolutely no obligation, just fill in the form below with your name and email address then click "Yes - Send It"
When God formed man from the dust and breathed life into him man was perfect. He was a spirit man in a fleshly body. The only life he knew was the breath, or Spirit, of God that was breathed into him.
Man was created body, spirit and soul, but his soul was dormant at creation. His body was from the dust of the earth and his spirit was from the breath of God. The life in the body came directly from the breath of God. This thing we call “life” that is in man is the eternal spark that God ignited with his own breath.
As long as man lived in innocence he was dominated by his spirit man. He walked and talked with God without any resistance. His flesh was guided by his spirit and his spirit was fully given to God.
That was man’s state of existence in innocence. However, God had also given man a soul at creation. The purpose of soul seems to be to answer the cravings of the flesh. As long as the soul lay dormant and man was guided by his spirit, he continued in innocence. God warned man about the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because he knew that the knowledge of evil would awaken the soul. When man becomes awakened to the pleasures of evil his soul begins to dominate the spirit and leads man to fulfill his desires.
The serpent appealed to the human side of mankind. He addressed the needs and desires of the flesh. When Adam and Eve listened to the serpent their soul person began to have desire. When the soul person saw what was desirable to the flesh they traded their innocence for the empty promises of their soul man.
Living in the kingdom frees us from soul dominance and releases the spirit man to pursue righteousness. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5p6).
Prayer: Father, it is so easy to live after the flesh, but grant me grace to live in the spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.
Message: Living in the kingdom frees us from soul dominance and releases the spirit man to pursue righteousness. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Affirmation: I am no longer dominated by my soulish nature which leads to death but I am submitted to the spirit man which leads to life and peace.
Reflection: There seems to be a fine line between the soul and spirit in man and the words themselves seem to be used interchangeably. Can you explain what is the "soul" of man and what is the "Spirit" of man?
This month of devotions on the King and His Kingdom is something you won't want to miss. Beginning with creation and moving through Abraham and Moses on to the birth of Christ and finally the eternal kingdom. To get the book free of charge and absolutely no obligation, just fill in the form below with your name and email address then click "Yes - Send It"
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