When we were created by God we were created in the image of HIM. We were created perfect with our spirit and our body and soul all in perfect union. Our spirits were dominate over our soul (mind, will, and emotions). Our spirits ruled. That is the way God meant it to be.
Well when Adam disobeyed God (sinned) and fell he lost that perfect union of the body, soul, and spirit and the soul became dominant over the spirit. Sin which effects the human spirit causes the soul to become unclean darkened and thus stops our communication with God.
So our spirit is affected by our soul's influence thus our spiritual walk is hindered and we can not understand or be consciously aware of spiritual things.
Before we became believers, our human spirit, in God's eyes, was dead This means that our spirit was unable to function. As a result, we did not know our spirit. So we could not know God intimately.
And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Eph. 2:1
All communication with God occurs in our spirit, because this is the place where “He meets with us,” this is the place where He dwells. Thus, when our spirit is cleansed and purified we can communicate and fellowship directly with Him.
The human spirit in man is like receiver in a radio; it is necessary for receiving the invisible God, just as the radio receiver is needed to receive the invisible radio waves.
So how do we get our spirits to tune in to receive God? We need to tune our spirit. We have a dysfunctional spirit receiver and need to make a decision to receive God and His Son through faith.
And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. Rom. 8:10
Jesus says, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit John 3:6.
And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Eph 2:1
We are dead in trespasses and sins when we receive God's Son Jesus Christ as new life, we are fully made alive in our spirit.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col. 2:10
When we are “born again” of the Spirit, unlike Adam, we receive God’s
Spirit (the Holy Spirit) into our human spirit, which gives us a brand new spirit. This is what being “born again” really means.
We can then gain a new connection with the Spirit of God who now is connected with our human spirit. Then we become spiritually aware.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Romans 8:16
He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls. Prov.25:28 KJV
In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. Eph. 2:22
Our spirits are where God dwells
Our spirit allows us to fellowship with God. To fellowship with God is mainly to worship Him and serve Him. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve Matt. 4:10
Our spirit enables us to know the mysterious things of God and the things of men.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor. 2:11 & 12
The further inward we turn towards God in our spirit, not only are we moving towards intimacy with Him, we are also moving away from our outward or soulish man.
God’s Spirit uses our human spirit to help carry out the process of sanctification and to restore spiritual communication in our lives. The process of sanctification is simply the process of restoring our spirit back to its rightful place, as the boss of our souls. This is very important because, until our soul is completely submitted
to our spirit, our communication and our walk with the Lord will be hindered.
The man who is walking in the spirit is the man who allows his spirit to rule, not the soul. God’s will is that our renewed spirit becomes stronger and stronger, so that it can work alongside of God’s Spirit to control and govern our soul.
Our spirit can only fill us, lead us and guide us when the soul is weakened and crucified. In order for this to happen, our soul needs to be brought to a place of submission and a place that it can't operate on it's own ability.
It is our spirit that desires fellowship and union with God. Our spirit needs God. Since we are a spirit and live in a body and have a soul we need to take care of each of these areas.
Physical needs for our bodies, psychological needs for our souls (mind, will & emotions), and spiritual needs for our spirits. People take care of their bodies and their souls and neglect their spirits.
Although you may be working on having the best body and health and the best education for your mind and greatest entertainment and the greatest material things for your soul satisfaction, you can still be unhappy and unsatisfied.
You can never fill that empty spot in your spirit until you have deep fellowship with God. When we have been satisfied within, we do not care as much about the outer things the things of the world. Our spirit is satisfied with God, for our human spirit was made to contain Him and walk with Him.
This is when we have deep satisfaction and joy and peace it comes with righteousness which is walking in the spirit and in the kingdom of God!
Next lesson Part 3
How to prepare/strengthen your spirit; So you can walk in the spirit.
