I pray that you are studying the scriptures and getting a clear understanding. Some plant, some water, but it is God who gives the increase. As you make yourself available to be taught by the Holy Spirit, God causes you to grow in grace and in knowledge. Experiencing the Word of God causes it to be engrafted into our hearts. Then and only the, can we know that we know the Word of God. Head knowledge leads to pride, so let’s work towards letting that Word rule and reign in our hearts.
This week we will look at more scriptures dealing with the spirit of man. Again, this is an excerpt from The Spiritual Man, by Watchman Nee.
The spirit of man consists of: Conscience, Intuition and Communion.
The conscience is the discerning organ which distinguishes right and wrong; not through the influence of knowledge stored in the mind but rather by a spontaneous direct judgment. The work of the conscience is independent and direct; it does not bend to outside opinions. If man should do wrong it (the conscience) will raise its voice of accusation.
Intuition is the sensing organ of the human spirit. Intuition involves a direct sensing, independent of any outside influence. That knowledge that comes to us, without any help from the mind, emotion or volition, comes intuitively. We really “know” through our intuition; our mind merely helps us to “understand”. The revelations of God and all the movements of the Holy Spirit are known to the believer through his intuition.
Communion is worshipping God. The organs of the soul are incompetent to worship God. God is not apprehended by our thoughts, feelings or intentions, for He can only be know directly in our spirits. Our worship of God and God’s communications with us are directly in the spirit. They take place in the “inner man”, not in the soul or outward man. (What scripture does that remind you of? John 4:23)
We can conclude then that these three elements of conscience, intuition and communion are deeply interrelated and function coordinately. The relationship between conscience and intuition is that conscience judges according to intuition; it condemns all conduct which does not follow the directions given by the intuition. (You know, when you felt like you should have made a left turn but you made a right and found yourself in a traffic jam. Then you say, oh man, why didn’t I make that left. Your conscience just judged you based on your intuition, which told you to make that left turn). Got it! Intuition is related to communion or worship in that God is known by man intuitively and reveals His will to man in the intuition. (If we continue to live according to the soul, we will never know the will of God for our lives. It can only be revealed to us in our spirit.) No measure of expectation or deduction gives us the knowledge of God.
The following scriptures should help you see and understand, even the more, the three functions of the spirit of man. Read the scripture and fill in the blank with main thought.
1. The Function of Conscience in Man’s Spirit
- Deuteronomy 2:30 hardened his spirit
- Psalm 34:18 _____________________________________________
- Psalm 51:10 _____________________________________________
- John 13:21 ______________________________________________
- Acts 17:16 ______________________________________________
- Romans 8:16 ____________________________________________
- 1 Corinthians 5:3 _________________________________________
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 ________________________________________
- 2 Timothy 1:7 ___________________________________________2. The Function of Intuition in Man’s Spirit
- Matthew 26:41 __________________________________________
- Mark 2:8 _______________________________________________
- Mark 8:12 ______________________________________________
- John 11:33 ______________________________________________
- Acts 18:5 _______________________________________________
- Acts 18:25 ______________________________________________
- Acts 20:22 ______________________________________________
- 1 Corinthians 2:11 ________________________________________
- 2 Corinthians 7:13 ________________________________________3. The Function of Communion in Man’s Spirit
- Luke 1:47 ______________________________________________
- John 4:23 ______________________________________________
- Romans 1:9_____________________________________________
- Romans 7:6 ____________________________________________
- Romans 8:15 ___________________________________________
- Romans 8:16 ___________________________________________
- 1 Corinthians 6:17 _______________________________________
- 1 Corinthians 14:15 ______________________________________
- 1 Corinthians 14:16 ______________________________________
- Revelation 21:10 ________________________________________
Although unregenerate men do not yet have life, they nevertheless possess these functions (but their worship is of evil spirits). Some people manifest more of these functions while others less. This does not however imply that they are not dead in sins and transgressions. The New Testament does not considerthose with a sensitive conscience, keen intuition or a spiritual tendency and interest to be saved individuals. Prior to regeneration the spirit is separated from God’s life; only afterwards does the life of God and of the Holy Spirit dwell in our spirits. They (conscience, intuition and communion) then have been quickened to be instruments of the Holy Spirit.
Be blessed my brothers & Sisters
Yours in Christ
Rosita
