> General Discussions

Nailing down the term ''Spirit''.

(1/2) > >>

acomplishedartis:
1.   (n.) Spirit
the animating principle of life, esp. of humans; vital essence.

   spirit
a supernatural, incorporeal being, esp. one having a particular character:
evil spirits.
2.   spirit
an attitude or principle that pervades thought, stirs one to action, etc.:
the spirit of reform

4. (noun) spirit
the vital principle or animating force within living things
5. spirit
a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one’s character


b. A causative, activating, or essential principle
the influence of God or divine things upon the soul
the fundamental, emotional, and activating principle of a person; will the experience broke his spirit

7. that which constitutes a person’s intangible being as contrasted with his physical presence: I shall be with you in spirit


Just wondering how you guys would show, compare, explain the term spirit?

It seems to me that there is more than one type of description of the term spirit in the Scriptures. It's just hard for the mind to be able to think clearly with such 'open for interpretation' word like spirit.


Here is a description of the term spirit that denotes more an attitude
1 Corinthians 4:21
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

And here is description of the term spirit that denotes more the essence or 'vital principle' of a person

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:5
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

An this is the last most misterious description/type of the term spirit that I can see; when is like talking about a being on his own:

Acts 19:15
And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


Well, that should be enough just to start... I don't expect all the answers about the whole subject at hand, I just want to start a conversation on the subject and see if somebody have something else to share. This has been on my mind for already a long time, so...



(if there is no comments it's okay, I will keep on my search on my own).

longhorn:
My head exploded

indianabob:
Moises wrote;
Colossians 2:5
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Translation: you are in my thoughts and I know in my own mind that you are faithful to Christ. So also you may know absolutely in your own thoughts that I am with you, that I care for you and so we are as one in "spirit" in that we think alike by God's grace.

The other consideration in my opinion is that in some manner, God's spirit is operating or functioning in the human mind, IF SO BE that God has given us a "heart" of understanding.

It is like we each are connected to the internet, full time, and we can exchange thoughts automatically and without typing on the key board, just by remembering that we love the other person.
After all the human mind does operate via electric signals transmitted along nerve pathways AND if my mind is connected, spiritually, to God's frequency and your mind is connected to God's frequency as well, then THROUGH God's spirit we may be as one.

I think it is as simple as when we truly love someone without reservation, God opens a channel in our mind that allows us to connect to the whole of God's family. WE still need to have a true familiarization with other persons, but that comes from living and working together with a common goal. We still need to know their "internet address" so to speak, but then the messages go along proscribed channels automatically without our doing anything physical to cause it.

acomplishedartis:

--- Quote from: longhorn on October 09, 2012, 03:27:40 PM ---My head exploded

--- End quote ---

haha, I know what you mean.

Well. This is just starting...

acomplishedartis:
 Bob, thanks for the reply, I can be able to see how people with same spirit are all wired, often, even when they have never met before, somehow they feel as if they already knew each other.

This theme is not so simple to assimilate since we are talking about something INVISIBLE. I could try to explain more with my own words, but since I find myself on this forum and since Ray already word it on less words that I would have used; I am going to quote him (from his emails) on blue letters.

Bob, I agree that in certain verses of the Scriptures the word spirit can also be taken as an expression to convey certain attitude or connexion in us. I agree that we are not spirits. The spirit in all humans doesn't have consciousness on it's own (Ecc. 9:5). 

''Every person (and animal) has a “spirit.”  There is no life without spirit. At death OUR spirit return to our God Who gave it to us. Spirit does not die. But, spirit has no consciousness of its own. It must be united with a body. That is why there is coming a Resurrection of the DEAD. Adam’s body had the spirit of God breathed into it and then Adam became a LIVING SOUL.  God’s Holy Spirit is His Spirit of Holiness which imparts spiritual knowledge and spiritual character to those who possess it. The wicked and unbelievers have a spirit that keeps them alive, but they have no spiritual perception of spiritual truths because they do not possess the Holy Spirit of God living in us through Jesus Christ our Lord.''

''ALL men (and animals) have a spirit. This spirit gives life to the body and produces soul (feelings, thinking, emotions, etc.). But God dwells in our hearts and minds by way of His HOLY Spirit, which is a different spirit.''

So we all have a spirit that keeps us alive. Now. We humans can be influenced and affected by different spirits; one could be God's holy spirit. (Ha,and where is any free-will on that?)

''Jesus is the Personification of the Holy Spirit (His SPIRIT FATHER living IN Him). Therefore, the Person Jesus is the “He and the Him,” not the Spirit of God in Him. God the Father OWNS, if you will, His OWN Spirit. It belongs TO Him. IT is HIS. The Holy Spirit DOES NOT OWN GOD THE FATHER. Can you see and understand that? God HAS a spirit. The Holy Spirit DOES NOT HAVE A GOD, therefore, it is an IT, and not a HE or a HIM.''

So the holy spirit of God is like a force, activating principle, essence, extra energy along with God's characteristics that are given to a few on different meassures as they try to live a godly life. And how come God is Spirit and does have consciousness?

''I never said that no spirit has consciousness. OUR spirit has no consciousness. God IS Spirit and God is conscious, but we are NOT GOD. We only have a form of spirit in us to keep us alive. When converted God gives us yet ANOTHER SPIRIT which is called the HOLY Spirit, and it effects out consciousness, but does not keep us conscious at death, as that requires resurrection.''

ME THINKS THAT WE ALL HUMANS ARE AFFECTED BY SPIRITS, BEHIND OUR PRETTY, NOT SO PRETTY OR UGLY FACE, WE ARE ALL AFFECTED ON DIFFERENT MEASSURES BY THE EFFECTS (ON DIFERENT QUANTITIES) OF DIFERENT SPIRITS.

So the daily battle is mainly against powers and spiritual hosts of wickedness in our minds. This is why we must tests the spirits...

Needles to say, all Hollywood and Christendom terms and physical representations of Spirit are deadly wrong. We all know that an image with gradual transparency, still, is not invisible. And depicting people alive (therefore with a spirit still) with no physical body (well, some say they get it back somehow), eternally tortured in physical fire is totally illogical according to the Scriptures and from my point of view, people who believe that to heart is just being highly influenced by a spirit.

Parables and representations that help us to explain the term spirit are very helpful. If somebody have thought or knows of another good one...

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page