1. What Is A Spirit?
Understanding The Difference Between Spirit And Matter
Before we can adequately address the Holy Ghost and Spirit Baptism there are several basic facts about spirits that must first be understood.
A Spirit is regarded as supernatural and is separate from matter.
Matter = material substance that occupies space, has mass and is perceptible to the senses-(man is an example of matter)
Supernatural = of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; transcends the laws of nature especially: of or relating to God, spirits, or ghosts, etc.
There is no information given as to the appearance of a spirit; since by its very definition a spirit is separate from matter, it may not have a “physical” appearance.
Since it is accepted that a spirit is a supernatural being, (something not explainable by the known forces or laws of nature), then it is possible that a spirit can live inside a human being and remain separately identifiable from the human being and not required to assume the physical form of a human being.
Subsequently, since a spirit is something that is “not explainable by the known forces or laws of nature” then that implies a spirit can be anything (even appearing as or taking other forms) because it is not bound by the laws of nature.
Note: A spirit taking on another form (as someone else or something else) is never going to ever literally be the actual object it is portraying (i.e., a Rock or a person).
God is called God because he has inherent abilities that nothing or no one (humans) possess. God appearing as a human (or dwelling within another human) is completely different than someone who is “totally human” (according to their definition and their attributes).
The Definition Of Spirit And Man Are Not Synonymous.
There is only one good way I know to demonstrate this fact and that is biblical.
* To be a man means to be human; a person (someone having flesh and bone) that can die (mortal).
* To be a spirit (an angel, God, etc..) means to be something that is supernatural; an immortal substance (or entity) that does NOT have flesh and bone (not as an essential component needed for its existence), Jesus made that very clear in the writings of Luke.
(Luke 24:39) “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
(Luke 20:36) “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”
Unlike angels, we know that God created man from dust (the ground) but that God also gave the man a spirit (God’s breathe of life or living soul). Man is dependent upon this (spirit/ghost) given him by God for life. You can have all the oxygen in the world but if your spirit (ghost/soul) is removed from your body, it will cease to function (die). The word “spirit” and “ghost” are the same (ref. Greek/Hebrew Lexicon). It should also be noted that the terminology “ghost”, “soul” and “spirit” are common terms often used in relation to man’s invisible supernatural makeup.
(Genesis 2:7) “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”
(Job 14:10) “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?”
(Ecclesiastes 8:8) “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: ………”
(Numbers 16:22) “And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh ………………..”
(Matthew 10:28) “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
(1 Corinthians 6:20) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Man Is A Spirit Being – (The Dual Nature Of Man)
At first, we may not think of man as a spirit being because we are most familiar with our present appearance which we call flesh; all flesh returns back to the dust of the earth, from which it was made, upon death.
Man is considered to be flesh (of dust) but he is given spirit, which we all receive from God (Isa 42:5). Without this spirit, our existence as living flesh (life as we know it on earth-it’s functioning/breathing/living) will cease (die).
NOTE: It is the man that has the dual nature, flesh and spirit, (Numbers 16:22, 27:16) NOT GOD – who is an invisible spirit (John 4:24, Col 1:15).
(1 Corinthians 6:20) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
In contrast, God is not part-mortal (human flesh) and part immortal (spirit)
A spirit lives within us, even though we cannot physically see it. It is not flesh yet it is who we are. It does not control us for we have been given free will. We (our spirit) belong to God, who being the Father of all spirits of man. There is an appointed time for this spirit to depart from us (our flesh) and will return to God.
Numbers 16: 22 God of the spirits of all flesh
Numbers 27: 16 God of the spirits of all flesh.
1 Kings 17: 21 let this child’s soul come into him again.
Job 32: 8 there is a spirit in man.
Ecclesiastes 12: 7 spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Isaiah 42: 5 he that giveth breath unto the people… and spirit to them that walk therein:
Zechariah 12:1 and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Matthew 26: 41 spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 14: 38 spirit indeed is ready, but the flesh is weak.
1 Corinthians 2: 11 save the spirit of man which is in him?
1 Corinthians 6: 20 glorify God in your body, and in your spirit.
Hebrews 12: 9 subjection unto the Father of spirits.
James 2: 26 body without the spirit is dead.
(1 Corinthians 2:11-12) “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. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God”
When God (more accurately stated; the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit – Psalms 51:11, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 4:8) “enters” (acts upon or within) the flesh (the body of man); the flesh maintains its own separate and independent will (or spirit) to either obey or disobey God (whether or not to “follow God’s leading”) as our spirit (our will) has been given the freedom of choice. Our bodies are designed to be inhabited by God (Ephesians 2:22), but that is dependent on our obedience to him (Acts 5:32).
