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STUDY 249

Text: Proverbs 20
2 April 2006

Dear Parents,

THE SPIRIT OF A MAN
We must never forget that we have a human spirit beneath the exterior. The following text sheds much light about the spirit that we have.

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Proverbs 20:27

What may we learn from this text? Let us consider the following thoughts:-

1. The gift of the spirit

Let us first recall how God gave man his spirit. This is beautifully recorded in Genesis.

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 being.

Genesis 2:7

a) Without this special breath of God

Man would be no better than animals without this special breath of God given to him so graciously.

b) With this special breath of God

Man’s life must not merely be associated with the physical, material world. Man’s life must ever be associated with the Creator who breathed into him the breath of life.

2. The special role of the spirit of man

We are given a precious glimpse of a special role that the human spirit has been given.

a) Its work is well compared to a lamp.

The spirit of a man is supposed to bring light. Unfortunately, sin enshrouds this light.

b) It is capable of searching all the inner depths of the heart.

What a thought this is. Some have sought to describe this special work of the spirit of man as “the human conscience”.

CULTIVATING AN AWARENESS OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE SPIRIT
We do well if we teach our children to become aware of the existence of the spirit (sometimes called “soul”). We do better when we help our children cultivate not the physical and intellectual, but the spiritual aspects of their potential!

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie