‹‹ WEEK 1 — DAY 6 ››

Morning Nourishment

Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Cor. 2:15 But the spiritual man discerns all things, but he himself is discerned by no one.

   First Thessalonians 5:23 shows that the soul and spirit are not the same but are two separate items. Hebrews 4:12 reveals that the spirit and soul can be divided just like the marrow can be divided from the joints....The marrow is hidden within the bones just like the spirit is hidden within the soul. The spirit is so hidden in the soul that it needs to be divided from the soul by the living and operative word of God, which is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (v. 12).

   The soul and the spirit can be divided because they are two items, two entities, two kinds of substances. Regardless of how hidden the marrow is within the bone, still they are two things. Regardless of how hidden our spirit is within our soul, still they are two things, two organs, two items. We have to learn how to divide our soul from our spirit. (Our Human Spirit, p. 51)

Today’s Reading

   There is a great difference between the soul and the spirit, and the soul can be divided and should be divided from the spirit. Moreover, 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 shows us that unless the soul is subdued by the spirit and submissive to the spirit, the soul is against the spirit and contradicts the spirit....[In verse 14] soulish implies the meaning of “natural” or “psychological.” A soulish man is a natural man, a man living in the soul. The soul is absolutely impotent in spiritual matters.

   In these two verses we can see two kinds of persons: the soulish man and the spiritual man. The soulish man, and the soul itself, cannot understand or receive the spiritual things and even considers the spiritual things foolish. The spiritual man, however, discerns the spiritual things and likes to receive the spiritual things. It is by the spirit that we understand and discern the spiritual things, and it is in the spirit that we desire to have the spiritual things. If we are soulish, we simply cannot understand the spiritual things, we do not like anything spiritual, and we even think that the spiritual things are foolish. Thus, the soul itself is a contradiction to the spirit. We can realize this by our experience. (Basic Principles of the Experience of Life, pp. 82-83)

   To be spiritual is to have the two spirits mingled together in your being. To be spiritual is to have your spirit, the regenerated human spirit, mingled with the Spirit of God to become one spirit. Spiritual persons live in this mingled spirit. Whenever you are in the mingled spirit, you are spiritual, and you have spiritual discernment, spiritual knowledge, and spiritual communication. You are able to discern spiritually both the things of man and the things of God. (Life-study of 1 Corinthians, p. 164)

   In Colossians 3:1 and 2 Paul tells us not only to seek the things which are above but also to set our mind on them. This means that we need to forget earthly things—culture, religion, philosophy, and the natural human virtues. Instead, let us lift up our eyes to the heavens and set our mind on the wonderful, excellent things, the things that are above. These are the things which can cause us to be transformed, for they transmit a heavenly element into us. Let us learn to open our spirit and our whole being to the heavens and keep the “switch” turned on so that the transmission from the divine power plant may flow into us unceasingly.
Do not be distracted by religion, philosophy, or anything else. Focus your attention on the things above and stay open to the heavenly power plant. Then the riches of Christ’s heavenly ministry will be transmitted into you, and you will be transformed and constituted of Christ. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 515-516)

Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 37, ch. 25; vol. 54, “The Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit,” ch. 7; Life-study of 1 Corinthians, msgs. 17-21