Spirit of Man, Part 3 Teaching
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Sign InThe Two Spirits in Our Lives
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Psalm The Spirit of Man III
September 7th 2025
Leadership meeting today too.
WE MAINTAIN THAT THERE ARE TWO SPIRITS IN OUR LIVES IN THIS AGE OF VICTORIOUS FULFILLMENT – one from the first creation and one from the second. “THE SPIRIT OF MAN and THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST” Today, all are born with both. One is predominant and demanding. The other is inviting, teaching, calling. THE QUESTION IS, FOR US “How do people actually mature in the former when living in a world of the Latter.”
(GRAPHIC)
SPIRIT OF MAN
SPIRIT OF CHRIST
Immediate continual needs and wants
Calling, guiding – the human metaphysical conscience (so to speak) in each individual
Operates on Laws and often out of necessity
Operates on grace, truth, mercy, forgiveness and love
Serves humanity constructively or takes from humanity destructively
Serves God blesses humanity
Good and Evil / Dark and Light
Light and real Life
Is external pushing in (from the cultural collective) and internally pushing out from the individual soul’s desires
Is internal that gives eyes and ears to interpret the external rightly.
Applicable to the here and now
Applicable here and now and is the only real thing that goes with us at death
Some souls are happy, good, collective (like hippy communes) others are disgruntles, mean, selfish and totally controlling (totalitatian regimes)
Those who seek it, know it, and live by it are at peace (that is not of this world) have joy in things (and not necessarily happiness)
Put God first, others second, self last
Serves humanity constructively or takes from humanity destructively
Always seeks to do and represent Yeshua in every situation so does not necessarily help the material world
KNOWLEDGE / INTUITION FAITH
Self / Family / Others or not
YAHAVAH Family Neighbor Enemy Self
Comes naturally (gifts) and/or through learning the Laws
Does NOT come naturally but through a two-way give and take exchange of our ideas for His.
Understanding the Spirits
Since coming to identify Him in me we have long asked, Why do some get it? Why do some not? What do we do when we get it? How do we live in this world?
BEWARE!!!!!!
FALSE LIGHT THAT NEVER WARMS
SANDTRAPS/OFF THE PATH BUILDING
PRIDE / JUDGEMENT / ARROGANCE
FEAR/FLESH/FORTUNE
The Bible's Uniqueness
There are approximately 2.2 million books published a year today. The collective number since the Guttenberg printing press was invented is “guestimated” at about 130 million books total. Of course, this does not include all the books written by hand on papyrus, bark, wax tablets and inscribed in stone or steel over the millennia before – most of which have been lost or we only have fragments. It’s sobering how many books exist in libraries around the world that have never or rarely been read by anyone. I’ve read some books in my life but what is more amazing is how many I own that I haven’t read. They just look impressive, so I keep them around, on the shelf, thinking “maybe, someday.”
What are some factors that make a book good, great, readable and re-readable – over and over again? What are the factors that make a book of real value, deemed truly great? To me that the book is the kind that can be read over and over is one of the indications of a great book. I want to suggest a few additional things that I think help a book to qualify as great or even sublime with the acknowledgement that most books only really meet one to three of these factors (if any at all) but in my estimation the Bible meets them all.
But let’s step from “religious tradition and mass opinion” and merely list a few elements that make the Bible the single most remarkable book on earth and why considering its contents to educate yourself is more than a worthy endeavor. I’ve categorized the evidences for the Bible being wholly unique and worthwhile in three main ways. First, there are devotional evidences, which are the weakest type, then there are material evidences, and finally, and most important to my understanding, there are spiritual or metaphysical reasons too.
Evidences of the Bible's Value
Again and in order of value, the Bible has –
(GRAPHIC)
Metaphysical Evidence
Material Evidence, and
Devotional Evidence
Let approach these in reverse and first speak of the Bible in terms of devotional allegiances in the world – which is
The Bible's Lasting Influence
Many people over the years have read the Bible every year, and they have done so throughout their lifetimes. Grady is one of these people. And most people who do re-read the Bible say that they do this because it continues to enrich their lives with every reading. Not only do people read the Bible, but many study it carefully in private and in Bible study groups. And millions of congregations around the world gather every week to hear a sermon that is an explanation of some passage or theme taken directly from the Bible. It is safe to say that many people spend their lives reading and even rereading the works of William Shakespeare, but only in academic circles are people gathering weekly with fellow Shakespeare readers to hear a sermon based on a passage from him. At least some part of the Bible has been translated into nearly 7,000 languages, and the entire Bible has been translated into nearly 700 in total. No other book even comes close.
Cultural and Artistic Contributions
The Book of Mormon has been translated into like 115 not that there is any comparison between the two but just to give you a reference point. Additionally, devotionally, the events recorded in this book have generated more great works of art than any other subject matter in the history of the world. All the museums in the world, added together, could not possibly contain all of the artwork inspired by the events of the Bible. In terms of influence, no book has more influence on the mind of Man than any other great book – unfortunately, for evil and good – but the book is influential on society. Interestingly, and frankly oddly to me, our court system invites people who trust the Bible to swear on it when giving testimony.
Ancient Greece has had a profound impact on society through some of the writings to come from it. The Iliad and the Odyssey and other forms of Greek Mythology. Some historians have said that “Western Civilization is a series of footnotes” on the writings of Plato and Aristotle. Additionally, millions live under the domination of political ideas propounded by Karl Marx. Millions maybe billions of people have been influenced by the Quran, translated into the same amount of languages as the BOM. Parents who read the Bible with their children, if they approach it right and without dogma, can enter into society equipped with understanding that will help them in ways that families without it will probably lack. Year after year, the Bible has topped the list of the world’s bestsellers.
The Significance of Bible Reading
WHY? And even more, why will so many people AVOID its pages – they will watch, read, do almost anything else in life – than read it, study it, test it. I maintain that the main difference between Bible readers and non-bible readers is the choice each person makes on the kind of light or dark that they want in their lives. I am not kidding. I know there are reading and comprehension issues that some people face, and I also understand that some people do learn in other ways – that God for the age of the Spirit – but to BEST learn the differences between the Spirit of Man and the Spirit of Christ is by LEARNING from the Bible first to know who and what you are seeking, and why and how and THEN SURVEY the world.
Evidence Supporting the Bible
Then there are the MATERIAL EVIDENCES to consider. The Bible is the most copied book of antiquity. Written over a time period of some 1,500 years, it was completed approximately 2,000 years ago. Yet, in all the centuries that have passed its contents have remained accurate at an amazing level of consistency. This is remarkable when we consider how it was composed. Beginning with the writings of either Moses or Job, men, inspired by the Spirit of God, have written. Some of them lived concurrently with each other. Others hundreds, even a thousand plus years apart – nevertheless the consistency – the through-line of the overall message remains intact. That is another significant material fact about the Bible that we cannot ignore – it came from real people, written in real history, in verifiable historical and geological settings. The Bible has linguistic evidence, genetic evidence, historical, geological, geographical evidence and listen – the Bible has more evidence for its original content than any other book of antiquity. The book has more verified and sustained external supports like archeology, geography, custom, politics, culture, known world history and
The Bible's Historical Accuracy
Writings than ANY other ancient text. And new discoveries have continued to support it, and listen “never vice versa.” Many people have tried to prove it faulty based on secular history but in the end their findings have been weighed and found wanting. Yet many many people of faith – never read it. Again, materially, it is surpassingly accurate to the smallest of details with most translations being very close to the known intentions of the original authors. Its contents, as translated, are as close to the original words of the authors as humanly possible. Only a few words of the entire book (a tiny, insignificant percentage) are in any doubt as to the original words and none of the disputed text affects the message of the book. Additionally, new discoveries of previously unknown ancient manuscripts continue to provide ever greater accuracy to the contents of this book. It has been sifted, studied, commentated upon and dissected more than any book in history. Volumes of books have been written about it, on it – probably more of them than bibles themselves.
Comparisons with Other Ancient Texts
Why? There are a few books that can claim to be older than the oldest books in the Bible, but those books are read almost exclusively by scholars if they are read at all. But older does not mean truer. Neither does newer. We will talk about this in a minute. But some of those completed books include, The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2500 BCE), the Egyptian Book of the Dead (c. 3150 BCE), the Hindu Rig Veda (c. 1500 BCE), and the Babylonian creation epic, Enuma Elish. The Chinese Classic of Documents (Shujing) and the Greek Iliad and Odyssey. Do these contain truth – even truths about God? Of course, they can, do and could. But the Bible is not just a book that contains some truth – it is a book that cohesively describes through its overall narrative “the truth of all that God has done to reconcile the world to Himself,” how He has done this, along with consistent credible content on His nature, will and ways while doing it and what His love means to humanity.
Literary Brilliance and Stories of Wisdom
Like a great film, it tells the tale from the very first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation, from numerous perspectives, places and times. There is Literary brilliance in the Bible as well. They are not just the rambling scribblings of men but truly have a flow, a consistency, a through-line that defies imagination – if and when it is read, considered and studied. And what about the principles from it direct didactic instruction to its stories and parables – come on. Is there a story can surpass the drama and beauty that the story of Abraham, the Exodus, of Joseph, Noah, Esther, and Daniel in the lions’ den? How many people have been inspired by the story of David and Goliath, how many men have learned from the story of David and Bathsheba, how many women from Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Martha, and how all of us are moved to reflection through the parables and teachings of God with us - the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Rich Man and Lazarus, Peter walking on the water, the woman with the issue of blood.
What do all of these material evidences do for us? They are there to present knowledge that when we apply it right and well, teaches wisdom about living. See, this is what makes the Bible the greatest of books – it contains great wisdom and by the very same spirit that moved men to write we learn and having learned, choose. The instructions are otherworldly, amazing and life-altering. And this brings us to the last but in my estimation, the most important value of the Bible – its METAPHYSICAL SUPPORTS. Before we launch into the actual biblical promises relative to metaphysical supports, one of the most impressive things about the Bible is it can be understood by the simpleton at one level all the way up to the biggest genius’s on earth. This is because it is written to all men in layers, from the milky basics to elevated heights of meat. The Christian guitarist from the heavy dark band, Deftones, once said something to this effect about music: When you play at a basic level you will reach the broadest audiences. As you move toward more complex riffs, chords, time-stamps, the audience gets less and less. And he held his hands up to illustrate the point. Nothing is more true when
Understanding the Bible Through Spiritual Learning
An individual chooses to pursue learning by the Spirit through the Bible. Our first time in it we are hearing music popular to children. As we mature the complexity continues to grow and when a person arrives at the far end of understanding the Bible from the ten thousand foot view, beginning to end, they will wind up in their views almost alone but closer to God than they may have thought humanly possible. So that is the first principle – each stroll through the scripture adds new understanding of its concepts. I would suggest if this is true for individual private subjective readings where the reader seeks God in spirit and truth. Something different happens when a person seeks to learn from others what it says – through education or religion. The reader may mature and develop great insights into the overall meaning but some, most or all of that learning will short stop their maturity. Why? Because the dogma will create barriers to things the Spirit wants to reveal – happens all the time – and has happened over the centuries.
Departing from Traditions
There are those rare souls who as they mature in the scripture will depart from the traditions of men – and they are most fortunate in their realizations. Unfortunately, they will find themselves more and more alienated from the fellowship of the masses – even persecuted – from their own. But isn’t this a principle found in the Bible? Wasn’t Christ Himself popular when he played the masses pop songs, but in the end wasn’t He abandoned wholesale and left naked and alone to die on the cross outside the city gates? A child may not realize this when they read these biblical facts – but the theme is readily apparent to the matured in the meat. But what many souls do not realize is as they – AS THEY – consider the text of the Bible they are being liberated. From what? The lies of Men. The demands, the cultures, the traditions of men. Their own flesh, their own ideas, their own will and emotions that reside in their souls. Some will put the Bible down when this begins to happen – as stated – for whatever reason.
Parable of the Sower
Yeshua explained this truth in His parable of the Sower. Remember? A sower casts seeds and some fall on wayside soil, some on stony ground, some on thorny soil and some on good soil. The disciples didn’t understand it, so He explained it, and said in Matthew 13: Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Some people just don’t understand the words of the Bible and in that day, Yeshua said, that when this happens the wicked one steps in and removes what was planted in their heart. My own father was this way – he was super smart but had no interest in the Bible because he really didn’t understand it. This leads us to a metaphysical truth about the Bible if you will hear it. It's explained by Paul in 1st Corinthians when he said, in Chapter 2, 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us.
Understanding the Spirit of God
by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 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; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The Role of Humility
So, when the scripture is read or taught, the first thing to understand is that IT CANNOT be understood by the natural mind of Man – only by the spirit of God because the Spirit of God – (I suggest) authored it. This fact hearkens back to why we began with the first L and called it Light being that the first step to faith is someone from their heart wants the Light of God over the wisdom of Man. And, from everything that we have seen it seems that the brass tacks motivation, even pre-qualification, is humility, which the scripture says a person chooses to assign to their respective mind, will and emotion, to admit, we are reliant, we originate from something that is bigger, smarter, wiser than us.
Simple as that. Then Yeshua continues to explain the parable and says, 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; This proves that it is entirely possible to hear and receive the scripture planted, with joy even. But then he adds, 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: but when tribulation or persecution arise because of the word, by and by he is offended.
The Challenge of Offense
In other words, they hear and understand initially – an immediate even an emotional devotion, a knee jerk reaction, and coming to Yeshua at a concert where the lead singer knows how to work the audience into a lather, or perhaps it is a decision based on their immediate needs or wants. But Yeshua says plainly, “but he has no root IN HIMSELF” and instead of being like a Bayan tree with a tremendous root system to keep them steady they are more like a mushroom (implication intended) and sprout quickly while in the dark but a lifted up and removed without much resistance at all.
What removes these rootless souls from their initial reception – he tells us, saying, that after they endure for a while when tribulation or persecution arise (WHY?) “because of the Word,” and Yeshua says, “by and by,” meaning repeatedly and over time, “they are offended.” When we were on live television I watched countless – countless people, many formerly LDS or currently, loving the message they heard, and flocking to the station, to our Pastor in the Pubs, to open water baptisms, to our teachings at the Theater and the U of U – even here. And I watched countless souls literally follow right in line with what Yeshua describes. What is really interesting is for the most part, they departed because we taught the scripture – verse by verse – in those days, the Apostolic Record. And when we would get to passages that offended, I was witness to them taking offense. Then suddenly – they are gone.
I am not talking about people who disagreed with me and moved on to other churches. That’s fine. I am talking about people who were literally offended and left the faith all together. In my estimation, they abandoned the desire for Light and were offended by learning and hearing the scripture. And I’ll be frank - I think it was usually because they were hearing the scripture through the Spirit of Man, and not the Spirit of Christ. Yeshua continues to the third heart soil – and says, 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this
The Role of Faith and Riches
World, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. These souls appear to be the ones whose lives overwhelm them – the cares, the debts, the laws, jobs, raising kids or they are choked out and stopped from bearing fruit because they are removed by the riches of the world. I am not sure that these souls have walked from Christ in the sense of belief, but I am convinced that they cease maturing, then begin to falter in bearing the fruit that God desires of His matured children. Contextually this suggests that the cares and riches of the world stunt their faith and therefore stunt their capacity to love as He desires – which is the fruit He seeks from those who are His. Finally, and not leaving us depressed, Yeshua adds, 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that 1) heareth the word, and 2) understandeth it; and 3) which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The Bible's Influence on Humanity
The Bible has liberated many from oppression by its clear teachings. It raises the dignity and rights of every human being ever born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable collection of written communications. It contains clear teachings on the value and worth of every individual. It will astonish and surprise you and likely move you to tears. It has freed minds and hearts throughout history as witnessed by the fortunate souls willing to hear. This book itself “represents, teaches, instructs” a person on what the road to genuine liberty looks like. That’s the funny thing about it – to understand it requires reading it, and as we read it, we will be directly confronted by what holds us captive. And most people who reject reading or hearing it are unwilling to let their captives go for whatever reason – fear, love of the flesh, the dark, their ideas, their philosophies. That is their right, their choice, and as a person made in His image we are all free to decide what to pursue, what to reject and in the end they and He knows why.
The Universal Impact of the Bible
The Bible has never been in the custody and control of a single person or even a collective group of people, unlike other important books. It belongs to everyone and it has been possessed by most everyone, almost every culture and almost every tribe and race of people. Reading it will strike you directly in your heart IF you let it. If you now know nothing about God, you will learn a great deal about Him after reading it. If you believe you know God you will be surprised by how much you have got you have missed. But in my estimation, the study of the Bible introduces people to the most important person in the history of the world – Yeshua. It connects the reader to history’s most important figure – Yeshua the Savior of the world. Next week we will continue on Learning and discover the means by which the Scripture helps fortify the reader with wisdom that is not of this world.
Spiritual Understanding
The text discusses how the cares and riches of the world can hinder spiritual growth and maturity, contrasting this with the transformative impact of the Bible, which provides teachings that elevate the dignity of individuals and introduce readers to Yeshua, considered the most significant figure in history.