The Lord's Candle

The spirit of man is the Lord's candle. It is where God operates to nurture growth. Without being born again through God's Spirit, understanding spiritual matters is impossible. For Christians, attempting to discuss or clarify spiritual concepts to those who are not born again is pointless, much like speaking a foreign language to someone who cannot comprehend it. Get them born again first, and they will be eager to learn.

In John chapter 3, Jesus tells the Pharisee Nicodemus that unless a person is "born again," they cannot see the kingdom of God. This rebirth is spiritual rather than physical and involves being "born of water and the Spirit." It signifies the spiritual purification through the blood of Jesus and the transformation by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, spiritual truths cannot be understood purely through logic; they need to be revealed by the Spirit.

Proverbs 20:27 states, "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly." Since God is Spirit, it stands to reason that He communicates through our spirit. This is where we gain enlightenment and revelation, where we discern the truth. Jesus said, "My Word is truth." Aren't you thankful that God has established a way for us to maintain ongoing fellowship with Him? The Creator of heaven and earth, the God of the universe, ensures that we can connect with Him. What a privilege it is to serve a God who is real, faithful, stern yet gentle and loving. He examines the innermost parts of our being; He knows our hearts better than we do. Isn't that fascinating?

Recently, I was in conversation with God about a mistake I had made and was repenting for it. I didn't hear an audible voice; instead, He spoke to me inwardly. He said, "Dorarena, I look at the heart." He searches all the inward parts of the belly (spirit). I felt so relieved. The Lord examines the motives, and what matters to Him is that they are pure. Sometimes our actions are wrong, but our motives are right, and we still need to repent for our wrong actions. However, when we repent, God forgives and focuses on the pureness of our hearts. At times, we may not even know what is wrong, but through His Spirit, He reveals it to our spirit. Praise God, He is the revealer of truth.

Let's conclude with this final scripture, 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV): "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This verse clearly illustrates why we should avoid debating or attempting to explain the Scriptures to someone who is not born again. It also implies that those who challenge the truth of God's Word may not truly be born again. The Holy Spirit opens our understanding and guides us in applying Scripture correctly as we study to be approved.

Well, we conclude with one of my favorite quotes from Jesus, lol. John 6:63 (NKJV): "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." This statement is incredibly powerful! God communicates with us through His Spirit, both internally and through the Word. This underscores the importance of studying. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truths as you study your Bible.

The spirit of man is the Lord's candle, so let the Spirit of God and His Word come alive within you, empowering you to please the Father and emulate Him as a beloved child. Amen!

-Pastor Dorarena Smith