After the beginning, On the first day, the world was found as a core of solid matter submerged entirely in water. Spiritual Light, later known as Meshiach, was introduced later on the first day, and the atmosphere on the second day. On the third day, the dry land rose above sea level.
Later came all life. Plants, trees and all of flesh inhabited the earth. Finally, “26 Then Avinu said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So Avinu created man in His own image; in the image of Avinu He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then Avinu blessed them, and Avinu said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And Avinu said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 “Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then Avinu saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Ge 1:26-31)“And AVINU Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (soul).” (Ge 2:7)
** The fact that we received our “life” from deep within Avinu, makes us a “living soul” and distinguishes us from the rest of creation.
This emphasizes the fact that we are the primary purpose of Creation, whereas everything else is secondary. Our Divine soul is a spark of G-d. Therefore, the soul can never lose its intrinsic connection with G-d. Our challenge is to ensure that this connection remain manifested within our physical being. Just as when one blows, the air can reach its destination only if there are no physical obstructions, so too, the more we free our lives of spiritual sludge “ harmful or negative thoughts, words, or deeds” the more our Avinu breathed souls can shine freely.
You may consider yourself a single person, but there are many characters playing their own script inside you, each capable of detaching itself from the others. Intellect will fire off on its own journey happily detached from emotion. Emotion will burn itself up in a fire that never comes to action. Your arms and legs can go through mindless, heartless, meaningless actions day in and out. And the soul can fly high, oblivious to anything that concerns your down-to-earth life. But when you eat your meal with mindfulness, do business with a conscience, treat a cranky child with loving patience” in all these things a harmony of parts is achieved. All of you becomes one. (Chabad.org)
All souls come from the same Source.
Only the bodies divide us.
Therefore, one who places the body before the spirit
can never experience true love or friendship. (Chabad.org)
** The “soul” is the connector between the spirit of man and the flesh.
“For the word of Avinu is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb 4:12 )
** The soul includes things like our intellect, emotions, instincts, memory, habits etc. This is the “battle ground” area where we fight our battles against sin.
“Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1Pe 2:11 )
** When the soul departs from the body, the life as we know it ceases.
“And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.” (Ge 35:18 )
“And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him (Yeshua) who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt 10:28 )
“Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.” (Mt 26:38 )
“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Ps 16:10 )
“He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Meshiach, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” (Ac 2:31)
“So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (1Co 15:45 )
“O AVINU, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” (Ps 30:3 )
“For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground.” (Ps 44:25 )
“But Avinu will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah” (Ps 49:15 )
“ My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.” (Ps 119:25 )
“You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.” (Pr 23:14 )
““Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.” (Eze 18:4 )
““The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Eze 18:20 )
““For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt 16:26 )
“let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (Jas 5:20 )
** The third part of this connection is “the spirit of man”. Here are some references:
“Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” (Job 11 )
“The sacrifices of Avinu are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O Avinu, thou wilt not despise.” (Ps 51:17 )
“I remember Avinu, and am disquieted: I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. [[Selah” (Ps 77:3 )
“The spirit of man is the lamp of Avinu, Searching all his innermost parts.” (Pr 20:27 )
“And the Avinu of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Avinu Yeshua Meshiach.” (1Th 5:23 )
** Man is composed of body, soul and spirit. However, man isn’t complete until he receives The Holy Spirit.
“And Yeshua when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of Avinu descending as a dove, and coming upon him;” (Mt 3:16 )
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.” (Mt 12:18 )
“For he whom Avinu has sent speaks the words of Avinu: for Avinu gives not the Spirit by measure to him.” (Joh 3:34)
“It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (Joh 6:63)
“(But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for Ruach HaKadosh was not yet given; because Yeshua was not yet glorified”. (Joh 7:39)
“But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Yeshua was not yet glorified.” (Joh 7:39 )
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.” (Joh 14:17)
“But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.” (Ro 7:6 )
“But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Avinu dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Meshiach, he is none of his.” (Ro 8:9)
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Yeshua from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Meshiach from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.” (Ro 8:11)
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of Avinu:” (Ro 8:16 )
** I think that you get the picture. A complete creation is a 4 part creation.
Body, soul, spirit and Holy Spirit!
9) But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which Avinu has prepared for those who love Him.” (10) But Avinu has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of Avinu. (11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of Avinu except the Spirit of Avinu. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from Avinu, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by Avinu. (13) These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of Avinu, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. (16) For “who has known the mind of Avinu that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Meshiach. (1 Cor 2:9-16)
** Writing to the Corinthians, Paul gives a simple framework for understanding spirit in general, as well as the Holy Spirit. Verse 11 teaches that each person has a spirit: “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?” This echoes Job 32:8: “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” In this usage, the word “spirit” is synonymous with “heart” or “mind.” This is the intelligent, non-physical part of a person that allows him to think, reason, and comprehend. Verse 11 teaches that a person’s spirit is the source and overseer of his thoughts. This spirit in man is not another being within the person but simply the person’s center of reason.
Next, verse 12 reveals that the world has a spirit. Like the spirit in man, this spirit is also not a separate being. But this usage of “spirit” is slightly different. Rather than being the center of reason, the spirit of the world is the world’s attitude, its inclination, tendency, atmosphere, mood, or frame of mind. The spirit of the world is also the motivating impulse of the culture, which can manifest in many ways, but it will always be anti-Avinu (see Romans 8:7).
Paul describes this spirit in Ephesians 2:2-3, saying that we “once walked according to the course of this world.” The course, or way, of the world is the invisible and immaterial motivating impulse at work in the sons of disobedience. The spirit of the world moves people whom Avinu has not redeemed to conduct themselves in lust, fulfilling the desires of their flesh and mind, putting themselves under the wrath of Avinu. The spirit of the world sweeps mankind along a spiritual channel to keep them in opposition to their Creator.
While spirit cannot be seen, we can see the effects of spirit. It is not a coincidence that the word for “spirit,” pneuma, can also be translated as “wind” or “breath”—just as Job 32:8, quoted above, parallels the spirit in man to “the breath of the Almighty.” We cannot see the moving air molecules in wind, but we can observe leaves and branches being moved and know that wind is present. In the dry areas of the West, tumbleweeds roll along and dust-devils form, spin, and disintegrate, revealing that the wind is at work.
In the same way, we cannot see spirit, but we can see the actions and attitudes of mankind, and thus find evidence of the spirit that is working. The spirit of the world influences and stirs up the spirit in man, inducing the individual to think and feel in a certain way, and ultimately, to act.
Returning to I Corinthians 2:12, Paul mentions a spirit that we have received. This is in addition to the spirit in man, with which we were born, and in opposition to the spirit of the world. This additional spirit is from, and of, Avinu. We can conclude that, like mankind, Avinu also has a Spirit. Avinu has a mind, one of unfathomable depth, capability, and intelligence. But more than simply an overwhelming intellect, Avinu’s Spirit includes His attitude, principles, thoughts, feelings, temperament, character, disposition, and will. To put it simply, Avinu’s Spirit is the essence of His incredible mind, and it is the new motivating principle that Avinu’s children receive.
I Corinthians 2:16 shows that Avinu’s Spirit is not another supernatural being. It begins with a quotation of Isaiah 40:13 (“who has known the mind of Avinu that he may instruct Him?”), but then Paul follows up with, “But we have the mind of Meshiach.” This is Paul’s explanation of the spirit we have received. It is a principle, a disposition, a motivating influence that comes from Avinu Himself. “Spirit,” “heart,” and “mind,” while not identical, are used interchangeably. It is the mind of Meshiach that we have received that allows us to know the things of Avinu, to know what Avinu has prepared for us, and to know the things that have been given to us. Thus, Paul equates the Spirit of Avinu to the mind of Meshiach. The essence of His mind enhances our minds, giving us spiritual understanding.
The Father and the Son are one, not in the sense of being the same Person, but in the sense of being perfectly united in will, thought, and intent. They are of the same mind, the same heart—the same spirit. It is that Spirit that we receive when we are baptized and have hands laid on us. As a result, we can begin to understand the things of Avinu, which the world cannot understand. Without Avinu’s intervention, mankind is only influenced by the spirit of the world, which has its source in “the prince of the power of the air.”
Because Avinu is holy, His Spirit is also holy. Avinu has many facets and qualities, yet the four living creatures in Revelation 4:8 praise Him day and night for being “holy, holy, holy.” The fact that they say “holy” three times does not mean that He is three persons. It means His holiness is superlative—it is the very highest possible. Our holy Avinu’s Spirit, the essence of His perfect mind, is also holy. That holiness is not merely an attribute, but it is also what Avinu’s Spirit will incline His people toward: holiness in conduct, in attitude, in speech, in every facet of living. Avinu says, “Be holy, for I am holy,” and His Spirit will move us toward His holiness, if we cooperate.
Life’s Reality
Remember you are not the body. Neither are you the animal that pounds within the body, demanding its way in every thing. You are a “made in His image and likeness” soul. Do not confuse the pain and struggle of the body with the joy and purity of the “made in His image and likeness” soul.
“A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (Pr 18:14)
“Create in me a clean heart, O Avinu, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Ps 51:10)
Our physical bodies with all of it’s demands, aches and pains isn’t the reality of life. It is but a covering, a garment of sorts that is by design only a temporary dwelling with limited capabilities. Many times the condition of the external covering is a result of an issue with the “made in His image and likeness” soul. We must learn to focus on the internal reality and not the temporary corporality.
“1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from Avinu, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened — not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2Co 5:1-4)
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