The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
The spirit of man is the Lord's candle, made to search the inner life inwardly like a lamp held to hidden places. That searching light is a celestial torch received from the hand of God at the altar of self-sacrifice, the appointed place of meeting between God and the soul. It is given to those who shut themselves in with God in full surrender and live the truth daily, instead of merely assenting to it or listening to great truths of the Word.
It is God's own light searching the human heart, for Christ's teaching sent home by the Holy Spirit reaches people inwardly like a lighted candle, exposing what is in their hearts and bringing conviction of truth. Where the Lord's light and presence shine around a meeting, freedom comes and God's children are strengthened and encouraged. Every person will be tried by Satan's temptations and must therefore search the heart as with a lighted candle, looking to Jesus in faith to keep the spirit untarnished and to resist the devil.
Such self-searching makes a person intelligent in the principles plainly revealed in God's Word and brings to a real knowledge of the truth, instead of being ever learning without ever arriving, because life is too short to remain reckless and disobedient no better than the ungodly. No one can rely on knowledge of Scripture or skill in argument; the heart must be examined for hidden wrong, since the wisdom that leads to salvation requires the Holy Spirit. The heart must be examined in God's light to discover and break hidden attachments and practices that draw the thoughts and affections away from God, even the finest thread that binds to worldly habits which turn the mind from God to idols.
The searching involves pleading with God to convict of every such practice, with God's holy law as the measure of character by which every defect is seen and overcome, so that every idol is severed and the soul is linked to the throne of God. The message that obedience or disobedience to the commandments of God is deciding eternal destiny acts as a lighted candle searching the heart and motives to the very depth of the soul. That searching exposes a worldly life of dress and amusements, weakens the body under conviction, brings immediate unreserved surrender to God, and gives peace and pardon and salvation with ever-growing love for God and for truth.
Its work belongs with asking whether Christ dwells in the heart by faith, for Christ alone shows human necessity and reveals the dignity and glory of the truth, and the torch searches the heart to reveal its great need of an abiding Christ.
The spirit of man is the Lord's candle, made to search the inner life inwardly like a lamp held to hidden places. That searching light is a celestial torch received from the hand of God at the altar of self-sacrifice, the appointed place of meeting between God and the soul. It is given to those who shut themselves in with God in full surrender and live the truth daily, instead of merely assenting to it or listening to great truths of the Word.
It is God's own light searching the human heart, for Christ's teaching sent home by the Holy Spirit reaches people inwardly like a lighted candle, exposing what is in their hearts and bringing conviction of truth. Where the Lord's light and presence shine around a meeting, freedom comes and God's children are strengthened and encouraged. Every person will be tried by Satan's temptations and must therefore search the heart as with a lighted candle, looking to Jesus in faith to keep the spirit untarnished and to resist the devil.
Such self-searching makes a person intelligent in the principles plainly revealed in God's Word and brings to a real knowledge of the truth, instead of being ever learning without ever arriving, because life is too short to remain reckless and disobedient no better than the ungodly. No one can rely on knowledge of Scripture or skill in argument; the heart must be examined for hidden wrong, since the wisdom that leads to salvation requires the Holy Spirit. The heart must be examined in God's light to discover and break hidden attachments and practices that draw the thoughts and affections away from God, even the finest thread that binds to worldly habits which turn the mind from God to idols.
The searching involves pleading with God to convict of every such practice, with God's holy law as the measure of character by which every defect is seen and overcome, so that every idol is severed and the soul is linked to the throne of God. The message that obedience or disobedience to the commandments of God is deciding eternal destiny acts as a lighted candle searching the heart and motives to the very depth of the soul. That searching exposes a worldly life of dress and amusements, weakens the body under conviction, brings immediate unreserved surrender to God, and gives peace and pardon and salvation with ever-growing love for God and for truth.
Its work belongs with asking whether Christ dwells in the heart by faith, for Christ alone shows human necessity and reveals the dignity and glory of the truth, and the torch searches the heart to reveal its great need of an abiding Christ.