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“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7
There is a relationship between man’s spirit and his physical body. That relationship is the physical body gets its life from the spirit. According to Genesis 2:7, man’s physical body was dead (non-functional) until God breathed the breath of life (spirit) into man’s nostrils. Only then did the physical body become alive. James 2:26 amplifies this point.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” James 2:26
According to James 2:26, physical death is the separation of the spirit from the body. Therefore, the physical body gets its life from the spirit. Since this is so, part of man’s overall health and well being depends on the health of his spirit.
Man’s spirit is the place where the Holy Spirit resides. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would indwell a man after he is born again. (John 14:17) Since the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian’s spirit, the spirit is also where the anointing of the Holy Spirit resides. (1 John 2:20,27) As the anointing of the Holy Spirit in man’s spirit is depleted (through ministry activity i.e. preaching, praying, teaching, exhortation, singing, etc.), it must be replenished. This is done through the Word of God and prayer.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” Psalm 119:50
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20,21
“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4
Spending time studying the Word of God and in prayer edifies (strengthens or builds up) the spirit. This is especially true when a Christians prays in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 8:26-27)
Failure to replenish the spirit through the word of God and prayer results in a weak (malnourished) spirit. A malnourished spirit will have trouble sustaining the body. This could result in health problems and in extreme cases death.
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