YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL BEING (Psalm 139:1-24)

YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL BEING (Psalm 139:1-24)

Genesis 2:7 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.

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

All humans are spiritual beings.

Many people feel confused by the word, “spirituality,” because they are not exactly sure what it means. Some feel that spirituality is just another word for religion.

While there are similarities between spirituality and religion, they are not synonymous.

Spirituality is the individual search for connection with the source of ultimate meaning.

Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Religion, with its traditions, rites, and institutions, has a basic function to create and nurture spiritual community.

Acts 4:32

In the search for meaning and connection, all humans are spiritual beings, but not all are religious.

Both religion and spirituality are complex and paradoxical and concern a relationship with the Transcendent. Thus they are hard to explain in words. Defining spirituality and religion presents the same challenge as trying to define other significant, powerful experiences such as love, hate, joy, or sorrow in all their unique experiences and profound variety.

People who feel uncomfortable with the words spiritual or spirituality can substitute their own words – perhaps words like connection or love or meaning.

Common Spiritual Needs

Based on over 30 years of psychological counselling and pastoral care, Howard Clinebell believes that humans have seven spiritual hungers in common:

All people need to experience regularly the healing and empowerment of love – from others, self, and an ultimate source/God.

Everyone needs to experience renewing times of transcendence – moments that expand us beyond the immediate sensory spheres.

Everybody needs vital beliefs that give some sense of meaning and hope the midst of losses, tragedies, and failures.

Every person needs to have values, priorities, and life commitments – usually cantered in issues of justice, integrity, and love – that guide us in personally and socially responsible living.

Each human being needs to discover and develop their inner wisdom, creativity and love of their unique transpersonal/spiritual self.

All people need a deepening awareness of oneness with other people and with the natural world, the wonderful web of all living things.

Every human being needs spiritual resources to help heal the painful wounds of grief, guilt, resentment, unforgiveness, self-rejection, and shame. We also need spiritual resources to deepen our experiences of trust, self-esteem, hope, joy and love of life.

Clinebell feels that everybody must pay attention to these needs to feel whole and fulfilled, making spirituality central to human well-being (Clinebell, 1992).

　

　

Pentecost Baptist Church, Portsmouth

The Cathedral of Grace

2012 THE YEAR OF HIS WORD

Worship God with us at:

Havelock Community Centre

324 Fawcett Road,

Southsea

PO4 0LQ

Sundays 5-7 pm

Contact person: 07757627159

Email:

pbcportsmouth@gmail.com And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.