Innermost Knowing
Arthur Licursi
A Knowing That Is Deeper Than Our Mind
There is a deeper “knowing” that the regenerated child of God possesses wholly by their spirit.. It is not sourced in their mind. It is not taught and yet it is known. This is the kind knowing whereby we may say, “I just know it”, without understanding or knowledge in the mind as its basis. It is as an intuitive knowing and it often may be contrary to what we think we know in our mind, much as the voice of our conscience may be contrary to our mind’s conscious rational thought. This paper is an explanation of the function and importance of this kind of knowing that is by the Spirit of the indwelling Christ.
Man’s Human Spirit is Central To The Creation From the following scripture we see that our human spirit is unique to mankind and central to God’s creation. Zech. 12:1 … the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Here we see that the Lord ranks the formation of the spirit of man among the top items of the creation. In the sequence of this verse we may deduce that the heavens were created for the earth, and the earth for man, because man, as we shall see, was created with his human spirit for the purpose of it being Christ’s precise and eternal abode – we are the living temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Ephes. 2:21).
Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord (“candle” here is “lamp” – as an oil lamp that holds oil; Our spirit is the container for the Spirit of the Lord), searching all the inward parts of the belly. Here we see then, metaphorically, that man’s human spirit is as a container for His Spirit (1Cor 6:17, Jn 3:6). The “candle” here is actually a “lamp”, as an oil lamp of historic times. Many Americans would view this lamp, as was the genie type of lamp. The lamp usually was brass and contained oil, which was burned for light. This oil that was burned was as the Spirit of the Lord within man’s container spirit. God thereby lights the inward parts to reveal to man his true state of being, thus dividing soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12). Thus we see that it is by the spirit of man that the Almighty gives man true understanding. God speaks first via our spirit, and then flows revelation into our mind. Job 32:8 there’s a spirit in man: the inspiration (moving in spirit) of the Almighty gives man understanding (in the mind of the soul).
If man is central to creation and God’s purpose in creation, and God intended to interact with man, then God needed man to also be a spiritual being, as He is. God is Spirit, needing man to have a spirit for possible communion or fellowship. Man must communicate with the three realms in which he exists. 1. Physical: A man may relate to the physical creation by his physical body; by our body we can touch taste, see, smell, hear and enjoy creation.
2. Psychological: We may relate psychologically by exchanging and expressing ideas and thoughts.
3. Spiritual: But, in order for man to relate to God, who is spirit in substance (spirit, not a spirit, as in John 4:24), man must also have a spirit – so he may relate to God, spirit to Spirit. Consequently, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that she only could worship God, not in a physical place, but in one place – in her own spirit. John 4:21-24 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit (human spirit) and in truth.
(NOTE: A correction shown in the KJV Companion Bible margin indicates that in verse 24 the phrase “God is a Spirit” more correctly is “God is spirit”, with the article “a” missing. This is indicative of the fact that God is not material substance but His substance, so-to-speak, is spirit. God is spirit as a table may be wooden in its substance.) Thus it is consistent that we see that Paul said “I serve God with my spirit”, with or by his own human spirit. Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Regeneration By The Spirit Of Life
John records what Jesus makes clear, that our spirit is reborn of the Spirit of Christ in John3:6 (Paul calls this “regeneration”, Tit 3:5). Christ’s Spirit, as the spiritual seed of eternal life of God the Father (Gal 3:16), comes into our human spirit, thus regenerating us to genuine life, fellowship, and literal union with Him. John 3:6 … born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 1 Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Our Union In Spirit
The two spirits have become one spirit by a sort of rebirthing at our regeneration, eternally joined as one, and that Christ is located in the innermost, or core-part of man – his spirit. Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, … 2 Tim. 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Paul was so clear on this joining of spirits to become one spirit that he simply used the term “the Spirit” (Translated often as both upper and lower case "S” in the KJV) when he referred to the two as one, Example: “…walk in the spirit” (Gal5:25). When we see “the Spirit” in Paul’s writings concerning the regenerated believer, we should know that he is most often speaking of those who have become one spirit with Christ’s Spirit of life (1Cor 6:17). Paul declares that by our one joined spirit we are the habitation or dwelling place of God. Ephes. 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
In the New Testament Christ, as the Spirit of Christ, “speaks” in every believer’s own spirit. So from this understanding we can see that every Christian has Christ in their spirit and thus has the capacity to hear Him within their spirit. 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of (Gk., ek, born out from) his Spirit.
John 8:47a He that is of (Gk., ek, born out from) God heareth God's words:
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself (Himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The little word “of” noted by bold print in two of the above verses is the Greek word “ek”, meaning “out from …and with”. This is significant in that it says that Christ has given us of His One Spirit – so we are partakers of the one Spirit that is out from Christ’s Spirit and also with Christ’s very own Spirit of life, coming to us– it is His actual Spirit that we possess in our spirit. In this case both the sender and that which is sent are one in the same. Christ sends us His own Spirit (John 14:8) as Christ Himself coming into us. He did not reach out to jumpstart us with a new life, but it is His life imparted to us. He came into our spirit.
Jesus said that anyone who is “of” God hears God (John 8:47). It is unquestionable that we who are His do hear Him; we hear Him by a sense of the Spirit of Christ within our human spirit, as confirmed by Paul in Rom. 8:16 above. Frankly, all Christians hear Him, but many do not heed Him in their spirit, because they most often are listening to the many other voices, missing His inner voice entirely.
That’s my introduction - now, to get into the core of this paper, concerning “innermost knowing”.
Primary “Inner Knowing” for the Christian The definitions of the word “know” from the various Greek words in the New Testament of the Bible are several, but here now I am addressing one in particular. In the following we see the word “know”, as the Greek word “eido, or oida”, meaning “to see, or perceive, by any of the senses (Louw & Nida Greek Lexicon), this applies to both physical or spiritual senses. 1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of (Gk., ek, out from) God; that we might know (“eido”, know intuitively by a inner sense) the things that are freely given to us of God.
Here we see that we have received the spirit of (ek) God for the purpose that we might know intuitively (eido) the things that are freely given to us. The point here is that we’ve been given “the spirit (Christ’s) that we might know”. Then we can assume that “the spirit” is necessary to our proper knowing. We’ve already seen His Spirit is in our spirit and so our place of knowing all things is resident within our spirit. In our spirit we have a sense of knowing, an intuitive knowing by our spirit that is now united with His spirit, such that we know automatically, intuitively, what we need to know by His inner speaking, even without words. I know all I need to know to be able to live, as He desires for me. I may not know much about nuclear fission, but I do know all that I need to know at just the right time in order for me to live, as He wants to live through me. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One (Christ), and ye know all things.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Two Kinds of Christians
Paul explains in the following two kinds of Christians, those who have spiritual (pneumatikos) knowing (eido) and obeying by in inner sense of His Spirit within their spirit and those who are “natural” (psuchikos, soulish) and only live by the soulish knowledge (gnosis). Natural or soulish knowing is a knowing in the mind that is entirely apart from spiritual knowing. The spiritual cannot be “known” by the soul’s faculties of mind, emotion, or will. Eido is a knowing only perceived in our spirit. 1 Cor. 2:10-15 But God hath revealed (unveiled) them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth (eido, intuitive, of the spirit) the things of a man, save the spirit of man (see Zechar. 12:1) which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth (eido) no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of (out from) God; that (so that) we might know (eido, know by intuition of spirit) the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual (pneumatikos, of the spirit) things with spiritual (pneumatikos, of the spirit). 14But the natural (psuchikos, of the soul, soulish) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit (pneuma) of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know (ginosko, come to know) them, because they are spiritually (pneumatikos, of the spirit) discerned. 15But he that is spiritual (pneumatikos, of the spirit) judgeth (Gk., anakrino, discerns, scrutinizes) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Knowing His Will
In my own past experience there has been, and there still may be for most Christians, much confusion in knowing the will of the Lord. Most Christians listen to many voices, trying to discern what they ought to know or do. But, the voices most Christians listen to have one thing in common – they are all outside the Christian. They ignore the “eido” or “inner knowing”, which we each have by the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Outer voices are not Christ’s voice. As we grow in Him it is actually a growing in the knowledge of the Christ (2Pet 3:18) who dwells within us. In fact the only Christ you can know is the one who indwells you – all other knowledge of Christ is the Jesus of Nazareth who lived outside us. Paul said, “Henceforth know we him no more”. (2Cor 5:16). As we proceed in our walk He will work in our lives that we should become separated from all the outer voices, reducing us to His voice alone. Acts 5:29b …We ought to obey God rather than men.
Outer Voices Vs. Christ Within
The OUTER voices may in practicality include those of our husband or wife, our parent’s, religious doctrine, pastors and intermediaries, the written law of the Old Testament, even Biblical Christian “Biblical principles”, which are so highly acclaimed by Christian radio and preaching biblical principals, which equal biblical LAW, from the scriptures. In Psalms it says the people of Israel saw the works of the Lord, but Moses knew the ways of the Lord. Many Christians say, “that is what we need –to know His ways as in principals”, but that was the best available at the time, in the Old Testament. Today, in the dispensation of grace, we have the Lord Himself living within us speaking “eido” to guide us from within.
Now consider these outer voices I mentioned above to be listed on one side of a ledger, and then on the other side we list one item – Christ with the innermost sense knowing that we have by Christ in our spirit. If God the Father went to all the trouble to kill His Son, and raise Him from the dead as the life-giving Spirit, then place the Spirit of His Son in you and me to be our all – then why would we need to listen to outer voices, Bible, laws, rules, and principles? We have Him within as your final Word. (NOTE: The indwelling Christ will never speak contrary to the revealed word in the Bible, applicable to us in the dispensation or grace in which we live.)
The Final Arbiter In Our Walk
I say the indwelling Christ is the “final word” because God may well use ALL the voices from outside of us, one time or another, to speak to us but these are not His direct speaking – these will only serve to confirm what you already should know in your own spirit by the sense of Him within. To walk by the inner knowing and not listening to the outer voices does not mean we do what we want to, rather, we walk according to Him within. We will bear the consequences of your actions as result of NOT obeying His speaking. Failing and bearing the consequences of disobedience is how we learn to obey the voice of Christ in us. I am responsible for what I know inwardly. James 4:17 …to him that knoweth (eido, know by a sense) to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Another way to express what I’m saying is to say the sense in your spirit is the final arbiter in your walk! This is what it means to be a “son of God”. In Romans 8:14 we see we are the children of God but we all aspire to grow up to be as sons. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
Knowing Him Inwardly Is NOT Knowing About Him
Knowing him inwardly is much more than knowing His acts and His ways, or “Biblical Principles” of God. Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
Many prefer God’s principals and laws i.e., about family, giving and sowing, etc. In Matthew, Mark and Luke we see the acts that Jesus of Nazareth did, but in John we see who Jesus is – He is Life and all the supporting issues of life; the light, bread and water of life. Paul’s however speaks of who Jesus the Christ is to us – our life and our all. Paul tells us that He is “the life-giving spirit” (1Cor. 15:45), who now is the “Christ in you” (Col. 1:27) as our Life (Gal. 2:20, Col 3:3). Paul tells us that this is the Christ “whom we preach” (Col. 1:28). We are to preach “The Christ that is IN the believer.” Paul’s bumper sticker would not say “Christ is the answer” but it would say, “Christ in you is the answer”. With Paul, this walk is all up close and personal for the Christian. It is living by His life within; it’s neither law keeping nor an intellectual exercise.
Imparting Christ As The Spirit of Life
God Breathed into man twice; first for man to receive the created human spirit to enliven man as a tri-part being as a body, soul, and spirit creature. Second, it is Christ who breathed on the disciples to impart Himself as the Spirit into man’s spirit. (Spirit in the Greek is “pneuma,” the exact same word as “breath.”) 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.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (as the breath of the Spirit of the resurrected Christ):
This in John 20:22 is Christ imparting His breath of His life as the “indwelling” “Spirit of Christ” to be received by the disciples. Receiving Christ’s life makes you a Son of God (Jn. 1:12).
This impartation of the Spirit of Christ is not to be confused with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whose function is seen in Luke 24:49 and was limited to a span of time between Pentecost and the mid-Acts period. The Holy Spirit’s was to be an outer enduement, Gk. “enduo,” meaning “clothed upon” as we see fulfilled in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came “upon them,” (not in them as life) for the power to be witnesses as prophesied by Joel and seen in Luke 24:48. This power was to announce the then present availability of the Messiah and His kingdom for the Jews. If we read Peter’s preaching in Acts 3 we do not see a word about the cross, or new birth but a re-declaration of the call for Jewish repentance so the Messianic kingdom would come right then. So, this outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon (clothed) men at Pentecost was not the new internal birth at all. It is in contrast to the inbreathing of the Spirit of Christ available in John 20:22.
So, we who are regenerated, or born again, do have what it takes; a human spirit mingled with Christ’s Spirit; and as tea in water these are inseparable 1 Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Romans 8:9-11 ye (the real you) are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Knowing By A Sixth Sense
Thereby we have gained a sixth sense, an inner knowing, which is by His life in our spirit, just as
Paul had.
Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed (compelled by the spirit) in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not (Would not let them).
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (You just know you’re his child) Philip. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see (eido) the kingdom (small “k” kingdom = realm) of God.
The first knowing we have as Christians is seen from the Greek word “eido”. This is the spontaneous, automatic, sense or intuitive knowing in our spirit just as the outer physical senses; see, smell, touch, taste and hear, but “inner,” we have a perception “in spirit” - We just know intuitively!
How did you get sense knowledge? We gained this sense by being regenerated, “born of God” by Christ’s indwelling Spirit. Every warm-blooded life form has its own level of a sense of knowing. A fish has a sense by his innate life and a dog has another level of senses by his life and so on. Humans have a level of sense by their soul and body but a regenerated human has another sense, which is by Christ within his spirit. This is the crucial, primary awareness by His Spirit of life within us as our life. This knowing is the truth because truth is Christ. This sense is not subject to deception. So John says abide or stay “in Him”. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One (Christ), and ye know (eido, know by a spiritual inner sense) all things.
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know (a inner sense) the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 John 5:20 And we know (eido, intuitively) that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding (intuitive perception), that we may know (ginosko, come to understanding) him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Understanding In The Mind
I’ve bolded the word “that” in 1John 5:20 above to show the emphasis or purpose of having primary eido knowing. We have sense knowing for the reason “that” we might ultimately come to know with understanding what we first only sensed. This may be so we could then explain it to another person. Often the Father desires that we understand what we may initially only sense in our spirit. So then, we intuitively have the mind of Christ (In 1Cor 2:16, “mind” is “nous” = intellect) so that we might “come to know with understanding in the soul/mind.” This “coming to know” is another Greek word for “know,” it is “ginosko,” If we had only then sense knowing, then that would be sufficient for our living our lives overcomingly. However, if we are to pass on what we know in our spirit, teach, preach or share, then we must have understanding in our soul’s mind so as to be able to express what we see, perceive, or know in our spirit.1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind (nous) of Christ. (Spontaneously working in our spirit, as a sense knowing.)
Walking In of By The Spirit
Paul’s life is an example of how he heeded the sense (eido) knowing. His life was guided by the sense of the indwelling life of Christ as in his spirit: Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was
pressed in the spirit (his), and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed (tried) to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not (would not let them alone).
To walk in the Spirit is to “walk according to” or by your spirit, one with His. Galatians 5:25 If we live (since we have life) in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit (affirmative action), and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (By walking in Christ’s Spirit of life the flesh is swallowed up.)
The conscience is the most easily recognized innermost sense of our spirit. The conscience functions in all men. It gives us a knowing that is deeper than our mind. Conscience in Greek is “suneidesis”, meaning a “co-perception by another consciousness”, other than our mind alone. Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
The Apostle Paul lived by the conscience of the spirit.
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost, It is important to keep our conscience clean.
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind (of soul) and conscience (of spirit) is defiled (soiled).
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil (dirty) conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The light and life of Christ’s life-shines on me from within in order to purge the conscience of my spirit. Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge (cleanse) your conscience (consciousness by your conscience) from dead (separated) works to serve the living God?
We have the rich deposit of Christ’s Spirit in our spirit so we might come to a full knowing of who we are. 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. <END>