We have been discussing the important subject of the “Soul” and how many believers have not been taught much at all of its importance nor its operation. In article one we discussed how most churches don’t teach on the soul anymore and therefore fail to deliver to the saints the “Multiple Keys” that such understanding would yield all of us if we just understood the soul. We talked about how the end game of such a study is a “Healthy Walk“, not just being blessed as many of the church teachings now revolve around. Lastly, we talked about the human experience is composed of “Spirit-Soul-Body“. These three do not work separately but in tandem with each other. Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the difficulty of dividing between soul and spirit. In article two we talked about many Christians feel like they are “Shooting in the Dark” when it comes to walking in true healing for their lives based a lot on not understanding their own soul. Paul said that in coming to Christ we should be becoming a “New Creation” (1 Cor 5:17) yet few today can confess such a state or experience. If you haven’t read the first two articles the rest will make more sense if you go back and read them first.
In this article I would like to talk about the three elements of the Soul because the soul is the “Gate Keeper” of your life. It determines whether your spirit leads or your fleshly desires do. It determines whether your mind will lead the way through reason or your emotions lead your choices. On top of all this, if our actions, good or bad, put us in such a habit of behavior that even when our mind cries out to be heard and our spirit calls us to listen to God we almost can not overcome living foolishly.
The Soul is made up of three parts, “Mind-Will-Emotions“, and these three also work in tandem. They are so linked together that they often have overlapping influence and control in our lives. The scripture calls man a “Living Soul” because when God breathed life into man his soul came alive.
1 Corinthians 15:45-46
So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. [46] However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
When our spirit departs the body we don’t die or stop existing, but we rather leave this natural world and our bodies, which is what is known as departed souls. Many books have been written by people who have had “Out of body Experiences” where they leave their bodies and see things in a room where they might have been undergoing surgery. The soul comes alive because the Spirit of God imparts life.
John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Jesus, talking to his disciples, is trying to get through their thick heads that without God imparting a spirit into their life there is no life. We put so much value in this life because we often believe Jesus is trying to tell his disciple this life is temporary. His natural life on earth was temporary. A complete person is a “Trinity” or the composite of “Spirit-Soul-Body”.
Man was created to function where his “Mind” would be educated and thus his “Will” would follow his intelligent reasoning and thus he would “Feel” encouraged and built up. The “Spiritual” side of man would be the lead in life and the “Body” would allow movement and productivity. Here is the problem. If the information man receives is faulty so goes the will. Satan in the garden started the ball rolling in mistrusting God and following Satan’s advice, which was a trap of destruction. Adam and Eve were told they could be like God “Without” trusting or following God’s authority. They could be their own gods. The truth was that they would be trapped in trusting their “Feeling” first and conforming their “Will” to execute the emotions. The mind now is told to reinforce their emotional desire rather than be an encourager of the mind.
Genesis 3:4-7
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! [5] “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. [7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
Satan’s tactics are still the same today although he has a much easier time because culture has so been trained to let our emotions rule our lives. Satan’s job of deception is quite easy. If a person has any belief in God, Satan will attempt to discredit God’s trustworthiness or his lovingkindness. The second stage of deception is to entice us to “Feel” deeply that God has hurt us and is keeping good things from us. The third stage is to “Inflame” our emotional cravings to override any sound judgement we have in order to make our emotions the ruler of our lives. The addictions may vary but the end result is the same. Don’t trust God. Trust our faulty emotions. Make our minds corrupt through faulty information.
King Solomon, in his good days before he let his foreign wives and concubines twist his soul, wrote some of the most profound truth about our souls and our need for being in loving submission to our creator.
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
#1 – Trust God most #2 – Make the Heart (our core) centered on God #3 – Lean on God’s knowledge, not your own #4 – To acknowledge God is to focus & commit #5 – When and if we do these things God will show your the path of life #6 – Be Humble in your our eyes #7 – Admit your make mistakes and correct them quickly
In the next article we will be exploring the importance of getting our minds focused and thinking well.
Questions:
1) Have you realized your “Soul” is out of alignment? Ask the Holy Spirit to heal your soul – it starts there.
2) Have you let your emotions rule in life? Your soul can be healed but it will take discipline & the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 34:10
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Pastor Dale
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