Monday, June 6, 2011

3. Spirit, Soul and Body


There is more to life than what we can see, hear, taste and feel. Two worlds exist, a physical and a spiritual world. We are born into the physical world where we perceive and assess everything according to our senses and mental logic. In John 3:3-6 Jesus explains to Nicodemus that in order to enter God's kingdom which exists in the spiritual world that one needed to be born again by receiving a brand new spirit.
John 3:3-6 (Amplified Bible)
"Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. 
What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit."


















Jesus makes the distinction between your spirit and your flesh. Another scripture further distinguishes between three entities.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
“and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).




















As a believer, your spirit is born of the Holy Spirit. As such it is perfect! You have been born again of incorruptible seed, the Word of God.

1 Peter 1:23
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Actions prompted by your born again spirit are pure and without sin! You are perfect in spirit.
This is who you really are, you are perfect!

1 John 3:9
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Be inspired!

Your spirit feeds on inspiration, i.e. information that comes from God and not from your logical mind!
The Bible is written to your spirit man and feeds you with spiritual thoughts. 

2 Timothy 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action)”
This happens by revelation to your spirit directly from the Holy Spirit.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Think of the word, “inspiration.” It means something that comes into your spirit. Perhaps it is wisdom from God as to how to deal with a certain situation. Perhaps it is a poem, a beautiful melody or a thought that could transform the lives of millions. Listen out for the inspirations in your life. They may be coming from God. Act on them. I believe it is your duty to do so. It could be God leading you out of a cursed situation into blessing! I love the saying, “Yesterdays blessing could be tomorrow’s curse.”
Perhaps it is your time to move on to a brand new life by inspiration!
What is God saying to you?
Obviously God will not lead you into doing something immoral or sinful.

Romans 8:6
“Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].”

The Bible sees your mind as part of your flesh. That is why I spoke of Mind-Body disorders in a previous blog. The mind really has its own organ, and that is called the brain. It’s thought normally come from the environment, based on information received through the five senses. That is why ugly words said to you or bad actions done to you can have such a devastating and long term effect.
God thoughts are not logical like those of your fleshly mind. Your mind may tell you are a nobody, but God is telling you that you have been crowned with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5) The negative message was birthed through words and experiences through the five senses from the natural world. The positive message came by revelation through the word of God.

As a Christian, you should never make important decisions based solely on logical deduction. You must wait on God and for His peace and joy to settle in your heart regarding what you should do.
The scripture says that actions based on the thoughts of the natural mind alone lead to death! 
Believing negative thoughts eventually become core beliefs that settle in your unconscious. As we have seen that in that way they can destroy your hopes and dreams.

Malachi 2:16
“Therefore, keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit],”
The thoughts of God are good thoughts. They may not seem right to your mind of flesh but they lead to life.

A home for your thoughts

Your soul is made up of your thoughts, feelings and will power. God created a special place for your thoughts there. He also tells you what to think.

Philippians 4:8 
 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”


















God knows that good thoughts lead to good feelings and good feelings to good decisions and good decisions lead to good actions and more good thoughts.

Thoughts inspired by God are good but thoughts based on information from the five senses can be totally misleading if they conflict with spiritual truth!


















Either you are sick according to your symptoms or you have been healed according to the Word. Either you are poor according to your pocket book or you are rich according to 2 Cor. 8:9.
Your spiritual reality may greatly differ from your physical reality. You may be suffering lack in life and yet God has blessed you, healed you and prospered you in the spirit world. Faith is a bridge that transfers a spiritual into a physical reality 
Think what you will to think. Think that you are sick and poor according to what you see, hear, touch and feel, or that you are healthy and wealthy according to Divine revelation. 
I believe the latter. The choice is yours!

1 comment:

  1. Hi pastor Id like to use your illustration picture in my book may I have permission?
    just one
    Apostle Beverly Smith
    bsmtruth@bellsouth.net
    charlotte,NC
    704/502-3460

    ReplyDelete