Spirit, soul and body part (2)

We are going to continue our study of the three fold nature of man. Remember our confession, "I am a spirit, I have a soul and I live in a body." The soul is the gate between the spirit and the body. We are often taught the soul of man is the real man; and that the soul and spirit are the same thing. The truth is God is a spirit, and He contacts us by our spirit only. Say with me now, "I receive understanding and revelation about my spirit and soul in Jesus name."

The soul is the gate between your spirit and your body. Hebrews 4:12 says, 'For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.' This verse tells us that the soul and the spirit can be divided, so they can not be the same thing. Kenneth E. Hagin writes, "The voice of the spirit is the conscience, the voice of the soul is the intellect." The soul is our mental realm and consists of our mind, our will and our emotions. This is where our intellect, will and feeling reside. The truth is God is a spirit, and He contacts us by our spirit only. The Holy Spirit tells our spirit what to do, and then our spirit reveals that to our mind. Although God does not contact us through our souls, we still need our mind to read, understand and share God's Word with others.

You may have heard it said that many souls were saved last year; but scripturaly, we should say, many were born again last year. The new birth happens only in our spirit. The soul is not changed at all with the New Birth experience. For instance, many believe mentally that Jesus is the son of God, yet their spirit has not been born again. They still have the same fallen nature, and continue to live as sinners without God in this world. Ephesians 2:12 says, 'That at that time we were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.' But when you believe from the heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, you receive the nature of God in your spirit. Then there is an inner change that can be seen on the outside. First John 3:14 says, 'We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.'

Remember our soul, or mental realm, does not change with being born again. God gives us the responsibility of renewing or changing our own souls. Romans 12:2 says, 'And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God'  We are going to have to choose to renew our minds. Our mind, a part of our soul, makes decisions based on our senses, environment, training and experiences. Now as a born again believers, 'we walk by faith and not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:7). We can no longer be guided only by our physical senses and past experiences. We must learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our spirit. We renew our own mind through studying, mediating and obeying the word of God. Why do all that? So you will know what the will of God is about every situation and detail of your life. As you obey God's will, the blessings follow. The renewing of the mind is a life long process. You can enjoy more of the goodness of God, by how diligent you are in the renewing of your mind.

With a renewed mind to God's Word and a born again spirit, the body is under control. When a Christian's mind is un-renewed, the carnal or un-renewed mind along with the flesh, dominate that person's born again spirit. Romans 8:6 says, 'For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'  I do not know about you, but I am taking life and peace. I have heard it said like this, "You pursue your mind set!" Where ever you set your mind, is where you will go. If you think negative, you will speak negative, and then you will experience negative circumstances. But if you think God's Word, you will speak His Word, and you have what it says: life and peace. The sooner we get working on the renewing of our mind, the more life and peace we will enjoy!

Keep the soul gate open to God and closed to the enemy of our soul.