I can't quite explain it, but I am continually amazed at the journey I'm on with Jesus. For some time now, I have been discerning that I am short-changing my spirit, if that makes sense. I am well aware that I am a three-part being -- body, soul, and spirit. I have been seeking greater engagement with my own spirit, just as I want to engage at a deeper level with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But I am beginning to realize that too often, my spirit is entangled with my body and soul, making it difficult for my spirit to be free of this earthly domain.
I think we all understand that our body is our flesh, the physical component of our being. And I want to make it very clear [since I think there are a lot of Christians who are confused on this point] that our soul and our spirit are two different entities. And if you are unfamiliar with exactly what your soul is, and how it is different from your spirit, let me try to simplify it. Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions (Romans 5:4), while our spirit is that part of us that is most intimately connected to our Creator, who made us in His "image". Just as the Godhead has three parts (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), we are three parts as well (Body, Soul, and Spirit). All three parts make up the whole person.
I have actually read different commentaries that say we are not spirit. But I disagree and so does Scripture. Let me share a few verses .... The [Holy] Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16); Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your
whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23); For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? (1 Corinthians 2:11). That should settle that question.
We are the creation of God, and before the Fall in the Garden mankind shared in a perfect relationship with his Creator. Our spirit easily communed with God's Spirit, as when God placed man in the Garden and told him not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. There was no impediment between our spirit and His Spirit. But when sin befell man, it was as if a window closed, or a curtain fell, blocking easy access between our spirit and His. It is only when the Holy Spirit is deposited in us that we once again can gain access to the Presence of God.
Just as in the Old Testament picture of God's Presence residing in the Temple in the Holy of Holies, it is my opinion that the Holy Spirit is now God's Presence in us, residing in the temple of our body, specifically in our heart which is representative of the Holy of Holies. If we are truly a new creation in Christ, then the spirit part of our human nature should be intimately engaged with the spirit realm of the Kingdom of God in Heaven. So why are so many Christians still under oppression and not walking in the freedom that Jesus came to deliver to us?
Here is what we need to realize ... We are a spirit being, having a soul, and residing in a physical body. Being that new creation, our spirit should prevail over my soul and my body. But oftentimes, before our conversion, the soul has run the show. We have been governed by our natural minds and emotions, and our free will has been used to doing what makes us feel good. Oftentimes, that soul part of our nature has served as a protector from the world and its hurts. For instance, we develop a controlling personality because we've been damaged by people who have taken advantage of us in the past, and that helps us to feel like we're invincible. So our soul (mind, will, and emotions) develops a protective pattern that has become the way we operate in this world.
But Jesus came so that we could be free of those emotional wounds, and when we accept Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us. And if the soul has a hard time giving up its supremacy, that situation limits the ability of our spirit to engage with God's Presence in us. The soul still tries to control how we live, and we are unable to operate out of the spirit, as God designed us. In other words, the soul is still operating from a "natural man" state. It is important that we keep the soul and spirit separate so the testimony of the Word of God in our spirit can lead our souls to a restful state and into the full knowledge of the Presence of God in us.
Try to picture it like this .... we are designed to be spirit beings, having access to the spirit realm in Heaven and the Presence of God and Jesus. We have been made a spirit being, yet having a soul and living in a physical body. If the soul is allowed to dominate our "spirit man", it is like a hard shell of concrete placed over our heart, where our spirit operates out of. Our spirit is being smothered by our soul and it cannot get free to seek the Light of God. This brings into focus the importance of Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
When we are born again, our soul and spirit are to be divided and separated, allowing our spirit to function in the capacity God ordained it. The soul must come into submission to our spirit, instead of the other way around. We must be attuned to the state of our soul, and when necessary, determine [in the flesh] to break it apart from our spirit, in order to free the spirit to commune with God. Use your imagination to see something splitting that concrete shell off your spirit, freeing it to function as a spirit being. Take the word of God [which is power!] and drive it between your soul and spirit. The dividing of soul and spirit is mandated by the word of God and is vital to our ability to commune with Him. We were made to function spirit to Spirit, and to engage with God in that spirit realm. Our spirit man is designed to host our body and soul; to be bigger than them in order that we might walk in the full measure of our Sonship.
It is not hard to see this Truth when I consider Revelation, Chapter 4. There, the Apostle John tells us that his spirit was free to engage with God in that spirit realm: I saw a heavenly portal open before me, and the same trumpet-voice I heard speaking with me at the beginning broke the silence and said, “Ascend into this realm! I want to reveal to you what must happen after this.” Instantly I was taken into the spirit realm... or as the Amplified version says, At once I was in [special communication with] the Spirit...
How I want that kind of relationship! And it is not some special dispensation for John alone! Our Father desires that we engage with Him in the spirit realm! I know that is not a commonly held opinion in our modern denominations. But throughout the Bible God and His Spirit have engaged with men, and it is the intimate desire of His heart that this be an integral component of our relationship. When our spirit can function as it should, and we are able to engage with Heaven on that intimate level, then our souls find rest and our natural man operates from a place of peace.
In summary, contemplate what the closing verses in Matthew 11 tell us about how our souls are to operate in a spiritual relationship with our Savior. Jesus asks, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden [upon your soul]? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Take My yoke upon you [joining your life with Mine] and learn My ways. You’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” If you can see it, this is a picture of communing with Jesus in a spiritual realm, free of the burdens of our mind and emotions, where our spirit is refreshed and our souls can be at rest.... and we can enjoy the reality of who we are designed to be; soul and spirit, divided and operating in cooperation with God.
Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Your spirit is your angel.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit of God is Michael whose name means who is like God.
Jesus is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Michael is called Prince of Princes i.e. angels. God's angel serve Man.
Adam's and Eve's angel were Lucifer (male angel) and Satan (female angel).
Original sin occurred when Adam's angel Lucifer joined with Eve producing the forbidden fruit Cain, the first of the angel human offspring, the demigods who were wiped out in the floods of Noah but their evil spirits remain better known as demons.
We are told Jesus will return and it will be like the days of Noah, these demons will come back in human form due to the cloning of their remain DNA in the giants that have been preserved until Man was taught the ability to make bodies for them again.
2 Esdras 5:8 - KJVA - There shall be a confusion also in many places,...
https://www.biblestudytools.com/kjva/2-esdras/5-8.html
2 Esdras 5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters
I'm sure your comment will cause much discussion and disagreement among Christians. But I try not to discriminate against ideas that I do not agree with. Perhaps there will be those who wish to engage with you on this topic. I will tell you that there are aspects that I agree with -- it will be like the days of Noah (hybrid genetics is very much within the realm of existence at this time) -- and God's angels do serve man (Hebrews 1:14) -- and demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephalim from Genesis 6. As to your overall thesis, I respect your right to express it. Bless you!
DeleteDear Pam,
ReplyDeleteYour article on "The Importance Of Dividing Soul and Spirit" is just wonderful!! God has blessed you with great insight. I have one question: What is included in the human "heart"? My theory is that it is composed of the deepest part of our soul (mind, emotions, and will), the conscience, and the Spirit. Do you agree? If not what is your perception? Also, where do "desires" (of the heart) fit in? Thank you so much.
What a good question! And the answer is diverse and complex, so I will try to give you a concise answer ... to me the heart is the life center of our body, soul and spirit. You can think of it like this: it's the place where everything interfaces; our emotions and thoughts and our will (soul)meet and connect to our spirit in the heart. It is a vital part of our physical and spiritual make-up and the part of us that is a battlefield. Both God and the Enemy war over our hearts. It is the seat of our Inner Man where our moral character resides. Therefore the devil tries to corrupt it with pride and rebellion. Our desires, our words, and our actions are all borne in the heart. And it is the condition of your heart that displays whether you are seated in Christ or the devil. Therefore we must guard our heart from all corruption. The "desires" of your heart reveal the condition of your heart. What you desire shows what you treasure... what are you storing up in your heart? Things of the world, or an inheritance in Heaven? These are just a simple understanding of the heart and why it is so important. I hope I haven't made you more confused!
DeleteWhat happens to the spirit and soul at death? Can the spirit go to heaven while the soul can stay on earth? What is your opinion?
DeleteTo answer your question ... yes, I believe that our spirit (which is seated in Christ in Heaven now - if we are saved) can be both in us and in Christ at the same time. Our spirit is connected to the Holy Spirit. Our soul is connected to our flesh, although it acts as a conductor (of sorts) between our spirit and flesh to bring our whole being into alignment with Christ. When we die, our spirit remains seated with Christ, and our soul remains with our body. In fact, while we are alive, the soul stays with the body while, as I said, the spirit can ascend to the heavenly realms. When Jesus returns and takes His saints to Heaven in the rapture, we will receive a glorified body, which I believe will be like Jesus is in Heaven right now ... we return to our Home where our spirits pre-existed with God. Our soul doesn't exist until conception. Many people believe soul and spirit are the same thing, but they are not.
DeleteHi. I am a believer but have just come to this topic, of understanding the spirit, its function and role. I enjoyed your blog above on the topic (thank you!) but wanted to ask if there are other things I should consider reading? I have seen it discussed in Watchman Nee and am reading a piece by Jessie Penn-Lewis. Anything you might suggest would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBless you for seeking more of who God made you to be. Right off the top of my head, I don't have a book title to give you .. I will do some research and see what I can recommend. BUT I do have a video that I recommend you watch. Dan Duval is an incredible teacher and I have found his teachings Biblically correct. He will push you to determine what you really believe and give you advanced knowledge regarding the Truth of God.
DeleteSo, start with this video where he outlines how God created our body, soul, spirit and heart to interconnect. I hope it blesses you ...
https://youtu.be/9KVqRNMy5Wk
Thank you for your insights. Based on the above response, does this mean that in death, while the spirit goes back to the father, the soul dies with the flesh or does it just roam?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this question ... it is my sincere belief that the soul is part of our humanity (it is our mind, emotions, and will). Therefore I believe it becomes dormant when the flesh dies. I do not believe it roams, but staysconnected to the flesh until we are resurrected at the coming of Christ. Then our bodies and souls, along with our spirits are transformed into our glorified bodies that resemble Christ at His resurrection. The Bible is not completely clear how this entire transformation takes place or what it looks like, but until the Lord reveals a different understanding, this is where I'm at.
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