BODY-SOUL-SPIRIT

Service from Fridays Meeting 12-30-16

BODY-SOUL-SPIRIT

In Genesis 1:1 the word says “in the beginning”. The word genesis means beginning or origin, and unfolds the record of the beginning of the world of the human history and of civilization, and salvation.

Genesis sets the stage for the entire bible. It reveals the person and nature of God, who is Creator, sustainer, judge and redeemer. The value and dignity of human beings, made in Gods image, saved by grace and used by God in the world.

That is where Genesis begins, when we read Genesis we should be encouraged. There is hope, no matter how dark the world situation seems, God has a plan.

No matter how weak you may feel in God’s word, he loves you and want to use you in his plan. You do have a purpose in His plan.

We will always be facing great choices, but with God we will win, disobedience occurs when people choose not to follow God’s plan of living. Genesis teaches us that the earth is well made and good.

People are special to God, especially the believers. They are unique when they obey God. They find peace with Him, with others and with themselves.

Genesis 1:26-27   ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Let us make man and ‘wo-man’ in our image, after our likeness.

Why did God use the plural form, ‘let us’ make people in our image? It was a reference to God the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. All of whom are God called the trinity.

The first human beings were formed from the earthly elements, and become living beings by receiving the breath of God, not pro-creation as of today through other human beings.

The body is made up of flesh and bones, the body that you see in the mirror and dress each day is actually not the real you, the real you is your soul and your spirit. Your body is the vehicle that carries and houses your spirit man.

1 John 4:1-4   Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

This is saying, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit, we must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. It also means that we shouldn’t believe everything we hear just because someone says it is a message from God.

There are many ways to test preachers/teacher, etc., to see if their message is truly form the Lord. One is to see if their words match what God says in the bible.

Other tests include their commitment to the body of believers, their lifestyle and the fruit of their ministry. But the most important test of all is what they believe about Christ Jesus, do they teach that Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak for God, give them these tests to see if they are indeed speaking for God.

People try to believe what they read or hear, unfortunately many ideas printed and taught are not true.

So, your flesh and bone body is only a vehicle to transfer your soul and spirit from one place to another. For instance, like your car.

If you have been redeemed by Christ Jesus, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Your soul is quite different than your body. It is made up of three parts: your mind, your will, and your emotions.

Ephesians 6:12   ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Paul is not only giving this counsel just to the church, but to all individuals within the church. As you do battle with the powers of darkness, light is the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit, it will protect your mind, known also as the helmet of salvation.

John 10:10   ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan comes to kill steal and destroy the word, our joy, and our righteous thoughts. The battle ground is in our minds.

Ephesians 4:23    ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

As we are renewed in the spirit of our mind, we must not be driven by impulse, we must put on the new nature, head in the new direction and have the new way of thinking that comes from the Holy Spirit. Renewing our minds with the word.

John 1: 12-13   ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Your mind is how you think; your will is what you do; and how you do it, as your mind dictates it. If you don’t renew your mind daily with the word, and protect it, Satan will steal the word and your ‘will’ won’t know the right way to respond.

Your will only responds to how you think. If you are filled with the spirit and the things of God, your ‘will’, can operate on that spiritual knowledge.

If you are not born again and focus on worldly things, then your ‘will’, operates on natural knowledge, which Satan can control at any time.

John 6:38-40   ³⁸ For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

³⁹ And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

⁴⁰ And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Again, we see where our “will” is something that we do; Jesus came down from Heaven, not to do his own “will” but to do his Fathers, ‘Gods’ “will”. God decided to send Jesus. If we believe on Him, ‘Jesus’, we would have everlasting life.

So, your will is something you do by choices. Same as it was Gods will to send Christ Jesus.

Your emotions!

Your emotions are a strange part of the human soul. Sometimes they can be very calm, and other times in a rage.

We often label different emotions into a common group. Like, happy or sad. We forget to experience that emotion for what it is.

Negative emotions can literally control our lives in a bad way, but positive emotions are always the same, happy, full of love, confident, and leads us into a relaxed life.

Positive emotions create positive thinking, self-motivation, self-esteem, and personal development. It all is according to how you think. Your mind, your will and your emotions are the three parts that make up your soul.

Emotions play a very big part of how your spirit man operates. However, even though your body, your soul and your spirit are three different controlling units, you must not allow your body and soul control your Spirit.

Your spirit is your inner man that abides in God’s word, it is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit comes and lives in a believer they will have the world, the flesh and the devil coming against them at the same time. Why?

Because you have woken up an evil spirit called Satan. He hates you and everything you stand for, now the game is on, you have two choices, are going to hold your ground or you will fold.

If you keep your soul and spirit in line you will be strong. If you let your soul, which is made up of your mind will and emotion, team up with your body, which is your flesh, your spirit man won’t have a chance.

The way to stop Satan is by the renewing of your mind, daily by the word of God. Satan is still walking the Earth seeking who he may devour. STAY ALERT.