BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT

THE BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT: ALL INCLUSIVE IN THE ART OF MAN LIVING A BALANCE LIFE

It is not something that comes up in many conversations, but I would like to think that there are times when we wonder what the difference between the body, soul, and spirit are, and what purpose each plays in our lives.  How and why are they necessary and how do we respond to them. The two (body and soul) dies so the one (spirit) may live.

THE BODY

Let’s first, take a look at the body, the framework of man, the obvious part which makes up man; the material substance that surrounds the internal organs of man and encase the soul and spirit of man.  God tells us not to worry about our life (what man can do to us) or be not anxious for your body (what we need to survive or again, what man can do to our body). Because even though our body plays a significant part in our existence, it is not the most important thing in eternity. Its service is limited to the earthly part of our journey. Sure, God has made it to be a buffer to stand in between the outside world and all that is in it, preventing harm from all that is within. And while we are here, we are to service our body, (it is the temple of God) according to the word so that it will serve its purpose of housing all that is within, to be useful to the LORD our God, through the examples given by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, our Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s).

We should not be overly concerned as instructed, yet not yield to all sorts of ungodliness. One specified in scripture is fornication, but all regarded as going against the will of God. (Matthew 6:25-34 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

So, we have learned that our body is matter, as opposed to spirit. It is the physical structure of a person or an animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs.

The body, as we see, is also the encasement that houses the soul and spirit and all other necessary things, which God strategically placed in it, giving it its functionality and us our abilities and capabilities. Therefore, that which YAH has given us, makes us complete in Him. This is the main reason we as His children, should take care of it; being mindful of what we put into it and what comes out of it. It is the unrenewed part of man, or sensual affections. We can’t go out and buy, borrow, or steal another body; the one you have is it, until we receive our heavenly body, which is altogether different from our earthly, (it does not perish). We will not get a new fleshly body but will receive a spiritual one; we are stuck with the one we have. So, we can agree that the body is a fortified encasement, constructed by God, which has been cut off from the spirit and soul through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. A shadow of things to come. A new body of Christ. Colossians 2:10-12 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

If we do not keep the body in good condition, we stand to forfeit the soul and even our spirit. These two entities are housed, temporarily, in the body. When the body is gone the soul goes with it, if not before. I say that, meaning, that the body may still exist. You walk, talk, live, and will but only in show. The soul, (that part which encapsulate those abilities) has been scorched by the evil of this world; it has lost its savor; its will, to walk in the production of God’s purpose; to live, love, and help each other has been torn and tormented by the evil one and by those who refuse to understand and accept the dynamics of Christ our Redeemer coming to earth (notice how brief it was; but He had a purpose which was fulfilled). Let us seek to get an understanding of our body, soul, and spirit, and learn how they work separately (doing what each is created to do). And together, as one well-oiled wheel, if we promote the habit of wrapping ourselves in God’s Word, walking in His Way, and no matter how uneasy it is for our flesh, do His Will; allowing them to do so. (Matthew 15:11, 15-20 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man).

THE SOUL

Let’s understand. The soul is of considerable importance, or worth. It is an entity, given by God (via His breathe of life, Holy Spirit), to each of us, (once we are formed in our mother’s womb). It is believed to be that in each person which lives, feels, thinks, and wills. Our soul is reflected in our personality (how we feel, live, think, and will).  (Genesis 2: 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul): If salvation is understood as a return to God’s original design for creation, then Gen. 2:7 tells us what we lost in Adam and what we gain in Christ.

You can say that the soul, as referred to in religion and philosophy, is the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being. It is that which show, or declare the individuality and humanity, often considered to be alike in meaning or significance with the mind or the self. So, the soul is comprised of our living, thoughts, feelings, and wills. But on its own, if neglected and left to itself, it can die apart from the body. Not the person having a literal death but the thoughts, feelings, and will of a person can meet and untimely death due to trials, troubles, situations, and circumstances. (Hebrews 4:13 Context 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need).

Sometimes, if you just stop and notice, while out and about, or even in your own home, you can see people whose whole demeanor (reflection as to what the soul is experiencing) is down casted, who have no joy in them, who can find no peace in their soul; their living, feeling, thoughts, and will. And the ones, who are going through this phase of their lives, are our sisters and brothers whose soul has been seared by the sourness of mankind and they do not know how to get refreshed. It is our God who will help us no matter what state your soul has sunk to; we must continue to seek, praise, and glorify Him. We must continue (even through the flames of fire), hold on to the attachment we have with Yashuah, Jesus and thank Him for His grace and mercy; setting our soul free from sin. (Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;)

When we acknowledge, completely, that our Redeemer lives and know that it is He, Jesus our Lord and Saviour who has set us free from bondage of this carnal world, our soul will live, feel, think, and will what YAH, God, through Yashuah, Jesus wills it to do. And if and when you find that you cannot bring your own body, soul, and spirit under subjection, then you cannot preach bringing the body under subjection to others because you cannot control your own: all the teaching and preaching becomes a gesture done in vain, on your part. So, we must clean out the closet of our soul, making every facet the one which has God’s approval, not man, and not necessarily yours. (Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway).

THE SPIRIT

The spirit is the part of man that connects and communicates with God. It is through this means of communication that we make our requests known to our Father, as well as lifting Him up in with honor, giving Him all the glory, and praising His Holy and powerful name. And it is with our spirit God shares His commandments, purpose, and plans with us. Through our spirit, when interacting with the Spirit of God, we are moved in a way that is unknown to the morally challenged man; they do not understand why we act, do, speak, and love the way we do, even in the middle of storms. It is the Holy Spirit which speak to our spirit (The God’s deposit of life in us), that says peace be still, as we do His will. Our spirit differs from our soul because our spirit is always pointed toward and exists exclusively for God, whereas our soul can be self-centered, selfish, and self-servant; pointing inward toward our own feel, want, and will. Because of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit stands in the balance (to endure whatever ordeal or difficulty that may come), with our spirit. It supports the fact, given by YHWH, God, through Yashuah, Jesus, that we are the children of our Father, God. And that when we follow after the guiding and prompting of His Spirit, which Jesus left for us to do (as He was instructed by The Father, so did the Son instruct The Holy Spirit, to teach) and we will never go wrong. So, let us get in tune with The Holy Spirit and know that He will lead us in truth, help us in our weakness, and guide us through our wordless groans; when we have gone through so much, so long, and so hard and can’t find the words to express what we are feeling the Holy Spirit interact with our spirit so that He can convey our storms to the Father, in a way He will accept; all the way to eternity. (Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together). (John 16:13-15 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. Romans 8:26 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

IN CONCLUSION:

The body can be alive, and the soul (will, feel, and want), of a man dies (lose the will flavor to live a prosperous and productive, God-driven life) but can still function; even if solely on self-determination, living a menial life. But when the spirit leaves the body, the whole system shuts down; we cannot exist without the breath of God; His Spirit. Because the Spirit is the part that come alive in us, when each are born; the flesh has nothing to do with the spirit (except to encase it) but the spirit has everything to do with the body, and soul; It gives them life because it is life. And for those who do not believe that the spirit is life, it is not a surprise to God, through Jesus, He knows you. And like the spirit of a good man find its way back to YHWH, God, through Yashuah, Jesus, a man of immoral character spirit will find its way to the place set aside for non and unbelievers. (John 6:62-64 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him).

Most people think that the spirit of man is some made up mumbo jumbo, used to steer the unsuspecting mass and guide them the way man want them to go. But the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place and why it is so important to stay in a close relationship with, walk with, talk with, and rely on our spirit; our direct connection to our Father. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood … (Revelation 19:10 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”) GODS GOT IT NO WORRY NO FEAR.