Series: Spirit, Soul & Body; Healing

Sunday 2 September 2018 – Kobus Swart

1 Thess. 5:23; 3 John 2; Eph. 4:23; Prov. 23:7; 2 Cor. 3:17; John 3:6; Rom. 8:9; 1 John 4:13;1 John 3:9 (Amp & Voice and Message); 1 Pet. 1:22-23; Rom. 5:20; Rom. 6:1; Heb. 4:12 (TPT); Jude 4; Rev. 20:4; Prov. 2:1-2, 10-11; Prov. 3:21-26; Heb. 13:17

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess.5:23). There is a little hint there to the finishing generation, the final generation, which will be preserved soul, spirit and body at the coming of the Lord. In other words, we will take a straight step into resurrection life. You can see the role that a healthy spirit, a healthy soul plays in our lives. May you prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2). If you have a sick soul, you will not prosper or be in health. A sick soul is looking in the wrong direction; it always has the wrong motivations and will always lead you into trouble. The ideal is to keep your soul connected to your spirit and not to your flesh nature. Your soul is between your spirit and the fleshly nature. Your soul is like a conduit, it is almost like keeping us balanced between heaven and earth. A healthy soul is of utmost importance. Your soul consists of your emotions, your mind and your will. Your mind has two dimensions: your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. May you be renewed in the Spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:23). The spirit of your mind refers to your heart, but not your physical heart. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7). That comes through, wherever you are, with whoever you are, what is in your heart comes through. Sometimes people have a strong ability to put on a false act but it does not take long for that false act to fall off and the real you is there.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). Let us rephrase that a bit. It could read, “Where the spirit is Lord, there is liberty; where your flesh is lord, you are not at liberty; you may think you are but you will soon be in bondage”. Where your spirit is lord over your soul you are in a safe place. We are talking now about Christians who have been born again by the life-giving Spirit of the Second Man; the last Adam who became a life-giving spirit. This teaching on spirit, soul and body does not make sense to the non-born again but it is much needed for born-again Christians. If we do not get that balance right we will have a lop-sided walk with God. Man’s soul power is Satan’s working instrument. Your soul power is what the enemy uses and through that, he does his evil work. That is why we must never allow Satan to get hold of our soul. We must never focus on developing our soul power but rather become spiritual people and let the soul find its place. Please get clarity on this: spirit, soul and body. The soul is right in the middle but it needs balance, it needs the spirit to be lord over it.

How do we keep the soul in check? How do we keep the soul where it should stay? That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (Rom. 8:9). We are talking about children of God.

What makes you a true Christian? By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit (1 John 4:13). I encourage you, this has been the drive of my life, have more of the Holy Spirit in your life; hunger, yearn for more of the Spirit of God in your life. Can I say something prophetically: this house is getting ready for a new outpouring of the Spirit of God! Not to repeat old patterns, the way God does it is always new! God does not make two snowflakes the same way, God loves variety. Jesus did not do two miracles the same way! Be ready! Link your hearts together with the same hunger and thirst. 

If we are born of God, the nature of God is in us but it needs to be developed and given space in our lives (1 John 3:9 Amp). Sin means falling short of the glory of God. He that is born of God cannot fall short of the glory of God. You may fail, miss the mark but the SEED remains in you. We have a divine seed within us if we are born again. The seed of God is there. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Pet. 1:22-23). How does that seed enter your being? Through the living Word of God. We need the implanted Word, which is spirit and life, to grip you from the inside. Experiences are not only what we need. We need the implanted Word, the ever-living, everlasting Word of God and it is through the implanted Word that we love the brethren.  

But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favour] has surpassed it and increased all the more (Rom. 5:20-Amp). Many people misread and misunderstand that Scripture. It says when the law came in, transgression increased but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Here is a warning: grace does not mean you can live the life you want. Why not? What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? (Rom. 6:1). Many people have taken the grace of God as a licence to sin (Jude 4). You will not do that if you have the implanted Word. One of the most powerful purposes of grace is to help us become overcomers. The freedom of the soul is the consciousness of grace without self-judgement and condemnation.

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God,and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also (Rev. 6:9-11). A soul is immortal; your body is not immortal except the last generation which will go from life to life. Or we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts (Heb. 4:12). There is the important role of sitting under a living Word that imparts, that penetrates, that goes deep into the conscience of the spirit and the soul. I do not know any other way. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God,and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years(Rev. 20:4). To have the mark of the beast on your head and hand means that your mind is taken over, and you are doing and engaging in evil works. If a soul is “beheaded”it means the fleshly influence has been removed and the head becomes Christ. Christ becomes the head of your soul. This is why we need hear the Word, absorb the Word; digest the Word so that headship, the control of our soul should not come from the flesh but from the Spirit of God. My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understand (Prov. 2:1-2). It is part of the mind. For wisdom will enter your heart. And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, (Prov. 2:10-11). God is looking for sons! My son, let them not vanish from your sight;Keep sound wisdom and discretion,So they will be life to your soul. And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely. And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;For the Lord will be your confidence. And will keep your foot from being caught(Prov. 3:21-26).

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Heb. 13:17). Why is it that such a high percentage of pastors resign the ministry, and leave in bad shape? True spiritual leaders have the responsibility to watch over your soul. How do they do that? By releasing a living Word. One day before the throne, the Lord is going to question all of us who have been leaders to give an account.  Let your leaders watch over your soul with joy and not with grief!