Walking in the Spirit (Part 1) TRUE GOSPEL EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. We have concluded upon the two greatest hindrances challenging Christendom today. One of them is to build our churches according the pattern demonstrated for us in the New Testament writings, and then to reproduce them. The other challenge is to teach believers how to hear and walk in the Holy Spirit. Many believers today consider that the soul and the spirit are one in the same. They don’t know what the difference is between them, and so are unable to accurately distinguish the voice of the Lord, that of the flesh, and even that of Satan! Our churches will never move in the power of God unless their vision and plans are done in conformity to the voice of God. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every rhema that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. As believers, we will never experience the fullness of deliverance, healing, and God’s power until we learn how to walk in the Spirit. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit versus the Soul It is crucial for us to learn how to differentiate between our souls and our spirits, and even know that the two exist. In the original Greek New Testament the distinction is radical. Man’s spirit, or God The Holy Spirit, is defined as a pneuma. Our word pneumatic originates from this, and has to do with air or breath. The Meridian Webster dictionary defines pneumatic as something that is “moved or worked by air pressure”. Beloved, our spirit is the organ which God has given us to embrace, discern, and manifest the pneumatic or windy movements of the Holy Spirit. Our souls were never equipped for this function!! The human spirit is the organ that gives residence, or is home to God’s Holy Spirit. John 4:24 God is a Spirit(pneuma): and they that worship him must worship him in spirit(pneuma) and in truth. John 3:8 The wind(pneuma) bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.(pneumatos). What is our soul then? The soul (pyche or psuche in the Greek) is the combination of faculties that consists of the mind, intellect, will, and emotions. The soul performs rational and intellectual functions. The rational will never capture the wind! This is why we are unable to discern God with our souls alone. As we shall see later on, it is also impossible for God to dwell in our souls. One of the reasons for this is that our souls are open to the attack and deception of the enemy. This occurs because quite often our decisions are based on feelings. God then, had to create an organ within us which is not affected either by our emotions or intellect; mainly our human spirits. Let us observe the distinction between the soul and the spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit(pneuma) and soul(psyche) and body(soma) be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Heb4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (psyche) and spirit( pneumatos) , and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The role of the human spirit is generally a passive or inactive one. The soul on the contrary is always active. Our spirit works as a protective womb for the presence and the motions of the Spirit of the Living God within us. It is very much connected with our hearts, and our consciences. I would tell people that I discern the Holy Spirit somewhere in the gut of my stomach. Through its abilities, the human spirit embraces, discerns, and reveals what Jesus does in the Holy Spirit. John 15:26 ¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me The role of our spirit is not to do, but to give an eye witness account. Our homes have no other function but to house its dwellers. The building is really of no importance. The activities that take place within it are the ones of consequence. Another example is that of a bottle of Coca Cola. The bottle is always trashed at the end. It is the contents of the delicious soft drink that we gulp and enjoy. A Christian then, is nothing else than a bottle for the Holy Spirit to dwell and act in. If we are obedient, the bottle will become crystal clear, and the world will see what our Lord does. We are “character witnesses who observe, and give evidence to the reputation, conduct, and moral nature” of the indwelling Christ to a dying world. (Meridian Webster dictionary definition). It is only God’s activity that counts, and often it has little do with ours. Our busy activities many times get in the way of the Lord. The body of Christ gets deceived because it does so much instead of just being. Does a bottle work, or does it simply demonstrate what is inside? God does need a lively Christian with a head full of bustling programs and agendas. He needs a dead one that will display Him. Remember, we are dead! Christ is the one living in us. All we need to do is to yield, and allow Him to live His life in us. Gal2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. The soul, as I said earlier, is a combination of our mind, will, intellect and emotions. Its function contrary to the spirit is not to reveal, but to actively work and choose. It is the mediator between our bodies and our spirits. The soul is constantly involved in a struggle to choose between the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the promptings of our carnal flesh, our un renewed minds, the world, and the trickeries of Satan. The Spirit of the living God within us, must become manifested enough to win the battle for the soul. Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. The responsibility of the soul then is to submit itself continuously to the Holy Spirit. When it does that, the soul will take us in the ways of the Lord. God must bring our will to a point where it has no more desire than to submit itself to the wishes of the Holy Spirit. Our emotions must be healed and stilled before the Lord so that we can attend to that “still small voice within”. Immature believers, or believers that are still bound in the throes of demonic oppression or past hurts, are unable to discern clearly the quiet voice of the Lord within. Because the emotions are still screaming out, they drown out the presence of the Lord. All deliverance, inner healing, counseling, and therapy must be directed at setting us free to hear and uncompromisingly obey the Holy Spirit. Healing is the means of becoming spiritual or pneumatic Christians. Our mind and intellect must be renewed by the word of God so that it can adequately understand what the Holy Spirit wishes. Romans12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God The intellect then, through wisdom put into motion the promptings of the Lord. The Natural versus the Spiritual Christian As we begin tackling the issue of walking in the spirit it is vitally important that we understand that there are three types of people, and two types of believers. There is the carnal, (sarkikos or fleshly) the natural,(psychikos; or psychological man: the man of the soul, or psyche) and the spiritual.(pneumatikos; or spiritual man: the man of the spirit, air, or breath) Believers are either natural or spiritual. God desires all of us to be “pneumatic Christians; discerning the breath of the Spirit of the living God.” Unfortunately most of us function as natural people. Let us finish our study today by looking at the second chapter of first Corinthians. 1Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them( taking the lid off) unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth(sounds out) all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. These verses explain to us that the only way for us to know instinctively the things of God is through our spirit. God only knows how many times, and sadly enough, have we put wheels to God’s visions and plans upon the whims of our intellect and reasoning. Now wonder our churches are so weak! 14 But the natural man(psychikos) ( receiveth(to welcome with open rams) not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (to investigate, examine and determine something so as to render a decision) 15 But he that is spiritual(pneumatikos) judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. We have stopped short beloved! Many of us have made psychology the means, and the end of our Christian life. We understand with our minds, and plan with our intellects. The natural Christian will not welcome the things of the Spirit of God. Our Lord many times works through seemingly irrational means. Our souls quite the opposite work logically and rationally. God must heal our souls so that they can uncompromisingly submit themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Only the spiritual man can accurately investigate the plans of God. Only can he sound them out and render decisions in line with the will of God. God can only truly bless what comes from His Spirit. Any work done outside of the Holy Spirit carries a transitory blessing at best! BY BISHOP DUAH AGYEMANG AT TRUE GOSPEL EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL AT NEW JERSEY USA.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:02:35 +0000
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