The understanding of these three elements play an important part to our well-being and success in life. It is therefore of our greatest interest to examine closely what the Bible has to say about this. Apostle Paul, one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age, wrote this in his epistles to the Corinthians whom were living immorality:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a [b]preciousness and paid for, [c]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a [b]preciousness and paid for, [c]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
Paul considered our body a sanctuary place for God and he reminded the Corinthians that the Holy Spirit who is given to them as a gift from God and the Spirit dwell in their bodies. This gift was not free, it was purchased with a price. It cost God His one and only Son, Jesus. Amen!
When God qualified us (through the finished work of Jesus) and give us His Spirit, God mean for the Spirit to become king. Verse 19 says "... You are not your own," In other words, the Spirit is suppose to take charge; the Spirit is to control the soul and the body. When Adam sinned against God, that Spirit died; What was left were his soul and body.
When God qualified us (through the finished work of Jesus) and give us His Spirit, God mean for the Spirit to become king. Verse 19 says "... You are not your own," In other words, the Spirit is suppose to take charge; the Spirit is to control the soul and the body. When Adam sinned against God, that Spirit died; What was left were his soul and body.
Today, when we look at unbelievers around us, we do see man and woman who are either highly developed in their mind (highly intellectual) or they are highly developed in their body (or they are ruled by their body). Those who are intellectual will never find speaking in tongues logical. Because they do not understand it, they cannot enjoy it. They can never received a miracle from God because it is simply not reasonable or logical. To them, taking medicine is reasonable, going for surgery is reasonable. But for God to heal them without going for operation are unreasonable. Though their mind are so highly developed, they are death spiritually. They depend solely on their intellectual to navigate their way in life. Their choices are based on their understanding and reasoning.
And then, there are those who are not so developed in their mind but highly developed in their body.
It could mean also they behave like animals; when they see something they want, they must have it immediately. When they are attracted to that woman, they will either rape her or molest her. Or when they see particular food, they must eat it immediately. They are ruled by their bodies just like animals. Because their spirits are death, they, together with those highly developed in their mind, are cut-off from God.
The thing is this. The world define death as the moment when our hearts stop beating. In actual fact, death is the result when our hearts stop beating. For us (Christians), death begin the moment we are separated from God. When Adam sinned against God, he did not die immediately. He died physically 900 years later. But, on the same day, he died spiritually. Amen.
Death is the separation from God. So when we cut off from God, it mean our spirits are dead, we are left with our souls and bodies. Without the Spirit, one would revolve their lives around this world. They may go chasing after the things of this world but can never be fully satisfied. The things of this world is temporal and the world is too small to contain our heart. We have discussed that last week (Week 67:Vanity of Vanities). Only God is able to satisfy our souls. Because we created by God. The Bible says "All things were created through Him and for Him." And if we are created through Him and for Him, then only God can contain us. While the world is too small for our heart (our satisfaction can never come from this world), God is too big for our heart! It will take us a lifetime and yet we may not even fully fathom Him!
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Therefore, let us not play games with our eternal souls. Let us not be troubled by the things of this world. What is of this world is only for this life. Instead, let us make sure we are saved, our love ones are saved. The Bible says what is it that profits a man who gain the whole world but lose his soul?
When the Holy Spirit comes to us, that Spirit will have a voice; and He will begin to speak what God ordained. The stronger the Spirit is, the more we are back to God's original plan. His Spirit control the soul and the body; He will lead us to the destiny of our lives; a life that will glory to our God. Amen!
And in that alignment of Spirit over soul and body, we are integrated. That is what we call "cool" in today vernacular. In this world, cool is define by speaking every sentences full of vulgar words.But, to think about it, that is not really cool. Basically, that person has no control over his mouth. He is under the influence of evil spirit that has possessed him and he is not completely together.
And in that alignment of Spirit over soul and body, we are integrated. That is what we call "cool" in today vernacular. In this world, cool is define by speaking every sentences full of vulgar words.But, to think about it, that is not really cool. Basically, that person has no control over his mouth. He is under the influence of evil spirit that has possessed him and he is not completely together.
If we live like an animal following the body lust at every moment, that's not cool as well. Cool is defined as someone who is integrated; who is truly at peace; who love his family; who loves God and walk in victory. Amen!
For these are the days, the Lord says we must know His voice and He is our Father, He will lead us to green pastures and bless us in abundance. His plan for us is of good and not of evil. His wonderful plan will be unfolded to us when we pray in His Spirit. And good shall flow in the days of our lives! Amen!
A church member's auntie underwent a removal of one of her kidneys because it was cancerous. After the removal, the doctor said even then, there was no hope of recovery and told the family to prepare for the inevitable funeral. However, the church member encourage the family not to give up but to fight a good fight of faith and confess God's promises concerning and long life over his auntie.
One night the Lord woke him up at 2 am, and together with his wife, they began to pray in tongues for the auntie till they felt the release. Two days later, the auntie was healed. Hallelujah! She was able to sat up and recovered her health in hospital. Most importantly, His auntie fought the doctor's diagnosis of death! The amazing thing is this, when they x-ray her, they saw two kidneys instead of one! At first, they thought the one who did the operation forgot to take out the kidney, but the kidney they saw is perfect without any markings or disease.Subsequently, three doctors came to see her to confirm her kidneys have been restored. They were so amazed that they said verbally that it had to be God! Amen! Hallelujah!
The Bible says with God, ALL things are possible. As in the case of this church member's auntie, having another kidney appearing out of no where is illogical. It is a miracle! And only God can do that. Amen! Therefore, let's not put God in a box, but let His Spirit be our guidance. Let His Spirit be the master over our souls and bodies. Only then, we can our lives with eternal hope. Our eyes will no longer be fixed on the temporal things of this earth. We are no longer bound on the outward circumstances and pressures to manoeuvre our lives. Our hopes and our directions in life come from within our hearts, the Holy of Holies, the place where His Spirit dwells. Amen!
With that, I leave you with this passage to meditate:
Colossians 1
16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].
19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him [p]permanently.
20 And God purposed that through ([q]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled [r]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.
21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,
22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.
23 [And this He will do] provided that you continue to [s]stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [t][as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.
Grace and peace be with you.
The Bible says with God, ALL things are possible. As in the case of this church member's auntie, having another kidney appearing out of no where is illogical. It is a miracle! And only God can do that. Amen! Therefore, let's not put God in a box, but let His Spirit be our guidance. Let His Spirit be the master over our souls and bodies. Only then, we can our lives with eternal hope. Our eyes will no longer be fixed on the temporal things of this earth. We are no longer bound on the outward circumstances and pressures to manoeuvre our lives. Our hopes and our directions in life come from within our hearts, the Holy of Holies, the place where His Spirit dwells. Amen!
With that, I leave you with this passage to meditate:
Colossians 1
16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].
19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him [p]permanently.
20 And God purposed that through ([q]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled [r]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.
21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,
22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.
23 [And this He will do] provided that you continue to [s]stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [t][as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.
Grace and peace be with you.
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