Our Souls
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.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”
Our souls are what make us, as human beings, unique.
The Bible says that God “formed” us, and breathed into us the breath of life, which was the Holy Spirit, and we became a living soul.
None other was so formed, or breathed upon. (All other creation was spoken into being.)
We are unique.
The soul is the place of our personality. I believe our souls are the most important thing in His creation; for He paid such a high price to buy it back again for Himself.
Our personalities are naturally “formed” in the world by our parents, place we live, friends or family, and what happens to us.
But when we are born again, our souls, our personality can be molded into the character of Christ Jesus. They are freed from the restrains of sin, anger, fear, jealousy, etc.; and us, the true us, under the help of the Holy Spirit can shine through.
[Our spirit is the abode of the Holy Spirit when we are born again. He dwells within us as our Comforter: guiding, instructing, and helping us. As we yield to Him, His influence is felt through our spirits into our souls, and bodies; and we are changed (conformed) to Christ’s image (character) Romans 8:29.
Our bodies are the “time clocks” of our existence. When they fail and stop, so do we.]
The characteristics of the soul are many; but come down to three major faculties.
The mind: our thoughts—those which come and go quickly; and those which linger and are built upon, in our imaginations, or meditations.
The heart: our affections and emotions—desire for things, as well as true love come from here.
The will: our “action-packed” faculty. For what we will to do, we do.
[We may “wish to”, or dream after; but nothing will ever get done until the will wills to do it.]
God says:
Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.”
1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
Our hearts are uniquely made for the Son of God to dwell there.
They are made to love Him, and know His peaceful, powerful Presence.
How much this influences our will to obey Him (for that shows Him we love Him).
Our minds are uniquely made to search Him out in the scriptures, by prayer and fellowship, and to take in His Word to us, understanding it by the light of the Holy Spirit.
How much this influences our will to obey Him.
The Lord has said:
Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:26 “Ponder (think about) the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”
God is Faithful. He has not left us as spiritual orphans; but has given us His Holy Spirit in our spirits, to help us be all we are meant to be, in Christ Jesus.
Let us yield to His influence within our hearts, and the Word of God by our minds, and will to be conformed to Christ in our circumstances….for that is His saving power; here and now, and for eternity.
Yield is like giving in to the current of power. Sometimes it feels like a rushing wave, others like a hand in your hand, others like a look from the Lord to you: each, calling you, drawing you on with Him.
But we must yield. Our souls (mind, heart, and will) must yield to the Holy Spirit within; then we are growing, then we are empowered, then we are His obedient servants.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 