SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY

KINGDOM BUILDERS

“BUILDING THE KINGDOM THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD”

PIERCING THE VEIL

SPIRIT, SOUL, & BODY

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;  and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto (in) the coming (presence) of our Lord Jesus Christ.   (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

 Some folks focus on the spirit man, some the soulish man, and some the flesh man.  God, as you notice from the above scripture focuses on the whole man, spirit, soul, and body.  The word “sanctify” means to be venerable or hallow, to venerate mentally, to be separate from profane things and dedicate to God, to purify, to cleanse externally, and to purify internally by the renewing of the soul, and purify by expiation or to free from the guilt of sin.  As you notice, the definition of sanctify covers the whole spirit, soul, and body.  God wants the whole man to experience the divine life.  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mightest be prosperous and in health even as thy soul prospers.  (3 John 2).  Of course, the main focus is never on the flesh, but rather on the spirit.  For as one’s spirit prospers, mind and attitude prosper, and he begins to learn to take care of his body and provide all its needs.  The word “wholly” means to be complete in all its parts, in no part wanting or being unsound, it is to be entire, without defect, and complete in all respects.  So, if you see yourself faltering in your faith, not having the confidence like you should, or talking bad about yourself, or beginning to have physical problems, know that you are lacking somewhere, and you need to search out the matter.  Our spirit and soul are eternal, but the body is not.  The natural tendency is to die because of sin in the flesh we were born with.  But, that doesn’t mean we should shoot ourselves in the foot, and do things to our body that harm it.  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.  So we must preserve our whole body, which means to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to guard from loss or injury by keeping one’s eye upon it.  Look carefully to your spirit, soul, and body.  Be BLAMELESS.   Or have no cause for censure. Be faultless.  It doesn’t mean that our spirit, soul, and body are to await for the so called “coming” of the Lord, for then it will be too late.  He means we are to preserve and be blameless now.  You see, the word “at” is “en” in the Greek and it means “in” and the word “coming” in the Greek is “Parousia” and it means “Presence”.   We are in his presence now.  The Holy Ghost is here.  In us. We are in him.  We are one with him.  The magical union of Christ and the Church is now, not some time in the future.  We are now the spotless body of Christ by his righteousness and his holiness.  No more delay.  We have the responsibility to glorify Christ in our bodies, souls, and spirits in this day, in the now day, in this hour.  It is finished. 

THE SPIRIT

The greatest thing that can happen to the spirit of man is to be reborn of God’s spirit.  Once that is done, it is almost magical what happens to the rest of the man.  Things that were not formally known about God are now known by inspiration automatically.  I remember when I first got saved at 33.  I was dumb as a rock prior to that event, but afterwards, I found that I knew things about the word of God that I was never taught.  And I had never read the Bible until after that day.  It was the anointing teaching me.  You need not anyone teach you, for the Holy Ghost will teach you.  The disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us to Pray.”  I found that for some mysterious reason, I knew how to pray instantly.  One of the first things I prayed for was Wisdom.  Little did I know how valuable such a prayer could be, for it directed my life for the next 38 years.  Later, I found that Wisdom was one of the seven spirits of God found in Isaiah 11:1, 2.  There were other attributes of the Spirit of God in that same passage such as knowledge, understanding, the fear of the Lord, the spirit of counsel,  the spirit of might, and the spirit of God itself.  I was beside myself as I began to pray for all these things.  I never wavered for I didn’t want to go backward, side to side, or blown about in the breeze like a leaf, or be like an un-powered boat without a rudder being tossed in the sea.  As my spirit man grew, so did other attributes in my life grow as well.  It was as if seeking the things of the spirit manifested in my soul and my body.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these other things shall be added to you.  Amazingly, seeking the things of God first, brought prosperity, food, water, clothing, and the things that met my flesh man needs.  As I began to get knowledge, my confidence in my mind grew.  My IQ actually went up 40 points on three different tests.  In high school, it was between 110 and 120 from the time I was a freshman to a senior.  Ten years after being saved, it went from 160 to 165.  So, renew your mind with the washing of water (spirit) by the word.  You can teach an old dog new tricks.  My spirit man grew rapidly.  I asked my pastor if I could cast out devils.  He said, “of course.”   That is all the encouragement I needed.  A great deliverance ministry was launched.  For some reason, I didn’t need any more instruction about other things.  I knew by the spirit I could do them, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, healing the lame, and opening the blind eyes.  The spirit of God was my tutor.  Whatever was written in the word, I believed it, I experimented, and it worked.  I even saw some things that were not written in the word, but they worked too as long as I was led by the spirit.  That was the key. 

When you get born again, you become an eternal being just like God.  You will never die, but if you do, you will be raised again.  Jesus is THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.  You now have resurrection life.  Inside of you are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and power and might.  We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  (2 Corinthians 4:7).  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding of the mystery of God, and the Father, and of Christ;  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Colossians 2:2-3).  Now, this is the glory of the riches among the Gentiles, this mystery that has been withheld from the ages, but is now revealed to us by his holy apostles and prophets, and that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  There is no more waiting for Christ to break through the clouds in the eastern sky.  He has come.  He is in you.  It is no longer a mystery.  There is no longer a hope not fulfilled.  The hope of the ages has been realized by his presence, his spirit in our temple, this ark, this tabernacle, this house.  We are the Sons of God sent to restore the earth as prophets, priests, kings, and judges.  We are the Sons of God who make restitution of all things.  We are his ambassadors speaking for the Kingdom of God.  The whole earth has been groaning and travailing until the full manifestation of the Sons of God.  And we are those Sons.  He is that spirit that filleth all in all.  All power, dominion, and authority has been given to him and abides in you.  PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

THE SOUL

“All is well with my soul.”  Isn’t that what the song says?  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  (3 John 2).  God wants our soul to prosper.  Our soul consists of mind, will,  emotions, and conscience.  It is all about what we think, what we allow or don’t allow, how we feel in any given situation, and whether or not we feel guilt or innocence. Your spirit is hard at work trying to reprogram your fragmented soul. From birth, you have experienced life.  You have suffered hot, cold, pain, rejection, abuse, intolerance, mental anguish, death, oppression, separation, and whole host of other things.  Your soul gets fragmented, and you do not function in wholeness like the scriptures exhort.  You get born again, but your soul needs healing.  It is at this time that God puts us through the fires of trials and tribulations that he might purge out the dross of incorrect thinking, faulty planning, and inadequacies in the soul.  He wants to make us whole every whit.  We think he is being mean to us when we go through great testing and trials, but we can’t see his master plan to make us like him.  A marine sergeant knows exactly how much he can pressure the troops to be able to endure the hardships of war.  He can’t afford for his men to breakdown at the onset of conflict.  They must be able to endure to the end.  A soldier may enter service with one mind and will, but after much training, he finds he must give his mind and will over to the sergeant and his company for the greater good.  That drill sergeant will either make him or break him.  But, that soldier must submit himself to the sergeant’s will at all costs.  Father, if it be thy will, take this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.  Isn’t that what Jesus said before going to the cross.  Jesus knew the cost he would have to pay, he knew how much suffering he would have to go through, and he even knew he would die.  But, for the joy set before him, he endured the cross.  His trials, tribulations, and ultimate death then was for the greater good.  If we could see why we suffer, it may help us, but for many, if they saw the end result, it may be overwhelming, and they would not have the courage to go forward.  And, I don’t mean that in a bad way either.  For all things that we endure is for a greater future purpose.  That purpose is revealed when all the battles have been won, and the manifested sons of God come forth  having been tried and tested beyond their seeming endurance, and they arise like the phoenix out of the ashes into a whole new world full of grace and power and authority.  The over comers will rule with Christ at his right hand forever and ever.  A man or woman who is highly emotional cannot function properly in the midst of adversity.  At these times, they need to make sound decisions, but their minds are clouded be a million thoughts of doom, destruction, and tragedy.  In the heat of the battle, it is exceedingly important that one maintains a cool head.  Otherwise, not only will they get hurt, but so will others that their decisions affect.  A broken spirit is like a city torn down and without walls.  I have found over the years that when one has controlled emotions that the peace of God will prevail in their decision making, and sound judgment comes as a result of being in control of your mind.  Gird up the loins of your mind, the scripture says.  Just like a weight lifter who is about to lift 400 pounds off the floor, he girds up his loins around his stomach so that the extreme pressure of the lift doesn’t make his bowels burst open and he spills his guts all over the floor.  In like fashion, when we gird up our minds, and keep our emotions still, our judgment sharp, and keep the peace of God that passes all understanding, we find we can perform properly in crisis situations.  But, the man who does not gird up his mind will find his brains pouring out of his mouth because of bad decisions.  Be strong, therefore, in the power of the Lord. 

As a young man, in high school and in college, I made good grades when I studied.  But, I felt like I was dumb as a rock, and I probably was.  I couldn’t seem to do anything meaningful except common labor.  But, then again, I really didn’t have an appreciation for knowledge like I do now.  Later, after getting born again, I began to wash and renew my mind with the washing of the water of the word of God.  My knowledge grew.  I found a greater appreciation for chemistry, physics, algebra, calculus, history, English, and writing.  I found myself writing programs for computers, working on computers, fixing electrical problems in my refrigerator, and washer, and dryer, making cabinets, working on automobiles, and doing things and accomplishing goals that I never could have before.  What was the difference?  God was renewing my mind.  I tapped in to the plentiful electrical neurons going through out my mind, and increased in knowledge.  It amazed even me.  I found there was nothing, literally nothing that I could not do through Christ who strengthened me.  I even learned to play a guitar instantly, and carry a tune a little to the point that I led worship in the church I pastored.  I had zero musical inclinations up to that point.  Get the knowledge of God.  It is one of his seven spirits, and it is a principal thing.  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4).  My son, eat thou honey, because it is good;  and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:  So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul:  when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.  (Proverbs 24: 13-14).  With knowledge, you make yourself very valuable to yourself and others.   You have a potential treasure awaiting you as you increase in learning.  GLORY!

THE BODY

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown:  but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;  so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  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.  (I Corinthians 9:24-27).  But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness, For bodily exercise profited little (for a little while):  but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.  (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

There is no question that godliness is more profitable than physical exercise, but Paul is clear that exercise is important for the body.  He even describes a boxer in training and subduing his body.  One would not want to get in a ring with an experienced boxer much less a champion boxer without first training to make yourself ready for the fierce competition laying in front of you.  He would knock you out in less than three minutes of the first round if you were fat, undisciplined, and had no endurance.  I remember a minister once saying that he would rather burn out than rust out.  He didn‘t take care of his body, got grossly overweight, neglected his sugar and blood pressure, and was a heavy eater.  Oh, he got up early, stayed up late, was a great prayer warrior, had a lot of good works going on, but he died at 50.  He didn’t rust out, but his physical body could not handle the pressure and the load he put on it.  When it came time to make a big push, his body failed him because he was not fit physically.  Another exceedingly large pastor was called out by a prophet, and embarrassed in front of 500 people.  He was rebuked by the prophet, and was told he was a disgrace to the body of Christ.  He probably weighed close to 400 pounds.  Though he was close to 6’-5”, he had a pot belly and was known for his eating prowess.  He, too died an untimely death. 

I suppose I can’t say enough about our bodies.  God even wants them sanctified and holy.  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?  For ye are bought with a price;  therefore glorify God in  your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20).

Your body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost.  Your body houses all your earthly dealings, business, work, play, relationships, and meanderings.  In order to facility a long life, and fully accomplish all we are destined to do, we must stay in shape.  We must attend to our body.  If you do exercise at least three times a week which includes cardio and weight training, you will find that your body will respond with increased energy as oxygen is sent to all your blood cells and flesh, your mind will be fresher and quicker, your weight will come off as muscle is built and you burn fat, and your training will make you fit for the master’s work.  Keep your body under subjection, make the Lord proud, and you will accomplish the work you were intended to fulfill here on earth.  If your body does happen to break down, at least it won’t be because of neglect.  GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY!

How about eating?  Do you think it is right to eat properly?  You better believe it.  Overeating, or eating too much sugar and carbohydrates will flood your body with high sugar and make your organs work overtime.  Mixing your food properly will help you digest and keep you alert at all times.  You ever eat a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings?  Sure, you have.  What happens immediately after stuffing yourself with meats, vegetables, carbohydrates, and all kinds of sugar?  It all sits in your stomach and rots.  You can’t add an acid and a basic into your stomach because they will neutralize one another.  Quickly, you are sleepy and ready for a nap.  Your insulin level is sky high.  Eating a protein (meat) and vegetable or a carbohydrate (such as a potato) and a vegetable will digest good in the stomach.  But, putting a protein and a carbohydrate in there at the same time is not wise for good health. 

How about vitamins, minerals and amino acids?  You need the proper balance of all these.  It has been proven that a depletion of the essentials will cause different diseases and sicknesses.  It is too easy to go get your blood checked and see what is lacking.  Then fill it in with either the proper foods that supply that vitamin, mineral, or amino acid or get the pills themselves.  Of course, the pills cost a lot more.  And so you know, getting what you need out of food is God’s way of keeping you healthy.  A man came to my office one time and wanted to sell me a special bottle of pills that was extracted from deep within the Pacific Ocean.  “I can tell looking at you that you need these,”  he said.  “Ok, do you have a test?”  “I do,” he chimed.  He took out all his testing equipment, took a sample of my saliva and my blood, and did the tests.  He said that my tests would show I would be red, orange or yellow which was the litmus type test showing the deficiency.  “If it’s green or blue, you are ok, but I guarantee you that you are not.”   He set the test strip on the table and the colors went from orange, to yellow, to light green to dark green to light blue, then to dark blue.  As we sat there staring, I could only think of one thing.  “I guess you just lost that sale,”  I exclaimed.  He hung his head, picked up his paperwork and tools and quietly left.  I was in good health, but even I didn’t know how well.  Go get tested.  See where you actually stand health wise.  Correct the problem quickly and you will find your health soaring. 

We only have a short time here on this planet at best compared to eternity.  Make the most of it.  Get healthy.  Glorify God in your body.  Sanctify yourself, and keep yourself unspotted from the world.  So, in the end, having gone through life fulfilling your destiny in your healthy triune man, you can say at the end of your days like Paul.  I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and I am now ready to be offered.  PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

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Phillip S. Smith III

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