Chapter Two: The Reality of the Three Part Being

Since you are already reeling, let's go a little deeper and establish the reality of the three-part make up of every person in the world. This is "key" to understand our relationship with God and how that relationship is exercised. Here is a message that explains what the "soul" is and the complexity of "healing" that soul. 

SOUL HEALING 

8-1988

1. WHAT IS THE SOUL?

--I THES 5:23        JAMES 1:21        I JOHN 3:9(CONTRAST SPIRIT-"SEED  REMAINS") 

THE SOUL IS A PART OF OUR SPIRITUAL MAKEUP. "I AM A SPIRIT, I HAVE A SOUL, I LIVE IN A BODY." THE SOUL IS THE INTELLECTUAL PART OF OUR BEING. IN CONSISTS OF OUR MIND, OUR WILL, OUR EMOTIONS AND IMAGINATION. SOME CALL IT THE "HIGHER SELF" IN CONTRAST WITH OUR BODIES WHICH ARE OF THE EARTH. IT DOES NOT RESIDE IN OUR "BRAIN" WHICH IS A NATURAL, PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OR IN ANY PART OF OUR PHYSICAL BODY.   

THE SOUL WILL EXIST, ALONG WITH OUR SPIRIT, FOR ALL ETERNITY. SINCE THE SOUL IS SPRITUAL, CHANGES AND HEALING TAKE PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. GOD HAS TO MAKE THE CHANGES, WE CAN'T. WE WILL STRUGGLE WITH THE SOUL UNTIL HEAVEN - THE BIBLE SAYS GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR. (REV. 7:17) 

THE SOUL IS DAMAGED BY: ORIGINAL SIN, PERSONAL SIN, THE SINS OF OTHERS AND THE EFFECTS OF THE WORLD AND DEVIL. 

SALVATION (Acknowledging the reality of God and submitting to Him)  TAKES CARE OF ORIGINAL SIN-THE REST IS THE RENEWING OF THE MIND (ROM 12:2) 

2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DAMAGE THE SOUL?

IT COMES DAMAGED BY ORIGINAL SIN. THANK YOU ADAM! 

DAMAGE IS DONE IN ONE INSTANT.

A WORD OR ACTION WE PERMIT OR OTHERS DO CAN INSTANTLY WOUND OUR SOULS.

THAT DAMAGE REMAINS UNTIL WE ALLOW GOD TO BRING HEALING.

3. THE ANATOMY OF A DAMAGED AREA OF THE SOUL...

EXAMPLE:

SOMEONE WE LOVE AND TRUST REJECTS US, OR WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS A REJECTION. THEY MAY TURN THEIR BACK ON US AND WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH US. THEY SAY AND DO THINGS ("I HATE YOU" "I WANT A DIVORCE""NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT") THAT LETS  US CLEARLY KNOW WE ARE REJECTED. THEY FOLLOW THAT WITH PHYSICAL ACTIONS THAT REFLECT THAT REJECTION (WALK AWAY). COULD BE A SPOUSE, A FRIEND, TEACHER, BROTHER OR SISTER, A PASTOR. 

WHAT HAPPENS?

A) OUR "WILL" TOWARDS THEM IS CHANGED. 

WE DESIRE THAT THEY BE HURT AS WE ARE HURT AND OUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS TOWARD THEM BECOME UGLY AND HURTFUL (KIDS FIGHTING AND BICKERING IS A MICROCOSOM OF SUCH ACTIVITY) 

B) OUR LOVE (AND TRUST AS A RESULT OF THAT LOVE), EXTENDED TO THEM, IS WOUNDED AND KNOCKED DOWN.

--WE DRAW BACK OUR LOVE. 

C) OUR HOPE FOR AND IN THAT RELATIONSHIP IS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

--WE SHUT DOWN HOPE 

D) OUR EMOTIONS GO INTO "TURMOIL MODE"-WE BECOME ANGRY, RESENTFUL AND SOMETIMES EVEN BITTER.

--OUR UNRENEWED SOUL AREAS TAKE OVER 

E) WE WANT "VENGENCE" --- TO GET BACK AT THEM AT ANY COST. 

-WE DO THINGS BEHIND THEIR BACK AND EVEN IN FRONT OF THEM AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL DIMINISH THEIR STATUS. (MAKE THEM LOOK SMALLER) 

-WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE PUNISHED AND HURT.

WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY INTO THAT ACTIVITY. AS WE ENTERTAIN THAT ACTIVITY IT GROWS, SOMETIMES BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND WE DO THINGS WE WOULD NEVER EVER DO OTHERWISE. MURDER. 

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEND IN OUR SOUL , IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. OUR BODY REACTS TO WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR SOUL AND OUR COUNTENANCE CHANGES AND OUR BODY GOES INTO "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" MODE.

OUR BODY REFLECTS THE SOUL'S ATTITUDE . 

AS THINGS THAT HURT US CONTINUE WE RAISE UP A PROTECTIVE WALL. 

WE CANNOT UNDO ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT WE HAVE PERMITTED TO HAPPEN. 

WHAT BRINGS ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF CHANGE IN THIS SITUATION? 

SUDDENLY WE REALIZE (SOMETIMES YEARS LATER) AND RECOGNIZE WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE INVITE GOD INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT UGLY SITUATION - AND HE COMES, HE WAS ALWAYS THERE. WHEN IT HAPPENED HE WAS THERE. 

FORGIVENESS ENTERS IN. MATT 6:12, 14-15 (AS WE SOW FORIVENESS WE REAP FORGIVENESS -- INSTANT CROP!) 

WHILE WE CAN'T UNDO WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AN ESSENTIAL CHANGE HAS ALREADY OCCURED. WHEN GOD WAS INVITED IT, OUR "WILL" CHANGED FROM "HARM TO HEAL." THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL CHANGE. 

WE BEGIN TO EXERCISE OUR MIND TO HEAL-WE GO AND APOLOGIZE AND MAKE A START AT REPAIRING THE RELATIONSHIP.  

LOVE IS RESTORED. THIS TIME IT'S GOD'S LOVE. (GOD'S LOVE FLOWING THROUGH US). OFTEN NO NATURAL LOVE EXISTS, BUT WE CAN LOVE WITH GOD'S LOVE REGARDLESS. 

HOPE IS REBORN. WE GRAB ON TO THE PROMISES OF THE WORD. THE ONLY SURE ANCHOR FOR HOPE. HOPE IS THE UNDERGIRDING FOR FAITH TO WORK. 

OUR EMOTIONS COME UNDER BETTER CONTROL. 

AND WE ABONDON THE DESIRE FOR VENGENCE. IT BELONGS TO GOD!

4. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL THE SOUL?

IT HAPPENS THE INSTANT WE ASK IN FAITH AND GOD REACHES BACK TO CALVARY WHERE THE PRICE WAS PAID. 

WE MUST RECIEVE THAT HEALING...AS WE RECIEVE IT OUR SOUL IS CHANGED. WE MUST LET IT IN! 

THE WAY WE RECIEVE AND THE TIME IT TAKES US TO RECIEVE DETERMINE THE ACUAL HEALING OF OUR SOUL. IT IS FULLY EXTENDED TO US WHEN WE ASK. BUT WE OFTEN ONLY ALLOW IT IN BY "BITS AND PIECES." 

WE ARE HEALED OVER TIME BY THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT. II COR 3:18

--GOD'S WORD AND SPIRIT BRING INSTANT HEALING, BUT WE, WITH OUR WILL, MUST ALLOW THAT HEALING TO AFFECT THE ELEMENTS OF THE HURT.

 Next: Chapter Three: Who is this "Joe Gall?"