Chapter 5 (Part 3)

 WHAT “RENEWAL” OF THE SOUL BRINGS

THE SOUL CAN BE “RENEWED” IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS SPIRITUAL.

2 Cor. 4:16 ¹⁶For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

THE “INWARD” CONSISTS OF THE SPIRIT AND SOUL.

SO, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN AS WE “RENEW” THAT “INWARD” PART OF US??
Col. 3:8-17 ⁸But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS!)

THEN, RABBI PAUL TELLS US WHAT COMPOSES THAT “NEW MAN,” THE “CHARACTERISTICS OF THE “NEW MAN…”

¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ¹⁴And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

PAUL REPEATS THAT IN A MORE COMPACT FORM IN EPHESIANS…

Eph. 4:23-24 ²³And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

WHEN THE SOUL DOES GET THAT “EDUCATION,” THAT “RENEWAL,” IT CAUSES THE SOUL TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE SPIRITUAL, UNDERSTAND IT TO A DEGREE, AND THEN “MOVE ASIDE” TO ALLOW THE ACCESS TO THE SPIRITUAL REALM WE HAVE IN THE SPIRIT MAN TO BE RELEASED INTO THE NATURAL WORLD.

That concludes my excerpt from my message on “The Reality of the Spiritual.”

(Note: This concept comes from the Jewish sages, too. They talk about the Nefish, body, the Rua, the soul, and the Shamah, the spirit that connects directly to Heaven and spiritual realities. They also emphasize the strong bond between the body and soul…even to the extent that the soul (and spirit) hangs around the body of a dead person until the soul is convinced it cannot return- knowing that they belong together; hence, for Jews, no embalming and quick burial so the body will begin to decompose and the soul can leave. Christian teaching mentions that some have “died” and their spirit and soul “hung around” and “saw” the dead body – sometimes the spirit and soul reentering the body and the body returning to “life.”)

4. Valuation of “Family” & A Day of Rest

In my lifetime I have witnessed the loss of a “day of rest” and erosion of the family. I even remember the first day that a 7-Eleven Store stayed open on a Sunday…that made a deep impression on me even as a child! I am old enough to remember that if you didn’t have it on Friday evening…you’ll have to wait until Monday! Saturdays we lolled around and Sunday was focused on church attendance. Today stores are open 7 days a week and folks are “busy;” both spouses are expected to have jobs, and need them to survive financially in today’s economy; school has become more a child care service and less an educational adventure; families spend little time as a unit, almost never all sitting down to eat a meal together; each member has their own hobbies and pursuits most of which are solitary activities. “Making ends meet,” financially, has become the focus of life for many; because of that TV, sports, hobbies, and games have become a necessary “escape” for most.

After God and relationship with Him and His Word, the next priority needs to be turned back inward to our spouse and families. The Jewish example and commitment and interaction with their family provide a wonderful platform and example for Christians to observe and emulate. The destruction of the “family” in this country is almost complete and “government” is now looking to impact our children, and us, from “birth to death.” Our educational and governmental system is demanding access to our children for “education” and indoctrination from birth. And, with the demands placed on the family, resistance is decreasing. The interference and meddling of “government” is increasing almost daily!

“Until death do us part” is little regarded and marriage relationships crumble because of the lack of commitment to natural and spiritual “vows” couples’ exchange. Almost no one wants to expend the energy to “work through” the difficulties spouses will encounter…even the really tough ones like unfaithfulness and the nebulous “incompatibility”…to keep a “vow” that is “archaic” in the estimation of the world and society. Few care to examine the reasons God orchestrated this arrangement. The value of one “soul tie” in a lifetime is not understood; the impact on children ignored for the benefit of individual “happiness.”

In 2000 I prepared a message on this subject…it bears on the subject we are looking at right now…

SOUL TIES

1 THES 5:23 "...AND SOUL..."

(BRIEF DISCUSSION ON SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY; THE THREE PART MAKE UP OF MAN) Author’s note: this subject is covered in another part of this work.

1 SAM 18:1-4 (EXAMPLES OF POWERFUL SOUL TIES)

(1 SAM 19:1-7) JONATHAN INTERCEDES FOR DAVID

(1 SAM 20:1-42) JONATHAN AGAIN INTERCEDES, UNSUCCESSFULLY, FOR DAVID AND THEY PART COMPANY V.41-42

2 SAM 11:1-27 DAVID, BATHSHEBA & URIAH

RABBI JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS

EVEN THE WORLD ACKNOWLEDGES THAT “SOUL TIES” EXIST, BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE.

SOUL TIES ARE CONNECTIONS IN OUR “SOUL” AREA (SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY) THAT BIND US STRONGLY TO OTHER PEOPLE. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE USED IN LINE WITH THE WORD'S INSTRUCTIONS ON RELATIONSHIPS. THEY ARE MEANT FOR OUR GOOD. THE PRIMARY PLACE THEY EXIST IS BETWEEN SPOUSES IN A COMMITTED MARRIAGE BOND. (PROV. 19:14 "A PRUDENT WIFE IS FROM THE LORD")

THE PURPOSE IS TO BOND TWO PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP (PROV. 27:17 "IRON SHARPENS IRON"); THAT THEY MIGHT HELP FORM ONE ANOTHER FOR GOD'S USE AND PURPOSES. ULTIMATELY THAT WE MIGHT GROW INTO THE "DREAM" GOD HAS FOR OUR LIVES AND MINISTRY IN THE EARTH AND TO PREPARE US FOR HIS LONG-TERM USE THROUGH ETERNITY. THAT “BOND” ALSO PROVIDES A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN TO BE RAISED IN “THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.”

MUCH "SOULISH" CONFUSION AND CONFLICT IS CAUSED WHEN THESE “TIES” ARE INAPPROPRIATELY FORMED, AS THEY ARE SO CASUALLY IN OUR SOCIETY.

HOW ARE THEY FORMED?

BECAUSE WE ARE A SPIRITUAL CREATURE, WE MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS ON LEVELS OTHER THAN JUST THE NATURAL. SINCE THE WORLD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPIRITUAL REALM, IT CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THESE CONNECTIONS ARE FORMED OR THEIR PURPOSE OR HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

WHEN WE HAVE INTIMATE PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH ANOTHER PERSON WE ALSO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SPIRITUAL PART OF THEM. THE SPIRITUAL PARTS OF US TEND TO BOND TOGETHER. THESE “TIES” OCCUR IN THE SOUL AREA; THE MIND WILL, INTELLECT, AND EMOTIONS. THE EMOTIONAL AREA IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN "TENDER" OR NEEDY IN THAT AREA. THE LACK WE EXPERIENCE FOR AFFECTION AND ATTENTION DRAWS US TO THOSE WHO WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR US. (OR WE THINK THEY WILL) WE THEN DEVELOP A NEED FOR THAT INTERACTION AND A DEPENDENCE ON IT. (ADDICTION) WE "HOOK TOGETHER" IN THOSE NEEDY AREAS.

“SOUL TIE” = A HOOKING TOGETHER OF A LACK IN OUR LIVES THAT SEEMS TO BE SUPPLIED BY ANOTHER IMPERFECT PERSON OR, MORE SAFELY, GOD.

THIS INCLUDES GOD, WITH WHOM WE ARE TO DEVELOP THE FIRST AND STRONGEST "SOUL TIES". HIS DESIRE IS TO MEET ALL OUR NEEDS (AS HE WILL FOR ETERNITY). PHIL 4:19 "GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED;” AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS CAPABLE AND WILLING TO DO THAT.

“SOUL TIES” ARE DEVELOPED BY VULNERABILITY, TIME, VERBAL AND PHYSICAL EXCHANGE, AND CONTACT.

A. VULNERABILITY

EVERY PERSON HAS AREAS OF THEIR LIVES WHERE THERE IS AN "EMPTY" SPOT, A NEED FOR AFFECTION OR ATTENTION THEY DID NOT GET AT THE PROPER TIME IN THEIR LIVES; OFTEN BECAUSE OF OUR SOCIETY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD MARRIAGE. WE NOW HAVE A WORLD FULL OF PEOPLE LACKING IN WHAT MARRIAGE WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE, A STABLE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR PHYSICAL, SOULISH, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

WE MUST GUARD THOSE VULNERABLE AREAS AND LOOK TO GOD TO FILL THOSE NEEDS!

WE ALSO LIVE IN AN “IMPERFECT” WORLD, WHERE THE “DEVIL RUNS RAMPANT;” THOSE TWO FACTORS ASSURE THAT VULNERABLE AREAS WILL BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

WE ARE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR “SOUL TIES” WE DID NOT FORM OR PREPARE TO FORM AS WE GREW UP. A BIBLICAL UPBRINGING WOULD HAVE PREPARED US TO FORM CORRECT SOUL TIES AT THE PROPER TIME IN OUR LIVES; WE DESIRE SOUL TIES, BUT OFTEN WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE.

--YOU CAN FORM THEM WITH ANYONE (EVEN SOMEONE WHO HURTS YOU)

B. TIME

AS WE SPEND TIME WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS WE MOVE TO DEEPER AND DEEPER LEVELS OF INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE. WE ARE ATTRACTED TO THOSE WHO WILL MEET NEEDS WE HAVE. "OPPOSITES" ATTRACT BECAUSE THEY FULFILL AND COMPLETE EMPTY AREAS IN THE OTHER. THIS IS ALSO PART OF GOD'S PLAN AS "IRON SHARPENS IRON." WE COMPLIMENT AND COMPLETE EACH OTHER.

C. VERBAL AND PHYSICAL EXCHANGE AND CONTACT.

THERE ARE THREE “LEVELS” OF VERBAL EXCHANGE.

WHEN WE TALK WITH SOMEONE GENERALLY IT IS ON A CASUAL LEVEL.

-WE EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND TALK ABOUT SURFACE THINGS.

-SOMEONE YOU MEET ON THE STREET OR A BUSINESS DISCUSSION

WHEN WE CONVERSE, SURFACE PERSONAL INFORMATION IS EXCHANGED. CONVERSATION RARELY GETS TO THE SOUL LEVELS.

--NAME, GRANDKIDS, JOB, ETC.

WHEN WE COMMUNICATE, WE INVOLVE DEEPER LEVELS OF THE SOUL, SHARE OUR OWN NEEDS AND TAKE IN THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

-OFTEN SOME PHYSICAL CONTACT IS INVOLVED.

 -I SOMETIMES HOLD MY WIFE’S HAND WHILE I TALK, PUT A HAND ON THE SHOULDER OF SOMEONE I'M INVOLVED WITH AS WE TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM THEY MAY HAVE.

COMMUNICATION + TIME = DANGER!

COMMUNICATION WITH ANOTHER PERSON, WHEN COMBINED WITH TIME SPENT WITH THAT PERSON, GRADUALLY MOVES TO DEEPER LEVELS. BEING AWARE OF THAT FACT IS IMPORTANT, AS WE NEED TO GUARD WHAT WE SHARE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH BUSINESS ACQUAINTANCES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE SPEND WITH THEM.

AS THE TIME FACTOR KICKS IN, WE BEGIN TO SHARE PERSONAL PROBLEMS AND SITUATIONS THAT SHOULD REMAIN PRIVATE. OUR PERSONAL MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP SITUATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE NOT THE BUSINESS OF OUR SECRETARY OR CO-WORKER. OPPOSITE SEX, ONE-ON-ONE IS VERY DANGEROUS.

-COMMUNICATION WITH CO-WORKERS SHOULD TYPICALLY REMAIN SHORT AND BUSINESS-RELATED.

-IF I TALK WITH YOU FOR TEN MINUTES, NO PROBLEM.

-IF I TALK WITH YOU FOR ONE HOUR, I WILL SHARE STUFF I SHOULD NOT.

-IF I TALK WITH YOU FOR TWO HOURS, WE ARE GOING TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION THAT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD BE USED AGAINST US. WE MOVE INTO AN AREA OF TRUST.

TRUST COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR SPOUSES AND FOR THOSE GOD HAS ESTABLISHED IN OUR LIVES FOR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP OUR SPIRITUAL REALM; THESE WILL BE VERY, VERY FEW.

SEXUAL CONTACT TAKES TRUST COMMUNICATION TO ANOTHER, DEEPER, LEVEL.

WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE "OPEN" TO ANOTHER PERSON IN OUR PHYSICAL BODIES, LITERALLY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE PERMIT A MINGLING OF THE PHYSICAL, WE ALSO ALLOW, WITHOUT OUR CONTROL, A MINGLING OF THE SOULISH.

   --GOD DESIGNED US THIS WAY. PERIOD.

-SEXUAL CONTACT ALWAYS RESULTS IN SPIRITUAL SOUL TIES.

  -THEREFORE, WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE PARTNERS, WE ESTABLISH A CONFUSION OF SOUL TIES, AS GOD DESIGNED US FOR JUST OUR SPOUSE - ONE PERSON.

SINCE OUR PHYSICAL BODIES CANNOT MAKE GOOD JUDGMENTS IN REGARD TO SEX, WE MUST HAVE OUR BODIES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT AND RENEWED SOUL! THE BODY JUST WANTS TO BE SATISFIED.

LET ME ADD, HERE, THAT WE CAN ALSO BE "OPEN" AND VULNERABLE TO GOD. AS WE ARE THAT WAY IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, WE ARE DEVELOPING "SOUL TIES" WITH GOD DURING THOSE OCCASIONS.

SINCE SOUL TIES ARE IN THE SPIRITUAL PART OF OUR MAKEUP THEY CAN ONLY BE DEALT WITH IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM BY THE ACTION OF GOD'S WORD AND SPIRIT.

ARE THERE GOOD SOUL TIES?

1. BETWEEN SPOUSES.

2. BETWEEN PEOPLE GOD PUTS TOGETHER FOR HIS PURPOSES. THEY ARE GENERALLY TO MOVE US FORWARD IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, CHALLENGE US IN OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND PROVIDE SPIRITUAL AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR OUR LIVES. THEY WILL BE THE SAME SEX AS YOU ARE FOR YOUR SAFETY.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE HAVE FORMED UNHEALTHY, INAPPROPRIATE SOUL TIES OUTSIDE GOD'S PLAN AND WORD?

BREAK THEM OFF IMMEDIATELY! AND THEN TURN TO GOD AND THE WORD FOR HEALING. ONLY GOD CAN DEAL WITH THEM SINCE THEY ARE IN A SPIRITUAL PART OF US. THEY MUST BE ACTED ON BY GOD'S SPIRIT AND THE TRUTH OF THE WORD TO LESSEN THEIR IMPACT ON OUT LIVES.

1 JOHN 1:9 - 2:2

GOD CAN AND WILL DEAL WITH THOSE SOUL TIES, BUT ONLY WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THEIR ROOTS; REPENT OF SINFUL BEHAVIOR AND LACK OF PERSONAL CONTROL, AND PURSUE HIM. WE ALSO MUST DELIBERATELY OPEN UP THOSE AREAS OF OUR LIVES TO HIM, INVITING HIS SPIRIT TO ACT ON THEM.

That concludes the excerpt from “Soul Ties…”

The lack of understanding that exists about “soul ties” has thrown many into “confusion” of thinking and life. God did not design us for multiple “soul ties;” only for two: between us and Him and us and our spouse. “Soul ties” between us and our mentors should be carefully guarded and monitored. Because “soul ties” are in the spiritual realm within us, only through our relationship with God can we find “healing.”

This world is a picture far away from what the Word of God outlines for families, the job of parents, and the care of our physical bodies. Even Jewish families are often drawn into the same trap. When we only eat, sleep, and work in an endless cycle, it is easy to drift away from God (and certainly a ploy of our enemy); and, as we drift away from God, the dictates of His Word fade from our consciousness and we have little “time” for Him or His Word; when we are not fed a steady diet of His Word, when we don’t worship and praise and thank Him, then spiritual things easily slip to the far “back burner.”

Judaism tenaciously has held on to religious practices, built into it by God, that dictate to the needs of families and the need for “rest” for the physical body and the soul. Shabbat (a day of rest…traditionally Friday evening through Saturday evening) and the “Feasts” observed by even marginal Jews are the foundational practices that draw attention to the family, and “rest” the body and soul, and focus people towards God and His Word.

Next: 5. Believers Impacting the Wider Community