“May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:23 NIV)

You are three parts

According to the Bible, you are made up of three distinct parts: Spirit, soul, and body! Understanding what this truth means to you personally, and as a follower of Jesus Christ, has great potential to help you tremendously! Yesterday we looked at the spirit, which is your first part. Today, we will look at second part, which is your soul.

Your soul (your mind): The part of you that you cannot see because it is invisible. It’s the part of you that thinks and reasons, which is your human mind.

Your mind is not transformed instantly as your spirit is, when you receive Christ. You must continually work daily to bring your thinking into alignment with God’s Word, which is a lifelong process (Phil 1:6). This continual process “renews your mind” and enables you to “prove (demonstrate) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2 NKJV)

This process, or lack of it, explains why some born again Christians continue to struggle with fear, sin, and addictions, even though they are actually redeemed. The better you get at “transforming your mind” and bringing it into agreement with God’s Word, the more victorious you will be in life and as a Christian.

“May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:23 NIV)

You are three parts

According to the Bible, you are made up of three distinct parts: Spirit, soul, and body! Understanding what this truth means to you personally, and as a follower of Jesus Christ, has great potential to help you tremendously! Today, we will look at the first part, which is your spirit.

Your spirit: The part of you that you cannot see because it is invisible.

Your spirit is like a radio or TV signal in that you cannot see them either, yet they exist and are very real. The Bible says that what you see (the physical world) is only “temporary” and what you cannot see (the spiritual world) is “permanent.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

This spiritual-world concept is a little hard for some to comprehend because they cannot physically see the spiritual world. But, it is true! The Bible tells us that God, Himself, is “Spirit” and that we must “worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Inside each one of us is our own spirit which is the part of us that gets transformed when we become “born again”. Jesus explained this truth to Nicodemus in John 3:1-12.

Made brand new and perfect!

You become a new creature by Jesus, (2 Cor. 5:17), your spirit becomes instantly brand new and perfect, (1 John 4:17, 1 Cor. 6:17, Eph. 4:24)

And after that your spirit is sealed, protected, and kept by the Holy Spirit.

“After that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13 KJV)

“You are the light of the world…” (Matt. 5:14a)

As Christians, we often avoid dark places. But, anywhere we do not go becomes darker in our absence! Jesus sent us into the world to shine the light of the gospel so that those in the dark world should see the light.

Followers of Jesus have the light of life

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Light overcomes darkness

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 ESV)

Let your light shine with your good works

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

Walk in the light as He is in the light

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NIV)

Love in deed and in truth

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

Truth is from Jesus

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 ESV)

God’s Word of is truth

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 ESV)

The truth will set you free

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)

Therefore…

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25.5 ESV)

“…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10 NKJV)

strength: the quality or state of being strong, capacity for exertion or endurance, power to resist force, power of resisting attack, energy, force, might, muscle, power, vigor.

Power, strength and might

The word strength and its derivatives are mentioned over 360 times in the Bible, applying to both natural and supernatural strength. The Greek word katei means “power, strength, might.” In the Bible, strength is often linked to God’s power.

Strength comes from God

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength . . . but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord” (Jer. 9:23–24 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

No matter how strong we think we are, “the flesh is weak”

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38 ESV)

Be strong in the Lord

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Eph. 6:10)

The Lord gives His children strength to minister to others

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service…”. (1 Tim. 1:12 ESV)

“…whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 ESV)

God gives strength to face persecution

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God…” (2 Timothy 1:8)

Be strengthened by His grace

“…it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace...” (Heb. 13:9 ESV)

Therefore…

“I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” (Psalm 34:1 NLT)

“Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:2 ESV)

“You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” (Psalm 59:17 NIV)

#10— Does your spouse agree with your decision?

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 9:10 ESV)

If you and your spouse aren’t in complete agreement about it, don’t do it!

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark. 3:25 NIV)

The power of agreement

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 18:19 ESV)

#9— Could this decision jeopardize your Integrity or hinder your witness for the Lord?

“Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” (Prov. 25:26)

Can you do it and maintain your integrity?

“He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9)

“A righteous man who walks in his integrity—how blessed are his sons after him.” (Prov. 20:7)

“A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:1)

Is it true, honorable, right, excellent, and praiseworthy?

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

Is There a better option that would Allow you to make a greater Impact for God’s Kingdom?

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” (Prov. 11:30)

#8 — Have you considered the possible outcomes for your course of action?

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” (Prov. 14:1)

Before making the decision assess the potential risks

Do the “long math.” Consider a contingency plan. What would, or could, you do if it fails and it all “goes south” on you? Remember the age-old advice, “Never risk more than you are willing and able to lose!”

The prudent person considers their steps

“The naïve believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps.” (Prov. 14:15)

“A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.” (Prov. 27:12)

#7 — Honestly considered warning signs

“He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who forsakes reproof goes astray.” (Prov. 10:17)

Look for the red flags

Remember the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it is!”

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Prov. 16:25)

The best counsel isn’t always the easiest to hear

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Prov. 27:6)