Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) blessing! Let not your heart be troubled. GOD's silence does not mean that he is absent. Faithful watchmen are in the service of GOD and honest advisors are in the service of the king. May the LORD show you what needs to be uprooted, corrected, healed, sown, and watered. Let him light your paths (Psalms 119:10) and water you with fresh oil (Psalms 92:10). Be that fertile ground, in which the seed of the word, watered with prayers and nurtured by obedience, bears much fruit and blessed multitudes.
We are beings entirely created by GOD, in his image and likeness. Each human being is a spirit, endowed with a soul, residing in a body (read the article). We have understood that the spirit is not the soul (read the article). It is now time to discover their components.
The spirit : the consciousness of GOD
The soul : the consciousness of oneself and of others
1. The spirit: the consciousness of GOD
" The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. " (Romans 8:16, NIV)
" GOD is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24, NIV)
The mind has three elements:
Consciousness: the discernment of right and wrong.
Intuition: spiritual sensitivity and spiritual perception. Through intuition, we receive the revelations of GOD and we can differentiate the voice of the FATHER, of JESUS, of the HOLY SPIRIT, of an angel, of the devil, or of a demon. Through spiritual sensitivity, we can discern the presence of angels, JESUS, the movements of the HOLY SPIRIT, etc. GOD (the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT) is omniscient and omnipresent (he knows everything and is present everywhere). But he does not reveal himself everywhere (make it known that he is there), he does not show himself everywhere (appear) and he does not manifest himself everywhere (act).
Communion: worship, communion with GOD, and spiritual communications. GOD can allow us to see and speak with angels. Those who worship the devil or demons consciously or unconsciously communicate with them.
⇒ Examples of verses about conscience in the mind of man: Deuteronomy 2:30, Psalms 34:18, John 13:21, Acts 17:16, Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 5:3, 2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Timothy 1:7.
⇒ Examples of verses about intuition in the mind of man: Matthew 26:41, Mark 2:8, Mark 8:12, John 11:33, Acts 18:25, Acts 20:22, 1 Corinthians 16:18, 2 Corinthians 7:13.
⇒ Examples of verses about fellowship in the spirit of man: Luke 1:47, John 4:23, Romans 1:9, Romans 7:6, Romans 8:15, 1 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Corinthians 14:15-16, Revelation 21:10.
2. The soul: awareness of self and others
" Mon fils, que ces enseignements ne s'éloignent pas de tes yeux, Garde la sagesse et la réflexion : Elles seront la vie de ton âme, Et l'ornement de ton cou." (Proverbes 3: 21-22, Louis-Segond)
" Il leur dit alors : Mon âme est triste jusqu'à la mort ; restez ici, et veillez avec moi." (Matthieu 26:38, Louis-Segond)
The soul is the seat of the personality. Personality is defined as a person's patterns of thinking, affections, and actions. Beliefs are implied in thoughts, and words are implied in actions. Personality is made up of two elements: temperament (innate) and character (learned).
Temperament is given by GOD (introvert vs. extrovert) at birth. Temperaments are generally classified in 4 groups (Dominant, Influential, Stable, Conscientious) according to the DISC. model. Eve for example had a phlegmatic temperament (blue color of the DISC model), as did Moses and the Apostle Luke. There are no bad temperaments, but there are bad characters. For Christians, a good character reflects the fruit of the SPIRIT mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). Character is not innate, it is acquired. It is formed through social learning (family model, friendships, culture) and cognitive learning (teachings, experiences, history), and beliefs (faith and ideals).
t happens that due to certain events (especially during childhood), deep wounds in the soul, psychiatric illness, or demonic influence, people behave opposite to their temperament. Once the demon is cast out and the soul restored, the true temper manifests. The more a person becomes mature in CHRIST, the more his character improves. She better manages her thoughts, emotions, words, and relationships. From the outside, you might think his temperament has changed, but that's not the case. Simply, the life of CHRIST in her, allows her to maximize the strengths of her temperament without being dominated by her weaknesses.
The components of the soul are : understanding, feelings, and will.
Emotions and feelings. GOD's will is that we learn to manage and interpret emotions and feelings well. We must not ignore them or let them dominate us. Emotions are non-internalized reactions. Feelings are mental constructs. A feeling can be an extension of an emotion or a combination of several emotions. For example, fear as an emotion, and fear as a feeling identified under the terms worry, anxiety, anguish, or terror. Another example, guilt is the combination of disgust (of oneself) and fear (of the consequences).
The will : the center of decisions and free will.
Understanding : center of thoughts and reflections. Thoughts and reflections are fed by knowledge, learning, wisdom, intelligence, and memory.
Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge. Wisdom is knowing when and how to apply it: the ability to discern what is appropriate, right, and true. There are two types of wisdom and intelligence (spiritual vs. human). There are different forms of wisdom and intelligence. For example, financial wisdom, linguistic intelligence, emotional intelligence, etc.
The wisdom of GOD is infinitely varied (Ephesians 3:10). He created us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, He has deposited in each person a measure of wisdom and understanding.
"And JESUS increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with GOD and with men." (Luke 2:52, KJV). He had human and spiritual wisdom.
" In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of GOD’s grace8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in CHRIST." (Ephesians 1:7-9, NIV).
⇒ Examples of verses about the will in the soul: Psalm 27:12, Psalm 41:3, Psalm 35:25, 1 Chronicles 22:19, Job 6:7, Job: 7:15.
⇒ Examples of verses about understanding in the soul: Proverbs 19:2, Psalms 13:3, Lamentations 3:20, Proverbs 2:10, Proverbs 3:21-22, Proverbs 24:14.
⇒ Examples of verses about emotions and feelings in the soul: 1 Samuel 18:1, song of Songs 1:7, Luke 1:46, Zechariah 11:8, Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalm 84:3, Isaiah 26:9, Matthew 12:18, Luke 2:35, 1 Samuel 30:6, Isaiah 61:10, Job 19:2, Psalm 107:5, Psalm 42:5, Isaiah 55.2, Matthew 26:38, John 12:27.
When GOD told Adam that he would die the day he ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, Adam did not ask him what death he was talking about (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). Eve was Adam's idol. He chose the feelings of his soul over the insight of his mind. Knowledge and intelligence were Eve's idols. She chose understanding over conscience. It was GOD who introduced Eve to Adam. It was also GOD who gave Eve the ability to see that the forbidden fruit was precious to understanding (Genesis 3:16). A few months ago, I told you, don't let any aspiration become an idol (Eve's mistake). Today, I add, let no grace become an idol.
** Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) = Good morning in Korean
Pour aller plus loin (liste non exhaustive)
- The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee
- Why You Act the Way You Do, Tim La Haye
- Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee
- Battlefield of the mind, Joyce Meyer
- Right and Wrong Thinking, by Kenneth E. Hagin
- Watch and Pray, Joshua Selman
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