Body, soul and spirit

1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Spiritual development and physical development share some similarities; with each, growth only comes with exertion and proper feeding. I find that if we focus on one, we often neglect the other. We are to find a balance, but the spiritual development is eternal, the body only for a time. My friend, Brother Freedom had a mild stroke and since this time has overcome much by proper excercise and food. Still with age comes a weakening of this body.

We are three parts: body, soul and spirit. I think of Paul under house arrest, yet he was able to pray and to write his epistles. I am sure he would have preferred to visit each church in person. Ministries need not be ended because of health problems or being confined. I do not think anyone chooses to be in poor physical condition. I think most would do exercise and eat properly to be well. What am I saying? Personally I am seeing that I can do better at exercising, walking and eating and drinking for good health. I prefer to be able to come and go to places, rather than to be confined because of ill health. For so many that I know, they have no choice, for infirmities come to many precious saints of God. Life is a gift, we make the most of it.

Life for me could have ended fifty years ago, from cancer. The LORD came to me in a dream and quickened my mortal body. From this time, he has been with me. Jesus is my Lord and savior. I wanted to live, he gave me life. I lost what I loved most, so that he would be most loved in my life. My LORD and his word are my delight. His saints are my brothers and sisters. We are to be good stewards of what he gives to us, taking care of self, sharing the blessings of God, loving and praying for one another.

For many, keeping the lusts of the flesh under submission, is an ongoing battle. We are not to go where temptation awaits, but we are to give all; body, soul and spirit to our LORD.

1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Cor 6:19 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?
1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Having put aside the sins of the flesh, pray for a ministry to help others overcome. Paul in prison was content; we sometimes are in prisons of poor health, but some of wrong choices of addictions to alcohol or drugs. These we are not to be content with. Anything we put before our LORD is idolatry. We cannot ever be content to sin. Our LORD is our contentment, He is our delight. Upon Him we wait and seek his will .

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Our LORD promises us that we can escape from temptations and trials; even physical bondage by trusting in him. Many are tempted in lusts of having things. This could be idolatry. The love of money, can be called idolatry. I suppose many churches who preach the acquiring of wealth, are actually preaching "another" gospel and are practicing idolatry. Many preachers have lost their focus on preaching the blood of Jesus by being covetous and using their gifts to become wealthy. Having food and clothing is all that we are promised. To serve our LORD and to be faithful to Him, is my calling.

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Sin comes through the desires of the body. Sin may spred like a cancer to the soul and spirit. We must not allow the devil to take what God has created for himself.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Let us be more aware of the health of our bodies. We are body soul and spirit beings, made alive by Jesus with a new Holy Spirit to lead us in the things of God. Why not seek him with all that he has given to us? Let's not be in bondage to poor choices, we shall seek to be all we can be to serve our LORD as best as we can.

What about the soul and spirit? They are close together, but are not the same thing.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

A quick definition: the soul is our individual thoughts, character, personality. emotions and memories. The soul is given to each human from God and it is eternal. The body goes back into the ground, the soul goes to where God sends it to; in heaven or to hell.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

We have a human Spirit and if born again, we have God's Holy Spirit within us; this is how we relate to God and other spirits.

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Our spirit was dead in sins, separated from God, until Jesus made us alive in His Spirit.

1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1 Cor 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

There is a lot of human "soul" talk in the chats. Can we speak spiritual things; speaking love one to another Glorifying God through His Spirit within us?
We are alive in him if His Spirit dwells in us. If not, our human spirit is subject to other ungodly spirits. Let us seek things that edify and glorify our LORD. We are to love God and to serve him, body, soul and spirit, all for his glory. Amen