1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit(pneuma) and soul(psyche) and body(soma) be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (psyche) and spirit( pneumatos) , and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The role of the human spirit is generally a passive or inactive one. The soul on the contrary is always active. Our spirit works as a protective womb for the presence and the motions of the Spirit of the Living God within us. It is very much connected with our hearts, and our consciences.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me
The role of our spirit is not to do, but to give an eye witness account. Our homes have no other function but to house its dwellers. The building is really of no importance. The activities that take place within it are the ones of consequence what our Lord does.
We are “character witnesses who observe, and give evidence to the reputation, conduct, and moral nature” of the indwelling Christ to a dying world. (Meridian Webster dictionary definition).
It is only God’s activity that counts, and often it has little to do with ours. Our busy activities many times get in the way of the Lord. The body of Christ gets deceived because it does so much instead of just being. Does a bottle work, or does it simply demonstrate what is inside? God does need a lively Christian with a head full of bustling programs and agendas. He needs a dead one that will display Him. Remember, we are dead! Christ is the one living in us.
The soul is a combination of our mind, will, intellect and emotions. Its function contrary to the spirit is not to reveal, but to actively work and choose. It is the mediator between our bodies and our spirits.
The soul is constantly involved in a struggle to choose between the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the promptings of our carnal flesh, our un renewed minds, the world, and the trickeries of Satan. The Spirit of the living God within us, must become manifested enough to win the battle for the soul.
The responsibility of the soul then is to submit itself continuously to the Holy Spirit. When it does that, the soul will take us in the ways of the Lord. God must bring our will to a point where it has no more desire than to submit itself to the wishes of the Holy Spirit.
Our emotions must be healed and stilled before the Lord by the cross, so that we can attend to that “still small voice within”.
Immature believers, or believers that are still bound in the throes of demonic oppression or past hurts, are unable to discern clearly the quiet voice of the Lord within. Because the emotions are still screaming out, they drown out the presence of the Lord.
All deliverance, inner healing, counseling, and therapy must be directed at setting us free to hear and uncompromisingly obey the Holy Spirit. Healing is the means of becoming spiritual or pneumatic Christians. Our mind and intellect must be renewed by the word of God so that it can adequately understand what the Holy Spirit wishes.
Jose and Mary Alvarez 