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Take Heed
To Your Soul





The majority of the Body of Christ views themselves as needy. While knowing God is all powerful and possessing all things, they live trying to get God to release that power and blessing into their lives. With that mentality there is a division, a separation, a disconnect - God has and we need. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus reveals that the Kingdom of God does not come by observation, in other words, it's not outwardly or of the natural realm. Then He goes on to say that it’s “within” you.

The Greek word used here is the word “entos” and is locative, simply meaning to be IN something instead of being outside which would be an entirely different Greek word. I’ve heard people translate this Scripture to say: “the Kingdom of God is in your midst” which obviously is not according to the original language. “In your midst” means it’s located outside and is around you, but “within you” is extremely personal and intimate. One view lends itself to a need mentality and the other promotes one of completeness, wholeness, tranquility and security. Luke 17:20-21 is simply a description of the fullness of the covenant we've become a part of, but sadly many believers do not understand its depth, and rarely is it taught correctly in our churches.

In 1 Corinthians 5:17 it tells us that we’ve become a new creation in Christ. This is speaking of our born-again spirit which was REDEEMED when we confessed Jesus as our Lord and Savior. However, our body and our soul have not been REDEEMED yet, however they have been PURCHASED and therefore have a right to be affected and influenced by the Kingdom Benefits that our redeemed spirit has become one with. One day when we go to be with Jesus our body and soul will become redeemed fully (Eph 1:13-14, Rom 8:23).

How vast are these Kingdom Benefits you may ask? As vast as God Himself. John gives us a glimpse into this vastness that we've been brought into when he said in John 1:16 - "and of His fullness we have all received and grace for grace." Now that should cause you to shout a big AMEN!!! Think of it, since we are one with Him, we are one with His fullness, and in His fullness there is absolutely NO lack whatsoever. You need to pause here and let that really sink in!!!

With this revelation of the Kingdom of God within, we must understand that our spirit is complete now, perfect and has access to all that the Father has brought us into. Your spirit is as perfect now as Jesus is. Being one with Him, one with the Kingdom means everything you will ever need is already within you, within your born-again spirit now. We don’t have to try to get Him to give and pour out to us, He already has, you are one with His fullness now. What we need to learn to do is to tap into what’s already been given. This is a HUGE revelation of the Kingdom blessing. One that will turn everything around.

Your soul is not your spirit, and many get these two mixed up. But your soul (psuche in the Greek) is your mind, will, emotions, personality, desires etc. and needs to be renewed to the Word of God. Your soul is a distinct gift from God and has a very special God-ordained purpose. Many Pastors only focus on the negative aspects of the soul and stop short of progressing on to the magnificent purpose that its been given.

Your soul connects to your spirit and your body and links the spirit realm to the natural realm. I like to say it’s the bridge that is meant to tap into and transition the Kingdom Blessing into the natural realm. This is why it’s so important to steward our soul well and not allow ourselves to be influenced with the corruption and perversion that’s so prevalent within our world (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Because our soul is not redeemed, it needs to have the Spirit of God, Who is one with our spirit, as an overseer. 1 Peter 2:25 - “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Jesus is the Great Shepherd and is also the Living Word of God as revealed in John 1:1-14.

Since Jesus is designated as the Overseer and Shepherd of our soul and He is the living Word of God - then the Word of God is designated as our Overseer and Shepherd as well. This is exactly what Romans 12:1-2 is talking about - a renewing of our mind (soul) that brings about a kingdom transformation, or a Word/Kingdom mentality that agrees with our born-again spirit. Remember, your spirit is redeemed and already perfect, so it’s your soul that needs this transformation which will then influence your body as well as the world around you.

Take a look at the following Scriptures that speak of this process:

James 1:21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Hebrews 10:39 - but we are not of those who draw back to perdition (ruin) but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Luke 21:19 - “By your patience possess your souls.” ~ Jesus is talking about you, the born-again spirit-man, being in charge of your soul.

3 John 2 - Beloved, I pray that you prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers.

Notice that prosperity in all things as well as our health are tied to the “health” or wholeness of our soul.

Now lets examine 1 Peter 2:11 - “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

If the soul is only a problem-child and a corrosive part of our make-up as many teach, then why doesn’t the devil just leave it alone and let it be an on-going combative part of our existence? Why has he developed a specific, strategically designed weapon that is targeted against it? The word in the Greek for “war” speaks of all-out warfare and of a soldier that has only one thing on his mind and that is to win at any cost!

Yes, the devil understands the purpose of our soul way more than most within the Body of Christ, and wants to keep your soul from functioning in it’s God-ordained place of bridging the spirit realm and the natural realm.

Now you understand more clearly why lust, greed, self-centeredness, pride, arrogance, hatred, unforgiveness, fear, and perversion are so prevalent within our world. They are skillfully engineered weapons targeted against the precious gift of the soul that was given to man which was intended to release the Kingdom of God into the earth. Remember what Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer - your kingdom come your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven. God's will IS for His Kingdom blessing to not just be resident within you, He wants it to flow through you into this dark world as a demonstration of His love for all of mankind. He wants them saved and healed.

Our earth life as believer’s should be one of R&R. RENEWING our mind (soul) to the Word of God and RELEASING the Kingdom Blessing into our lives and into the world around us.

As R. W. Shambach used to say: “You don’t have any trouble! All you need is faith in God.” He was absolutely right. You’ve got everything you’ll ever need, right now on the inside, within your spirit. You are rich in Him because the Kingdom of God is within you now.
All Rights Reserved (c)
Dan Downey 2020

                                                                                                                 

 

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