Many of you are simply going through the motions of life. The initial drive and determination you once had to believe God and to stand on His Word are gone. Yes, you are getting up in the morning, going to work and coming home; but that is it. You are only doing the things you need to do to make it, but you are not going beyond that. You don’t have the energy or the spiritual strength you once had. When you hear or read a scripture that tells you “you can make it” or “God will make a way,” you are not excited because you feel as if you heard it before and that the word does not work. But you must pick yourself up and believe again. You can not stop believing and trusting in God and his Word. Your season and your time is coming.
Posted on Sep 3, 2016 | General |
Apostle Tracey Robinson Personal Touch International Ministry 2016 All Rights Reserved
It is a thin line between soul and spirit: the discerning difficulties
There was a song back in the day sung by the Pretenders called “It’s a thin line between love and hate”. It referred to a relationship between a man and a woman (whether married or unmarried) and how the line between love and hate was so thin that the man did not know when the woman had crossed over from one to the other.
Their story is of little importance but the title of the song is where our focal point is leading us in study tonight. BUT God, who is a Spirit, has an order that adheres to the fact that God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. St John 4:24.
The point here is that the Word of God is just as much spirit as God Himself is.
Galatians 5:25
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
There is a thin line between the Spirit and the soul.
Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were sure that you heard the voice of the Lord speaking to you giving you instructions and directions on an issue or circumstance? You followed through with what you know God had said, but now there has been a shift or a turn into a different course bringing you into more issues and circumstances than you should have had, along with a feeling of what went wrong? Did I make the right decision? Did I make the wrong decision? You even consulted with your favorites that are always hearing from God just for you, but something has gone wrong. You asked yourself, what happened? You ask God what is happening! You ask yourself, what is wrong with me?
1 Corinthians 14:33
33 GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Are we as believers really missing the Spirit of God’s Word by operating in our soul and body (flesh)? There is a thin line between Spirit and Soul, but it takes the Spirit of the Word of God to separate the two.
There is a dividing line between the soul and spirit of man. When we confessed Christ Jesus, repented of all our sin, we prayerfully and carefully heard the Word of God. As we heard by faith the Word of God began to transform us in our spirit as we heard it. This transformation took place in the spirit of man, not the soul or body.
This dividing line is so thin that we, as believers don’t know when we are operating in Spirit and in Truth or in the realm of our soul, the body (flesh), with the use of our 5-senses, and human reasoning of the mind.
Only the Spirit of the Word of God can pierce the dividing line of soul and spirit.
In this thin line experience, who is talking to you? Is it God? Or is it the soul in operation with its Will operating through the lusts of the flesh (body)? This is how some try to filter the Word of God through the flesh man to the Spirit man, when in fact it should be an inward process.
Your soul will either lean toward the spirit realm or the body realm, depending on which one is carry all power. Although, we know that only the Word of God carries the powerful substance needed to put the flesh under subjection; strengthen the Spirit of man; and cause the Soul to be patient in its rightful position with the Spirit.
There is a thin line between what soul (man) is and what is Spirit (God conscious). Only the Spirit of the Word of God can discern between the two.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged 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.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
The heart can lead in either way or direction toward good or evil without the Word of God. The heart should keep the Spirit of the Word hidden in it, making it a practice to let it work. Psalm 119:11.
The Spirit of the Word of God will circumcise your heart by removing the “foreskin” of the habitual life and lifestyle of the old unregenerate man.
Let the Spirit of the Word of God discern and search all things to reveal to you what God is saying to you.
STOP listening to everybody!
When a believer can’t hear the Lord speak to them audibly, through His Word, or what the Spirit is saying when He is using another person then there is truly something wrong.
Not being able to hear God for yourself can and will cause a grave problem in your spiritual walk, as well as in your calling to serve.
Jesus said my sheep know my voice and a stranger they will not hear. His sheep knows Him and He knows who His sheep are. The Gospel is not one-sided.
PEOPLE OF GOD it is time to be spiritually awakened to the truth. Who is talking to you? It is a thin line between soul and spirit and it makes discerning difficult.
Are you being led by the Spirit of God? Or are you being led by your circumstances? Who is leading who? If you are being led by your circumstances then this is your Soul navigator or guide; if you are being led by the Spirit of the Word of God, then the Word becomes the Spirit and Soul navigator or guide.
The spiritual navigator will take you through all life and its circumstances.
REFUSE to be led by your circumstances. Your circumstances will bring in the two natures.
Keeping the Spirit of the Word of God in your heart will search the heart because it knows the mind of the heart and will make the intercession that is needed for you in life and in your circumstances. Romans 8:26-27.
This thin line between soul and spirit can cause the strife of the two natures of man that Paul described in Romans 7:15-23 to lust against each other to win superiority over the other.
These two natures will have you believing you are in the spirit, while acting out in your flesh.
These two natures will have you speaking for God when you are not hearing God, with an intent to weaken or confuse the one you are talking to.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
I do the very thing which my moral instinct condemns.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
I do that habitually that which is contrary to my desire, meaning that I acknowledge in agreement that the Law is good and takes sides with it.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Sin is in control now.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
I know nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I can’t do it. I have the intentions to do right, but no power to do it.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
I fail to practice the good deeds that I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I don’t desire to do is what I always do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Now if I do what I don’t desire to do, it is no longer I doing it, it’s not myself but the sin that dwells in me (fixed and operating in my soul).
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
So now I find another law ruling the actions of my being that when I want to do what is right, evil is always present and I am subject to its demands.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
I delight in the Law of God with my new nature.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
I discern my body members in its sensitive appetites and will of my flesh a different law at war against the law of my mind (my reasoning) and making me a slave or prisoner to the law of sin that is dwelling in my bodily organs.
This thin line between soul and spirit can lead a believer into other spiritual problems that will come due to ignorance, unbelief, and disobedience, self-willed, rebellion, stubbornness, and idolatry.
For example the spirit of divination, it comes to control and manipulate apart from the Spirit of the Word of God and its authority. Its practice is the attempt to foretell you of future events or hidden knowledge for gain, without the glory of the Lord being acknowledged or with a pretense of glorifying the Lord.
Recognize the Spirit of divination. Recognize its purpose. It is self-will and rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness which is as iniquity and idolatry and is to those that, will open up the door to this spirit to work through them.
Others spirits that fall in this category are the fortune teller-soothsayers; warlock-witches, sorcerer; zodiac signs-horoscopes; stargazers; hypnotist-enchanters; drugs, etc.
Familiar spirits and spirit of divination are similar in nature.
1 Samuel 15:23
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. P a g e | 4
We have been given the power and authority to dismiss this spirit; to bind and lose. There is a thin line between the Spirit of God and the spirit of divination.
Acts 16:16-21
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market place unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
You can read the rest of this scripture to the end, but the bottom line was that the masters gain had stop flowing, because Paul through the power and authority given to Him by the Spirit of the Word of God dismissed that spirit.
Even today, leaders in the House of Prayer are luring people into their ministries for gain and will say to you, “We could really use your spirit here at ……”
People of God that is not God speaking to you! This is the interest of someone building “their ministry” with your money, time, and talents. We are all needed in some House of Prayer. We all have something that another House of Prayer could use. But is that where God is sending you for your soul to be fed and nurtured?
The soul is like a “mind field” plagued with anxious thoughts, emotions, and the pressures of our environmental and social need; and a wondering of who he (soul) really is.
Your adversary is Satan, his emissaries, demons, devils, etc. His main weapon is deception. If possible he will try and lead you to believe that you have not heard from God and will send the adversity of your circumstances to back up his lie.
Resist the devil and he will flee; in doing so you stop him from entering into your heart and mind through your circumstances.
The battle is not yours; it’s the Lord; so the circumstances of what you thought were really yours are not your problems afterall.
Guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The battle is really in the mind. Don’t get defeated there!
The only weapon for our spirit, soul, and mind is the Word of God. With all of these subject and in submission to the Word of God, the flesh (body) will have to submit and follow.
The flesh cannot operate without the soul.
The Spirit cannot operate in total control without the soul.
Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:13-18.
Faith with the Spirit of the Word of God is your deadliest weapon when used according to the Will of God. For without faith it is impossible to please God. We can’t even get His attention without it.
Faith with the Spirit of the Word of God is the ultimate destroyer in all your life circumstances.
STOP thinking that the Spirit of the Lord divides Himself as the devils do.
In St Matthew 12:22-32 when Jesus healed a demoniac and the Pharisees blasphemed and said that He cast out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom that is divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan cast out Satan, he is dividing against himself and how shall his kingdom stand?
And if Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub, he asked them by whom do their children cast them out? They shall be your judges.
Believers we are not each other’s enemy. It is a trick of deception straight from Satan. Satan is the enemy, not the people of God. So why are we divided by the Word of God and His Truth?
Why is the devil able to freely be the devil with all his ungodly tactics? The believers’ should have the power and authority to torment him and casting him out working inwardly. Why don’t we?
Are we being good watchmen over the House? Or are we too busy trying to keep the sheep confused in order to control and influence them for personal gain? What is really going on with the believer? Where are the benefits of your salvation? No wonder the world is saying what they say, do what they do, etc. because they don’t see “change”. They don’t see the light and the light giving power of the Word of God being displayed or mounted up in the people of God.
Are we busier being an agent for Satan than for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Is Satan an agent on assignment in your circumstances?
Lastly,
There is nothing Satan can do to prevent the accomplishment of God’s Plan in you unless you lose hope and stop believing.
Evaluate yourself!
Evaluate how you are spending your time in and out of the Word of God.
Evaluate your study habits to see how you have been hiding the Word in your heart.
Evaluate your prayer time.
Evaluate you relationship; your fellowship with the Word of God.
Evaluate the measure of faith that you have been given.
Is your cup running over? Is it ¾ full? Is it ½ full?
Evaluate your attention to detail in the Word of God.
Evaluate your growth in the Lord God.
Evaluate and take a sharp look at who you are allowing to encourage you, pray with you, etc.
Evaluate who you allow to influence you and your decisions.
Evaluate the time you are still to listen to the Lord speak.
If the Word of God and His Spirit (the Holy Ghost) are not the dominant influence in our life, then being misguided and misdirected is always an opportunity waiting to take its place.
It is a thin line between soul and spirit: the discerning difficulties.
Seek the Lord in His Word and let the Word discern your soul and spirit. In that He will show you and lead you in the right direction.
Stay open and willing to receive what and when the Lord tells you. STOP being so gullible to just hear a Word from the Lord.
Ask the Lord to give you an ear to hear what the spirit has to say to you.
Ask the Lord for the Spirit of discernment with the power to have authority over what you see and hear; and not just use it as a conversation piece.
Pastor Robinson, Tracey. All Rights Reserved