The Division Between Soul & Spirit
Have you ever experienced a time in your life that you were so sure you had heard God on a particular issue and you had followed through on what you just knew for certain that He had said, only for the whole thing to turn out sour? Bewildered by it all, you then wonder “What went wrong?”
There is only one thing powerful enough to answer that question. In fact, it is so powerful, it can keep you out of a lot of hurtful, sour experiences if you’ll allow it to run its full course in your life. This powerful substance is the Word of God.
Hebrews 4.12-13 says – For the Word of God is alive and full of power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
There is a fine line between what is of the soul and what is of the spirit. And it is only the Word of God that can discern between the two. As contrary as it may seem, your heart can actually both lead you right or lead you wrong, depending on what you have stored in it. Just because your “heart” is leading you to do something does not necessarily make it right.
There can be times when it seems so much like something is from the Lord, but it really is not. However, if you will keep your heart full of the Word, and make it a practice in every situation to allow the Word of God to discern and search out those things for you, you will stay clear of what is NOT from Him.
One thing that can be observed over and over again is that in truly being led by the Spirit, we have to refuse to be led by our circumstances. We are not to deny that those facts are there, but we are not to let them be our compass in life either. The Word of God and His Spirit are to be our sole navigator.
Have you ever asked: “God, is this just me, or is this something from You?” As Hebrews 4 has told us, only the Word of God is sharp enough to tell the difference between soul and spirit. Verse 12 says that the Word is sharper than ANY two-edged sword. Now, a sword can be pretty sharp – but only this Sword, the Word, can cut between soul and spirit. The Word pierces to the dividing of soul and spirit as nothing else can.
That verse goes on to say that it is also a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God is what answers the question – “God, is this You, or is this just me?” Circumstances cannot tell you that. Your friends cannot tell you that. Certainly you cannot tell yourself that – but the Word of God can and WILL if you will let it work in you.
In the same way that things can end up sour when you thought you heard from God, but you really did not – there can also be times when things can try to get ugly and hurtful when you have heard from the Lord. There is an adversary bent on your destruction, and one of the main weapons he loves to use is deception, which often leads to discouragement. If he can, he will deceive you into thinking that you have not heard from God, and then send you adverse circumstances to back up his lie.
Your job is to not let him in your heart and mind. Do not focus on the circumstances, not even to try to rebuke them at this point. Often circumstances can be beyond your power or your right to change them anyway. But the circumstances are really not your problem.
The biggest problem is the one that deals with your mind and heart – so your first step should be in that area. If satan can defeat you in the battlefield of your mind and heart, then he can defeat your entire life. This is the reason why Proverbs 4.23 says that above all that you guard, you should guard and protect your heart, for out of it flows the forces of life.
The only weapon we, as believers, have that will utterly defeat satan on that battlefield of our heart and mind is the Living Word of the Living God. His Word is an undefeatable weapon. Ephesians 6.17 says: “Take unto you the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Take up the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God! It is alive and full of power!
In Ephesians 6, we are urged to “put on the whole armour of God…” – we are urged to gird our loins with the truth, wear the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
In verse 16, there are two little words to which we should draw our attention: Above All. If the Apostle Paul said “above all” about something, it would be wise to pay careful attention to it.
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy.”
Above all, take the shield of faith.
Would you like to be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the enemy in your life? There can be some fiery darts thrown your way, but the Word says that your faith can quench every one of them.
Your faith in what God has said is a deadly weapon to the enemy. In fact, when your heart is anchored and immovable on the Word of God, the devil is powerless in stopping God’s Word from coming to pass in your life. There is not one thing he can do to thwart God’s plan for you unless he can get you to stop BELIEVING it. As long as your shield of faith is intact, your victory is certain, even though it may look just the opposite at present. Don’t stop BELIEVING no matter what.
Let us go back for a moment to our discussion on thinking you heard from God, but in actuality you didn’t. How can you know for sure that what you’re hearing or sensing is from God is really from Him?
Perhaps you have prayed about something and you still feel that it is what God has for you. Praying is good, but there is more. Take an evaluation of how you have been spending your time, and then ask yourself – Have I been putting the Word of God into my heart on a consistent basis? Have I meditated on His Word throughout the day each day, beyond my “Bible Study” time? Does His Word speak to me throughout the day? Do I constantly ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help me with my daily tasks and decisions, and am I letting Him lead me and make changes in my life? Am I willing and obedient to do what He asks me to do?
Also, take a look at what you may be allowing to influence you, influence your life-style and decisions – Is it the Holy Spirit and His Word, or is it perhaps the popular culture around you, your friends, your family, or even your own desires and wants?
There can be a lot of good things in the culture and relationships that surround us, and God may bring some good things to us out of it – but if the Word of God and His Spirit are not the dominant influence in our life, then misdirection is always a possibility to take into account. And while you can (and should) have an on-going relationship and communion with the Lord everywhere you go and in everything you do – you can’t seek Him when you’re just always on the go. Take time to be still and listen to Him. Ask Him whatever you need to ask and then quiet down on the inside so you can hear Him.
Seek Him through His Word and let His Word discern in you between what is soul and what is spirit, discern and weigh out the thoughts and intents of your heart. He will show and He will lead you in the right direction.
It is important to stay open and willing to receive what He tells you. There may be times when He may tell you “No, that was not something I was leading you to do.” Or, He may let you know, “Yes, this is from Me.” In any case, stay with Him until He finishes speaking to you on the particular issue you are seeking Him about.
Even when He tells you “No” about something, it might not always be a “No, not ever”, as much as a “No for right now.” Timing is just as important for God’s plan for your life as the plan itself. He will gladly lead you in both if you will let Him. So make sure you find out from Him His timing on any issue as well as His “yes” and “no”.
In everything, make it a practice to seek the Lord and His Word. In every decision, in every leading you believe God is giving you, seek Him and say, “Lord, let your Word discern between my soul and my spirit in this situation. Show me what is of You and what is not. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. Search out anything in me that is contrary to what You want for me, and lead me in the way that is right and eternal” (Psalm 139.23-24).
Colossians 3.15-16 says, “let the peace of God rule (act as an umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind]… And let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Let the peace of God rule…
The peace of God is really an amazing attribute. While it is so tranquil in nature, it is also a very powerful force – one that should never be passed off as unimportant. The above verse says to let the peace of God rule in your heart – let it act as an umpire continually, deciding and settling with finality all the questions that arise in your mind. Peace is to be our umpire continually. An umpire is “one chosen to render a decision in a dispute; a judge; an arbiter.” Another definition says “one authorized to judge a matter.”
The peace of God should be allowed to rule, to decide and judge every matter that arises in our heart and mind. When God’s peace is allowed to rule in your heart, it will decide and settle with absolute accuracy everything that concerns you.
Along with this peace, Colossians 3.16 says “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” So again, we arrive back on the Word of God. Yet this verse gives us a deeper application for the Word of God in our life – we must let the Word of Christ, the Word of the Anointed One, dwell in us RICHLY.
When the living Word of God dwells in you richly, it will produce the peace of God in your life. When the Word dwells in you richly, there is no room for anything contrary to His Word to also take up residence there.
When you are full of the Word and of the Peace of God, you are consequently full of what He wants for you – because His Word is His Will.
And by His living, powerful Word, you will then know and recognize the division between soul spirit.
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR™
All Rights Reserved
Have you ever experienced a time in your life that you were so sure you had heard God on a particular issue and you had followed through on what you just knew for certain that He had said, only for the whole thing to turn out sour? Bewildered by it all, you then wonder “What went wrong?”
There is only one thing powerful enough to answer that question. In fact, it is so powerful, it can keep you out of a lot of hurtful, sour experiences if you’ll allow it to run its full course in your life. This powerful substance is the Word of God.
Hebrews 4.12-13 says – For the Word of God is alive and full of power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
There is a fine line between what is of the soul and what is of the spirit. And it is only the Word of God that can discern between the two. As contrary as it may seem, your heart can actually both lead you right or lead you wrong, depending on what you have stored in it. Just because your “heart” is leading you to do something does not necessarily make it right.
There can be times when it seems so much like something is from the Lord, but it really is not. However, if you will keep your heart full of the Word, and make it a practice in every situation to allow the Word of God to discern and search out those things for you, you will stay clear of what is NOT from Him.
One thing that can be observed over and over again is that in truly being led by the Spirit, we have to refuse to be led by our circumstances. We are not to deny that those facts are there, but we are not to let them be our compass in life either. The Word of God and His Spirit are to be our sole navigator.
Have you ever asked: “God, is this just me, or is this something from You?” As Hebrews 4 has told us, only the Word of God is sharp enough to tell the difference between soul and spirit. Verse 12 says that the Word is sharper than ANY two-edged sword. Now, a sword can be pretty sharp – but only this Sword, the Word, can cut between soul and spirit. The Word pierces to the dividing of soul and spirit as nothing else can.
That verse goes on to say that it is also a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God is what answers the question – “God, is this You, or is this just me?” Circumstances cannot tell you that. Your friends cannot tell you that. Certainly you cannot tell yourself that – but the Word of God can and WILL if you will let it work in you.
In the same way that things can end up sour when you thought you heard from God, but you really did not – there can also be times when things can try to get ugly and hurtful when you have heard from the Lord. There is an adversary bent on your destruction, and one of the main weapons he loves to use is deception, which often leads to discouragement. If he can, he will deceive you into thinking that you have not heard from God, and then send you adverse circumstances to back up his lie.
Your job is to not let him in your heart and mind. Do not focus on the circumstances, not even to try to rebuke them at this point. Often circumstances can be beyond your power or your right to change them anyway. But the circumstances are really not your problem.
The biggest problem is the one that deals with your mind and heart – so your first step should be in that area. If satan can defeat you in the battlefield of your mind and heart, then he can defeat your entire life. This is the reason why Proverbs 4.23 says that above all that you guard, you should guard and protect your heart, for out of it flows the forces of life.
The only weapon we, as believers, have that will utterly defeat satan on that battlefield of our heart and mind is the Living Word of the Living God. His Word is an undefeatable weapon. Ephesians 6.17 says: “Take unto you the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Take up the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God! It is alive and full of power!
In Ephesians 6, we are urged to “put on the whole armour of God…” – we are urged to gird our loins with the truth, wear the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
In verse 16, there are two little words to which we should draw our attention: Above All. If the Apostle Paul said “above all” about something, it would be wise to pay careful attention to it.
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy.”
Above all, take the shield of faith.
Would you like to be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the enemy in your life? There can be some fiery darts thrown your way, but the Word says that your faith can quench every one of them.
Your faith in what God has said is a deadly weapon to the enemy. In fact, when your heart is anchored and immovable on the Word of God, the devil is powerless in stopping God’s Word from coming to pass in your life. There is not one thing he can do to thwart God’s plan for you unless he can get you to stop BELIEVING it. As long as your shield of faith is intact, your victory is certain, even though it may look just the opposite at present. Don’t stop BELIEVING no matter what.
Let us go back for a moment to our discussion on thinking you heard from God, but in actuality you didn’t. How can you know for sure that what you’re hearing or sensing is from God is really from Him?
Perhaps you have prayed about something and you still feel that it is what God has for you. Praying is good, but there is more. Take an evaluation of how you have been spending your time, and then ask yourself – Have I been putting the Word of God into my heart on a consistent basis? Have I meditated on His Word throughout the day each day, beyond my “Bible Study” time? Does His Word speak to me throughout the day? Do I constantly ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help me with my daily tasks and decisions, and am I letting Him lead me and make changes in my life? Am I willing and obedient to do what He asks me to do?
Also, take a look at what you may be allowing to influence you, influence your life-style and decisions – Is it the Holy Spirit and His Word, or is it perhaps the popular culture around you, your friends, your family, or even your own desires and wants?
There can be a lot of good things in the culture and relationships that surround us, and God may bring some good things to us out of it – but if the Word of God and His Spirit are not the dominant influence in our life, then misdirection is always a possibility to take into account. And while you can (and should) have an on-going relationship and communion with the Lord everywhere you go and in everything you do – you can’t seek Him when you’re just always on the go. Take time to be still and listen to Him. Ask Him whatever you need to ask and then quiet down on the inside so you can hear Him.
Seek Him through His Word and let His Word discern in you between what is soul and what is spirit, discern and weigh out the thoughts and intents of your heart. He will show and He will lead you in the right direction.
It is important to stay open and willing to receive what He tells you. There may be times when He may tell you “No, that was not something I was leading you to do.” Or, He may let you know, “Yes, this is from Me.” In any case, stay with Him until He finishes speaking to you on the particular issue you are seeking Him about.
Even when He tells you “No” about something, it might not always be a “No, not ever”, as much as a “No for right now.” Timing is just as important for God’s plan for your life as the plan itself. He will gladly lead you in both if you will let Him. So make sure you find out from Him His timing on any issue as well as His “yes” and “no”.
In everything, make it a practice to seek the Lord and His Word. In every decision, in every leading you believe God is giving you, seek Him and say, “Lord, let your Word discern between my soul and my spirit in this situation. Show me what is of You and what is not. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. Search out anything in me that is contrary to what You want for me, and lead me in the way that is right and eternal” (Psalm 139.23-24).
Colossians 3.15-16 says, “let the peace of God rule (act as an umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind]… And let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Let the peace of God rule…
The peace of God is really an amazing attribute. While it is so tranquil in nature, it is also a very powerful force – one that should never be passed off as unimportant. The above verse says to let the peace of God rule in your heart – let it act as an umpire continually, deciding and settling with finality all the questions that arise in your mind. Peace is to be our umpire continually. An umpire is “one chosen to render a decision in a dispute; a judge; an arbiter.” Another definition says “one authorized to judge a matter.”
The peace of God should be allowed to rule, to decide and judge every matter that arises in our heart and mind. When God’s peace is allowed to rule in your heart, it will decide and settle with absolute accuracy everything that concerns you.
Along with this peace, Colossians 3.16 says “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” So again, we arrive back on the Word of God. Yet this verse gives us a deeper application for the Word of God in our life – we must let the Word of Christ, the Word of the Anointed One, dwell in us RICHLY.
When the living Word of God dwells in you richly, it will produce the peace of God in your life. When the Word dwells in you richly, there is no room for anything contrary to His Word to also take up residence there.
When you are full of the Word and of the Peace of God, you are consequently full of what He wants for you – because His Word is His Will.
And by His living, powerful Word, you will then know and recognize the division between soul spirit.
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR™
All Rights Reserved
