Charlie Lewis Blog

In Part 3 of this series (be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 too), we identified and defined the operation and function of each part of our makeup: spirit, soul (mind), and body. In this fourth blog in the series, we examine how understanding the truth of who we are and how we operate is both liberating and empowering.

---

How does this empower us? How does this understanding of our spirit, soul, and body free us from frustration?

We study, research, and meditate on the manual left by our Creator with regularity, daily if possible. We are told the Words of the Book are powerful. They are alive. They separate for us what is spirit (life) and what is soul/mind (death). They create knowledge in our experiences. We find that when a thought that brings condemnation/guilt pops into our minds, that we immediately know that it is not coming to us from God. It is an emotion and the product of our mind, and we must evaluate it by our spirit.

Our spirits know that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. That does not mean we do not make mistakes and the Holy Spirit convicts us to repent, ask forgiveness immediately, and receive that forgiveness and the resulting new life. We do not allow the emotions to take charge and make us feel bad and wallow in self-pity. Our emotions and all the products of our mind produce death. They are temporary and can change many times. We know that we are believers and not doubters.

We declare that we hold fast to our confession of faith. We decide to walk by faith and to practice faith. Our faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We must choose to follow life.

We allow this exposure to our Creator’s words to show us the knowledge that comes only from the Spirit of our Creator/God. This is not natural knowledge, but supernatural knowledge. That knowledge is delivered by our Creator into our being through our spirits, into our minds. It then changes our thinking into the reflection of the mind of our Creator and we gain wisdom. Wisdom that is not the result of observing the situations, the circumstances and the relationships around us. Wisdom that is the result or the byproduct of the enlightenment or illumination that comes from our Creator God and is not available through any other source. We receive it through exposure to His Word, His Prophets, His Teachers and all His Ministers under the anointing and direction of the Holy Spirit.   That wisdom leads to understanding.

We are not disturbed or dismayed by the situations, the circumstances and the relationships that the evil one tries to use to deceive us and cause us to doubt our Creator/God and what He says and has said. We are fully persuaded, convinced beyond doubt, and committed to the reality of the fulfillment of His promises. Our Creator God is not changed by circumstances, but rather He changes circumstances.

We have found Him to be completely trustworthy. He is dependable. We declare His Words knowing full well they will not return to us without accomplishing what He said they would achieve for those who believe. And we believe. We are believers and not doubters. We hold fast to our confession of faith. We decide to walk by faith and practice faith. Our faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

So far in this blog series (Part 1, Part 2), we have highlighted the importance of understanding — understanding the nature of our Creator, and our nature as human beings created in His image. We have discussed that God is a triune being: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Likewise, today we dive into our own tripartite makeup as people.

---

The forms of a human are identified throughout the Great Book of Learning as the spirit, the soul (mind) and the body. We will now identify and define the operation and function of each.

The word most often used for spirit is pneuma. This is not the same word used when referring to the Spirit of our Creator, or as referred to most of the time the Holy Spirit. This refers to or designates the spirit of humans. It is described as the essence of a person, the core, the heart, the forever (eternal) part of the person, ever-living, never dying. The breath of man.

Our spirits are eternal and address all things from the vantage point of eternity. It is the real person, the real you. Out of our spirits flow the issues of our life. We are told to guard it and to protect it. We are told not to allow it to become mixed with our emotions. To keep it pure. It is the part of humans that experience new birth and new life. It is where the Holy Spirit God comes to live and empower humans. It is where the Kingdom of God resides. It is where the Creator God mixes and mingles with humans. It is where light is created and darkness is destroyed. It is where Jesus Christ told the woman at the well a person must worship God from or out of, and that God would not accept worship that did not come from our spirits. True worshippers worship God from/out of their spirits. He will not accept worship that comes from our minds or our bodies. Our spirit is the throne of God inside of humans. It is either alive in us through Christ Jesus, or it is dead because of our sins. We will never have the opportunity to choose or select anything in this world that is more important than our spirit and its well being.

Our spirit is our most important form. Our spirit must receive the most attention and our greatest effort. Our spirit must be more developed than the other forms of our being. Our spirit is to be the strongest, most powerful, dominating form of our being. Our spirit is to direct and instruct our souls (minds) and body. We are to guard and protect our spirit at all times, at all costs.

The word used for soul (mind) is psuche. The literal translation is the mind. Psychology is a derivative of this root word and is correctly labeled the study of the mind. The mind is important because it functions as the gatekeeper between spirit, mind and body. The mind chooses which will be listened to and obeyed. The mind is the location of our intellect or all the learning we obtain in our educational endeavors. The mind is the seat of our emotions – joy, happiness, fear, sadness, love, hatred, anger, bitterness, and many others. All of these together form our personalities.

We are told that the mind is tricky and can be deceitful. We are told we must change our minds even after the rebirth of our spirits, because it is not changed completely as are our spirits. We are told to allow our minds to be a reflection of our Creator, and He will change the way we think.  We are told the result will be that we will clearly know and understand what we are to do in all situations. Our Creator will not receive or communicate with our minds.  He speaks to us only through our spirits, and will only receive worship from us that is from our spirits, and not from our minds.

The word used for the human body is soma. It is often described as tabernacle, house, or dwelling place. Our bodies are where our spirits live on the earth. That is important because our Creator has chosen on earth to express Himself through spirits with a body. It is clear our bodies are temporary and will die. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. This is described as being mortal. While we are on earth our bodies are the home of our spirits. When our spirit leaves our bodies, our bodies die. The purpose of the human body is to house our spirits and our minds. It is to allow the Spirit of our Creator to be expressed through our spirits in tangible, visible form. We are told the Holy Spirit lives in our body and we should provide our bodies as a servant or sacrifice for that habitation and expression.

In next week’s blog, we will conclude this series by looking at the impact this understanding of ourselves and our God can have in our lives.

In last week’s blog, we talked about how imperative it is for us to have understanding — understanding of ourselves, our world, and our God. We discussed the fact that in order to truly understand, we must go beyond our education, intellect, and our five senses. We have to look into our Constitution (the Scriptures) and find what our Creator says about us, and how He designed us. That’s where we pick up this week.

---

From the Great Book of Learning we learn that our Creator is one. There are not many Creators, there was and is only one Creator. Now this can seem complicated, and many have made it to be difficult, but our Creator operates/functions in three distinctly definable forms.

I like to refer or compare this design and operation to water. It can be liquid/water, it can be solid/ice, or it can be vapor/steam, but it is still water. Water in three different forms and operating in three different functions. Our Creator is referred to as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All distinctly different in design and function/operation, but all are the same in substance: Creator/God.

An inquiring, investigative look into the Great Book of Learning by the most casual reader will provide understanding of this reality without question. If our design and operation parallel His image, then we must have three different forms that operate in distinctly different functions, but all are made of the same substance. I believe understanding this, its forms, its operations, and its functions will provide the clarity of design and operation that will empower us to be what God our Creator designed us to be – individually, collectively and corporately.

The three forms that make up human beings are described as the spirit, the soul (mind), and the body. Every human being is spirit, soul (mind), and body. As with our Creator (compare to the analogy of ice) we are made of three forms with distinctly different functions. Now, where the Holy Spirit in His form does not operate in the same way or perform the same function as God the Father (or Jesus Christ the son), the soul (mind) of a human does not operate the same or perform the function of the spirit of a human. Can you see why knowing that is important?

Consider this: ice in its form cannot operate or perform the function of steam. Likewise, to attempt to use your mind (soul) to perform the function of your spirit will produce the same results as trying to make ice perform as steam. It will not work. Ice and steam are very different in form and operation. One is hot, the other is cold. One is solid, the other is liquid. Can you imagine trying to use steam to cool your ice tea? Or trying to use ice to remove years of layers of dirt and grime from an old engine?

FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION.

Understanding the different forms of water is common knowledge. No one would try to use steam where ice is appropriate. That makes no sense. Sadly, very few know and/or understand the different forms of their own being or those who are around them.

Our Creator made every individual ever born on earth just like Himself – in three parts. Most have never heard such a discussion. Never has the thought ever passed through their minds for consideration. What could we possibly be talking about? Is this important to know? Why do we care what their correct function and the designed operational plan and purpose for each of our forms were to be by our Creator? Could we be trying to heat with ice or cool with steam?

A good indicator would be to answer these question, “ Do you ever experience frustration trying to communicate with our Creator?”  “Do you find it difficult to know His will?” “Are you ever unsure of the direction you should choose for a decision you need to make?” Just as ice will not perform as steam, the mind/soul will not do what the spirit is designed to do. If you never learn there is a difference or how to develop the capabilities of each, you could struggle your entire life trying to make ice perform as steam. Or your mind as your spirit.

In our next blog, we will look at the three forms of our being that parallel the make up of our Creator. We’ll see that our Creator left clues and instructions on the purpose and development of each form.

Understanding is the ability to see what is not seen with the human eye, and to know what is not known by human intellect or human reason. That may sound simple, but it is profound. It is what makes up the fabric of our lives – that which holds us together. I have come to believe that understanding is the purest form of power available on the earth.

Understanding is knowledge, but it is not a product of intellect alone. We develop/program our minds and they are the seats of our intellect. Our education, our environment, our family, our friends, and all that we are exposed to form the opinions, thoughts, feelings and emotions that flow from our minds. All of this may be excellent. It may also be incorrect/wrong. It depends on our programming. Whether our programming is good programming, or if it is bad programming.

Our environment has become so busy and so demanding primarily because we have become a predominately sense-driven world/society (taste, touch, smell, feel, see, hear).

Most of this is the result of our physical desires. Most, if not everything, we do is motivated by a passion that is driven by our pursuit of satisfying one of our senses which more often than not is demonstrated and fulfilled by a physical or emotional want/desire/need. It seems the right/correct thing to do. We cannot fall behind. We have to compete. It is what everyone is doing, isn’t it? What choice do we have? Understanding will provide the answer to that and many other questions.

Our choice is clear and clearly understood when we understand ourselves.  Life can be frustrating.  Not knowing how we were created and designed to function, we can live our entire lives completely contrary, or in opposition to, the plans of the Architect/Creator/Builder/Developer who built and designed us. Who has ever heard of such a thing?  We don’t have time to think about that. We are too busy. Busy doing what? Satisfying our senses. Gratifying our minds and our bodies. Is that how we are made and is that how we are supposed to function?

In the first chapter of the Great Book of Learning, we are told/informed that we are created in the “image and likeness” of our Creator. I know there are those who believe we evolved from a lower species – monkeys, apes or whatever.  What I cannot understand is why that stopped.  I have seen many such animals that were very old, and none of them appeared to have evolved. I am too practical to believe all the delicate, intricate organization and profound beauty that is present in the universe, the human body and nature itself just happened or is the result of some chaotic collision and resulting explosions. I cannot believe that chaos will create organization. That has not been my experience. Science does not confirm such a possibility.

More than anything else, I can tell you of my experience. What I know to be correct from the reality of experience. I have personally met the Creator. The person described in that Great Book of Learning. He is, always was and will forever be the One who has provided a clear and easy to understand plan for our lives – how they operate, the correct and proper function of our make up, and how to live in power, peace and understanding on the earth.

I have learned that His plans for us are always for good. He provides for us a constant hope. There is always a future for us from Him in everything. Without fail His plans are never for disaster, nor for frustration, but for understanding. So then why do we have such difficulty? I believe the answer is simple when we understand ourselves and how we are made to operate. If we are made like our Creator, then we will need to know how He is made and how He operates. Our design and operation will parallel His. In next week’s blog, we will take a deep dive into these very topics and more.

This week, we continue our look at 1 Samuel 30 for lessons in leadership from the life of King David. Click here to read last week’s lesson in leadership.

---

“For The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 19:10

People sometimes think that there is shame in being in recovery. The truth of the matter is, we are all in or have been in recovery. At different times in our walk with God, we will recognize that the devil stole something from us and we have to recover it. It may be your quiet time that you used to spend with God has diminished. You may be lacking when it comes to reading the word. Or, your zeal for God’s house that used to consume you, is now down to a smoldering wick. Whatever you find lacking, don’t ever be ashamed to go into recovery mode. Don’t let the enemy fool you into staying on your feet — get down on your knees and enquire of the Lord.

David pursued what was rightfully his, and that is the attitude we should take. Peace belongs to us! Joy belongs to us! All the Blessings of God belong to us. “It is God’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”, so let’s take authority like David.

17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

1 Samuel 30:17-19

After David recovered all, he advanced God’s Kingdom, by sharing the spoils with others:

20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drove before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.

21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.

22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

1 Samuel 30:20-26

Everyone in the Kingdom is important, no matter what job they are doing. If they are doing it for God, then everyone in the family of God should enjoy the same spoils. We should continue to pray that there be no division in the Body of Christ. Hear Oh Israel, the Lord our God is one and His people should advance His Kingdom as one!