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NATURMAN.S12
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TO THE GLORY OF GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Study No 12 THE NATURE OF MAN - Part 2
FUNCTIONS AND COMPOSITION OF THE SOUL
A. INTELLECT
1. Both the spirit and the soul mark man out as different from the
animal creation. This is especially so of man's intellect.
The ability to think, remember, compare, analyse, imagine etc.
is unique. Man does not live altogether by instinct but has
a God-given ability to make out his own earthly destiny. Man's
intellect is centred in his mind which comprises the conscious,
the sub-conscious and unconscious areas of thought and memory.
2. Because it is this faculty to which Satan makes his appeal -
Gen. 3:1-5, John 13:2, Luke 8:12, it is essential for every
Christian to have a "controlled mind" with every thought in
captivity to the Knowledge of Christ.
3. It is also essential to control the thought patterns so that
this faculty is always open to understand the revelation of God
from the intuition of the spirit. If it is restless and
constantly engaged in the activity of the natural man in his
plans and lusts it will not be able to comprehend the message
of God and the human spirit will ache with frustration.
Actually, this is the common condition of many believers.
Eventually they stifle the voice of God in their spirit and
become deceived, spiritually deaf - insensitive and forgetful
hearers of the Word of God. James 1:22-25.
B. THE WILL
1. God has given to every man a "free will." We are able to choose
- make decisions - and satisfy or suppress all other parts of
our tripartite nature through the action of the will. It is
the point of highest responsibility in our whole being. It is
the helm of our life.
2. The will is the very centre of the self life. Both the mind
and the emotions feed the will but it is the will itself which
controls the attitudes of the life - either by a rigid
expression of control or by choosing to abdicate thus allowing
mental aberration or neurosis or demonic intrusion. It is, in
fact, the gate. 2 Tim. 1:25-26 shows that an actual loss of
control allowing the devil to effect a capture at "his" will.
The will must therefore always be subjected to the truth - any
opposition to truth is unspeakably dangerous. Note Rom. 1:25-
32.
3. This arrogant will must be subjected to God. No-one can live
the Christian life successfully whilst retaining his
independence and self-control. Even Jesus in Gethsemane
surrendered his will to the Father and this is the supreme
example. The will once yielded through the redeemed spirit to
God does not cease to exist. In fact it is strengthened - but
towards righteousness. The will is the citadel of the soul and
is of great value to God. Whereas it formerly was activated
towards disobedience and was the denominator of all sin in our
life, now God intends to use it as the instrument of obedience
and thus being allied with the Spirit to produce holiness.
C. THE EMOTIONS
1. The emotions of man are the seat of feelings, desires,
affections. Though emotions are not wrong this is the part
most often subject to excess and malpractice. This area is the
closest to instinct and most people are absolutely dominated by
their feelings. Since feelings can and do lie and deceive, it
is essential to bring the emotions into line with the re-
created spirit. Emotions out of control will make the
Christian totally ineffective.
2. It is in the area of the emotion that the soul must be
subjected to the life of faith. Feelings are the direct enemy
of faith, and true faith will not be expressed until the
feelings are exposed to the truth, and either, disregarded or
channeled in the right direction.
D. THE SOUL AND DEMONIC ACTIVITY
We have noted that the soul in opposition to the truth is
available to Satan. 2 Tim. 2:25-26. The lust of Judas for
money made his soul the playground of the devil. John 13:2,27.
We are warned to avoid fleshly lusts which "war against the
soul" 1 Peter 2:11. This is because such lusts open the
door to demonic intrusion. If this were not so, the warnings
of 2 Cor. 2:11, "lest Satan should get a toe hold", and Eph.
4:25-27, "don't give place to the devil" and 1 Peter 5:7-8,
"avoid anxiety and be sober and vigilant because the devil
seeks whom he may devour", would be meaningless.
Without going into this subject in greater detail we will
briefly state that the teaching of the Word of God and the
indications of experiences are that any projection of the self
life is dangerous - a beacon to demonic powers who can then
control and open the attitude that gave entry. It is essential to
keep the soul (self) life constantly reckoned dead - Romans 6:11,
lest we be brought into bondage. Rom. 6:16.
Unless the soul is dealt with it, is a fertile ground for the
activity of the enemy through self-consciousness, self pity,
anxiety, fear, inferiority complex, instability, insecurity,
depression, guilt, moods, lying, profanity, paranoia, prejudice,
imagination, hallucinations and delusion among other things.
"Positionally, God has sanctified the whole man, but
experientially, this is a process, as practically all Holiness
teachers agree. Conversion may be so powerful as to effect
radical changes in many of the above areas but all the inhabitants
of the land are not driven out at once, no more than they were in
Joshua's day. The mind particularly must be constantly renewed for
here is the Governor of the body. In past life, the drives of the
body and an over-developed sense realm may have given rise to
demon occupation. Likewise in the area of the soul, there may
have been an invasion through indulgences, shock; and particularly
if there has been any engagement in various forms of witchcraft,
occultism, spiritism etc. If any of these things are so, there may
be the need of exorcism as well as the normal application of
sanctification through faith.
God's will is that the total man be completely delivered in all
areas by the various ministries and graces which he has provided,
so that the whole man is liberated to freely praise and serve the
Living God." L. Averill.
THE BATTLE FOR THE MIND
Since the mind occupies an important place in the functioning of
the believer as a spiritual entity, we will devote some extra
attention to it.
1. The Various Possibilities of the Mind
The mind can be double, carnal, sound, fleshly, of Christ,
reprobate, corrupt, pure or blind. We can be enemies in our mind,
or weary and fainting in our mind, be vain, have a defiled mind
ore be "otherwise minded or contrary." James 1:8; Rom. 8:6; 2
Tim.1:7; Col. 2:8; 1 Cor. 2:16; Rom. 1:28; 1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Pet.3:1;
2 Cor. 4:4; Titus 1:5; Eph.4:17; Col. 1:21. From this we can see
that the mind has a vast range of evil possibilities and
tendencies.
2. Activity of the Mind
The mind can desire evil, Eph. 2-:3, be shaken, 2 Tim.2:2, and
be an enemy of God, Col.1:21. We are urged to love God with it.
Matt. 22:37, keep His laws in it, Heb. 8:10, gird it up, 1 Pet.
1:13, stir it up, 2 Pet.3:1, arm oneself with the mind of Christ,
1 Pet.4:1, keep the mind stayed on God, Is. 26:3, keep the mind,
Philippians 4:7.
3. The Mind as a Receiver/Transmitter
The recreated spirit of man is a receiver transmitter on the
vertical level - worshipping God and receiving revelation from
Him. The mind acts in a parallel sense, but on the horizontal
level. It can be the medium for the spirit or for the external
world with its natural and satanic stimuli.
a) 2 Cor. 10:3-5 which urges us to bring every thought into
captivity indicates that this is the means of Satan's attack.
We are not creatures of instinct. Every temptation to which we
are subjected is offered on the level of our thought life. To
combat these fiery darts of the wicked one we have the shield
of faith and the helmet of salvation - the helmet covers the
head - repository of the brain and the organ of thought. Eph.
6:12-18.
b) It was on this level that Satan succeeded with Eve. 2 Cor.
11:3 says that her mind was corrupted through Satan's subtlety.
c) Paul goes on to say in the next verse 2 Cor. 11:4 that as Eve
was deceived, so we can be by wrong teaching which is directed
at our minds. Philosophy and human reason are favourite
weapons of Satan to side-track and confuse the mind, involving
it in endless speculations. Apparent good knowledge can still
be dangerous if it is sought for the wrong motives or through a
wrong stimulus. Eve sought the knowledge of good and evil, but
at Satan's suggestion. Notice the list of speculative subjects
which have side-tracked many people as they obeyed the
ceremonialism - formalism - celibacy - ascetism - penance -
saint-worship. Notice that in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, that these
same things are said to be doctrines of devils and the work of
seducing spirits working through false teachers and cults. The
list of Col. 2:18 tells us that this knowledge induces vainly
puffed up fleshly minds. This speculative debate - (note Rom.
1:29 - debate is listed as an activity of the reprobate mind
under the domination of demons) is to be avoided as
unprofitable and dangerous.
d) The Passive Mind vs. the Active Mind
A further dangerous state of mind is to inactivate it, blank
it out and make it passive - even temporarily. This is the
basis of hypnotism and spiritism. The Holy Spirit does not
require a passive mind. In fact, He cannot use it - his method
is not to "take over" man's personality and mind but to "work
with" it. Mark 16:20. Anything which takes over is not of
God. In the operation of all divine supernatural gifts the
spirit of the prophet is still subject to the prophet and
can be controlled and indeed must be. 1 Cor. 14:32.
1. Acts 2. Peter, though being filled with the spirit and
speaking in tongues was conscious and could hear the mockery
of the crowd and prepared an answer to them.
2. Acts 10. Peter, at Joppa was in a trance receiving
revelation from God but could still count and argue with the
Lord.
3. 1 Cor. 14. The persons prophesying and speaking in tongues
are able to "count to 3" and wait their turn or keep silent
if no interpreter is present.
e) Flashing Thoughts
One of the favourite weapons of Satan is to barrage the mind
with flashing thoughts coercing the person to immediate action
- affording no time to think. He thus seeks to confuse and
paralyse the will into irrational action. God's guidance is
never vague, confusing and compulsory. Note James 4:17 -
peaceable, gentle, easy. The warning of the Word of God is to
PROVE ALL THINGS - TRY THE SPIRITS.
f) Everything passing through the mind leaves a residue
One of satan's weapons is to expose the mind to material which
he can later capitalize on to immobilize the soul for spiritual
activity and to lead the person into sin. As a man "thinketh"
in his heart so is he. Prov. 23:7, Luke 11:4.
The mind is extremely important. It can be the instrument of
God or it can be the receiving organ for Satan's mischief. No
wonder that Solomon said "Keep thy heart with all diligence for
out of it are the issues of life."
THE FOUR PARTS OF THE HEART
The heart of man is a wide term used in scripture to cover all 3
parts of the soul and at least one of the spirit.
1. The mind is in the heart. Matt. 9:4.
2. The will is in the heart. Acts 11:23; Heb. 4:12.
3. Emotions are in the heart. John 16:22; 16:6.
4. Conscience is also spoken of as being in the heart. Heb. 10:22;
1 John 3:20. Conscience works very closely with the mind
particularly in relation to guilt complex, memory and temptation.
1 Thessalonians 5:23.
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of Christ."
THE FUNCTION AND COMPOSITION OF THE SPIRIT
1. The following scriptures give further evidence of the fact of the
human spirit as distinct from his soul. Gal. 6:1,18 & 5:16-17;
Philemon v. 25; Rom. 8:4,10,16; 2 Tim. 4:22; Zech. 12:1.
2. It is in the spirit of man that regeneration occurs. It is this
part which was dead to God and is now born again. John 3:6
clearly indicates that the part which is born of the Holy Spirit
is the human spirit - 1 Cor. 6:17 shows that in salvation, he that
is joined to the Lord is one spirit. It is on this level that the
miracle of conversion occurs. We are told that the Holy Spirit
bears witness with our spirits, that we are God's children, Rom.
8:16. We are never told that God communes with our soul - or is
joined to our soul. God is a Spirit, and we now worship Him in
spirit, John 4:24.
3. In this relationship God does not enter through the senses of the
body or the faculties of the soul, but comes directly into our
spirit and from there begins to affect our total being. In the
Old Testament system of Tabernacle worship, God never came in
through the Outer Court and Holy Place to the Most Holy, but
descended vertically, directly into the Holy of Holies and from
there exercised direction over all Israel.
4. It is essential to understand this aspect to be true worshippers
of God. The average Christian worships and praises God according
to the dictates of his senses, reason and feelings. The spiritual
man does not consult his feelings but acts according to faith. He
does not wait for some external stimulus to prompt him but by a
deliberate act he begins to praise God. Before long, he "feels"
the blessing of God. This is what Mary experienced in Luke 1:46-
47. She said, "My soul doth (present tense) magnify the Lord
(because) my spirit hath (past tense) rejoiced." It has been said
that when we worship God we start in the flesh and then get into
the spirit. This is a misunderstanding of what happens. When we
start to rejoice in the Lord without any feelings, and by a
deliberate act of choice we lift our hands, utter words of praise,
sing with the spirit, dance before the Lord and show our
appreciation, this is not in the flesh but in the spirit. After a
time, the blessing of God flows out of our spirit (which has no
emotion) into our soul which does have emotion and thus we feel
God's presence. The whole basis of the activity of the spirit is
faith. This is what pleases God, Heb. 11:6.
5. The spirit of man is the organ to receive God in the same way as
the stomach is the organ to receive and digest food and then to
disseminate its benefits to each part of the body. The spirit is
the loving organ. The part of man that can respond to God on the
only level that he can recognise - FAITH. Note the following
verses, 2 Tim. 4:22, 1 Cor. 6:17, John 4:24, Rom. 8:16, 1 Cor.
2:12.
END of Part 2
