Tabernacle (Spirit, Soul, Body, Mind, Heart)

God’s Reality: We are eternal Spirit beings in a body, with a soul, mind, and heart.

World’s Perspective: We are a temporal body with a mind.

One of the things I have focused on over the years with the Lord is an understanding of “Spirit, Soul, & Body”. I didn’t come to study this until I was in my first year of Bible School. What I learned, helped me in my understanding of who I am as a created being; including where struggles and life occur. But what I learned didn’t quite sit well, nor fulfilled my Spirit. Thus, I proceeded to seek guidance from the Lord and with scripture.

The “architect” in me (the creative & visual side of me) longed for a better diagram to understand the relationship of Spirit, Soul, & Body. What I had been presented in Bible College was something on the lines of this:

I tried to improve it with circles, squares, triangles, overlaps, adjacencies, etc. All to no avail. But as I find with the Lord in my personal studies, is that I keep pushing into an understanding, and He took me all over in scripture and revelation—even to things I felt weren’t even connected. He also connected Heart, Mind, & Will in this understanding as well. Then, after several years with this plethora of information germinating in me, He showed me, not a new diagram to draw to tie it all together, but showed me a diagram He already designed that was what I was after: His designed Tabernacle given to Moses…

This is now so obvious to me, because we ARE the Temple (Tabernacle) of God. And for God, there is only one kind of Tabernacle design; thus, it makes sense that the design He gave Moses was the same design He used in creating us.

We are made in THEIR Image (Father, Son, & Holy Ghost). They are a unified triune being, making up a Tabernacle themselves:

• Father = Spirit (John 4:24).
• Holy Ghost = Soul (John 14:26).
• Christ Jesus (Son) = Body (John 1:14).

The unity they have is that none can do what another does not do; and vice-versa, one cannot do what the other does. We saw Jesus Christ, full of the Holy Ghost, do only what He saw His Father in Heaven do. Jesus and the Holy Ghost were in agreement with the Father. This is how we know and understand what the nature of the Father is; for when we look at Jesus, we see the Father (John 14:7-11). They are a Kingdom that cannot and will not be divided by any one of them differing from the other (Mark 3:24).

We too are triune beings. And in gist, when looking at the Tabernacle, we see each section in likeness as Them:

• Spirit = the Most Holy of Holies.
• The Heart being the doorway between the Spirit and Soul.
• Soul = the Holy Place.
• The Mind being the doorway between the Soul and Body.
• Body = Courtyard.
• Gate and fence representing our 5 senses (our connection to the world around us).

Our struggle is in the unification of these three. We find our flesh (that which is trained of the world) conflicts with that which is of our Holy Spirit. We have been given authority over our “old man”, being made a “new man”. This struggle we find is in making our bodies a living sacrifice; which then allows the Spirit to flow freely through us, our soul and body aligning with the Spirit in unity. We are fully a new creation (Spirit, Soul, Body, Heart, and Mind) when Born-Again, yet our struggle is to make that a reality in our existence here. And even if we never realize that unity now, we have a new body that awaits us when Christ comes (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

In addition to going through what scripture says about our spirit, soul, body, heart, and mind, we will also address:

• Will (Our-Will / God’s-Will).
• Faith.
• Gifts / Fruit of the Spirit.
• Flesh.

Triune Beings and Makeup

The fact that we are made up of distinct and interwoven multiple parts is shown in scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; moreso, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 John 2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

Galatians 4:6

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Hebrews 3:7-8,12-13

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness).

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 4:12

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.

Hebrews 8:10

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Romans 8:5-8

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

There are distinct and separate identifiers for each (each given a specific word in the original Greek): Spirit, Soul, Body, Heart, Heart, Mind, and Flesh. With this, we can then research and identify each part and address that specific part as needed for growth, healing, unbelief, etc. Just as it would be foolish for a doctor to perform open-heart surgery to fix the mind, so is it that we must not try to repair a heart-issue with a mind-issue.

Yes, though they are inter-connected, and a change to one can affect the other, we can look specifically at a heart-problem with scripture about the heart. For me, a good way to do this is using research tools we have available. One such study tool is www.BlueLetterBible.org where you can do a key-word search as well as Greek word search. Here are some examples to assist you (New Testament searches):

• Spirit:    occurs 261 times in 234 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.
• Soul:      occurs 39 times in 36 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.
• Body:    occurs 135 times in 112 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.
• Heart:   occurs 105 times in 98 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.
• Mind:    occurs 56 times in 54 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.
• Flesh:    occurs 149 times in 128 verses in your custom selection ' in 'The New Testament'' in the KJV.

I find it very interesting when you pull out each search to see how the verses start to parallel or build on each other. Additionally, one can even dig into the Greek word meanings for each to give depth to the words used that do not always show up in the various translations. You might even catch a mistranslated word in the process.

Temple (Tabernacle) of God

2 Corinthians 6:16b

For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Through the completed work of Christ and the Cross, God moved His Dwelling place from a Temple built by human hands, to one He designed from Creation: us as human beings. Jesus was our demonstration to how that looked. He was born that Temple which God dwelled in:

John 2:19-22

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

With the first covenant, a Tabernacle was made for the dwelling place of the Lord. But now, the Mercy Seat that he dwelt at between the Cherubim on the ark of the Covenant is now vacated. Hence why we “cannot speak of it now”, for because of Christ’s blood sacrifice [propitiation (Romans 3:24-25)], He made us clean, allowing us to be like Him, a “Tabernacle not made with hands”:

Hebrews 9:1-11

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim’s of glory shadowing the Mercy Seat [propitiation]; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.

When we chose to believe on the Father through Christ Jesus, we are instantly Born-Again into a Holy being, allowing Him to dwell in us! Our spirit made into a Holy Spirit; allowing His Spirit to dwell in that Most Holy of Holy places: the Tabernacle. And since our body as a whole makes up the Temple, Christ purges out from us anything that counters that Holiness—just as Jesus chased out the money-changers that defiled it (John 2:13-17 and  Matthew 21:12-13). God will never destroy His Holy Temple that is us!

Jesus Christ is our foundation of our Temple, and we build on that all which is valuable (gold, silver, and precious stones) in truth to the Lord based on the revelation of Christ as the exact image of God the Father. When we build in religion, doctrine, rules and regulations, (wood, hay, and stubble) they don’t belong and are burned up.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, this [defilement] shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [Holy] you are.

We must never fear that God is out to destroy us for any mistake, Christ paid the price for us, God’s wrath satisfied. We are His Child and sibling to Jesus Christ—“as [Christ Jesus] is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). And Christ is that Fire that continually burns up the debris (defilement)—for it is Christ who baptizes us with the Holy Ghost and Fire (Matthew 3:11-12). And when we are purged of it (the dishonour), we are then a vessel of honour for the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Body and Flesh

Luke 12:4-7

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

This is a strong verse to start off with, but I want to emphasize the importance of what Christ is saying here. Though the first part has fear associated with it, it is not that “God is out to get us” or wants to throw us into Hell—as He clearly states in the latter part of the verses that God values us very highly. Jesus respected His body, so should we.

What the Lord does not want us to do is value our bodies so much that it (the body) becomes the definer in our lives--hence why even Jesus cried out to the Lord for any chance to take away what He was going to go through at the Cross.

The bodies natural desire for survival is strong; and when pushed in persecution over belief in Christ Jesus, the temptation can be strong to renounce Christ to save the body. But the body is not the end-all, be-all of life. We are, and will always be, eternal Spirits in a body with a soul. The body is only the outer shell (vessel) that we dwell in while on this earth. Believers will end up getting a brand new, incorruptible one at the End. We should never let our body be our governor in life over our Spirit. And even though our bodies are temporal, they are valuable to us; and moreso to the Lord—we should treat it as such.

1 Corinthians 6:19b-20

Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

But that does not mean we abuse it—the Lord desires that we take care of it. Hence why Christ suffered in the body for us, that “by His stripes, we were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). We can also be in health in our body via the health of our soul (3 John 2); but all stemming from the Spirit in us.

This body must submit to the Spirit within. This is the “living sacrifice” that we endure (a body in sin that was made dead though the sacrifice, but now resurrected unto life), because the body is where sin occurs. And our flesh is just anything unrenewed that still dwells in us—that part of the body, mind, heart, and soul that remains connected to this world and its desires of self, not the Spirit.

This is what so much of Paul writes about in Romans, from which I will pull some key verses:

Romans 6:6-12

knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 7:17-25

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 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. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8:9-13

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Our body engages with the world around us through our 5 senses. The gate into the Tabernacle has four openings, one for each sense that enters our bodies: taste, smell, hear, and see. The fence of the Tabernacle is the 5th sense of touch. Everything around us goes through one or more of those senses, into our bodies, and then through our mind.

It is this connection of the body to the ways of this world that creates conflict in us; but we need to understand and make clear to ourselves, that this body and these desires of the flesh have already been defeated by Christ in you.

Yet the real struggle is that we don’t know in ourselves personally that the body and flesh have been defeated. Many of us have lived “in the flesh” for so long before coming to Christ, that we don’t know or understand a different way of living. This is why me must renew our mind in this understanding—renewing it from an understanding of the world and the flesh, to the understanding that “we have the mind of Christ”.

But this too is where the power of Christ comes into our being. As we read above, Christ Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Ghost and Fire. This fire is what we sacrifice on. The same sacrificial alter that was in the fenced area of the Tabernacle. And the pain in the flesh we sometimes feel is that fire engulfing that which does not belong—whether an old habit, current sin, religious doctrine, etc.

Also in that same courtyard of the Tabernacle, near the alter, is the wash basin. This is was where the ritualistic cleansing took place. But as Jesus told His disciples, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). It is this Word that washes us:

Ephesians 5:26-27

That [Christ] sanctifies and cleanses [the church] with the washing of water by the word; so to present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Mind

Our mind is the gateway from the body into the soul. We typically have so much running through our heads—from tasks to do, to memories, to future ‘what-ifs’, to songs, to scriptures, imaginations, and much else. Our minds can have a hard time finding peace and rest. It is the battleground for much of our life. It is also where wisdom dwells.

But what can create beautiful imaginations, can also create doctrine and obstacles against the Lord. Yet, we can tackle the mind to help keep it away from those negative thoughts and dark rabbit-hole trails:

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

It is difficult, for the mind is where we face a warring of two different ways of thinking here—one of the flesh, the other of the Spirit. It also shares with the heart belief / unbelief.

Romans 7:21-25 & 8:1-7

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

However, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 3:12-16

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

James 1:5-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

This is where deception strikes:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Ephesians 4:17-19

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

And is where we barricade it with strongholds:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk with the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

We are tasked with renewing our minds to align with Christ:

Ephesians 4:20-24

But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

When we align our mind (thinking, imaginations, wisdom, etc) with the Lord, we help set our beliefs on Him and allow Him to more clearly flow out into our bodies from His Spirit within.

Soul

Our soul is made up of our emotions and feelings.

For me, as I used to understand it, the word ‘soul’ and the word ‘spirit’ were one-and-the-same. But when you study it out and look at the meanings in the Greek, they are clearly separate. This, to me, made a huge difference in reading scripture where a verse would use soul—I could now relate it to what my soul is, and not confuse it with my Spirit.

When I reference the soul, I purposefully use two words here: emotions and feelings. These typically are words used interchangeably in their meanings. However, I like to treat them different based on what transpires in the soul. Firstly, we experience emotions related to what goes on about the world around us—from the external in; through our 5 senses, through the body, through the mind, and into our soul. Likewise, we experience emotions in relation to what transpires in and out from our Spirit through the heart, into the soul. Our emotion per these activities. What follows then, is a feeling related to that emotion. This feeling is what we want to do based on that emotion. Examples:

• A loved-one that dies. I experience sadness / grief. From that, I then can: feel like crying; feel like isolating ourself; feel like praising the Lord.
• I’m overloaded at work. I experience stress / anxiety. From that, I can: feel like quitting my job; feel like drinking; feel like I should seek help.
• The Holy Ghost is showing His Love for someone through me. I experience that Love. From that, I can: feel like going over to that person to do what the Holy Ghost tells me; feel like running away; feel like praying.

We all react to emotions differently, each with a feeling of doing something based on that emotion. And sometimes, we get conflicting feelings based on the pressures from the world and the gentle guidance from the Holy Spirit in us.

Side note: the soul is not the source of our will. I will explain that further below.

Our soul is the realm of conflict between the outside (world / flesh) and inside (Spirit). The turmoil we experience happens in our soul. Like our minds, our soul can become restless—even moreso since it lies in the centre between the body and the Spirit.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus was saying He was the answer for religion; for much of the conflict we face in our souls is of the religious kind. We get messed-up in our thinking that we have to do something to God or for God in some form of exchange. This impossible task we face was completed by Christ from God. Christ was our appeasement. He put to rest the need to try and seek approval from God by being our approval for us. And when we acknowledge that, we ourselves can have a “religious” peace in our soul, knowing we don’t have to do anything to be Loved by God!

This is also why we are told to:

Matthew 22:37

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

For when our heart, soul, and mind are clear of debris and unbelief, the Spirit of God can flow freely out from us. Even the specific order in the verse of heart, soul, and mind shows us it is an inside-out process from the Spirit--from the Spirit, traveling through the doorway of the heart into the soul, then out from the soul through the doorway of the mind into our bodies.

Conflict in the soul also occurs when we do not deny our flesh selves. When we do not yield the body and flesh to the Spirit, turmoil arises. Even if the body and flesh got all it ever desired (even the whole world), it will never be satisfied, and the soul will never be a peace.

Mark 8:34-37

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Even Solomon discovered this in his own life. He is the richest person to ever live, having all he could ever want in life and more. He had an over-abundance of wealth (gold), places to live (mansions), status (king), the finest clothes, people whom worked tirelessly for him, resources fo all he ever wanted, and a plethora of wives and harlots (all the sex he could want). Yet even having all those things, he said it was for nothing without God. None of those things could fulfill him, only the Lord! (Ecclesiastes 12:8-14)

Our soul processes our perceived two identities: that of the Spirit and that of the Flesh. We can be neck-deep in sin, and even continually chose sin in our bodies, and yet still be Born-Again, Spirit-filled, and saved. Yet, when in that dilemma of the incompatible “identities”, our soul experiences that conflict. Sin will not affect your relationship with God in any way! But it does affect your soul. And the only way this conflict will subside is when we let go of the flesh.

For me, my soul experiences anxiety when I have work to do. It seeks rest by avoiding the work through procrastination. Yet, instead of me rejecting the flesh (its learned behaviour), I get trapped into repeating the same anxiety-avoidance techniques again and again. The anxiety is so strong, it seeks the quickest way to eliminate it…hence the procrastination. But if I retrain myself in the Spirit, pushing through the anxiety, then it will have to give in, never to come back again. So instead of dealing with it each time, I eliminate that sin altogether, never having to face that same anxiety again.

Likewise, if I am stressed, I go for a sweet snack. But if I just push through that anxiety ‘driving’ me to want to eat a snack, I can overcome it and eliminate it for good. “Resist the devil (opposition to God) and it will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Another is that through the abuse suffered as a child from my dad, he nurtured in me that iniquity of anger. I find that this anger manifests itself in my life, sometimes even towards my child. I never wanted this anger, but this is a result of my dad’s iniquity nurtured into me. This fleshly anger is something that has to be eliminated from my life—it is not ‘my’ sin, but that of my dad. But I do know that through Christ and His renewal of me, that anger can go away.

So much of our stress and anxiety in the soul results not from some ‘big” or “church-named” sin, but of the subtle things that define our identity of the flesh: a handed-down iniquities from our parents, a personality type, a birth defect, a sickness / disease, an injury, a traumatic event, etc. None of which we would immediately call a sin, but is in the context that it is opposed to the Lord and His Truth.

1 Peter 2:11-12

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

When we help someone through any of this, or any sin, we are helping their soul:

James 5:19-20

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Yet sometimes it is not a sin or issue we ourselves are dealing with personally that affects our soul; sometimes, just living as a righteous person in a world scattered with unrighteousness, our soul is tormented:

2 Peter 2:7-8

[God] delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds).

It is impossible in this world to avoid conflict in life. Jesus even said we would be persecuted. But we have the ability to bring peace and healing into our soul through the Holy Ghost. He is our sent Comforter. So, though trouble may come, we can focus, not on the trouble, but on the source of peace for our soul. And we can reign from Him in the Spirit, in the soul, and in the body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; moreso, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 John 2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

Heart

Our heart is the doorway between the spirit and soul.

It is through this doorway into the spirit that we believe for our spirit to be Born-Again into a Holy Spirit. Christ opened up the doorway for us, tearing the curtain in twain top-to-bottom in the Temple. No longer would God dwell in a physical building / place, but now wants to live in you as His Temple. It is through our heart we need to believe. His Word is sown into our hearts for believing:

Mark 4:14-20

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Acts 8:36-38

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believe with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Romans 10:9

that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Your heart has a “mind of its own” and is affected by emotion:

Matthew 9:4-7

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house.

Luke 9:46-48

Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:6,22

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

Too often, also, religion blocks that heart doorway. We saw it in Moses’ day and in Jesus’ ministry:

Matthew 13:15

for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Hebrews 3:7-19

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, todday if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It is a hardened heart the counters miracles, righteousness, and the Kingdom:

Mark 6:49-52

And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

Mark 16:14

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Like unbelief, doubt also lies on the heart:

Mark 11:23

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

And condemnation:

1 John 3:19-24

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

And our conscience is connected to our heart: hence, why we should always have a clean (righteous) conscience:

Hebrews 10:16-22

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Acts 24:16

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence (not troubled by a consciousness of sin) toward God, and toward men.

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.

All of this shows the complexity of the heart and how it can affect, not only a person’s belief in Jesus Christ, but affect a believer in their relationship with the Lord. When we cleanse our heart, the Spirit within can flow freely!

Spirit

The spirit / Spirit: this is who we are; whether Born-Again or not.

I use “spirit” as a means to identify a spirit not Born-Again; and use “Spirit” as a Spirit Born-Again.

Everything we do (our will) originates in our spirit / Spirit. It travels through the heart, through the soul, through the mind, through the body, and becomes our action. This person’s will then changes and gets filtered as it passes through each part which may have unbelief, strongholds, conflict, doctrine, etc. However, if from the Spirit we have cleared the debris and items of resistance (i.e. having a clear heart, soul, and mind), then His Will becomes our Will. This is exactly as Christ was able to do only what He saw His Father do. He was in complete unity with the Father through the Holy Ghost in Him: three-in-one, unified!

When we become Born-Again (through believing in the heart in the spirit), our spirit is made Holy: a Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost then seals that doorway of the heart that we cannot lose that belief or salvation to come.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which establishes us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13-14

In whom [Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

And when we get in-filled with the Holy Ghost, our Spirit and His Spirit are unified as one. Just as mixing two identically pure glasses of water into one, they become inseparable and we are unable to tell them apart: they become one.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12

For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But, he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

There is only one kind of Holy with God: thus, when our spirit is made Holy, it is made a Holy Spirit. This is the exact same Spirit that Christ has. We have the Spirit of Christ!

Romans 8:9-11

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.

Galatians 4:6-7

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Since we are an eternal spirit / Spirit, everything we do stems from here. Our will is what our spirit / Spirit does. Yet, our will has to pass through our heart, through our soul, through our mind, and through our body before it becomes a reality (an action). Thus, whatever filter we have on any parts of our being affect what our will is.

If we “love the Lord God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our body”, then His will in and through us becomes hindrance-free. We thus become as Christ Jesus did by only doing what He saw His Father do. His Father is our Father. We have the same ability to do His will completely both naturally and supernaturally. This includes health in our bodies.

This is why we must have a clean conscience, no unbelief, not a troubled soul, a renewed mind, and a sacrificed body. In doing so, we open the way for the Spirit out through us! This is how we either release up Heaven on earth, or bind Heaven on earth:

Matthew 18:18

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

If we shut down the Spirit in us, we are binding here on earth something to come from Heaven—it won’t be released from Heaven unto the earth since we have locked it out. Likewise, if we let the Spirit flow through us, we release Heaven on earth.

This is powerful, because God cannot violate our free-will. He will not force us to loose Heaven, and does not force us to bind Heaven. God limits Himself by us!

Mark 16:15-18

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

He tells us to go. He tells us to move the mountain. He tells us to believe. He will not do it for us. We are the Body of Christ Jesus now here on earth; we are to be doing exactly as He did. When we don’t heal the sick, raise the dead, preach the Kingdom of God, we are limiting the Lord’s impact on the world. But when we do demonstrate His miracles and His message, people get Born-Again and saved through believing on Christ Jesus.

Hence why He provided the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for us through believers:

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Any and all these flow through us as gifts to those whom needs them. We are the messenger, the carrier, of those gifts, and if we aren’t willing to deliver them, we limit God.

Likewise, with the Fruit of the Spirit. This is something that cultivates in us by the Spirit for us: inside-out.

Galatians 5:22-23a

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

We must not hinder these our from the Spirit in us. To chose one, we often can fall victim to the notion that “we need more faith” to have something manifest in our lives. We try X, Y, & Z to “build our faith”. Yet what we fail at understanding sometimes, is that it is not our faith. We are not told to have faith, we are told to live faith—for anything not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). And this faith (THE Faith) is not anything we produce, it is a fruit from the Holy Spirit. We have the Faith of Christ in us to use and live by. That we seek our own faith (or achievement of faith) negates the faith that is His Fruit. And that fruit is produced because we are a branch on the living vine of Christ. The Father being our keeper on the vine:

John 15:1-5

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He lifts up; and every branch that bears fruit He cleanses from impurity, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

When we abide in Christ, we can’t help but bear fruit. This is true for each and every fruit that is from the Spirit, including faith!

Our life is and should always exist from the Spirit in us. But this means not letting the other aspects of our being override what the Holy Spirit in us is. Adam was created as an earthy living soul, Christ was created as a Heavenly living Spirit. We have Christ in us and His Living Spirit, no longer of this earth, but ambassadors of Heaven. And though we are in these temporal bodies, that too shall change into our eternal:

1 Corinthians 15:45-53

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

And be assured, that no matter what sin or issue you may be dealing with in all those other areas, it will never affect the fact that you, as a believer, are Born-Again and sealed by the Holy Ghost for eternal Salvation with the Lord.

Tabernacle Scripture Study:

Temple (Tabernacle) of God

· 2 Corinthians 6:16b (Temple of the Living God)

· John 2:19-20 (Jesus as the Temple)

· Hebrews 9:1-11 (More Perfect Tabernacle)

· 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 (Holy Temple and Defilement)



Triune Beings and Makeup

· 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (Spirit, Soul, and Body)

· 3 John 2 (Soul and Health)

· Galatians 4:6 (Spirit into our heart)

· Hebrews 3:7-8,12-13 (Heart and Unbelief)

· Hebrews 4:12 (Soul, Spirit, Heart)

· Hebrews 8:10 (Mind and Heart)

· Hebrews 10:22 (Heart, Conscience, Body)

· Romans 8:5-8 (Flesh, Spirit, Mind)

· Romans 12:1-2 (Bodies, Living Sacrifice, Holy, Mind)



Body and Flesh

· 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 (Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit)

· Romans 6:6-12 (Body and Sin)

· Romans 8:9-13 (Flesh, Body, Sin)

· Romans 12:1-2 (Bodies as Living Sacrifice)



Mind

· Philippians 4:4-9 (Heart, Mind, Thinking)

· Romans 7:21-25 & 8:1-7 (Conflict, Flesh, Carnally Minded, Spirit)

· Romans 12:1-2 (Renewing of Mind)

· 2 Corinthians 3:12-16 (Heart and Mind Veils)

· James 1:5-8 (Wisdom, Double-Minded)

· 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (Blinded Minds)

· 2 Corinthians 11:3 (Minds Corrupted)

· Ephesians 4:17-19 (Vanity of the Mind, Ignorance)

· 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (Strongholds, Imaginations)

· Ephesians 4:20-24 (Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind)



Soul

· Matthew 11:28-30 (Rest in our Soul)

· Matthew 22:37 (Love the Lord with all Heart, Soul, Mind)

· Mark 8:34-37 (Loses Soul)

· 1 Peter 2:11-12 (War Against the Soul)

· James 5:19-20 (Saving a Soul)

· 2 Peter 2:7-8 (Tormented Soul)

· 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (Soul Preserved)

· 3 John 2 (Soul Prospers)



Heart

· Mark 4:14-20 (Seed Sown on Heart)

· Acts 8:36-38 (Belief by Heart)

· Romans 10:9 (Belief in Heart)

· Matthew 9:4-7 (Mind of Heart)

· Luke 9:46-48 (Thought of Heart)

· John 14:27 (Troubled Heart)

· John 16:6,22 (Sorrowful Heart)

· Matthew 13:15 (Heart Waxed Gross)

· Hebrews 3:7-19 (Hardened Heart)

· Mark 6:49-52 (Hardened Heart)

· Mark 16:14 (Unbelief, Hard Heart)

· 1 John 3:19-24 (Heart Condemns)

· Hebrews 10:16-22 (Conscience and Heart)

· Acts 24:16 (Conscience)

· 1 Timothy 1:5 (Pure Heart)



Spirit

· Romans 8:16 (Spirit & Our Spirit)

· 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (Spirits)

· 1 Corinthians 6:17 (Joined Spirit)

· Romans 8:9-11 (In the Spirit)

· Galatians 4:6-7 (Spirit of His Son)

· 1 Corinthians 15:45-53 (Adam = Soul / Christ = Spirit)

· Matthew 18:18 (Will / Bind and Loose)

· Mark 16:15-18 (Will / Go Into All World)

· 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (Gifts of the Spirit)

· Galatians 5:22-23a (Fruits of the Spirit)

· John 15:1-5 (Vine and Fruit)