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THE DIVINE SOUL
The soul is the very essence of man. The English word “psyche” is derived from the Greek word “psuche” which means “soul.” The “psyche” is defined as the totality of the elements which make up or characterize the mind. These elements include our will, emotions, attitudes, and thoughts. These elements are all wonderfully entwined together in the soulish realm (our person).
The “divine soul” is the Ark in which the “divine nature of Christ” resides within the believer. It is the treasure chest which contains all the riches of the Christ-like character. It is the place where godly knowledge, wisdom and understanding is stored. The Ark of the Covenant was the place where the presence (Spirit) of God dwelt in the Holy of Holies. As Christians we are ALL “Arks of God’s Covenant.”
The “divine soul” is the place where we process godly knowledge, wisdom and understanding. “When we walk in the Light as He is in the Light we will fellowship with one another and He purifies us from sin.” (1 John 1:7).
As Christians the Spirit of Christ dwells within the Holy place of our hearts. We are “born again” when the Spirit of Christ (presence) comes into our hearts and we become a new creation in Him. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, His “divine nature” is implanted into the matrix (womb) of our spirit.
The Blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin and lays a foundation of divine precepts and principles within our hearts which are designed to help us rule and reign with Him in life. The “divine nature” empowers us to live a life free from sin. The “divine nature” gives us the power to become the sons and daughters of God. (John 1:12). The “divine nature” empowers us to become citizens of the Kingdom of God. The “divine nature” also gives us the faith to believe in miracles as we walk in the fullness of Christ.
The “divine soul” is the soul which has been changed or made new in the “image of Christ.” We have joy unspeakable because the nature of Christ has been imparted to us by His Spirit. When the “divine nature” dwells in us richly, all the fruit of the Spirit will also dwell within us richly.
We become overcomers when the Word of God dwells richly within our hearts. We become overcomers through the Blood of the Lamb and the “word of our testimony.” When we testify to others about the saving knowledge of Christ, we are planting seeds of salvation into their hearts. We are also affirming our own faith as we share the gospel with others.
When we are sharing our testimony with others, we are illustrating our confidence in Christ. We are profoundly exhibiting and professing His ability to save the souls of sinners who are desperately in despair and bound for destruction. As Ambassadors of Christ we have been sent to the nations of this world to proclaim deliverance to the captives and the opening of the eyes of the spiritually blind. The “divine soul” is the ambassador or “divine representative” of the “person of Christ.”
THE DISCIPLINED SOUL
The “divine soul” is also a “disciplined soul.” Jesus calls people to be His disciples so they can learn the disciplines of the “divine nature” which includes the virtue of “self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). When men and women join the military they are sent to Boot Camp in order to learn discipline. The best soldiers are those who become well disciplined. Many of them continue to use their disciplinary training in life to help them in jobs they secure when and if they leave the Service.
It has been said that military personnel make the best Christians because they already have learned “discipline” in the Service. Although learning to be disciplined soldiers is admirable and can be useful to Christians, it is not the same discipline we learn as “disciples” of Christ. I know many people who have been in the military but still lacked discipline after they left the military. Many of them were Christians in the military, and many others became Christians after leaving the military.
Military discipline is somewhat different than the disciplines taught in Christianity. Military discipline is, for the most part, based on “control.” For an Army “control” is the appropriate way to “discipline” troops. There is also an element of patriotism which helps soldiers to follow orders. However it is not always the underlying foundation of their discipline.
When Jesus picked the twelve men to be His disciples, He did not choose those who had been in the military. Israel did not have a standing army at the time Christ walked on the Earth. Even if Jesus would have chosen “military personnel” as his disciples, He would have had to “retrain them” in the “spiritual disciplines.” One good thing which the military teaches today is the “discipline of authority” and how authority works.
The training which the “disciples of Christ’ received is somewhat different than the training which soldiers receive today in the military. For Christians the foundation of our discipline begins with “the fear of the Lord.” The fear of the Lord is not based upon control but upon the foundations of “wisdom and love.”
The Bible says, “whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” If we are not being disciplined by the Lord, we are illegitimate sons and daughters of God. (See Hebrews 12:5-7). Faith is a byproduct of love. The Bible tells us “faith is “energized by love.” (Galatians 5:6). We cannot have faith without love. Without faith, we cannot be followers or “disciples of Christ.” Without love, we cannot be followers or “disciples of Christ.”
God does not seek to control our lives but to place within us His love and the ability to overcome adversity by our faith in Christ and the finished works of Calvary. Many of the principles based on military discipline in battle are the same types of disciplines which we use in fighting the devil. However, they are carried out in different ways. We do not war with the flesh because the war we are fighting is not a carnal one but a spiritual one. Our warfare is not carnally subjective, but is based upon spiritual approaches and divine strategies.
As followers of Christ we have to lose “control” of our lives so God can mold and make us into a “standing Army” disciplined and ready to “fight the good fight of faith.” Our discipleship training is similar in many ways to military training, but in other ways it is entirely different. Even though we are Christian soldiers we cannot run a Church the same way an Army is run.
In the military soldiers are encouraged to “hate their enemies” and fight to protect and preserve their fellow soldiers, their nation and their families at home. Although these attitudes are admirable and necessary at times, we cannot use these attitudes when dealing with the souls of people. In Christianity we are taught to “love our enemies.” In other words, “love” is the “discipline” each “Christian soldier” must learn to walk in above everything else.
The disciplines taught in the Word of God are not based on the ability of Christ to callously influence and control men and women of God to achieve Kingdom objectives. They come from the ability of a person to possess “self-control” by being clothed in the “divine nature of Christ.” Self-control is one of the greatest virtues of the “divine nature.”
I am not saying military discipline is not an admirable quality. For those who have learned and retained self-control in the military, the step to self- discipline in a spiritual sense can be an easy transition. However, I have seen Christian leaders who have used their military training to suppress and control their congregations through stealth and deception.
“There is a time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:8). Sometimes we have to go to war so we can have peace. This is true in both a natural and spiritual sense.
Someone may ask “Can I love my enemy and still kill him?” I believe the answer to that question lies in our priorities. Sometimes we have to separate our feelings from our priorities. Our priorities concerning our enemies and our loved ones can and should differ.
Does God expect us to stand aside when our enemies come to steal, kill and destroy our nation, homes and families? When we are invaded by our enemies should we lay down our weapons and let the enemy come in and take or destroy everything God has entrusted to us? If someone invades our homes do we invite them to “come in and do what they want and take what they want? I think not.
Peace is something we have to “occupy.” Sometimes peace has to be contended for both spiritually and naturally. Spiritual and natural discipline goes a long way in maintaining peace both naturally and spiritually. However, God has called us all to peace and we must do all we can to maintain peace with all men “as much as lies within us.” (Romans 12:18). Trusting in God will also go a long way when our enemies both natural and spiritual attempt to destroy us.
The principles of spiritual warfare are much like natural warfare. The weapons of OUR warfare are not carnal. However, we still face an enemy which is determined to destroy us with thoughts which exalt themselves against the “knowledge of God.” Many Christians are not living in freedom because they lack the knowledge and understanding of how to BECOME free in every area of their lives.
Christians are losing many battles but we know that in the end WE WIN. However, we should not be losing ANY battles or relinquishing ANY territory to the Devil. The Church has been given the power and authority to defeat their enemy, but many Christians are not trained how to use ALL the “spiritual weapons” they have at their disposal.
Many Christians do not have the “peace which passes all understanding” because they do not understand the principles of spiritual warfare. Teaching disciples the principles of spiritual warfare is needed for the Church to prosper in the power of the Holy Spirit. No weapon the enemy can form against us will prosper when we put our faith and trust in God and fight the good fight of faith.
Why would God’s people protect themselves from a natural enemy when he comes to steal, kill, and destroy, yet fail to protect themselves and their families from their spiritual enemies? One of the answers lies in the propensity for men and women of God to be easily deceived. Deception is one of the greatest weapons our spiritual enemies possess.
Fear and deception are the enemy’s greatest weapons. When Christians are fearful it is because they lack wisdom and understanding. When people lack wisdom and understanding they are easily deceived. Their hearts are not rooted and grounded in faith, thus they are tossed about by the storms of life which the enemy sends to steal their peace. However, when we become rooted and grounded in faith the “peace of God which passes understanding” will ALWAYS guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).