JC Blog

The Word is powerful because it is able to discern the difference between the soul and spirit. These two words are so similar that most understand them to be the same thing. Even our language uses them interchangeably, but the Biblical definition is vastly different. I Thessalonians 5:23 shows us that mankind is made up of three parts, a spirit, a soul and a body. Understanding this truth is a key to unlocking and understanding many scriptures.

Our spirit is our life force. It is the part of us that was born again when we put our faith in Jesus. The default sin nature was taken out and we were give a new spirit that is identical to Jesus ( Romans 6:6-7, I John 4:17 ). The believer’s spirit is the part that has been sanctified, sealed and redeemed ( Ephesians 2:13-14, Romans 8:15-17 ) . The spirit you have now is the same spirit you will have for all eternity, it is perfect ( Romans 8, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14 ).

The soul can be described as your personality, your thoughts, your attitudes and what makes you unique. Perhaps this is why we use words like spirit and soul interchangeably because we cannot see either one, yet we understand that we possess something that makes up who we are as a person.

The body is the container for the spirit and the soul. It is the physical structure of a human. It is our flesh and blood. It is who we are when people look at us. This is the third part to mankind, without any one of these things, we cannot sustain life.

The spirit and the soul appear to be so similar that we group them together. But Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is capable of showing us the difference between the spirit and the soul. It is like a sharp sword that is able to penetrate and divide the two. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart” ( Hebrews 4:12 Amp ).

This is an important concept because we look at certain scriptures and wonder who they are talking about. We read passages showing us that we are identical to Jesus in this world, God considers us pure, righteous and holy and we don’t believe it because we look to the realm of our soul and assume that God has made a mistake. We quote passages saying we are raised and seated with Christ in the heavenly realm ( Ephesians 2:6 ) but continue to struggle with hardship in our homes. This is because we haven’t understood the differences between the spirit and the soul and this plays out in how we interpret and understand the Bible.

The born again spirit we received the moment we were saved is identical with Jesus ( Romans 8, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14 ). This is how God sees us, He looks at our spirit. This is why He sees us a righteous, because the sin nature is gone. Consequently this is how the devil sees us also. He looks at us dressed in our full armor ( Ephesians 6:10-18 ) and cannot tell the difference between us and Jesus ( Isaiah 59:15-18 ). This is why he trembles when we are around. The spirit is truly who we are because of what Jesus did.

However, we look at ourselves through the eyes of our soul. We see where we struggle, we know the thoughts we have, we know how we mess up. So there is a huge disconnect when we read the Bible because we don’t understand who we are in the spirit and how God looks at us. Then we get frustrated thinking we need be holy and righteous when in fact we already are.

This is why this passage of scripture is so powerful because it shows us the Word of God is able to discern between the two. Knowing the difference between the spirit and the soul brings enlightenment to the scriptures because we are able to discern what part of our makeup is being talked about in passages. Paul wrote, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( I Thessalonians 5:23 ). Our spirit is already blameless, but our soul, the thoughts, attitudes and intent of the heart, needs to be renewed and reminded of who we are in the spirit so we will experience them in the physical realm as well.

Tomorrow we will look at Part 3; The Word Exposes Our Thoughts and Attitudes.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

Growing up I worked at a summer camp. Each year the camp had a themed Bible verse that was presented to the kids and taught on in the chapel services. The second year I worked, Hebrews 4:12 was the verse. Since then, this verse has stuck with me, making a profound impact on my life because it placed an importance on the Word of God. Thinking of it often, I understood early that the scriptures were there to help and guide me through life. In fact they became life to me because the word that God speaks is alive and full of power, which makes it effective and life changing.

It is no coincidence that this verse is found in the middle of instruction on entering into God’s rest through Jesus. Hebrews 4:11 gives warning to make every effort of entering into rest; not following in Israel’s example of disobedience and unbelief. To do this we must learn who God is and understand His nature and will concerning us. This is accomplished through scripture. The Word of God has an active part in remaining in rest.

The true Sabbath Rest is found in Jesus; we enter by trusting in Him and the finished work of the cross. But to remain and stay in this place takes effort, not because we must do something to remain saved, but because we have a tendency to take back control and strive in the midst of circumstances. Instead we must rely solely on Him; not trusting in ourselves when situations come against us. The more we let the truth of scripture speak into our lives, the more we will trust God when things beyond our control happen because we know His promises. He reminds us of the things he has said in His Word, bringing both encouragement and confidence.

Tomorrow we will look at Part 2; The Difference Between the Soul and the Spirit.

I heard a preacher recently say that for God's Word to manifest itself in your lives you need both the Word and the Spirit to be successful. The book of John starts out by saying, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." Now we understand the Word to be Jesus and we see this all through out the scriptures that Jesus is called the Word and that the Word was flesh - it was God living and interacting in the physical realm.

It is not surprising that Paul starts out the book of Romans telling us that Jesus was a descendant of David, and we have recently discussed the importance of this truth. But since we understand our Lord Jesus to be both physical in body and spiritual in mind and Spirit it is of the utmost importance to understand that Jesus' resurrection from the dead by the Spirit of holiness to be the pinnacle of history and the absolute proof that Jesus was who he claimed to be - The Son of God.

Going back to our account in the book of John, we see some important truths starting in vs. 10, "He was in the world and though the world was made through him the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who receive him to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Children born not of natural descent nor human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the father full of grace and truth." ( John 1:10-14 )

So we have the Word, who was God and who is God and who created all things and who came in human form to break the curse of the law and to redeem that which the kingdom of darkness acquired during the fall of man... and he was in human form.

Now our Jesus was crucified and lay in the grave and at that point the penalty of sin had been paid for - Jesus shed his blood to atoned for the sins of the entire world once for all, past present and future. Hebrews talks about this in chapter 7, verse 27, "Unlike the other high priest, he (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He sacrifices for their sins once for all when he offered himself." This is imperative to understand that Jesus paid the penalty for sin once for all - But it is only through his resurrection from the dead that he took the position of High Priest before God and entered into the heavenly tabernacle to present His blood on the mercy seat. Starting in verse 28 of Hebrews 7, it goes on to talk about this when it says, "For the law appoints as high priest men who are weak. But the oath which came after the law appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever. The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a High Priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven and who serves in the sanctuary; the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man" ( Hebrews 7:27 - Hebrews 8:2 ) this is why it is both the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus that gives us assurance of Faith.

Now Paul is stressing this point in the beginning of Romans, when he said, it was through the Spirit of Holiness that Jesus was raised from the dead and this demonstration of power is the proof that he was the Son of God! It goes back to what that preacher said, you need both the Word and the Spirit to manifest the truth that is God's Word. The Word was prophesied and spoken over thousands of years until that which was spoken came to pass by the movement of the Spirit and to the obedience of those the Word was spoken to, thus fulfilling the Word. The Word fulfilled itself by the demonstration of Power by the Holy Spirit in that and of the person of Jesus Christ who is the Son of God both in the physical and in the spiritual realm.

There is power in the Gospel. The gospel allows God to move on this earth. When a person accept the gospel as the only way to God, then a miracle occurs. Colossians 1: 13 says, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" Or the King James put it this way, " Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son"

At salvation perhaps the greatest miracle of all takes place. We have been taken out from under the control or power of darkness and immediately put into the kingdom of Heaven, with Christ, our Savior sitting at God's right hand and His Holy Spirit dwelling within as our deposit. Now that is power. No longer bound to the king of this world, but 100% seal, sanctified and set apart for His good pleasure.

Paul knew this power. Paul was not ashamed of this power. Paul experienced this same power that raise Christ from the dead everywhere he went. All he had to do was preach the gospel and the power of God was present to save every person who believe it. There was no distinction... God's Salvation extends first to the Jew and then to the Gentiles which includes everyone else.

Today, if you want to experience this power, the same power that Paul knew and was bold to share, then Romans 10:8-11 says, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

It is as simple as that, Romans says, to confess with your mouth that Jesus is the only way, and believe in your heart that God raised him (Jesus) from the dead and you will be saved and never put to shame. It is my prayer that today if you have never made that confession of Faith in the Lord Jesus, that you will do and experience the power of God is a real and first hand way. May God bless you richly today!

Are you ready and willing to be used by the Lord for his service? Paul knew what the Lord had called him to do and he was prepared, willing and ready to go. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". This verse isn't taking about working to obtain right standing with God. However, after we've obtained it through the gift of God's grace the verse states that we have a purpose and mission to fulfill. This mission has been prepared in advance for us.

Once you get a revelation of God grace and mercy, service to him comes out of love not obligation. Paul is a great example of this. He was a servant of Christ Jesus and was mission focused every where he went. Paul's mission was to preach the good news of the kingdom of God and his eagerness to do so stemmed from knowing his mission and walking in it.

When we know God's specific will for our lives, then we can move forward doing it. It sounds simple, but many Christians do now know that God has work for them to do. Something specific to only them. Something He planned out beforehand and took delight in cultivating the necessary qualities to equip them to perform it. Sadly, many Christians coast through life not vested in anything eternal because they are not mission focused.

Today, as you seek God's specific will and direction for your life, be like Paul, learn from him and move forward. Seek the Lords plan for your life and cultivate a willing heart ready to accept it. Decide right now to be useable. Be prepared and take time to prepare daily, even when it seems impossible. Be willing. Greatness starts with a servants heart, greatness starts when no one else is watching. Lastly and most importantly, be willing to go. When you are wiling to be use anytime, anywhere, then God will use you all the time, everywhere!

Hollywood plays off the struggle between good and evil. Many epic movies have been created around this force that continually battles for dominance in the heroes lives. Each entity pulling in opposite directions until the stronger force wins and conquers.

We romanticize this idea and love to watch movies about it, but the idea behind the battle of opposites is not a new thing. The Bible records many such adversaries from the beginning of time. One example of this rivalry is that of faith and unbelief. We downplay this dichotomy in the modern day church, however doubt and distrust is the great antagonist of faith.

Faith and doubt move in opposite directions and fight to cancel each other out. Whatever substance is stronger will see the results. Jesus chided the disciples in Matthew 17, because their lack of faith. He told them that they needed faith as small as a mustard seed and then nothing would be impossible for them. However they let their doubt overpower their faith and rule the situation. It is possible to have both faith and doubt at the same time. So if all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed, then it is also true that your unbelief must be smaller than the amount of faith you possess to win.

How then, does this happen? How can we remove unbelief and exercise our faith when it matters most. We can learn a lesson of faith through Abraham. The scripture tells us that Abraham did not waver or question the promise of God. Because of it, his faith grew stronger. His faith was able to overpower any distrust and unbelief that he had. The Bible tells us that it was because he did not consider the circumstances, he only considered the promise and the one who had promised it.

Secondly we see an important truth, Abraham's faith rose up on the inside until he couldn't contain it and he started praising God in the midst of the situation. He considered the promise as fulfilled so it was a natural reaction to thank God in during it. Do you want to see faith win in your own life? Start praising the Lord for how he is moving on your behalf while he is moving. Do you have any doubt in your heart? Glorify God in the midst of it and that doubt will have no room to stay and occupy. Faith will take over and rise up on the inside of you until it fully conquers its adversary.

Lastly, from Abraham's example we see that he was fully persuaded that God was going to deliver what he has spoken. Have you ever tried to argue with someone who is entirely convinced that they are right? It is a mute point. It is impossible to argue with them because they won't consider any other possibility. To operate in faith, we must be like that. We have to be so convinced that God is doing what he has spoken that no one can talk you out of it. Circumstances do not matter because you are fully convinced. Chatter and opposition does not matter because you are fully convinced. Unbelief and doubt does not matter because you are fully convinced and persuaded that God has the power to do what he's promised.

Believe God's promise to you. Don't look to the circumstance, only to the promise. Let faith swell on the inside of you cancelling out all doubt. Praise God in the midst and be fully convinced that you will see the promise manifest in your life. This is how to operate in faith. Today, may these words bless you as you step out in faith and believe God, Amen!

Have you ever watched an nail biting action movie? Hollywood does a great job of evoking emotions from us while we watch our heroes save the day. Just when all looks lost and it looks like the villain will win, we always have hope because we know at the last moment the champion comes to rescue and restore.

In our story about God's love for us, our hero is Jesus. The Bible tells us that 'while we still powerless, Christ die for the ungodly' ( Romans 5:6 ). Why were we powerless? If you remember back to the garden of Eden, Satan took Adams authority from him by deceiving him. God had given Adam dominion over all the earth and he told him to subdue it. At the Fall, Satan became the legal owner of that power and dominion. Since that time, mankind was held ransom under his control, powerless to break free of it.

This is an amazing verse, because it says that at the right, perfect time Christ came to take back all power and authority. Mankind was week, feeble and unable to obtain freedom from the control of Satan's kingdom. We were in essence, enemies of God. Slaves to sin and born under the Law. But at the perfect time, God demonstrated his great love for us and sent Jesus. Born under the curse of the Law so he could redeem us from the law. He delivered us from the dominion of Satan and ushered us into the kingdom of heaven. ( Galatians 4:4 )

Not only were we powerless to get free but we were enemies of God. Sin had corrupted and the result was evident in the hearts of mankind. Paul is writing about God's great love for us. His grace and mercy is the reason that he came to redeem us. He did this while we were still sinning and powerless to change. It was based on nothing that we did, or could ever do to obtain it. Instead it was solely based upon his intense love for us.

Just like our movie heroes always sweep in to save the day, destroying the enemy and getting the girl, in the same way, Jesus had complete victory that day on the cross. The difference is that he came to save us while we were his enemies and powerless to help ourselves. But because of his great love for us, he removed all barriers, demonstrating his grace and mercy in the process. Today, know that you don't need to do anything except believe and accept this free gift that has already been purchased for you. When you do, then know that you are righteous before him and he now considers you a friend and his heir.

We don't question whether or not God can do things, we question whether or not God will do them for us. However Paul is writing to us to remind us that God is for us. He proved it by sending Jesus as our substitution and propitiation for sin. Jesus died a criminals death so that we could be reconciled to God. Since by faith, we now stand before him righteous, holy and loved, it only proves Paul's point, there is nothing God wouldn't do for us.

What an amazing concept to understand. God loves us so much. Mankind screwed up in the very beginning and yet nothing we did was too great to be undone by Him. Isaiah told us, "And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him" ( Isaiah 59:16 Amp ). God looked about and saw that in our present condition no one was capable to bridge the gap sin had created. This was unacceptable to him, so the Bible says that His own arm worked salvation for us. Jesus is the one who intervened in our behalf so that we could be restored to him.

This plan was put into effect over 2000 years ago when Jesus was born into a lowly manager. The plan was finished when Jesus arose from the dead conquering sin and death and bridging the gap for us, bringing us peace with God. Understanding the awesomeness of this deed will bring to light the fact that God will not withhold anything from you. He has written extensively in His Word all the sweet and precious promises that are yours by rights as his child. If he has promised it in his word, then you can be confident that it is yours. Peter talks about this when he said, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" ( II Peter 1:3-4 ). Not only are we redeemed but we can also escape the corruption of this world by walking by the Holy Spirit and living his Word. Through Christ we have total victory.

Paul penned in yesterdays passage, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31 ) and then today, he said, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" ( Romans 8:32 ). What an amazing thing to ponder and internalize today. Not only have we be fully justified and put into right standing with God through faith in Jesus, but he has given us everything we need to navigate this life right now. And if that wasn't enough, he has promise to back us up in everything he has told us. The proof is written in the love story that unfolded so many years ago. Understanding this will change your heart. It will take you from knowing that God can do anything, to knowing that God will do it for you.

Today, on this Christmas morning, I pray that they eyes of your heart are opened to understanding this wonderful truth. As you celebrate Jesus' birth remember that he came for you. He loves you so much and considers you both friend and family. May the joy of this season overflow from your heart and change the world around you, amen!

Everyone loves to watch an exciting football game. We hold our breath and root for the underdog, but some teams excel to the point where they cannot be beat. This fall was a great example of this. The country watched the Iowa Hawkeyes win nearly ever game they played. Even in the last moments of the game, when they were down and all seemed lost, they would miraculously come back for certain victory. Their name alone struck fear in their opponents. No matter how strong and highly ranked their rivals were, the Hawkeyes would crush them and send them home defeated. This football team was victorious everywhere they played even when outmanned or outranked. They didn't listen to the media who said they were a poor team, they listened to their hearts that told them they were winners and proved it based on this knowledge.

In today's passage, Paul is writing that we are winners. The victory is ours through Christ Jesus. This knowledge will keep us going in life when all seems hopeless. What a marvelous perspective to have. In the midst of trouble, persecution, being beat and run out of town, Paul writes to us that in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He knew the love of God and his position in the Kingdom and this knowledge brought him victory in all things.

Many times, we act like our circumstances and opposition is too overwhelming for us to be victorious. But Paul said, "in all these things we are more than conquerors..." The Greek word in this passage for conquerors denotes that we are literally hyper-conquerors. We are pre-eminently victorious through Christ Jesus. We will gain a decisive and surpassing victory because Christ was victorious and he conquered death. Not only is this so, but he passed along this victory to us. Paul said in Colossians, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ( Colossians 2:13-15 ). Christ made a public spectacle of all powers and authorizes and hyper-conquered them. He defeated them so badly that there was no hope for a counter attack. This victory was passed along to us through faith in Christ. We are more than conquerors because Christ loved us.

Paul knew that this victory stems out of the fact that God loves us. Victory in life only comes through Christ's strength displayed in us. The power of God's love for you will changed circumstances in your life. This is the most important thing that you can know and understand. God loves you. Paul tells us that we should be rooted and established in this love. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" ( Ephesians 3:16-19 ). How are we filled to the full measure of God? It is by understanding the breath, the length, the depth and height of His love for you. This will make you rooted deep and founded securely in him. This knowledge will prove to your circumstances that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you.

Today, I pray that your spiritual eyes are opened to understanding the depth of God's love for you. May you understand your victory in Christ Jesus. May you be fully convinced, rooted securely and strengthen in power through in him alone, amen.

A passage of scripture such as this can be difficult to understand and reconcile in your heart unless you look at scripture as a whole. It is important to understand God's nature and man's free will in relation to a statement such as this. In the context of Romans 9, Paul is teaching that just because Israel was the natural descendants of the covenant made with Abraham, it did not automatically include them in the promise. The offspring of the promise came through faith in Jesus. Mankind is faced with a choice, to believe in this message and be saved or to reject it and be condemned. God has elected those who have chosen him based upon his foreknowledge of their choice ( Romans 9:11 ). But in the same way, his power and mercy will be displayed in those who reject him as well ( Romans 9:23 ). Because in His foreknowledge He knows the end from the beginning and works to bring His plan to fulfillment and to display his power.

Paul uses the example of Pharaoh in today's passage. God's mighty power was displayed over and over while he brought the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. Over the centuries, people still recount the events that took place in during this time. At the time of Pharaoh, everyone knew that the God of Moses was the only true God because of the incredible display of power. The scriptures say that God raised up Pharaoh for the very purpose of displaying His incredible power and making His name great ( Exodus 9:16 ). In today's passage Paul tells us that God hardens the hearts of those he wants to make his name great, which is exactly what happened to Pharaoh ( Romans 9:18 ). However, it is important to understand that in this whole process Pharaoh had amble opportunities to repent and let God's people go. He saw the countless displays of God's power and instead of softening his heart towards God, he hardened it. He had free will in the matter but he chose not to respond to God. After a certain point, he was past the point where he could even respond to God and therefore God harden his heart so maximum power could be displayed in what he did. It is important to understand it all started with Pharaohs choice to disregard God and not God's choice to harden Pharaoh's heart.

God is able to bring good out of evil. In our own time God used the atrocities of Hitler to bring the nation of Israel back into possession of their promised land. Hitler was faced with a choice the same as Pharaoh, but it is evident in his tyrannical reign that he chose to reject God and hardened his heart towards him. He walked further and further away from God's mercy and because of his choice to reject God and walk in such evil, God used his choices in life to display his power in the end and bring about good from it. God did not cause Hitler to massacre the Jews, nor was it His will to do so. But God's power was evident in the outcome of the horrible event by them coming into possession of their land. God could have brought the Israelites back to the land in thousands of ways but in is infinite power he was able to work through an agent of the devil to accomplish his will and ultimate plan, even though Hitler had free will in the matter.

Hitler has a choice same as Pharaoh. You have a choice as well. God has sent the Holy Spirit into the world to call and bring people unto himself. He starts from a very early age, speaking grace to us and softening our hearts towards God. Then when we hear the gospel message proclaimed we either respond to it and accept this good news or we reject it and walk away from it. Our choices in life dictate the outcome, God will not overrule your free will. We have many opportunities in this life to come to him, the Holy Spirit will convict and draw you to God. However, the more times you reject him, the harder your hearts become towards him. When this happens, there is a point where the Holy Spirit stops calling. This is called being reprobate. The only way you get in this position is by choice, by free will. This is why Paul said in Hebrews, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." ( Hebrews 3:15 ). Don't let your heart get hard towards God, soften it before him so that you can accept this gospel message.

In yesterday's verse, Paul said, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy" ( Romans 9:16 ). God is merciful towards you. He loves you and His desire is that you will come to him. Today, if you have never made responded to His call, do not harden your heart but accept with gladness the gospel message which has the power to save you. Today, I rejoice in the fact that I am saved. God's power will be displayed in my life because I am His child and my will is His own. Today, may the Lord bring you revelation of this important truth, amen!