1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Man is made up of three parts – Spirit, Soul (which includes the mind, will and emotions) and Body. Some people only recognize 2 parts (i.e. the soul and the body), and some only one (i.e. the body). But the Scripture clearly differentiates between the spirit, soul and body.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is able to divide between the soul (thoughts) and spirit (intents of the heart). The soul and the spirit of man are clearly and distinctly different! A wise man will use the Word to help differentiate what is emanating from the heart that is led by the Spirit and what is emanating from his intellect which is part of the soul.
When we are receptive to the fact that God leads us by the Spirit then we are responsive to new things given to us intuitively and spontaneously. We are open to new ideas from the Lord because His thoughts are not our thoughts neither are His ways ours! In order to be accessible to His way of doing things in our lives including in our businesses and strategies, we need to tap into His creativity by receiving from Him in our spirit during our closet time, in the car, while walking or in a business discussion. Sometimes when we have just woken up, God will drop an idea into us before our soul (i.e. intellect and mind) is overwhelmed by the input from the world. It is important to emphasize that our mind needs to be renewed so that it will not reject what we have received spontaneously and intuitively in our “spirit man”.
The importance of knowing the difference between our spirit, soul and body is a foundational truth. It will affect our understanding in many areas of the Christian life. It will aid us in growing and developing spiritually, and in developing the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Faith is of the spirit, so it will help us in living a life of faith. It will affect our understanding of righteousness. It will also help us to walk in the spirit and to live a holy life. It will affect our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in our life, including being led by the Holy Spirit.
Each of the three parts requires certain responsibilities from us and God’s Word specifically tells us what to do with each part of our being. Not properly dividing the three will hinder us in many areas of our Christian life.
Sermon Series : From The Closet to the Street (Part 2)
理解我们的三方组成是一个基本的真理
对圣灵的敏锐不会发生在一夜之间，也不是在某个紧急情况下才开启，而是从暗室里开始的。这是一个你可以独处的地方，隐蔽的，以便祷告能够专注和有质量。
我们需要了解人的构造，以便训练和发展我们的灵，使之能觉察到圣灵的引导。当我们了解了人的构造，我们就知道如何在暗室中，在我们的日常活动中，以及在会议室里，领受神的恩赐。
帖撒罗尼迦前书5：23愿赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣！又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我们主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘。
人是由三部分组成的——灵,魂（包括思想、意志和情感）和身体。有些人只认识两个部分（即魂和体），有些人只认识一个部分（即体）。但圣经对于灵，魂和体作出了明确的区分。
罗马书4:12神的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快，甚至魂与灵，骨节与骨髓，都能刺入、剖开，连心中的思念和主意都能辨明。
神的话语能够剖开魂（思想）和灵（心中的思念和主意）。人的灵与魂界线清晰，截然不同！有智慧的人会用神的话来帮助自己区分什么是发自内心也就是被圣灵引导的，以及什么是来自头脑的，而那是属于魂的部分。
当我们接受这事实就是神藉著圣灵引导我们，我们便会对直觉和自发的新事物作出反应。我们愿意接受来自主的新主意，因为祂的意念非同我们的意念，祂的道路也非同我们的道路！为了了解祂在我们生命中的行事方式，包括我们的企业和策略，我们需要利用祂的创造力，在我们的暗室里，在车里，在散步或在商业讨论中，在我们的灵里领受祂。有时候，当我们刚刚睡醒，神会在我们的魂（理智和心思）还没被世界所干扰之前，将一个想法灌输给我们。必须要强调的是，我们的心意需要更新，这样这心意就不会拒绝我们的“内在灵人”心血来潮式地或直觉地领受到的东西。
了解我们的灵魂和体的区别的重要性是一个基本的真理。这会影响我们对信徒生命的许多方面的理解。这将帮助我们属灵的成长和发展，并在我们的生命中结出圣灵的果子。信心是出于灵，所以这会帮助我们活出一个有信心的生命。这会影响我们对公义的理解。这也会帮助我们的灵程行走，过圣洁的生活。这也会影响我们对圣灵在我们生命中所作之工的理解，包括跟从圣灵的带领。
这三个部分中的每一部分都要求我们承担相应的责任，而神的话语明确地告诉我们如何处理我们存在的每一部分。不恰当地划分这三者，会阻碍我们信徒生活的许多方面。
讲道系列：从内室到大街 (第二部分)