Using the Tri-part Being

Now that we got through the definitions and introduction we can start on the "meat" of the book, Journey into Spirit Life. Let's begin.
Scientists have long explained to us that we use only a tiny portion of
our brain, some using less than others. The same could be said for the bodies of most men and women. Look at the athlete who has pushed his body to a more full potential. Look at the brilliant scholar who has pressed his mind toward its potential. We do not deny that man has neglected full potential of mind and body but contend that we, nonetheless, give a tremendous amount of attention to inputting knowledge into our brain or soul. We also use it to contain enormous amounts of emotion. That emotion and our knowledge of life result in reasoning and that reasoning determines our decisions or will. The body, when cooperative, then lives out that will. We contend that, if indeed we use our minds or souls at far less than their potential (and we do), we must use the spirit to even less degree of potential. Man's spirit must be the most neglected part of the tri-part being. How much time do we spend developing the spirit? For they that are after the flesh [body + soul] do mind the things of the flesh; but theythat 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. -Romans 8: 5-6
We become "spiritually minded" by allowing the development of our spirit to become dominant over our flesh, our soul and body. In the perfected or matured believer, the spirit is dominant over flesh, resulting in more abundant life. Now, we are not contending that absolute perfection can be achieved in the earthly realm. We do, however, contend that believers have set their sights far too low and can achieve a much higher plane of maturity or perfection in their spirit that typically anticipated. We will sometimes refer to this maturity as perfected love. 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. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. -Romans 8: 7-14

Word of the year

On my way to work this morning I was listening to my favorite radio station, KLOV out of Tulsa, Ok. They were talking about selecting a word of the year. Well, a couple of weeks ago I decided to pick out a work of the year after reading a blog on that I follow. I actually have two words. The first one is WORSHIP. I really feel the need for more worship of Jesus in my life. He is so good to me and I have not really thanked Him enough. I want to worship my God more than I ever have this year. In every church service we have had so far this year, I feel this need to worship just flowing out of me, of bowing down and falling on my face before God to worship him more and more. So my word of the year is "worship".
I said I actually have two words and so the second word of the year for me is EXPECTATION. I can feel it in the air, this expectation. I am expecting great things for me and my family this year; new additions, new healings, new lives brought back, prayers answered that have been a very long time in coming.
I think these two words are actually very good together because pouring out my worship to God will bring answered prayers that I am expecting to become realities.

Miscellaneous

What a lovely service for Sara yesterday, so touching and so inspirational. Sara loved God with all her heart and wanted others to love and know God also. She touched many through her life and now through her death. She has left a wonderful legacy for her daughters.

Snow!!! I love it. We just don't get enough down here in Arkansas although lots of people think we get too much.

Hopefully we will get more soon like more than an inch or two. I know those of you who get LOTS and LOTS of snow probably think I'm nuts but we just don't get enough for me. BUT...after one good deep snow I will be ready for warmer weather. I have so much I want to do outside but right now I just want to stay warm and cozy with a good bowl of soup, a nice fire in the fireplace and either a good book or old black and white movie. My kind of day.

Sara

Yesterday we lost a dear friend way too early. Sara Pearson Cruz, wife, mother, daughter, best friend. Today she is in the presence of Jesus. Sara was such a sweet person, loved life to the fullest, loved her husband and her two precious little girls more than life. We will always remember Sara. Love you Sarabear, as my Jess would call her.

Definitions

Today we are going to look at several definitions to get us started in the book Journey into Spirit Life. I hope you are benefiting from this. Let's begin by looking at some definitions which we will adhere to throughout this book: body - The body is the container in which our spirit and soul are deposited. It is the physical shell in which we function. Pretty important, huh? God formed the body from dirt and it was lifeless.

soul - The soul is our mind. It contains our emotions, our reasonings and our will. We may think of the soul as the mind or brain. It is our thought process. It defines who we are, our personality. Man became a living soul when the breath of God was breathed into that clay body. Genesis 2:7 says precisely that. And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of fife; and man became a living soul.
spirit - The spirit is the breath of God. It is the spirit that gives life (John 6:63). Without the spirit, there is no life. The spirit is the human spirit breathed into man by God.
This is not the Holy Spirit but the human spirit. When the spirit was breathed into the body of man, man became a living soul. In other words, the body is impregnated by the breath or spirit and the soul is produced. Man then becomes a tri-part being of spirit, soul and body.
flesh - We will refer to flesh as the cooperation between the body and the soul. The body often responds, for example, to the emotions and reasonings of the soul and cooperates to live out the fruit of that reasoning. We call that the will of man.
For example, your body feels tired, your emotions are on edge, you reason that you must have rest, and your body cooperates to lie down and sleep. Cooperation of soul and body can be a normal, good function. Often, however, our emotions and reasonings go astray and veer outside of God's plan for our lives, even into those areas deemed as sin and harmful to man. The body can be quite cooperative in those areas as well!

We'll actually begin the "meat" of the book next week.

Journey into Spirit Life

Today is the introduction to Gary's book, Journey into Spirit Life. I will be posting segments of his book every Tuesday and I hope you enjoy it and gain some insight into your daily walk with God. As we go through this book, if you would like a copy, they are available on Amazon.com or you can email me and I will send you a copy.

INTRODUCTION
This is a book about living life in Christ. This book is for new believers or believers in any season of their journey who want more of the abundance promised in Christ. For believers who want to reach the mark of their high calling in Christ Jesus, living the Christian life to the fullest, finding their place in the Kingdom. This book is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly”. Many believers long for that abundance in their lives but never know how to reach it, often fruitlessly struggling for it in their flesh.

Most believers, indeed most all people, live their life out of the abundance of their soul rather than out of the abundance of their spirit. This creates a dilemma for God intended that man's spirit be dominant, ruled by His Word. The soul and body, known as flesh, are to be submissive and work in harmony with spirit. Together, in the progress of this book, let us reckon ourselves to be alive unto God through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11). The Greek word for "alive" means "to have true, active, blessed, endless, vital, fresh, vigorous, powerful, efficient life". We are commanded to reckon ourselves to be that alive!

Isn't that the life you desire? Don't you want to know your place in the Kingdom of God more fully? Don't you want to progressively look more like your Heavenly Father, living out the truth that you are "created in His image"? Don't you want to be everything He intends you to be? Don't you want to know the fullness of God's plan for your life? Don't you want to give Him glory by your vital, active, powerful, vigorous life in Christ? We pray that all who read this book will receive revelation by the Holy Spirit. For it is possible to red every word, feel you have been blessed with good information and continue with life as usual. On the other hand, you can receive the information here along with revelation by the Spirit. Revelation brings revolution in your life, affecting transformation. This is revelation which transforms you progressivelyinto the image of your Heavenly Father.

Happy New Year!

Well, yes I am just a few days late BUT...I think I can still say Happy New Year. I am very excited about this new year, very expectant for lots of prayers being answered. Gary and I have been praying for several things for well over ten years now, probably more like 15 (sorry but these are kind of private, so I won't go into them here) and we are fully expecting them to be answered this year. You know when you get that "feeling" about something, that kind of excitement? When you just "know" that you know? That's what I am feeling. I am not hopeful that these prayers are going to be answered like I have been in past years, I absolutely KNOW down deep in my spirit that these prayers are going to be answered this year. This is going to be a year of addition to our family, a year of coming home and a year of awakening. Praise you Jesus. We are a very blessed family indeed.
On another note: I am going to begin this year by posting parts of Gary's book Journey into Spirit Life. I hope you enjoy it and will take something back with you.  I will be posting this on Tuesdays, so look for this tomorrow.