DISCERNING SOUL AND SPIRIT

 

DISCERNING SOUL AND SPIRIT By Frank Mceleny For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Over the last several months, our little house church has been studying Hebrews 4:12. What does it mean to have the soul separated from the spirit, why is it necessary? It has been a rich study, and in the last few weeks I have posted some of my own thoughts on the subject. I pray they have been a blessing to some. A few days ago the Holy Spirit, dropped into my spirit, the analogy of the conjoined twin, and the vastly complicated procedures it requires to separate them. Here are some of my thoughts on that... The writer to the Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is "living and powerful... piercing even to the division of soul and spirit." This is no ordinary distinction. Soul and spirit are so intimately joined that only the living Word of God can separate between them. They are not confused in God's sight, but they are often confused in ours. Perhaps the closest illustration is that of conjoined twins. They are distinct persons, yet so intricately joined that they may share blood vessels, muscles, sinews, and even vital organs. To separate them requires extraordinary skill. In a far deeper spiritual sense, the soul and the spirit are so closely associated that only the Great Physician, through His living Word, can distinguish one from the other. This is why Hebrews does not first speak of deeds, ministries, or outward acts. Instead, it immediately says that the Word is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Two believers may perform the very same outward act. Both may preach, pray, worship, give, or serve. To human eyes the actions appear identical, yet one may spring from communion with God while the other proceeds from the self-life within the soul. Outwardly they look the same; inwardly they are worlds apart. The greatest deception, therefore, is not always between good and evil, but between what is spiritual and what is merely soulish. The soul is capable of producing what appears deeply spiritual, while self quietly remains upon the throne. Only the Word of God can divide between soul and spirit, exposing the true source of our thoughts, motives, and intentions, revealing whether they arise from the regenerated spirit or from the self-life that still seeks its own way. Used with permission of Frank Mceleny on Facebook CLICK HERE https://www.facebook.com/fmceleny

 

SATAN CHAINED IN THE ABYSS

 

SATAN CHAINED IN THE ABYSS Study of Revelation Continued REVELATION 20.1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 20.2 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 20.3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. -WEB Bible Jesus doesn’t make any effort to manage Satan: he allows Michael the archangel to do it. Satan set himself up against God, but God won’t give the satisfaction of a personal face-off. In history past, Satan was a beautiful archangel named Lucifer. Now, Lucifer is imprisoned by one of his own kind. It is disappointing that Satan is only locked up for 1000 years. I was hoping that, with the return of Jesus Christ, this would be the end of the evil mastermind. But God intends to use the fallen angel one last time, at the end of the Millennium; and then Satan will also be thrown into the lake of fire. This study of Revelation will continue on Thursdays. IMAGE CREDIT: The Archangel Michael Defeats Satan, by Guido Reni, circa 1632

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. Sip… Happy Wednesday! Last evening I was swimming, and my wife was skimming the pool. I swim for shoulder exercise and sometimes when I swim I remember THAT day. I told my wife many years ago my brother saved my life. She already knows, but I told her again about that evening nearly 50 years ago. I took a big leap into the pond. I was 11 or 12, I don’t remember the exact age. I could swim if all went well, but this time I jumped out further than I usually did and when I hit the water I panicked. All I remember was water, huge gulps of water. My older brother noticed I came up, down, up, and down, than I wasn’t coming back up. He sensed I was in big trouble. He quickly swam out, grabbed me by my hair and drug me in. I lay on the beach, gasping. I felt like my head was exploding. I was in a daze for a long time. There is no doubt my brother saved my life. I told my wife that had I died that night I believe I would have been saved. I was already God conscience at that point and would at times go off alone to pray. Prayer to me has always been conversation with God. Very real. Nothing religious about it, just plain talk to God. Wouldn’t it have been better to die young? And avoid all the sin and corruption that would later be my life? I believe there was a reason for my extended life. Having now lived another 50 years and experienced life I will worship differently than I would have had I died at a young age, I will now worship as one who was a prodigal, a sinner, as one who had wandered far away. I will worship as one who had been a lone lost sheep, as one who God came seeking and brought back to the fold. I will worship as one who now knows that salvation is of the Lord. Totally and completely. You worship differently on the other side of the GRACE experience. That is some of what my wife and I talked about last night by the pool. Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. #coffeethoughts on Facebook Used with Permission

 

HE WILL HOLD ME FAST

 

HE WILL HOLD ME FAST By Ada Habershon, 1906 When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast! Refrain: He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.  I could never keep my hold, He must hold me fast; For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast. [Refrain] I am precious in His sight, He will hold me fast; Those He saves are His delight, He will hold me fast. [Refrain]  He'll not let my soul be lost, Christ will hold me fast; Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast. [Refrain] Amen. This 120-year-old hymn has been updated. You can listen to the lovely new version on YouTube: HE WILL HOLD ME FAST: CLICK HERE

 

THE GOD WHO SEES ME

 

THE GOD WHO SEES ME “You are the God who sees me!” Genesis 16:13 We all live in God’s presence, even if we're not aware of it. His eye is always on us. His face always shines upon us. As Christians we say this often, but many of us don’t really let the truth sink into our hearts. If we did, we would live holier lives. We wouldn’t neglect our work as we so often do, if we truly believed that God is watching us as we go about our tasks. This awareness of God’s presence should also give us hope and courage in dark times, just as it did for Hagar, who said, “You are the God who sees me!” Some people view God’s omniscience as a reason for fear and dread, but for Hagar, it was a source of love and care. God had not forgotten her or abandoned her. Though she was homeless and had a young son to care for, the Lord saw Hagar and provided for her needs. If we are God’s children, the thought of His presence should always comfort us, and make us feel secure. It is a wonderful thing to live before God, to know that His eye is upon us, and to be so familiar with Him that we are not afraid of Him. By J.R. Miller DO YOU RECOGNIZE THESE COMMON PHRASES?