I’m a visual person.  I see concepts in pictures, and God is kind to bring truth, oftentimes in the form of visuals.  I have heard throughout my life that we are made up of three parts; body, soul, and spirit.  Their meanings were vague.  How does each part engage in the spiritual battle we face every day?   

The body ~ I understand.  It is flesh and blood.  It is mortal and subject to decay.  Satan inflicts disease, dysfunction, and, eventually, death, which is the final curse.

The soul ~ is our inner self. Our personality, our likes, dislikes, desires,  beliefs, goals and ambitions.  At birth, our soul is definitely in charge.  It is out to get its needs met.  We are selfish to the core.  The war of the flesh that Paul describes in his writings takes place in the landscape of the soul.  It is all-encompassing.   It looks like this. 

The spirit ~ is the place inside each believer where the Holy Spirit comes to dwell at the time of our salvation.  He moves in and witnesses to our spirit that we are God’s children.  The spirit is dead and useless to us until Jesus touches it and brings it from death to life.  It looks like this. 

However, it is apparent that proportionately, something needs to happen for the influence of the Spirit to rule the soul and to conquer the flesh.  The soul is so large and the spirit part of us is so tiny in comparison.  

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  I Corinthians 1:18 

The salvation Paul references is not the moment of salvation when we first believe.  He said we are ‘being saved’.  From the flesh.  This is a daily occurrence and is called sanctification.  What happens?  The influence of the Spirit, in our spirit, comes against the flesh and begs submission to God’s ways.  Every day, there are hundreds of opportunities to choose God’s way over my own way.   

Consider this last picture.  The internal world has shifted significantly.  The spirit is no longer small. What had to happen for the spirit to grow?  I worshipped. I studied the Word. I learned to meditate on it. I obeyed and followed Jesus in daily decisions.  My spirit increased in size and influence. Spiritual maturity is to live with a fattened spirit. James, Jesus’ half-brother, said, “Receive the word implanted which is able to save your soul.”  James 1:21  

Tony Evans said, “We must raise the cross above our own soul and hold a daily funeral.”  I love this.  It is daily.  God’s will over my will.  Deferring instead of rebelling.  Paul said, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Word divides soul and spirit.  It challenges what I want from what God’s will is for me.  It creates a juncture where a choice must be made.  I follow Jesus and watch my inner landscape conform to His image or I choose the way of my flesh and see the Spirit’s influence diminish.  Ask God to show you a picture of your inner world.  How fat is your spirit?  Are our churches made up of parishioners with puny little spirits?  The flesh is in charge.  Sanctification is choked out by the weeds of the flesh.  May it not be.  

I want to live by the Spirit.  Fully live.  A tree planted by streams of water that will not wither.  It will not break when the storms of life come.  To God be the glory.