Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

In last week’s study, we considered the spirit of man. That man is an eternal spirit and that the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. When we are led, it is by our spirits not our minds (which reside in our souls). There are some who don't believe there is a difference between the spirit and the soul; but the spirit and the soul are not the same.

In today’s study we will consider by looking at the scriptures

1. The relationship between the spirit and the soul
2. The differences between the spirit and the soul
3. Why it is important to know the difference
 

THE RELATIONSHIP

First we will look at the inferred relationship based on two scriptures:

1Thess 5:23 says,

“And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete…”

This scripture implies that humans are made of a spirit a soul and a body. It has been said that we are spirit beings, we live in bodies and we possess souls.

•The real person inside of us is our spirit.
•Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions; (our understanding and our natural human mentality).
•Our bodies are what we live in (earth suit) while we are here on earth.
Also Genesis 2:7 says:

“And the LORD God formed man (body) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul."

THE DIFFERENCE

Paul, by the Spirit of God, said that the spirit and soul can be divided by the Word of God in Heb. 4:12a.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. . .”

So it follows that if you can divide them, they cannot be the same – they are separate (different) but the Bible tells us that only the Word of God can divide the spirit and the soul.

1. With our spirits we contact the spiritual realm
2. With our souls we contact the intellectual realm.
See also 1 CORINTHIANS 14:14

“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

The Amplified translation reads, "For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive...."

Notice what Paul said.

"My spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." He did not say, "When I pray in an unknown tongue my soul prays." He said in effect, "I am not praying out of my soul when I pray in tongues; I am praying out of my spirit, my heart, my innermost being."

3. When we pray in tongues it’s our spirit that prays
4. Our souls (minds) have nothing to do with words we say when we speak in tongues
Jesus said in John 7:37-39

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But He spake of the Holy Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

As a result of receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, "out of the belly shall flow rivers of living water." Another translation reads, "out of the innermost being will flow rivers of living water."

5. Our spirits are made right with God, and raised to new life the moment we accept Jesus. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

6. Our souls are transformed by the renewing of our minds and by the washing of the Word, see Romans 12:2,
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR SPIRIT AND OUR SOUL?

Let’s consider Prov. 20:27 “The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one's inmost being.” (NIV)

1. We can only contact God (who is Spirit) by our spirits and not our souls.
2. It is by the spirit of man that God provides guidance
CONCLUSION

God guides us mostly by interacting with our spirits. It is our spirits He uses as a lamp to shed light on our paths. So we need to emphasize on what is more important: keeping our spirits alive and active. When we pray in the spirit, we energize and make our spirits active

Jude 1:20 says: “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit”

Having said that, we also need to pay special attention to our souls (our minds) because the soul is a portal to the spirit; and the decisions we make with our souls determine what happens to our spirits. Phil.4:8 says:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”