Healing of the body, soul and spirit

https://youtu.be/NVwe8wxVJ38

Genesis 2:7 NKJV And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

When God created man, three parts were made; the body, the soul and the spirit.   It was an absolutely perfect creation of God.

God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to serve his purpose of worship in the garden of Eden but they abused the freedom instead of obeying God they obeyed the devil. We are all free to use the freedom God has given us in whichever way we want however, it is clear that this freedom is meant to do the will of God, to worship God, to serve Him, to be his people and for Him to be our God.

Man fell and it affected him in 3 areas;

In the body

In the soul and

in the area of his spirit

 

The Body:

Men developed a body that is mortal. 

Genesis 3:19 NKJV In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you [are,] And to dust you shall return."

After this condition of dying (mortal), the body needs healing because God  intends it to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

We know that the only way we can glorify God in our body is first of all accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This means we ought to receive physical healing here on earth, that is why Jesus Christ went about healing many sick people- to Glorify God.

The Soul:

The soul also includes the mind

The soul is separated from God and God  wants us to come back to Him. Separation also means spiritual death because we are not born again.

Why is the soul is so important to God? Ezek.18:19-21

Mark 8:36-37 NKJV For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

So then, according to Jesus if the soul is the most important thing,  it shouldn't be lost but saved. The ultimate healing for the soul is salvation. If you repent of your sins and accept Jesus as personal Savior and Lord, this answers the question whether your soul is saved.

The mind: 

Before the fall the mind was prefect, It got corrupted after the fall.

Genesis 6:5-6 NKJV Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Out of man's heart come evil thoughts Mark.7:20-23 these evil thoughts lead us to all sorts of evil. to have a renewed mind is what we need. To have godly thoughts, praise worthy thoughts, these things only found in the word of God. 

Philippians 4:8 NKJV Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

When our soul and mind are healed then our thinking patterns will also be healed.

 

The spirit: 

Before the fall, man's spirit was connecting very well with the Spirit of God

But after the fall the spirit in man died. We were separated from the creator through our spirit by sin. But thank God he gave us a solution to our problem of separation and spiritual death.

When we are dead in the body that is physical death but when we are dead in the spirit because of our sin, that is spiritual death.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

Therefore we have hope despite the fall that spiritually and even physically separated us from God that everyone who believes shall be saved and receive the healing of God in the soul mind and body.

The healing of the body, soul and mind absolutely depends on what you do with this Jesus Christ. If by accepting him as a personal Savior and Lord, He will heal you and make you a child of God and make you a fellow heir in the Kingdom of God.

Amen.

RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHRIST’S GLORY-THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

THREE PERSPECTIVES.

1. The power of being forgiven by God – (Focus on) God’s initiative to save mankind by reconciling us back to God through Christ. 

2. The power of a repentant lifestyle towards God and fellow brethren. 

3. The power a changed/freed heart – The condition of my heart.  

Preamble 

 We are relational beings. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so he made him a companion. He made us in His image and likeness so that there would be a comparable basis to relate with us. 

 Our relationship with God gives the benchmark for all other vital relationships of life. God charges us to love one another as He has loved us. Not how we choose to. E.g., He charges men to love their wives as Christ loves the church, children implored to obey their parents in the Lord because it right. (John 15:12, Ephesians 5)

 Until we experience the love of God for ourselves, we are not able to pass it on to those we love. We also falter at how we relate to others.  

 Forgiveness is God’s idea and beacon to help us restore broken relationships with both God and fellow brethren.  

 How do we then can we appreciate/measure up this standard of life?

1. The power of being forgiven by God – Our salvation, through a reconciled relationship with God by Christ.

*Meet God Ephesians 2:1-18.

1.1 Humility – Let us never forget where the Lord brought you from, otherwise we lose sense of how much we have been forgiven (Vs 1-3). 

Pastor Amos, the one who has been forgiven the bigger debt forgives more.

– We were dead in our transgressions and sins, following the ways of this world (the desires and thoughts of this contrary to God). Some of us born in Christian households.

– By nature, we were deserving the wrath of God. Script. _ We cannot live without Him, we had no clue that we were lost, and dead. 

1.2 But God great love for us, God who is rich in mercy made us alive through Christ’s death. (Vs. 4)

– The forgiveness from God was not our initiative, not even of how great our great sin was or how remorseful we were (we were dead anyway) but rather because of God’s great love and mercy for us that we are now reconciled to God. To life. 

– The core of forgiveness is experiencing the love and mercy of God.

– David says, (Psalms 32:1) blessed is the man whose sin is not accounted on him. Normally, the transaction of recompense of sin is that the perpetuator pays, here God paid. Imagine that!  

1.3 Christ Himself is our peace, through His body He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility between us and God. 

– We have free accesses to God. No longer enemies of God but children of God. Seated in heavenly places. 

– You have got status. God has raised you up and seated with Christ and seated us with Him in heavenly places. Far above principalities and dominions of this world. 

– Convinced that you do not have it… Yes, you do. 

– You are healed, have a sound mind, above and where Christ has seated you, head and not the tail, you have got the mind of Christ, you are forgiven, the power of hell has no hold on you. God is not mad at you; you are on course for victory. 

– Seen an evil** pierced themselves with many evils

2. The power of a repentant lifestyle towards God and fellow brethren (Contrast of David & Saul)

I Samuel 15:24-30. 

Offender (seeks forgiveness through confession and repentance

Offended – offers forgiveness (Either of them may reach out to resolve the dispute) – Used interchangeably. 

2.1 When we are confronted (correct a sinful pattern or Christian discipline), God’s intention is that we are redeemed. He does not require us to validate wrong doings ourselves but rather humble ourselves before Him and thereby find strength to do what is right. King Hezekiah - Turned back to the wall and prayed 2 kings 20.

2.2 Chapter 16, God rejects Saul, anoints David. The kingdom is transferred ripped away from him. 

2.3 Vs 14, In exchange for the spirit of God and evil spirit tormented Saul.

2.4 From this point on, Saul never settled until his death. He had a conflicted heart. 

Reflections. 

 What could we be losing because we have things, egos, rights, we are holding onto?

 Could we be hurting/ because we fail to repent?

 Reflections from last Sunday (A renewed presence of God, perfect peace and change of hearts)

3. The power of a changed/freed heart. (The Contrast of David and Saul)

3.1 When David faced constant needless persecution from the very person that was supposed to mentor him, someone that had great advantage over him, he did not take vengeance in his hands though he had capacity to do so. He kept honoring Saul as king and Gods anointed one. I Samuel 24:8-13. 

3.2 Interestingly this is the same person that he was ministering to. Howbeit that the very place that was supposed to bring him great joy brought so much contention against him. What kind of resolute heart must David have had? This is not the person I first dated; he was not like this before. 

3.3 God can sustain us in the very place where we face the greatest opposition. 

3.4 The more Saul pursued David; the more David prospered whilst Saul’s life deteriorated. 

Reflections 

 Well as Saul kept pursuing David, he kept doing exploits, growing in favor before God and men as well as turning distressed people into an army, and conquering the enemies of Israel. (I Samuel 22-1-2)

 By doing good, we heap coals of fire on our haters Prov 25:21-22. 

 God can sustain us in the very place where we face the greatest opposition. 

Wrap Up.

1. The standards of God for life are high, we must reach out for them because they will not be lowered down to us. Just as God reconciled us to Himself and continually forgives us, He calls us out to extend the same grace to those that hurt us. 

2. Paul – (Gal 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live but Christ lives in me, the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith to the one who loved me and gave himself for me.  

3. Emulate Christ. 

Walking in forgiveness and its benefits ~Elinor Chemonges

BENEFITS OF WALKING IN FORGIVENESS

Walking in forgiveness is walking with the Lord, it starts with confession & repentance.

Psalms 51:4 NIV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so, you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 

Luke 15:18-21 NIV I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So, he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

When we sin, we do so against God this affects our relationship and we are alienated from his presence. 

1-WE RECEIVE PERFECT PEACE

Colossians 1:19-20 NIV For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Ephesians 2:11-16 NIV Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 

Philippians 4:7 NIV And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Our minds are troubled when we walk in unforgiveness

Therefore, we ought to think as Paul mentions in verse 8 above. It helps us to sustain the peace God has given us.

Philippians 2:5-11 NIV In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Christ cannot be formed in us till we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 NIV You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 

Unforgiveness affects the heart. Filling our hearts with rage and unforgiveness makes our hearts hard and cold. We are not able to have the mind of Christ in such a state.

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

When we seek forgiveness, God removes our hearts of stone and creates a heart of flesh and gives us peace.

The Lord searches our hearts and mind and rewards us according to our conduct.

2-CHANGE OF HEART

Psalms 51:10 NIV Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Psalms 51:17 NIV My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 

●Unforgiveness is sin and it makes God turn his face away from us, the Holy Spirit can't dwell in a body full of the fruit of unforgiveness.

●Sin casts us away from God's presence, but we are restored when we walk in forgiveness 

3-GOD RESTORES HIS PRESENCE IN US

"When GOD made man, he first created the environment, likewise our environment where we are made to thrive is in the presence of God, unforgiveness drives us out of this environment."

But thanks, be God who restores us when we return to him by walking in forgiveness and repentance. 

Summary of benefits of walking in forgiveness

●God will dwell in us

●He will renew our mind

●He restores us

●He takes away the heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh

●He brings us joy unspeakable

Walking in forgiveness_ Living as forgiven and a forgiving person

*Exodus 34:5-7 NIV*

_Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation."_

*Luke 7:39-50 NIV*

_When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."_

*$Walking in forgiviness begins with a forgiving God$* 

_Luke 7:49 NIV The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"_ 

This involves coming to Jesus and knowing him and his attributes.

*$Walking in forgiviness involves accepting forgivingess$* through two arms; *1-Confession* (agreeing with God  that am a sinner, sinful, weak  wretched, empty etc)  

*Psalms 32:1-5 NIV* _Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin._

*1 John 1:8-9 NIV* _If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness._

*2-Repenting* 

*Luke 15:17-18 NIV* 

_"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you._

_Sometimes the way forward is to turn back- in the economy of God it is to confess and repent._

We should repent genuinely and not because we were found out

*2 Corinthians 7:10 * 

_Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death._

*$Walking in forgiviness involves us walking worthy of God's calling$*

*Ephesians 4:1 I NKJV,* 

_therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,_

*$Walking in forgiviness demands me to preach forgiviness$*

If it is true, then someone  else needs to hear the message