Your Spirit has been made alive to God and you have the Holy Spirit living with you in this temple of flesh.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 AMP
It is possible for your spirit, soul and body to be kept blameless and sanctified in the sight of God. Your body is an instrument of righteousness according to Romans 6.
We need to understand that we have come into the newness of life and we are supposed to walk and live this life daily. If you don’t see the possibility of your spirit, soul and body being sanctified, you will never walk in the reality. So I am bold enough to declare to us that the physical body can be holy and can remain holy. Your soul also can be holy and can also remain holy, depending on what you make of it.
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”. Romans 6:4 ESV
Your Responsibility in Sanctification
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”. Romans 12:1-2 ESV
It is your responsibility to present your body as a living sacrifice which God delightfully accepts if offered according to his precepts. There’s a way you can present your body to God that will make him to reject it or make it acceptable to him.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” 1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV
The Bible says that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are not your own. It’s very important to ensure that we are offering a sacrifice that is pleasing to the Lord. We have no excuse in presenting an unacceptable sacrifice as it relates to our body.
The body isn’t the enemy because God calls it his own temple therefore, we should see the body as God’s own property. When you see your body as God’s property it will give you confidence and boost your faith against the devil and his tricks. You’ll be bold enough when you tell the devil to get out, and it will be easier to anchor yourself in the provision of God. When we stop claiming ownership of our body, we can easily yield the body as an instrument of righteousness to God.
By the Spirit, we take care of this body and yield it to God in obedience. The life of God comes from the Spirit, and the supply of life is spiritual because our spirit has been made alive to God. Since the body and soul isn’t born again we have to reprogram ourselves. We can reprogram the soul by the renewing of the mind or we can continue to reprogram ourselves under sin which will lead to death. It’s a choice that every believer has to make if they are going to live a sanctified life. The Holy Spirit will not force you to a life of obedience, you can yield your body as an instrument of unrighteousness, or you can yield your body to the Spirit of God by obedience as an instrument of righteousness.
Practicing Obedience in the Soul
Practicing obedience by the help of the Holy Spirit will determine the nature of this so-called flesh and will determine what the flesh is accustomed or drawn to. If you train the soul in sin, your body will yield to negative sinful desires. If you train your soul unto righteousness, you will see your body repelling sin and your body will become comfortable with righteousness. You have the power to determine the direction of your body, your body can become an instrument of righteousness or wickedness.
The process of reprogramming your soul will help you conform to the ways of the kingdom of God.
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 NIV
When we become born again, our spirit is made alive to God but the soul and body isn’t born again. Now, it’s your responsibility by the help of the Holy Spirit, to govern the soul which will impact the course of the body. Some people curse their flesh because of the weaknesses they see but this is not the right response, Christ has given us power over the body and soul. As you submit to the Holy Spirit, you will gain inspiration, receive instructions and guidance to live in the newness of life.
"In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." Ephesians 2:2 NIV
When you yield your soul to the influence of the Holy Spirit, the body will follow suit. You have the power to train your senses. Once you realize this, the battle against the flesh is 100% won. Some people think demons control their body, and they blame everything on demons, which is inaccurate.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” 2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV
Listen, you are not fighting against flesh and blood, that includes your own flesh.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 NIV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV
The word of God outlines what we ought to think about, and God has given us the power to think on the things that are excellent. You are the gatekeeper and the one in charge of your mind. The problem is that, we’ve lived our lives yielding our minds to the prince of the power of the air and now we have to live the complete opposite. It takes the power of God to conform to your new nature of holiness.
It’s important to yield your mind to the Holy Spirit, and by the instrument of the word, your mind will be cultured in Godliness. This is the truth.
The Process of Transformation
You have to allow the process of transformation to take root in your soul. As you respond to the Holy Ghost, you will start bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
The battle is in the mind not the flesh. To focus on the flesh is like wanting to cut down a tree and you just keep trimming the branches every year, without cutting it from the root. We have to uproot the tree producing the works of the flesh, and allow the tree of the Spirit that produces the fruits of the Spirit to grow!
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV
The process of transformation is warfare, not against flesh and blood but against strongholds, thoughts, arguments and imaginations contrary to the obedience of Christ. He has given us divine power to demolish strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. You have the responsibility to war against every thought, lofty opinion and argument that is disobedient to Christ. You have the power to refuse to yield yourself to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works rebellion and disobedience.
The believer has God in His Spirit, so by the help of the Holy Spirit, he can exercise this power over demons. We by the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the flesh. You are a child of God, sin is not in your Spirit, but you have to reprogram your mind and by so doing, reprogram what your body responds to. That’s how you put to death the deeds of the flesh. So, the battle is in the mind, the soul is where the control is established. That’s why the scripture says that our weapons are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds!
When the enemy wants to overpower a community, demons look for a place that can secure their occupancy, and they make it their stronghold. Somewhere that is not easily penetrable, a station of control.
Now that you are born-again, you’ve been empowered to pull down strongholds. The more you yield your members as instruments of righteousness in obedience to the word of God, the more you see the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Believer
The Holy Spirit helps us to live in a way that is pleasing to him. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not proof of alignment with him. The fruit of the Spirit is the mark of a believer that reveals the true walk of faith. The devil cannot manifest the fruit of the Spirit but he can fake the gifts of the Spirit. In the last days the very elect will be deceived because of miracles(gift of spirit).
We deal with strongholds and arguments, not external arguments per se, but arguments that take place in our minds. For example When the Holy Spirit gives an instruction and your mind is trying to decide whether to obey the Holy Spirit or yield to the prince of the power of the air (the spirit of disobedience in the air). We come against opinions raised against the knowledge of God. For example in the garden of Eden the devil raised an opinion that was against the instructions given by God. In these cases, we come against these thoughts by yielding our minds to obey the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
Take a note of the following:
1. You are Spirit
2. You Have the Holy Spirit in you
3. Your Spirit is born again
4. By the Spirit the soul and body are becoming born again(transformed)
Transformation is your responsibility. It’s how much you yield to the Holy Spirit that will make it happen, or you can choose to be a slave of the powers of darkness and your flesh will be an instrument of unrighteousness, because you are yielding to demonic influence. One of the very key evidence of demonic influence is disobedience. Some believers will excuse themselves for not meeting God’s standards while God has empowered them to meet His standard, it’s a sign of the spirit of disobedience at work. By nature, you are one with God in your Spirit. All God wants you to do is fellowship in your Spirit and then the Holy Spirit will start inspiring you and nudging you (by the word of God) to yield your soul to righteousness.
We have passed from death to life and that is why we are very uncomfortable with sin. The word of God says we’ve been made alive to God. You are a child of God delivered from the dominion of darkness, you are no longer a slave to sin and death.
You are God’s own! Learn to live from the influence of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Start responding to the instruction of the Holy Spirit as you read the word of God. As you read the word of God start responding to him. Even when he corrects you in some areas that are difficult, look to him so he can enable you. That is how to live the life!
Submit to God, Resist the Devil and He Will Flee
In the fight against sin, we can’t win unless we start submitting to God. We can’t resist the enemy while living in rebellion and disobedience. Therefore it’s important to start defining your identity as a citizen of the kingdom of God. We have to boldly declare our new life in Christ against every deceit of the devil in the form of thoughts.
“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:4 ESV
I’ve had to say no to a lot of things in resisting against sin. I’ve had to say no to some kind of people! You have the right to do that! If they are poisonous to your environment, do it! The Bible says if your right hand will cause you to sin, cut it off! Do it! You have to cut off some things!
We can’t engage the will and kingdom of God with a worldly mindset. That’s why you see, the Bible says that, we fight against strongholds, arguments, opinions raised against the knowledge of God, thoughts, so you don’t want your mind to be a control centre of darkness. You want your mind to be a control centre of the Holy Ghost. So when you start keeping your mind clean, guess what will happen to your body? Your body will start becoming clean.
In Joshua 1:8, the Bible says,
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night that you may observe to do what is written in it for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
You have to meditate on it day and night, culture your mind with the thoughts of God. Work on your mind with the instructions in the scriptures and the Holy Spirit will start torch lighting the scriptures, pointing out things that will establish you in righteousness! When thoughts that are contrary to the will of God are firing at high energy in your mind, engage the technology of spiritual confession. Start speaking what God says about you and the circumstance because death and life is in the tongue and before you know it, the forces that are fighting in your mind will submit to the direction your tongue is speaking.
Wellness of Your Soul
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 1:2 ESV
Your total wellness is tied to the wellness of your soul! So about your body that is sick, it’s not really just your body that you should focus on. What truth do you allow to rule your soul? What truth are you holding on to in your mind?
Dear friend, until you culture your mind in the things of God, your body will never yield in the direction that pleases God.
Every demonic power that controls people, controls people with thoughts, opinions, ideologies, and beliefs.
There are two battles for your mind: God needs your mind, the devil also needs your mind. The devil cannot do anything on earth without the participation of human souls. That’s why Jesus was so particular, when he said ”what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”
There are many believers who are born-again, but don’t understand that they should deliver their soul, they still yield their soul as an instrument of unrighteousness. Just like demons can control men with thought, opinions, ideologies, beliefs, that’s how the Holy Spirit also wants to control your life with thoughts opinions, ideologies and beliefs. That’s why if you go back to 2 Corinthians 10:4, you have to deal with strongholds. You have to pull down arguments in your mind. You have to deal with opinions against the knowledge of God. you have to deal with contrary thoughts that are not consistent with the will of God.
If you’re used to being poisonous with your tongue, you don’t want to be poisonous anymore! The Bible says that a river doesn’t produce sweet water and bitter water at the same time. You now produce life! Sweetness must come out of your tongue to heal, encourage and empower people! The Holy Spirit will control your life if you can allow the Holy Spirit to dominate your thoughts. Thank you Holy Spirit!
So, you see where the battle is, you see that your mind is the battle ground, you see that your mind is not your enemy. Your mind is under your control. Your body is under your control!
Confessions:
My mind is not under the control of the devil.
My soul is not under the control of the devil.
My will and my emotions are not under the control of the devil.
I am born again, I’ve been made alive to God by the help of the Holy Spirit. I rule my mind, I rule my will, I rule my emotions, my body follows and brings glory to God in Jesus’s name. Amen!
