The Hinge of the Soul

Scripture:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Observation:

The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon's knife, God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our lives.

Application:

Hebrews 4:12 says "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, and of the joints and marrow..."

Notice that the joints are compared to the soul and the marrow is compared to the spirit. The joints are to the human body as the soul is to the three-part man. The soul is a joint or link.

Just as my elbow is a joint joining two things, so my mind, or my soul, is a link. It connects my spirit with my body, and whichever way it swings, the other one just follows. That is why the Bible says in Romans 8:6 that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So, again, the mind is the hinging point.

Remember that every man is made up of a body, soul, and spirit. The body is world conscious. The soul is self conscious. The spirit is God conscious. The body represents the Adamic nature that we were born with. It is the old man, the flesh that we wrestle with so often. The spirit represents the new man who came back to life when we got saved. Our new man is the new creation we become every day when we choose to make Jesus Lord of our life's.

The soul is our emotions, our intellect, our mind. It is imperative that it is renewed every day through God's Word. The soul is the hinge between our body and spirit. Whichever way our soul goes, our day goes. If our soul is renewed daily, it hinges towards our new man and we walk in the spirit! If we don't take the time to renew our soul, it hinges towards our body, or flesh and we walk carnally.

The Bible has much to say about the soul. It tells us that we are to renew our minds. It also tells us that God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. The Bible says whatsoever things are lovely or of a good report, we are to think on these things. To think you must use your mind. The Bible also says the Lord will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is stayed on Him. The Word says, "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul: and all that is within me..." (Psalm 103:1.)

You see, the part of man that gives him trouble, if he is born-again, is not his spirit; it is his un-renewed mind.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer 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.

We will either walk according to our body (outward man, flesh) or the inward man (new creation that should be renewed daily). The "hinging point" is our mind. Whichever way our mind goes, we go along with it. If we do not renew our mind, if we do not allow God to transform us through His Word, then we "hinge" towards our flesh, outward man. If we spend time in the Word of God, prayer, and fellowship with the Spirit, then we will "hinge" towards the inward man.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Since so much in our Christian walk rides on the "hinge" of our soul (mind, emotions, intellect) we need to make certain it is being renewed every day through the precious, powerful Word of God! Every day God will speak something into your spirit man that you can think on all day. Have you taken time to hear Him today? Then mediate on that thought all day long, because that will help swing your soul one way or the other!

Prayer:

"Lord, I thank you for this Word today. Thank You for teaching me that the Soul is the hinge between my spirit and body, or between my renewed inward man, and decaying outward man. I must die to my flesh daily. I must renew my spirit man daily. I must be careful what I think and dwell on today. I want my soul to hinge towards my new, inward man all day long today. I thank You for Your Holy Spirit who will help me with this goal. In Jesus' name, amen!"