What do I mean by "True Encouragement of the God Kind?"
We often think of encouragement as telling or hearing nice things about ourselves to lift us up. Sometimes, we need it because we are experiencing difficulty. Other times, we need encouragement because we rarely receive it; while at other times it's because we have done or said something praiseworthy. All this is true. But for true encouragement of the God kind, the kind that transforms the soul, it does not end there. But before we get into that discussion, let's talk about the soul and the spirit. We know the body is our physical presence, but not everyone knows the difference between the soul and the spirit. Many just link the together but they are very different components of the triune being of body, soul, and spirit. I'd like to point out the differences (and similarities) to get to the crux of our discussion about true encouragement. Please refer to your Bible's concordance for additional foundational Scriptures.
THE SOUL
So the human spirit, which becomes indwelt by the Holy Spirit at salvation [This is the model Jesus shared with Nicodemus in John 3 about entering the Kingdom of Heaven, makes the believer into another 'smaller' Jesus. You see the Father wants to fill heaven with His Son's lookalikes, not with registered aliens. By this I mean, people who sign up at some earlier point to follow Christ, but somehow forget the following part. They have registered but they are still aliens, strangers to Him. These are the ones to whom He refers when on that day, many will way, we did this thing or that thing in Your name, and He will reply, "I never knew you."
Matthew 7:21-23
No, we know that God is not mocked (duped). Whatever a person sows, that's exactly what he will reap, Galatians 6:7:
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE SOUL AND SPIRIT
We often think of encouragement as telling or hearing nice things about ourselves to lift us up. Sometimes, we need it because we are experiencing difficulty. Other times, we need encouragement because we rarely receive it; while at other times it's because we have done or said something praiseworthy. All this is true. But for true encouragement of the God kind, the kind that transforms the soul, it does not end there. But before we get into that discussion, let's talk about the soul and the spirit. We know the body is our physical presence, but not everyone knows the difference between the soul and the spirit. Many just link the together but they are very different components of the triune being of body, soul, and spirit. I'd like to point out the differences (and similarities) to get to the crux of our discussion about true encouragement. Please refer to your Bible's concordance for additional foundational Scriptures.
THE SOUL
Your soul is the essence of who you are as an individual, your personality, meaning your individual mind, will, and emotions. Your mind is where you process, file, and store information and memories, etc. Your will is just that, you decide to do or not to do something and you follow suit. Your emotions are you feelings a bout something or someone in a nutshell. Now, the soul may be operating from a place of true perception or delusion, that is completely false perception with no basis in the truth. In other words, a person may be making decisions that affect themselves and others from facts and the truth, or from fantasy and lies. When the Bible refers to the "flesh", it is actually referring to the soul of the person. The soul is very much active, alive making demands on the body all the time. This is the only unique part of us that is all us that is eternal. Until a person is individually and volitionally born again spiritually into Christ, the soul rules the roost and the spirit is dead.
THE SOUL OF THE BELIEVER BECOMES MORE CHILDLIKE AND ACTS MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS AS HE GROWS IN CHRIST; BUT THE SOUL OF THE UNBELIEVER IS MORE COMPLEX, MANGLED, AND INTERTWINED THAN A RUBIX CUBE.
THE SOUL OF THE BELIEVER BECOMES MORE CHILDLIKE AND ACTS MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS AS HE GROWS IN CHRIST; BUT THE SOUL OF THE UNBELIEVER IS MORE COMPLEX, MANGLED, AND INTERTWINED THAN A RUBIX CUBE.
THE SPIRIT
The spirit of the unregenerate person who has rejected Christ and does not have a personal relationship with Him, is dead. That is what happened at the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Man's spirit died and can only live again when revived, similar to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, upon submitting Jesus as Lord. Once the person gives his life over to Christ, He begins to take on the image of Christ. In other words, the Spirit of God comes to dwell in him to begin the transformation process, which lasts a lifetime. The Father's goal is to transform all Believers to look exactly like His Son. That is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:18 about true followers of Jesus Christ:
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.Do you see that? Those who follow Christ, which is doing as He did and still does, obey and do the will of the Father, are being transformed into Christ's image. And I might add that in the Father's eyes, that is a finished work. It is the Holy Spirit's job to get us to the finish line.
So the human spirit, which becomes indwelt by the Holy Spirit at salvation [This is the model Jesus shared with Nicodemus in John 3 about entering the Kingdom of Heaven, makes the believer into another 'smaller' Jesus. You see the Father wants to fill heaven with His Son's lookalikes, not with registered aliens. By this I mean, people who sign up at some earlier point to follow Christ, but somehow forget the following part. They have registered but they are still aliens, strangers to Him. These are the ones to whom He refers when on that day, many will way, we did this thing or that thing in Your name, and He will reply, "I never knew you."
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
No, we know that God is not mocked (duped). Whatever a person sows, that's exactly what he will reap, Galatians 6:7:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
So a person into whom the Holy Spirit seals the imaged of Jesus Christ is growing in His likeness all the time. There is on attempt to dupe or deceive God that Jesus is Lord where it is not borne out in the person's life.
THE REGENERATE SPIRIT OF A PERSON IS MARKED BY A CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY AND FAITH AND LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS AS TIME GOES ON.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE SOUL AND SPIRIT
Both the soul and the spirit are eternal. Both come into being at conception. Both are destined to look like Jesus and be like Him in word, in deed, and in thought.
GETTING A WORD FROM THE SOUL OF THE PERSON VS. GETTING ONE FROM GOD FOR THEIR SPIRIT
The soul also gives off information that a person who is a soul reader can pick up in the soul realm. This is dangerous territory on which to tread as that is the "business" of the occult and witchcraft. One needs to tread very carefully here not to use information gained in the soul realm to manipulate and control a person. You are not listening for the screaming loud voice of the soul but the still small voice of the Spirit. And if you are a soul-reader, never give a word from here to gain an advantage or some level of benefit. Always seek God for a word to encourage the person in their spirit. There are those today who instead of operating in a prophetic gift (which is always in service to God and not for our own gain) are actually engaged in the occult, which defined as "peering." These people peer into people's souls for their own benefit. I have even caught people trying to peer into my soul.
Word to the wise: A mature prophetic person is not so enamored of his or her own gifts; instead, their only object of admiration and adoration is God. We all go through that phase of amazing ourselves with the gift until we realize it's not so amazing to hear God and to do what He says. It's rather expected according to John 10:27. The encourager is simply acting in service to others as He represents the interests of God.
TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE GOD-KIND
Now that we have that background, back to our subject matter of true encouragement.
True encourage of the unregenerate and that which is aimed at the regenerate is not altogether different. Why? Because the spirit is the foundation of the person. To the one, unregenerate, their spirit is dead and not alive to God. To the other, regenerate, their spirit is alive, pointed to and defaults to a "yes" to God. It is the soul that battles against the spirit's desire to obey God.
So no matter how you slice it, encouraging the soul of a person who has not accepted Christ yet, will only make the person prouder and less likely to see their need to submit to God. TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT ADDRESSES THE SPIRIT OF THE PERSON. If the encourager is in touch with the living God and His Mediator Jesus Christ, God gives that person the key to open up the unregenerate spirit in an encouraging manner that sets them up to receive freedom in the Savior. Encouraging the regenerate soul and believer in Christ, gives another key to advance the person in his or her calling in God.
Therefore, if the desire is to "encourage" a person to walk in and toward Godliness, the person should first and foremost be encouraged in their spirit. The only difference between the type of encouragement is in the key God gives to encourage them, believer or non-believer. For example, an encouraging word from God for an unbeliever will contain a key to their salvation and subsequent freedom. Any word that works against that is not from God.
CONCLUSION:
This post came out of a prayer session where the non-believer was pumped up in the soul and in all of their accomplishments so that by the time the Spirit to spirit word came, "the Lord wants you to be like a childlike," the person was unable to align in order to agree and t submit to God. I pray that by God's grace it happened later on. To me it appeared as if the same hardness toward God came back. I was disappointed but I know that God is not moved by my disappointment and the fact is, His word cannot return to Him void. It will accomplish the task for which He sent it. My prayer is that the word took root and the Lord will work to bring life in dead areas of the heart and spirit..
Anyone can encourage the soul. As a matter of fact some of the largest churches are filled to the brim as the souls of the people are pumped up to self-importance, while God is touted as the blessing-machine and a sidekick. Friend, it takes a person who knows God, and whom God knows, to bring a now word of encouragement to someone who needs it.
The lesson I've learnt is that starting the prayer and encouragement time with a word from the Spirit of God to that person's spirit (not their soul) is foundational to the rest of the time and perhaps their life. It will cause them to decide whether to draw closer to God in humility or away from God in pride and smugness. I know God is still at work and will continue until He isn't. My concern is, we can never know when a person has rejected Him one too many times, or when their time on this earth is up.
As ministers, all members of the Body of Christ are sent to encourage people with the word of the Lord, not just a select few super-gifted people. And while there are different levels of gifting, anyone can prophesy if they have ever read the Bible. There's no higher form of prophecy than that. And the word may be as simple as "God loves you" or "God is going to help you today." Sometimes it's a directional word or a warning, but it is always the word of the Lord that the person needs at that time to encourage them.
Finally, I am not saying that God never addresses the soul of a person. After all, that is who the person is. However, when God (Who is Spirit) is the Source of the message, it is a spiritual word. In order for the word to be transformative He has to be the Source (via His Holy Spirit.) His keys are not soul keys but spiritual keys that unlock the soul. And you don't have to look far. The Bible is full of them.
KEY: WHEN GOD ASKS YOU TO ENCOURAGE A PERSON, BRING THE WORD HE IS GIVING OVER THEIR LIVES, NOT WHAT THEIR SOUL WANTS TO HEAR SO THAT IT CAN BE PUFFED UP. BRING THE SIMPLY WORD GOD HAS GIVEN FOR THAT PERSON THAT WILL OPEN THEM UP TO MORE OF HIM SO THAT THE ENCOURAGEMENT IS TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE GOD-KIND!!!!
Other Great Sources Along This Line and Right on Point are:
1. The Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest) for May 3 titled, "Vital Intercession." Today! Here is the link just go to May 3: http://utmost.org/ .
2. Ephesians 6:18
3. Matthew 6:24
4. Revelation 2:4
GETTING A WORD FROM THE SOUL OF THE PERSON VS. GETTING ONE FROM GOD FOR THEIR SPIRIT
The soul also gives off information that a person who is a soul reader can pick up in the soul realm. This is dangerous territory on which to tread as that is the "business" of the occult and witchcraft. One needs to tread very carefully here not to use information gained in the soul realm to manipulate and control a person. You are not listening for the screaming loud voice of the soul but the still small voice of the Spirit. And if you are a soul-reader, never give a word from here to gain an advantage or some level of benefit. Always seek God for a word to encourage the person in their spirit. There are those today who instead of operating in a prophetic gift (which is always in service to God and not for our own gain) are actually engaged in the occult, which defined as "peering." These people peer into people's souls for their own benefit. I have even caught people trying to peer into my soul.
Word to the wise: A mature prophetic person is not so enamored of his or her own gifts; instead, their only object of admiration and adoration is God. We all go through that phase of amazing ourselves with the gift until we realize it's not so amazing to hear God and to do what He says. It's rather expected according to John 10:27. The encourager is simply acting in service to others as He represents the interests of God.
TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE GOD-KIND
Now that we have that background, back to our subject matter of true encouragement.
True encourage of the unregenerate and that which is aimed at the regenerate is not altogether different. Why? Because the spirit is the foundation of the person. To the one, unregenerate, their spirit is dead and not alive to God. To the other, regenerate, their spirit is alive, pointed to and defaults to a "yes" to God. It is the soul that battles against the spirit's desire to obey God.
So no matter how you slice it, encouraging the soul of a person who has not accepted Christ yet, will only make the person prouder and less likely to see their need to submit to God. TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT ADDRESSES THE SPIRIT OF THE PERSON. If the encourager is in touch with the living God and His Mediator Jesus Christ, God gives that person the key to open up the unregenerate spirit in an encouraging manner that sets them up to receive freedom in the Savior. Encouraging the regenerate soul and believer in Christ, gives another key to advance the person in his or her calling in God.
Therefore, if the desire is to "encourage" a person to walk in and toward Godliness, the person should first and foremost be encouraged in their spirit. The only difference between the type of encouragement is in the key God gives to encourage them, believer or non-believer. For example, an encouraging word from God for an unbeliever will contain a key to their salvation and subsequent freedom. Any word that works against that is not from God.
CONCLUSION:
This post came out of a prayer session where the non-believer was pumped up in the soul and in all of their accomplishments so that by the time the Spirit to spirit word came, "the Lord wants you to be like a childlike," the person was unable to align in order to agree and t submit to God. I pray that by God's grace it happened later on. To me it appeared as if the same hardness toward God came back. I was disappointed but I know that God is not moved by my disappointment and the fact is, His word cannot return to Him void. It will accomplish the task for which He sent it. My prayer is that the word took root and the Lord will work to bring life in dead areas of the heart and spirit..
Anyone can encourage the soul. As a matter of fact some of the largest churches are filled to the brim as the souls of the people are pumped up to self-importance, while God is touted as the blessing-machine and a sidekick. Friend, it takes a person who knows God, and whom God knows, to bring a now word of encouragement to someone who needs it.
The lesson I've learnt is that starting the prayer and encouragement time with a word from the Spirit of God to that person's spirit (not their soul) is foundational to the rest of the time and perhaps their life. It will cause them to decide whether to draw closer to God in humility or away from God in pride and smugness. I know God is still at work and will continue until He isn't. My concern is, we can never know when a person has rejected Him one too many times, or when their time on this earth is up.
As ministers, all members of the Body of Christ are sent to encourage people with the word of the Lord, not just a select few super-gifted people. And while there are different levels of gifting, anyone can prophesy if they have ever read the Bible. There's no higher form of prophecy than that. And the word may be as simple as "God loves you" or "God is going to help you today." Sometimes it's a directional word or a warning, but it is always the word of the Lord that the person needs at that time to encourage them.
Finally, I am not saying that God never addresses the soul of a person. After all, that is who the person is. However, when God (Who is Spirit) is the Source of the message, it is a spiritual word. In order for the word to be transformative He has to be the Source (via His Holy Spirit.) His keys are not soul keys but spiritual keys that unlock the soul. And you don't have to look far. The Bible is full of them.
KEY: WHEN GOD ASKS YOU TO ENCOURAGE A PERSON, BRING THE WORD HE IS GIVING OVER THEIR LIVES, NOT WHAT THEIR SOUL WANTS TO HEAR SO THAT IT CAN BE PUFFED UP. BRING THE SIMPLY WORD GOD HAS GIVEN FOR THAT PERSON THAT WILL OPEN THEM UP TO MORE OF HIM SO THAT THE ENCOURAGEMENT IS TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE GOD-KIND!!!!
Other Great Sources Along This Line and Right on Point are:
1. The Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest) for May 3 titled, "Vital Intercession." Today! Here is the link just go to May 3: http://utmost.org/ .
2. Ephesians 6:18
3. Matthew 6:24
4. Revelation 2:4
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Blessings in Christ,
Sonia