Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus the Christ,

“9) It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.   10) And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.  11) And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.”                                                                                      2 Timothy 1:9-11 (NLT)

The spirit is not the same as the soul (Hebrews 4:12); man (i.e., male, female) is spirit, soul, and body (Genesis 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). More specifically, man is a spirit who has a soul (mind, will, intellect, and emotions) who lives in a body. Those redeemed by the blood of Jesus have a recreated or reborn spirit empowered by part of Jesus’ anointing (Philippians 4:13 [KJV]). The soul, however, having been trained in the way of the world must be continually renewed via the Word of God by the Teaching of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2, Titus 3:5). The body (flesh) just wants to do what it wants, when it wants. Yet “everything impossible by the flesh is possible by the spirit”.1  (And when a recreated spirit and renewed soul [mind] teams-up, the body [flesh] doesn’t stand a lazy chance!) The spirit is eternal whereas the body dies at the precise moment that the spirit departs; the spirit lives on either in the presence of GOD (2 Corinthians 5:1-8) or in the presence of Satan, which rest in free-will. Hence, the Great Commission: “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned“ Mark 16:15 (MSG). The Great Commission facilitates choice based upon knowledge or the knowing that there is indeed a choice; for it is not the will of the Sovereign Lord God Almighty that any spend eternity in hell. Yet God created man with free-will for self-determination; critical to which is awareness that enables clarity for decision-making.

The WORD that is Truth will be found two or three times throughout Scripture, in both the Old Testament/Old Covenant and the New Testament/New Covenant. That is, the WORD is established by the mouth of two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1). Therefore, aspects of the Great Commission was also relayed by the prophets: Joel (895-796 B.C.), Isaiah (740-681 B.C.), and Nahum (663-654 B.C.).2   The Prophet Joel relayed the fact of salvation when he said that anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (Joel 2:32). The Prophet Isaiah relayed the critical aspect of going forth when he asked: “who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8), and “how beautiful the feet of those who bring the good news of salvation . . .”  Isaiah 52:7. The Prophet Nahum exclaimed, “Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news!” Nahum 1:15. All of which the Apostle Paul re-emphasized: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them unless they are sent? . . .” Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV & NLT [combined]). It is written, however, neither will all believe nor welcome the Gospel/Good News about Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Belief is by faith and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17 (NKJV). And revelation of the information contained in the Word of God is by the Teaching of the Holy Spirit who has been given unto those reconciled unto God the Father by the finished work of Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:13-14, 2Co 5:5, Ephesians 1:13).

In Jesus’ name, we thank You Abba Father for the outpouring of Your Spirit (Joel 2:28-29); we thank You Lord Jesus for asking Abba Father to send Him (John 14:15-27); we thank You Holy Spirit for comforting and counseling and Teaching us (John 16:13; Acts 1:8). Amen.

Speak the promise . . . Harriet

1)  Copeland, G. (2011). Limitless Love: A 365-Day Devotional. (Day 3 – You’re Not On Your Own). Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

2) Zondervan. (1997). Life Application Study Bible: New International Version. (pp. 580-581). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.