Soul Food (part II)

Soul Food

Genesis 2:7 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 soul.

  After fashioning all the material components of the body that God created for Adam, God then breathed the breath of life into Adam, causing Adam to become a "living soul." Scripture nowhere records God performing this action again. 

  When God reached his crowning creative act; the formation of human life; His phrasing changed from the impersonal “let there be” to the deliberate and intimate expression, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

  Having God’s image means we humans were fashioned to resemble and represent God on the earth. Only humans are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, distinguishing us from all other earthly beings. We were made like Him so that we could be in a relationship with Him. 

  This special status of being made “in Gods image” (Latin: imago dei) refers to the immaterial (spirit, heart, mind & soul) part of humanity. It sets human beings apart from the animal world, and fits them for the dominion God intended for them to have over the earth and enables them to commune with their Maker.

  So then, Souls are inherently engineered and designed by God for immortality and relationships! Humanity was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. God reviewed all that He had made (humanity included) and called it “very good.” But, something happened that changed all that was good, and it seriously affected every living soul ever since. 

Job 12:10 In whose hand is the Soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

  Since our very Soul is in essence in the focus of the supernatural battle between our Creator and the Destroyer; it’s only logical that we learn more about the Soul.

Soul Food Points:

Point #1 God is the creator of all Souls. He creates each Soul at the moment of bodily conception. (Psalms 139:13-16 For thou hast possessed my reins, thou hast covered me in my Mother’s womb. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works, and that my Soul knoweth well. 

Point #2 As the lone Creator of all Souls, God is the owner of all Souls! (Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all Souls are mine; as the soul of the Father, so also the soul of the Son is mine.

Point #3 Every soul that sinneth is subject to die! (Ezekiel 18:4 the soul that sinneth shall die.)

Point #4 You do not own or possess a Soul! You literally are a Soul! Your soul resides in your body, but the Soul is the real you. 

Point #5 There is only one food that can satisfy or feed the Soul of a man. (Job 23:12-13) Gods word is the only food for the Soul. (Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.)

Point #6 Souls were created with the potential for immortality. (II Timothy 1:10) Death for mankind was not the intent of the Creator. Yet, he availed mankind full freedom to choose life over death. (Genesis 2:17(

Point #8 No one has the power to save his own soul from death. (Psalms 22:29 All they that go down into dust shall bow before God; and none can save his own soul)

Point #9 There is only one who can restore a soul, Almighty God. (Psalms 23:3 The Lord is my shepherd; He restoreth my Soul)

Point #10 Only Almighty God can destroy a Soul. (Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell)

Point #11 Only you can lose your own soul. (Matthew 16:26 For what is profited a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.)

Point #12 Our Human nature wars against our own souls!  ( I Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the Soul.)

Point #13 Satan, our adversary is engaged in constant efforts to devour the souls of all mankind. (I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring Lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.)

Point #14 Every single soul that was ever created by God is accountable to God! (Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

Point #15 As sinful creatures, we all require a conversion of our Soul. (Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul;) (Matthew 18:3 Except ye be converted, ye cannot see the kingdom of God)

Point #16 God is in the Soul Saving business. (Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved) (John 3;17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.)

Point #17 Believe it or not, there is only one who can be your literal Soul Mate! Your spouse is your Life mate, and may even be a Spiritual mate; but God is the only true Soul mate for any soul; and that relationship can only be realized by being born again into a fulfilled relationship with him.)

Point #18 Soul Winners are wise and God loves it when we seek Souls to fill his harvest of souls. (Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.)

  The human soul is distinct from the heart whereas the human soul needs atonement. 

  The soul is the part of us that is purified and protected by the truth and the work of the Holy Spirit. 

  The soul, as the life essence of the body, is removed at the time of physical death. 

  The spirit is the element in humanity that gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God.

  Is it well with your Soul?  Perhaps you could use some Soul Food! More importantly, you may need a relationship with the Ultimate Soul Mate!

Focus on the Bible

by: Darrell G. Young

April 11, 2021

Fear Versus Faith

Fear versus Faith

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

 The Bible’s commands to “fear not” are plentiful and occur in a variety of contexts. As God’s people, we are not to be fearful. We have no reason to live in fear.

 Yet, the fear of God keeps us from sin; while the fear of man leads to sin, and that is what we as Christians are to avoid.

 The fear of things that occur in this world can only get us involved in a faithless snare. 

 Also, the biblical command throughout scripture “do not fear” does not negate the need for prudence and caution in this world. We are not to be cavalier, but prayerful anytime we are in the face of personal danger.

 The Bible mentions two specific types of fear. The first type of fear is the “fear of the Lord.” This type of fear does not necessarily mean to be afraid of the Lord. 

 Conversely, the Bible is instructing us toward cultivating a reverential awe of God, and a reverence for His power, his majesty and glory. 

 However, the fear of the Lord is also having a proper respect for God’s wrath and anger. This is the "spirit of fear" mentioned in II Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 The second type of fear is a detriment and it is a natural byproduct of living in a fallen world. This kind of fear can only be remedied by God and an abiding faith in his Word!

 The key to overcoming fear, then, is total and complete trust in God. Trusting God is a refusal to give in to fear. It is a turning to God even in the darkest times and trusting Him to make things right. This trust comes only from knowing God and knowing that He is good; and will work all things out to our eventual good!

 Faith and fear cannot exist together; because they are diametrically opposed to one another. As our deliverance from fear and worry is based entirely upon faith; then we need to learn how to grow our faith.

 Faith is not something that we can magically produce in and of ourselves. Faith is a actually gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 conveys to us that Faith is a gift of God. 

 When that Faith is utilized by a believer, it activates fruit (or characteristics) in our lives by the function of the Holy Spirit.

 Now, this is not to say that Christians will be exempt from fearful situations in this life. Far from it! Adversity and fearful things in life are often God's most effective tool to develop a stronger faith in us.

 God always sustains each one of us through any fearful situations, and, as we learn to obey God's Word and allow it to saturate our thoughts, we find each trial becomes a stepping stone to a stronger and deeper faith.

But you may ask; how can we develop a faith that conquers all of our fears? 

 The Bible says in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” 

 The careful study of God's Word is of primary importance in developing a strong faith. God wants us to know Him and completely rely on His direction in our lives. 

 It is through the hearing, reading, and meditation in the Scriptures that we begin to experience the inner personal victory over fear that we must have in this evil world.

 Therefore, if we abandon the reading and the hearing of God’s word, what should we naturally expect? (Answer: more of the worldly type of Fear!)

 The Fear of the Lord can be defined as “the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we say, do, or think. 

 When we fully come to grips with the reality that Almighty God, who has all power, and can either deliver us from evil, or condemn us to Hell; it should cultivate a healthy Fear of him!

 And with that reverential Fear of God, comes an inner Spiritual Wisdom that thrives on his “gift of Faith!”

by: Darrell G. Young

April 2, 2021