TODAY’S PROPHETIC NUMBERS

SOUL OR SPIRIT?

Luke Chapter 5, we find Jesus teaching and healing in a crowd of people.  The house was packed.  Some men were carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to take him to Jesus, but it was too crowded. They went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

The heart is where the soul and the spirit are.  Our soul is our mind, emotions, and will.  It is where we form our beliefs based on our thoughts and feelings. Before we meet Jesus, we are driven by the spirit of man and human thoughts, feelings, and selfish will in our human soul.  When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we are filled with His Spirit, who begins the work of redeeming our thoughts and feelings and bending our will to God’s will.

When Jesus’ words and ways didn’t fit the beliefs those religious men had, they rejected Jesus.

Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

That man picked up his mat and went home, praising God. That was indeed a grace-filled miracle. Everyone around reacted and was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

The highly religious men limited what Jesus could do in their lives by holding on to their man-made beliefs.  Those around the miracle received personal revelation because of the work of the Spirit.

Today, let’s remember to guard our hearts and keep them soft and pliable to the move of Holy Spirit so we don’t miss a thing Jesus wants to do in our lives.

Declaration: Today, I ask the Holy Spirit for the knowledge and wisdom to recognize the Spirit as opposed to my soul.