The Process of Transformation • Part 3
The title “The Process of Transformation” is descriptive of a vital truth. This impartation is part 3 of the teaching with that title. In Part 1, I talked about how the manner in which we initially come to Christ often sets a precedent for how we judge our spiritual growth. I also introduced the concept of spirit, soul and body — which affects how we read the Bible, beginning with the most basic and well-known passages. For example, 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (For more on this, read “The Process of Transformation Part 1”.)
As a segway to Part 2, I discussed how it’s possible to “be in two places at one time.” Before the Bible informs us that we’re seated with Christ in heavenly places while living on earth (Ephesians 2:6), Jesus spoke of this concept in John 3:13 — “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” I then related the miraculous story of legally entering Pakistan before I was granted permission for a visa! (You can read this story in “The Process of Transformation Part 2”.)
When we were made a new creation in Christ, we were made complete. Every need has already been met (Ephesians 1:3). Our problem is not what we lack, because “all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21). Our problem is not what we don’t possess, but what we don’t understand. If we don’t understand something, we cannot experience it (even if you already have it), because it’s the truth you know that sets you free (John 8:32).
Many Believers cannot accept what the Word says about them — basically because they cannot be comprehended with the mind or discern with the body. Have you ever heard believers say things like this?… “You can’t say someone is healed when you can clearly see they are still sick.” “You can’t say your needs are met when you still don’t have the money.”
To the person who would make such a statement, I would ask: Where did you get your information? In other words, exactly how did you find out that person was not healed? Or that person’s needs were not met? The answer is obvious — not from your spirit, but from your senses.
Remember that you are spirit, soul, and body. If you don’t understand that, it will keep you from understanding the Bible. This brings us to the crux of the issue — the process of transformation.
The process by which we MOVE what’s already ours from the spiritual realm into the realm of our experience can be shown in the diagrams below. Please remember that these diagrams are for illustration only; each one makes a separate point about spirit, soul and body. We must understand spirit, soul and body in order to get what’s in our spirit, and bring it into our soulish life and then, into our physical life, including our experience.
DIAGRAM #1
This illustrates:
➤ The body is the outer part; that part which is visible.
➤ The soul is between the spirit and body, and is made up of mind, will and emotions. The soul, affected by body and/or spirit, is your personality.
➤ The spirit is the “inner man”; the real you.
NOTE: The terms “heart” and “spirit” are often used interchangeably. While that is sometimes true, it is not always true in every case throughout the Bible (e.g. Psalm 12:2, which says, “…with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”). (Note: To find out when it’s accurate to use the terms “heart” and “soul” interchangeably, check the context. When it does not refer to the spirit only, the heart includes the soul. Understanding of this only comes from revelation of the Word; Hebrews 4:12.)
DIAGRAM #2
This illustrates:
➤ The spirit, soul, and body are interconnected, so that you do not know where one ends and another begins. (They are not three separate compartments; we are “tripartite”.)
We know the above statement is true through observation. Examples:
➤ When we are sick, it affects us in our soul, particularly the emotions.
➤ Nonetheless, we can overcome sickness by keeping our soul realm in check, because the soul affects the body.
➤ When our spirits are alive to God, it affects our soul.
DIAGRAM #3
This illustrates:
➤ The soul is the “middleman” which regulates what can flow from your spirit into your body (or your natural life; your experience).
The degree to which God’s supernatural life flows into your natural life is determined by the openness of your soul. It works like a valve which can be opened or closed.
Your soul:
➤ Receives supernatural information, or revelation knowledge (the mind).
➤ Discerns the information based on a spiritual condition (the emotions).
➤ Makes a decision whether to submit to that information (the will).
DIAGRAM #4
This illustrates (in part) the process of the transformation of the soul (and the life; e.g. 3 John 2).
There is no time or distance in the spirit.
That’s why we can be in heaven while we’re here on the earth (Ephesians 2:6).
We must make a decision (the will) to believe (the emotions) the Word (the mind). That gets the Word down into our hearts (the area of connection between spirit and soul).
There is no direct connection between spirit and body (John 3:6). For a spiritual reality to become physical experience, it must go through the “middleman” of the soul.
Jesus came to give life (John 10:10), but life is imparted through the Word. He said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
The only way for life to enter your soul from your spirit is through the Word. That’s where we find out what our spirit is like (James 1:22-25).
To reiterate, your soul (mind, emotions and will):
➤ Receives supernatural information, or revelation knowledge (the mind).
➤ Discerns the information based on a spiritual condition (the emotions).
➤ Makes a decision to submit to that information (the will).
Unfortunately, too often that process is not completed. In other words, we can come in contact with revelation knowledge, yet it doesn’t affect our emotions (the basis for what we believe) — or, we can receive revelation knowledge and we don’t, as an act our will, decide to believe it — no matter what that means.
When we don’t have a proper understanding of our composition, and how we operate, we will come to the conclusion that the spiritual information (or revelation knowledge) we have received is incorrect, and we will come up with a religious excuse to explain it away. That’s why we sometimes hear these kind of phrases spoken regarding scriptural passages about our redemption…
➤ “It can’t mean that.”
➤ “Well, yes, the Bible says that, but sometimes God may have a special reason why it’s not true in my case.”
➤ “Well, positionally that’s true, but it’s not true yet (or it’s not true experientially).”
➤ “God might consider it true, but we haven’t qualified for that yet.”
A good question to consider:
HOW DO YOU DISCERN THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE WORD?
As you ponder that, remember this: There’s a difference between believing in the head and knowing with your heart.
Many times I’ve heard somebody, as I talk about spiritual reality, begin to quote scripture (as if that would make me feel better) or say something like, “Oh yes, I believe all that, but…” — and actually, that could be true! They might actually believe what the Bible says, but they don’t have a KNOWING about what the Bible says.
Now, I can look back on any number of times and realize WHY I received or didn’t receive healing for someone when I prayed for them. I obviously believed for their healing (and if that wasn’t true, I wouldn’t have been praying for them in the first place), but I didn’t KNOW they would be healed when I ministered to them. Perhaps this was because of looking at circumstances, or perhaps I was distracted at the time — not really as focused as I should have been.
1 Timothy 4:3 talks about “believing and knowing the truth”. We need both. We need to get past having to feel something emotionally or
physically. This distinction is what I will discuss in Part 4 of The Process of Transformation. Be watching for that.
I trust this has blessed your life. If you want to hear more about this topic, request my 4-hour teaching on CD by the same name, “The Process of Transformation.” To order, click here.
By the way, we would love to pray with you about you most pressing need. Send your prayer request here.
May God bless you Richly in Every Way,
Craig DeMo
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