-Derek Prince: Discerning Between Spiritual and Soulish

Quote by Derek Prince

From “Uproar In The Church”

One critical area for discernment is the division between that which is spiritual and that which is soulish. Unfortunately, for many English readers the reality of this division is obscured by inconsistencies in translation from the original Greek. The Greek word for “spiritual” is pneumatikos formed directly from pneuma, the word for “spirit.” Exactly corresponding, the Greek word for “soulish” is psuchikos, formed directly from psuche, the word for “soul.”

In English, pneumatikos is always translated “spiritual.” Correspondingly, the natural translation for psuchikos would be “soulish.” But since this is not a normal English word, various other words are used­e.g. “natural,” or “carnal,” or “worldly,” or “sensual.” The problem is that these different translations give the impression that different Greek words are used. They tend to obscure two facts: First, that soulish is an important and distinctive New Testament concept. Second, that the soulish and the spiritual are often in conflict with one another.

The soul is the area in which man’s natural reason and emotions function. This is quite different from the way that man’s regenerated spirit is designed to function. The contrast-and in fact, the opposition-between the two is clearly brought out in I Corinthians 2:14, 15:

• But the natural [soulish] man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, be cause they are spiritually discerned.But he who is spiritual judges all things …

The conclusion is clear. Both the spiritual and the soulish man are found among the people of God. The spiritual man is at home in the things of the Holy Spirit and responds appropriately to them. On the other hand, the soulish man cannot apprehend the things of the Holy Spirit, but by his reaction distorts and debases them. The only instrument sharp enough and sensitive enough to distinguish between the spiritual and the soulish is the word of God.

• For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two­edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

This is why correct discernment is possible only for Christians who have become mature through regular feeding on the “solid food” of Scripture. The failure to distinguish between the spiritual and the soulish can have disastrous consequences.

* * *

2 Timothy 3 reads:

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth

Such men are already in the Church teaching damnable heresies, and Christian leaders and lay-people alike are unable to discern their doctrines!  This is a pitiful statement regarding the maturity, or immaturity, of the Church today! (Read some of the teachings of present day teachers in the Church in my “Lakeland-IHOP-Bentley-Bethel” Category located on the right side of this page).

It is time to wake up Church and study to make sure the End Times deception will not take us over as well!  Study to show ourselves approved unto God!

 2011 – Is Christ Soon To Return
ALL COMMENTS WELCOME

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