“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV)
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2 NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV)
As we get ready to look at the benefits of living in the Kingdom of Heaven it is important to recognize some basic truths about who we are, and the main areas of our life. Paul defined me as having 3 parts.I am a spirit, I have a soul, and I live in a body. The salvation that I have in my relationship with Jesus touches all 3 parts.
The real me is living on the inside of my body and already possesses everything that the Kingdom of Heaven has to offer. It is my spirit that has already been saved. My spirit is one with Christ. I am a brand new creation dwelling in heavenly places. I have been given the righteousness of God and freed from sin. It is my spirit that communicates with the Holy Spirit and uses the Word of God to “save” my soul.
My soul is my mind. It consists of my will, intellect, and emotions. The Bible says that while my spirit is already saved, my soul is being saved progressively as I renew it with the Word. Together, my spirit and mind take control of my body.
My spirit has been saved, my soul is being saved, and my body will be saved. One day I will have a glorified body in which there no longer dwells sin. Until then I need to discipline my body and force it to do the right things. It is in my body where sin and death dwell. Through daily discipline I fight off the tendencies toward sin; and through the Holy Spirit and the Word my body is “quickened” (made alive). As I realize what I possess in Christ (Kingdom benefits) I am able to renew my mind, and discipline my body, in order to experience the benefits of my salvation.
Along with understanding that I am a 3 part being, it is important to understand that there are 3 realms of life that are impacted by the Kingdom. There are “Material,” “Physical,” and “Spiritual” realms in which I live. The Apostle John made it clear that the Lord wants to bless me in all 3 realms of life.
Living in the Kingdom of Heaven puts me in position to experience the King’s provision in the Material Realm of my life. The Bible talks frequently about provision and material blessings, There are definite material benefits available to me as I grow in my relationship with Jesus.
The Physical Realm of my life is also very important to my Heavenly Father. I have heard it said (and I believe it is true) that sickness is to my body what sin is to my spirit. Jesus paid the price needed to forgive my sins and heal my body. Experiencing all that has been given to me in this realm is an on going process.
Most importantly, I live in the Spiritual Realm. This is the true reality of my life from which everything else flows. I live from Heaven even while I am still in this Earth. As a child of the King I will spend the rest of my life praying the Kingdom of Heaven into full manifestation in my daily life. It is from this realm that my Kingdom benefits come.
As I learn who I am (spirit, soul, and body), and what I possess in every realm of my life (material, physical, and spiritual), I am positioned to experience…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 32: “There are benefits to living in the Kingdom of Heaven today (and even more yet to come).” Part 2: Overview…3 Parts & Realms