There Is A Battle For Your Soul - Soul Choice Ministries

Each of us is a spirit being and we live in a physical body. Many people don’t realize that we all possess a soul. The soul is our mind, will and emotions. Sometimes the soul and spirit are used interchangeably, but they are different.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This confirms we are a three-part being. The point is, our soul and spirit are eternal and will reside in either heaven or hell after death.”

There is a battle for the eternal you – your soul and spirit. The enemy, who is Satan, wants to deceive you and take you to hell, whether you realize it or not. Satan deceives people to the point where many don’t even believe he exists. Revelation 12:9 says that he deceives the whole world. He must be very skilled with the art of deception to fool the entire world.

Here are some of his lies that many fall prey to:

1. There is no God and there is no devil.

2. If God exists, He wouldn’t send me to hell since I’m a pretty good person.

3. There is no afterlife…we simply cease to exist

4. God is love therefore all roads lead to heaven

5. You’ve been too bad for God to accept you.

6. There can’t be a God with all the evil in the world.

7. Jesus was just a good teacher but nothing more.

Sadly, most people hold one or more of these beliefs.

In addition, Satan has influenced every sphere of society from the educational system, to political structures, entertainment, media, religion and the list goes on. For instance, the majority of people believe evolution is true. If you believe in evolution, then you don’t believe in God. If you reject God as the Creator, you also reject that you are made in His image, and that you are accountable to Him.

The educational system programs children from the time they first enter school, all the way through college. Many children and young adults are brainwashed into a godless mentality and worldview. The deception is subtle, gradual and consistent. Most in academia teach that only an uneducated, simple-minded person believes in the God of the Bible. Most people don’t want to think of themselves as uneducated and gullible so they cave to the pressure of today’s culture. This is one of Satan’s tactics and he reinforces it through all types of media.

People desire to be accepted and many times side with the most popular viewpoint. If we fear what people think more than we fear God, we will fall prey to the enemy’s lies every time. As believers, we understand that two of the devil’s most effective ways he deceives people is through pride and fear. There are hundreds of commands throughout the Bible telling us, “Do not fear; do not be afraid.”

Jesus said in Luke 12:4-5, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Hebrews 13:6, “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.”

Once we open the door to fear, we lose our peace and our ability to hear from the Holy Spirit. Walking in obedience to God’s word will also keep us humble and protected from pride. David said in Psalms 35:13, “I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer.”

2 Chronicles 32:26, “Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart…so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”

Humility will protect us from the enemy and keep us under God’s protection.

As for the workings of the devil; remember the story of Samson and Delilah? Delilah was relentless. She was persuasive and very persistent. This is how the devil works. He attempts to discourage Christians with multiple attacks to wear us out mentally, emotionally and physically.

Daniel 7:25, “And he (the antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High…”

Galatians 6:9 warns us not to grow weary. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Here are 4 ways to protect our mind and emotions:

1. Renew our minds with God’s word daily.

Romans 12:2 and James 1:21 tells us to change our thinking by reading, studying and speaking God’s word. This takes time and effort.

2. Don’t be quick to believe everything you hear and weigh everything by the word of God.

Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard our heart above all else, for it determines the course of our life.

Colossians 2:4 says don’t allow anyone to deceive you with well-crafted arguments.

3. Choose godly friends & relationships.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Be not deceived: bad company corrupts good character.” Proverbs 13:20 states that “he that walketh with wise men shall be wise.”

4. Obey God.

James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

If we don’t know what the Bible says and don’t practice it, we will fall prey to deception.

In Luke 8:21, Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do YOU say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Every person must answer this correctly or they will burn in the lake of fire forever.