02/03/2020: His Soul: Mind & Will

Richard Ashton

Surveys by The Barna Group reveal that the number one spiritual question believers ask is, “How can I know the will of God?”
Your personal friendship with Him can truly change your life.
The three components of the soul are, a mind, a will, and emotions.
At the very heart of the miracle of the Incarnation is the amazing reality that Jesus became one of us! As the apostle John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Paul depicts Jesus as “taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross”
(Philippians 2:7–8).
THE MIND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55 verses 8–9)
We’ve already seen that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to “guide [us] into all truth” (John 16:13).
You have access to the mind of God, because the Holy Spirit has a mind.
In Romans 8, Paul says one of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to intercede for us and help us when we don’t know what or how to pray: Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (verse 27) Both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit have a mind, and the Holy Spirit is able to intercede for us in accordance with the will of God.
THE WILL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Scripture provides abundant evidence for this truth. For example, in Acts 16 Paul is traveling with Silas and Timothy.
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. (Acts 16:6) They recognized and heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit.

His Soul: Mind & WillRichard Ashton02 March 2020

Page 2 of 2

GODS GENERAL WILL
Scripture clearly states God’s will in these areas. We call this His general will because these boundaries are true and apply to every person.
If you NEED to know about MORALITY or behavioral BOUNDARIES, the Bible provides CLEAR direction.
GODS SPECIFIC WILL
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and
He will tell you things to come. (John 16:12–13)
When the Holy Spirit arrived two thousand years ago, it was a game-changing event for humanity. As with Jesus’s death and resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit marks a sharp line on the time line of history.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:16–17)
You MUST have your OWN personal RELATIONSHIP with God through the HOLY SPIRIT. Of course, I certainly believe in seeking wise counsel when deciding. But that’s not the same as expecting someone else to hear God’s voice on your
behalf because you can’t or won’t.
Remember, others can hear God with you but not for you. The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit so you can have a personal relationship with God.
Remember, OTHERS can HEAR God with you but not for YOU.
I’ve been humbled yet privileged to be a part of these encounters with the grace and compassion of God.
God wants to speak to you personally too. He wants you to know His will and His wonderful fellowship. The way to know the will of God is to know God!
The Holy Spirit has a mind and a will, and you can know His thoughts and His will—if you know Him