The Voice of the Soul

REVIEW: Key foundational principles needed to be able to be set to rightly know the Voice of God:

You must “Hear”

The word for “hear” is the word akouo meaning to hear with ear of the mind; to hear effectually or so as to perform or grant what is spoken

“The one who is from God listens (means to obey - “listen and obey”) to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.” John 8:47, LEB

We must “Know” God.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know (ginosko)my own and my own know me. 15 just as the Father (ginoskso) knows me and I (ginosko) know the Father - - John 10:14-16, ESV

The Greek word is ginosko which means to know (vs intuitively, oido (John 10:5); to perceive; to know be acquainted with a person; to know, to be conscious of; tp discern, distinguish; approve, acknowledge with approbation (approval or praise); to think, be aware of; thinking, reflecting upon, being mindful of

Defining Soul

Goal: to hear God speak to us via His Holy Spirit

Old Testament

The Hebrew word for “soul” is H5315 which is the word “nephesh meaning “that which breathes, the breathing substance or being” = ψυχή, anima (defined as the soul, especially the irrational part of the soul as distinguished from the rational mind); the soul, the inner being of man”.

Per the Septuagint (Greek Version of the Hebrew Bible (OT)), the word for soul is psuchḗ G5590 which is defined as “the Hebrew conception of man as composed of the “inner self” and the “outer appearance” i.e. what one is to oneself and what one appears to those who observe him. The inner person was nephesh to the Hebrews while the other person was reputation.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”—-Genesis 2:7, KJV

New Testament

The Greek word for soul in the is psuchḗ, G5594- breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely the animal sentient principle (meaning able to see and feel things).

Other related words to describe soul are pneuma G4151 , which is the rational and immortal [part of the] soul; and zoe (G2222) , which is defined as mere vitality. In other words—the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)

Nephesh refers to the feelings of the mind - -> which is translated “heart”

Nephesh can also refer to the appetite

Deuteronomy 12:20, LEB

“When Yahweh your God enlarges your territory just as he has promised to you, and you say ‘I want to eat some meat,’ because you want it, whenever you desire you may eat meat.

“And they tested God in their heart by asking food for their craving.” —Psalm 78:18

Psalm 78:18 (ESV)

They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.

Your soul can fall to greed for spoil and to destroy.

Exodus 15:9, ESV

The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’

Jeremiah 2:24, LEB - Your soul can lust

A wild ass accustomed to the desert, in the desire of her soul. She gasps for wind in her rutting time. Who can quell her lust? All those who seek her will not grow weary, in her month they will find her.

Psalm 42:1, LEB - Our soul can long for God

As a deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.

The soul may even yearn for His courts (Psalm 84:3) and God’s Law (Psalm 119:20), or His salvation (Psalm 119:81).

Psalm 119:81, LEB

My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.

In some cases, nephesh is the inclination of the soul, even love

Genesis 34:3, LEB

And his soul clung to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to the girl.

Song of Solomon 1:7, ESV

Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock,where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself, beside the flocks of your companions?

Song of Solomon 3:1-4 - Describes how the “soul” moves on us when we have a pull on our soul such as when one becomes attracted to another (eros)

On my bed by night

I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

Subduing with our Flesh Nature (Soul)

Goal: to Hear God via the Spirit, not the Flesh

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds (phroneo, G5426) : to think, implying not only thought but also the affections, will, or moral consideration) on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God; for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” —Romans 8:5-7, NASB95

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body (flesh) as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.. . . . put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him - a renewal in which there is no distinction…” Colossians 3:1-11, NASB95

We must examine our thoughts for toxicity (flesh). What are we setting our minds on?

“We have the unique opportunity to assess our thoughts and their impact and choose to connect to the vine that is Christ (John 15:1–5)—to restore growth and prune off the branches of toxic thinking. We are directly responsible for what we choose to think about and dwell on, and we make these decisions in the privacy of our own thinking. As you think, it is important to make a distinction between who you truly are—the real, multifaceted, unique you—and the person you have become through toxic choices. Fortunately, you can see both and choose to reconnect with the vine (John 15) and renew your mind (Rom. 12:2). Your brain will follow the instructions and choices of your mind and change its landscape accordingly.” - - Dr. Carolyn Leaf

Leaf, Dr. Caroline. Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health (p. 44). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

We must REPENT of allowing our flesh (especially thoughts) to remain on us, and any decision we made where we chose our flesh instead of following Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20, NASB

We must READ and MEDITATE on the Word of God to expose our inner man and all its thoughts and desires so that we can see and experience them and repent, renounce, cast them down and break them off of us.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12, NASB95

We must train ourselves to REMAIN OR DWELL in the presence of the Lord and in His love daily, to allow His Spirit and His word to speak positive and loving words over us.

Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. —-John 15:4,

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

“We have the unique opportunity to assess our thoughts and their impact and choose to connect to the vine that is Christ (John 15:1–5)—to restore growth and prune off the branches of toxic thinking. We are directly responsible for what we choose to think about and dwell on, and we make these decisions in the privacy of our own thinking. As you think, it is important to make a distinction between who you truly are—the real, multifaceted, unique you—and the person you have become through toxic choices. Fortunately, you can see both and choose to reconnect with the vine (John 15) and renew your mind (Rom. 12:2). Your brain will follow the instructions and choices of your mind and change its landscape accordingly.” - - Dr. Carolyn Leaf

Leaf, Dr. Caroline. Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health (p. 44). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Closing Prayer