Healing - A Corporate Matter

Have you ever thought about yourself as a corporation?  Sound ridiculous?  Consider this.  We are composed of three parts - Spirit, Soul and Body.  Each of these interacts with the others resulting in our actions, thoughts, words. Sometimes one facet overrules the other two.  Sometimes they work in unison.  Sometimes it is two against one.  Are you smiling yet?  Here are a few scenarios for you:

• You have been faithfully dieting, watching every little morsel that goes into your mouth.  Your spirit knows that you are taking care of the temple of Holy Spirit and not giving in to self indulgence.  Your soul (mind, will, emotions) knows that this healthier lifestyle will have many positive benefits.  Your body experiences an increase in energy, better sleep and a feeling of well-being.  You are invited to a friend's farewell party and suddenly temptations are overwhelming you.  The battle begins!  Whether your physical desire for the taste of those sweets and snacks wins over your spirit and soul is the big question.
• You have been experiencing a really tough season both in ministry and in your profession.  You know you are tapped out, stretched to the max, but recognize this is a season.  Your spirit as been checking in with Holy Spirit and so far you have had a green light on your choices.  Your soul has been consistently evaluating those choices and mentally you are OK with them.  Your body is hanging in there in spite of the demands on it.  Unexpectedly a new opportunity is placed in front of you.  Your soul is excited about what this will be like.  Your body is quietly saying, "Enough is enough" while your spirit is silent waiting for you to check in with Holy Spirit.  The battle is on....

These are only meant to give you an idea of the conflict with the corporate body of you.  There is also the corporate body of Christ - just a much larger entity of individual parts united for a single purpose.  However, this week the focus is on ourselves as small corporate bodies made up of our three major components.  

Consider what happens in any organization when its major factions are in disagreement.  Work is not completed, at least not efficiently and effectively.  Discord is rampant and there is usually peripheral damage.  If we are truly trying to walk in the divine will of our Lord, then we are ready to surrender all three parts of us to His direction and His purposes.  That is easier said than done for many of us.  It becomes more difficult as the enemy seeks to "divide and conquer" when it comes to us as individuals.

Healing is a major activity for believers.  No I am not talking just about physical healing.  I am referencing emotional, mental, relational among others.  As soon as we accept Christ as our savior, we begin the process of giving Him access to our broken selves for repair.  Usually He starts with our broken hearts, and works from there.  It is a step by step process that is never completed - at least not until we join Him in eternity.  It is a continual process of re-adjustment.  Once one aspect of us changes, it throws the rest into a new alignment.  Sometimes that shift is really great and sometimes it is very painful.  Responding quickly and making the necessary adjustments is critical to our overall health and well-being, physical, spiritual and emotional/mental.  

If you have ever had an adjustment by a chiropractor then you understand this principle clearly.  It is not uncommon when a chiropractor first starts working with a patient that multiple visits are needed because the body is shifting into a new alignment from how it has been functioning for years.  As the muscles become acclimated to this new posture, less external adjustments are required. Our triune corporate being is no different.  When we are first saved, our spirit is reborn as a new creation.  It has blossomed into life now influencing the other two parts.  Whoa!  Talk about a shift!  Just imagine being able to hear the voices of the body and soul as the spirit  begins exerting influence over them.  

Things start to settle down but then our walk gets deeper and more intense as each of these three facets attempts to "run the show".  We know which one is supposed to be in charge.  Paul describes very plainly the struggle that ensues.  Romans 7:15 I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.  It is a never ending internal battle.  However there is victory in Christ.  The more seasoned we become in our walk, the more we understand how to handle this battle which ultimately is the Lord's anyway.  The longer we walk the more clearly we understand our own battlefields.  Mine are different than yours, and yours are different than your friend's.  We each must daily, work out our own salvation.  Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  

Reflect back on the concept of alignment.  Continually the body and soul will be working to be in proper alignment with the spirit because being out of alignment causes internal discord.  However, it is up to us which direction the changes take.  Will body and soul try to influence spirit and result in decisions creating more distance between them and the regenerated spirit or more unity?  True healing of any type whether physical, emotional or mental will not manifest until alignment has occurred.    When we witness someone struggling with a physical illness or emotional distress, do not make an assumption.  Rather intercede for them for the battle that is waging.  There are external forces that will constantly seek to push a "believer" out of alignment in the hope that they will fall away out of despair.  However, if you are feeling a sense of misalignment then immediately submit yourself to the great Physician and ask for revelation knowledge as to what your next steps are in bringing accord back into your corporate being.  Pray His Word, pray His promises and continue pushing forward.  Pray according to His will and He will answer you.  His heart is to have your corporate being in perfect alignment too.