Emotions of the Soul

By Cal Cook

I listened to a really good sermon the other day entitled “Reviving the Nephesh” by Rob Bell from Mars Hill. I always enjoy Rob’s sermons and this one particularly grabbed me because I had preached a sermon somewhat similar back in October. I guess it encouraged me that I wasn’t completely off base on the issue?! Rob used Psalm 23 to address the issue where I was a little more analytical trying to understand the ‘Dividing Soul and Spirit’ from Hebrews 4.

The idea that we are made up of component parts that function together to make the whole intrigues the engineer in me. We learned back in October and Rob reconfirmed that our soul - nephesh in Hebrew, is “that which breathes” the core of who we are and God’s Spirit is the Ruwach – in Hebrew, is “wind or breath”. When God breathed the breath of life into us the two parts: that which breaths drew in the Spirit or breath of God and we became living beings. That works well in my little head and speaks volumes to me…yet last time I left a bit untouched what those same words tell us in Greek.

Spirit in Greek is of course Pneuma also meaning “wind or breath” but the word for soul phsyche speaks of “the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, and aversions” according to Thayer’s Lexicon there is an emotional content to our soul. Now part of this is of course a cultural understanding of how Greeks see our being yet I know there is truth in it. My emotions do seem to be closely connected to my spiritual condition. When I sense the Holy Spirit’s presence a warmth of emotion comes over me…part of it is blood flowing to the surface of my skin and part of it is endorphins released in the brain and part of it is a spiritual aspect that we can’t explain!

Now it’s good when I can sense the Holy Spirits presence and I feel excitement and joy and a willingness to do whatever He would lead me to do to bring Him Glory. Yet I also know there are times when I don’t sense His presence and I’m frustrated or sad or angry…unwilling to do anything. Now is His Spirit not present during those times? Jesus tells us He is always with us!

John 14:17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

That day has come when the Holy Spirit of God was poured out…made available to all who call on the name of Jesus and believe. Lord help me with my unbelief! Help me to know and sense and experience the presence of Your Spirit even when I don’t feel like it, even when my emotions get in the way….