The battle of the soul

Text: Romans 7:14-25.

The key words in this sentence are 'Battle' and 'Soul'.

Battle is conflict or struggle. It could be warfare or a fight between opposing armies or groups. It could be trying very hard to achieve something that is difficult. In any battle, there will always be a winner and a loser.

Soul is the part of the human being that will live on in eternity. Jesus said "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell". Matt 10:28. Human being is made of Spirit, soul and body. The soul is our personality, our very self. Hence Jesus said " What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Matt 16:26. The soul is the seat of human personality, intellect, will, desires, appetites, affections and emotions like happiness, love, sorrow, anger, relief and compassion. With it one is able to resolve issues, choose and make decisions. The soul represents the real being who will live forever in heaven or in hell.

The battle of the soul is within, it is an internal one and since the soul controls the emotions, the battle is within. Perhaps that is why it is common to hear people say "God save my soul. Bless the Lord, O my soul: I thank God for the salvation of my soul." And not the salvation of the body or the spirit. The psalmist cried out too." Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?. My soul pants for you O God. My soul thirsts for God. "Ps 42:5.

Battles of the soul can be caused by many factors.

• When you are dissatisfied with your situation or circumstances and you are discontent, then the soul is troubled.
• Comparison with other peoples' achievement or status
• Disappointment, bitterness, frustration, loss of hope, anxiety, lack of sleep and depression.
• When you allow your past to becloud you, having sense of quilt, or you are overwhelmed with problems and your faith is badly shaken.
• When you use worldly standard to rate your success and your desired expectations are not met, the soul is affected and troubled and there is battle within.

Let us consider some characters in the Bible who experienced the battle of the soul.

The Psalmist.(Psalm 73:1-28). He had an inward conflict as a result of envy which resulted in a great soul battle for him. He was busy envying the arrogant, the prosperity of the wicked, the way they were amassing wealth and comparing himself with them. He compared himself so much with them that he thought that they had no struggles as he had and concluded in his mind that it was in vain he had kept his heart pure and washed his hands in innocence. His soul was so troubled that he thought keeping his heart pure and perhaps living holy brought afflictions and punishment. He concentrated on worldly things and used worldly standard to rate his own success. Then he did not think beyond earthly things. The battle was so great within him. But luckily for him he entered the Sanctuary, and had an encounter with the Lord and then understood the final destiny of those he had been envying, he realised that they were placed on slippery ground, that they would be destroyed, and swept away by terrors. He also realised he had been senseless and ignorant by comparing himself with them because his feet almost slipped away. Coming to the sanctuary brought him closer to God and his encounter with the Lord helped him resolve the battle that would have consumed his soul totally. He confessed and concluded by saying "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."

Brethren, the Psalmist's soul would have been consumed by this battle if he had not come to the sanctuary of God and be near him.

You are admonished to not envy anybody and compare yourself with anybody. Each one is fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14. Otherwise one may be consumed.

Apostle Paul. (Romans 7:14-25) Paul was so overwhelmed as a result of trouble and unrest going on within him that he had to cry out. He started by saying" We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who want to do it but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work; Although I want to do good evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me."

Brethren, Paul was so restless and disturbed and his soul was not at peace. He wanted to be spiritual but he was unspiritual; had desire to do good but could not, but evil. There was a fight within. He demonstrated a fundamental conflict between the sinful nature living by the law of sin and a regenerate soul, by the the Law of God. It then manifests in confusion and agony.  It is not impossible to be in a similar situation. Such people need a way out to resolve and overcome the battle of the soul. He actually realised it and cried out the more "What  a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!."

Like the Psalmist who was able to resolve the battle when he had an encounter with the Lord, Paul was delivered by God through Jesus Christ.

For you to be able to overcome the battle of the soul, you need to be near God, and you need Jesus Christ. You cannot win the battle of the soul by your own effort.

 

The Young Rich Man. (Matt 19:16-21). This young man, though rich, had a burden as regards eternity and he went to Jesus and asked "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Jesus admonished him to keep the commandments. But he wanted to know which of the commandments he should keep. Jesus listed the ones written in Matthew 19:18 and he said all those he had kept and enquired if anything was still lacking and Jesus told him to go sell his possessions and give to the poor, so that he could have treasure in heaven and then follow Him.  On hearing this, he went away sad because he had great wealth and was not ready to part with it. He cherished his wealth more than his soul. He was so obsessed with his wealth. He went away with the battle he came with, if not more troubled than he ever came to Jesus.

Brethren, despite the fact that this young rich man had an encounter with Jesus, he refused to let go, he had a way out to be freed from the battle of the soul, he missed it. His life would be full of regret, his soul would be more troubled and would likely lose his soul.

Jesus concluded thus using the young rich man's case "It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Without Jesus and an encounter with the Lord, the battle of the soul cannot be overcome or resolved.

Considering the three cases mentioned above, they all had an encounter with Jesus.

The Psalmist and Paul were able to overcome the battle of their soul but the young rich man even though had a way of overcoming too, for his preference over and above his soul. And what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul. As long as one is alive, there will always be a battle within.

How can one overcome or resolve the Battle of the soul? Since the word of God can always penetrate the soul, and renew the mind, it is advisable to feed on the word regularly by:

• Praying and asking God to save your soul and deliver you from worldly influences.
• Avoiding evil and sinful desires which wage war against your soul.
• Obeying all the commandments. 
• Not putting your trust in your wealth. 
• Letting the salvation of your soul be a priority and never compromise it for any other thing.
• Compare yourself with nobody and never envy anyone for their wealth, position or achievement.
• Above all, move nearer God and allow Jesus into your life. By so doing, the spirit of the Lord will keep guiding, teaching and reminding you of what to do.

Brethren, you are admonished to tell it to Jesus whatever you are passing through. He cares for you. Do not bottle up because your health and sanity may be affected negatively and your peace may be threatened. He is interested in you and he pays attention to what is happening to you. Nothing is too small or too big to talk to the Lord about. It could be health, marital, job related, family related, business related, finances, emotional, educational or spiritual. Whatever it may be, just tell it to Jesus.

Prayer.My Father in heaven, your word says we should cast our cares on you and that you will sustain us and you will never let the righteous be shaken. Father, the battle of my soul, I cannot resolve on my own, help me resolve them in your own way. Preserve my soul and grant me peace that cannot be taken away from me. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.