Complete in Christ #
One of the greatest mysteries of the Christian life is the tension between what God says is already true in Christ and what we feel in our daily experience. Paul says that we are already complete in Him.
Colossians 2:10 (AMP)
And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ]. And He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].
In our spirit, we are filled with Christ’s life. Yet in our bodies, we still feel weakness, sickness, and the pull of the flesh. The spirit is perfect, but the soul and body must be transformed as life flows from within us outward. This movement of divine life is central to understanding healing, peace, and daily victory in the believer’s walk.
Spirit: The Source of Life #
When a believer is born again, God does not merely improve moral behaviour or add spiritual feelings. He deposits His very own life within us. The Greek word used is zoe, meaning the eternal, uncreated life of God Himself. This is not human life renewed, but divine essence implanted.
1 Corinthians 6:17 (AMP)
But the one who is united and joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
The new birth unites our spirit with Christ. This is not an association but a union. Our spirit becomes His dwelling place, alive with His presence, full of His power. Every blessing, every gift, every miracle already exists there. Forgiveness is not far away; it is within. Healing is not distant; it is within. Strength is not waiting to arrive; it is within. The spirit contains the fullness of Christ’s finished work, and nothing can diminish it.
The Soul as the Gate #
The challenge comes not in the spirit, but in the soul. The soul consists of the mind, will, and emotions. It acts like a gate. This gate can either remain closed by doubt and fear, or it can open to allow the life of Christ to flow into the visible world of thought, feeling, and action. Paul gives us the key to this renewal.
Romans 12:2 (AMP)
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
The Greek word for transformed is metamorphoō, meaning a change of form. Renewal of the mind is not learning new habits alone but allowing truth to replace lies. When the soul agrees with the spirit, peace, healing, and strength flow freely. When the soul resists with fear or unbelief, the gate remains shut, and the body experiences the weight of brokenness rather than the supply of life.
Peace Blocked or Released #
Imagine peace already present in the spirit, like water stored in a reservoir. If the gate is closed, the water never reaches the dry land. In the same way, when the mind doubts, peace is blocked. Anxiety floods emotions and decisions, leaving the believer restless. But when the mind renews itself in the promises of God, peace flows from spirit to soul, filling emotions with calm and clarity.
For example, when weakness speaks through the body, Scripture answers with eternal truth:
Psalm 28:7 (AMP)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts with unwavering confidence in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I shall thank Him.
Faith in this promise shifts the mind from fear to trust. The soul yields to the spirit, and peace becomes visible in thought, emotion, and even physical health. This is not a theory but a lived reality when the soul aligns with Christ’s life.
Life Touching the Body #
The flow does not stop in the soul. Once aligned, the soul allows life to reach the body. Paul assures us that the same Spirit who raised Jesus is active in our mortal frame.
Romans 8:11 (AMP)
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Greek word for “give life” is zōopoieō, meaning to quicken, to vitalise, or to make alive. This is not limited to resurrection in the future but includes strength, healing, and renewal for daily living now. The Spirit sustains weary bodies, calms nervous systems, restores brokenness, and even brings supernatural healing. The body is not discarded in redemption but honoured as His temple, filled with His Spirit, and empowered for service.
Faith in the Finished Work #
The first step in releasing this flow is faith. Faith is not begging God to act but trusting that He has already acted in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 (AMP)
Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
The blessings of healing, peace, and strength are not waiting in heaven; they are already ours in Christ. Faith does not create them but receives them. When a believer says, “I trust that His Word is true,” the soul opens, and the spirit’s fullness begins to flow into daily experience.
Renewing the Mind #
Faith must be accompanied by renewal. The soul must unlearn patterns of fear and doubt that block the flow. This is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to meditate, confess, and hold fast to the Word. The Hebrew word shama means to hear with the intention to obey. Hearing alone does not release life, but hearing with obedience transforms the mind.
As the mind focuses on truth, the emotions shift. Joy replaces discouragement, and strength replaces weakness. The believer begins to experience in the body what already exists in the spirit. Over time, this renewal produces a lifestyle of faith rather than a cycle of doubt.
Yielding to the Spirit #
Effort alone cannot release divine life. The secret lies in surrender to the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 (AMP)
But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature.
Walking by the Spirit is like abiding in the vine. A branch does not strive to bear fruit; it simply abides. In the same way, believers must yield daily to the Spirit, letting His life flow naturally. Surrender replaces striving, and trust replaces pressure. This opens the gate for His life to flow unhindered into the soul and body.
Confession and Thanksgiving #
Words are vital in the release of life.
Romans 10:10 (AMP)
For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Saviour], resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
When we confess the truth of God’s Word, we align the soul with the spirit. Declaring “I am healed by His wounds” is not wishful thinking but agreement with what is already real in Christ. Thanksgiving strengthens this confession, as gratitude opens the heart and releases joy. Worship shifts focus from problems to Christ, softening the soul and releasing strength even into the body.
A Practical Example #
Consider a believer facing prolonged illness. In the spirit, healing is already secured by Christ’s wounds. But the soul, overwhelmed by fear, closes the gate. As the person meditates daily on Scripture, confesses truth, and yields to the Spirit, the mind begins to agree with God. Anxiety lessens, peace flows, and strength begins to return. Over time, even the body feels the vitality of Christ’s life. The miracle is not distant but released through the alignment of soul and spirit.
Conclusion: Rivers of Living Water #
The Christian life is not about dragging blessings down from heaven but about releasing the life already within. Jesus describes it as rivers flowing outward.
John 7:38 (AMP)
He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’
The spirit is perfect, filled with Christ. The soul must be renewed, and the body becomes the vessel of life. Through faith, renewal, surrender, confession, and thanksgiving, the divine life flows outward. Weakness gives way to strength, sickness to healing, and anxiety to peace. This is not striving but abiding, not effort but alignment. The mystery of Spirit, soul, and body is fulfilled in Christ, who lives in us as our life.
In Christ,
Godwin.
