We have seen from our previous studies that man is a spirit who has a soul and lives in a body. We have also established how and why man must give highest priority to his spirit. To walk in the Spirit, it is also crucial to know what we must do with our souls. The newness that happens to our spirit at new birth has no immediate effect on the soul. Read James 1:21; the word save is sozo, which means to heal, deliver, preserve, protect, make whole. This is a process. The soul of man is more than just the mind; the soul comprises mind, will, and emotion. All these must be saved, secured by the engrafted (implanted) Word of God.

Truly the devil has no access to the spirit of a believer (1 John 5:18) but he can take over the soul of a believer that will allow him. Remember, Jesus stripped the devil of all the powers he had and handed it over to His body (1 John 3:8b; Colossians 1:13; 2:15), so Satan has no power over you as a believer except the one you hand over to him. This takes place in the soul region. Satan’s greatest weapon is the power of suggestion. That is why we must, by the Word of God, consistently pull down strongholds in our thoughts—cast down reasonings, mindsets, and imaginations that are not aligned to the knowledge of God and His thoughts concerning us (2 Corinthians 10:3–5). This is where the real spiritual warfare is, not “fighting” demons and evil spirits. An unrenewed mind is a den for devils.

This does not negate productive thinking or common sense. As a matter of truth, God wants us to have strong minds renewed in the Word; remember the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). God’s Word enhances man’s personality, increases intelligence, strengthens our will to win (Philippians 2:13); winning is very godly and spiritual (2 Corinthians 2:14; Psalm 35:27). Bringing the reality of the newness, life, and victory that has taken place in our spirits upon our souls is how we walk in the Spirit.