Prepare-for-War

just the same as our physical bodies. But they take their character and way of thinking from our physical bodies and souls. For instance, if you do not know the scriptures with your mind, neither will your spirit know them. The concept of our spirits being separated and geographical ly away from our physical body is strange to us. There is a fascinating scripture in which Paul describes just such a circumstance.

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as tlwugh I were present, concern ing him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ... " I Corinthians 5: I-4

Notice here that a small "s" is used to denote Paul's own spirit, not the Holy Spirit. Also, of utmost importance is the fact that Paul's spirit was there in Corinth only with the "power of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's spirit was com pletely under the control ofthe Lord, not his own soul. Christians need to understand the problems resulting in their physical bodies during the times their spirits are on the battle field. I believe this was part of what Paul was referring to when he made the statement:

" ... of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven~ whereof I Paul am made a minister~ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions ofChrist in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church." Colossians 1:23-24

Paul's "wrestling" for the church was done mostly in the realm of the spirit world. I am sure much of the suffering he

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