A portion of the podcast “Practical Philip” is being shared in this blog. This AI Overview explains soul pain is a deep, non-physical and often chronic ache that can fill a person with a sense of emptiness, disconnection from meaning or profound sorrow that transcends physical or emotional pain. Soul pain manifests as an inner void, spiritual distress, or longing for purpose, often triggered by loss, trauma or a crisis of faith.
Isaiah 53 tells us Jesus was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised and rejected by men. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised. We esteemed Him not. He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence nor was any deceit in His mouth. Instead, over and over again the Lord said, “I tell you the Truth.” So, the Way to God could be revealed, the Truth eternally established God sent His Word, His Message of Peace and Grace and Forgiveness so the Life He bestows could be received – eternal life! Those who believe will not be condemned; instead, they have crossed over from death to life (John 5:24). Heed God’s Word and honor the Lord by not losing heart or being afraid! (Jeremiah 51:46).
God is Spirit, and the kind of worshipers the Father seeks are those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23). Those who believe God is not the author of confusion, chaos or lawlessness, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:31). Those who believe God did not give us a spirit of timidity, of fear; instead, He has given us His Spirit of Power, of Love, of Truth within us to help us be self-controlled and sound-minded (2 Timothy 1:7).
To all who receive God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – to those who believe in the authority of the name of Jesus, He has given us the right to receive the Spirit of Adoption – the Spirit producing sonship – in the bliss of which we cry, Abba! Father! (Romans 8:15). Yes, those who allow God’s Word to guard their heart above all else. Who pay attention to the Truth, who listen closely to His teachings. Those who don’t lose sight of the Way of Righteousness, keeping the words of Truth within their heart, co-laboring with Holy Spirit to transform the way they think, for through the Word the mind of Christ will be developed (1 Corinthians 2:16). For through His Word of Truth, within His messages, His teachings is the Life God bestows to those who find the capacity to believe them (Proverbs 4:29).
The Life God bestows. The ransom He has paid with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. Our heavenly Father chose Jesus as our ransom long before the world began, so that through His Christ, His Anointed One, He could save us from the empty life we inherited from our ancestors. We come to Jesus and through Him place our trust, our faith and hope in God, Who raised the Lord from the dead and gave Him great glory
(1 Peter 1:18 NLT).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central, foundational power of Christianity, proving victory over sin and death, validating Jesus’s divinity, and offering those who believe the Truth, Jesus is the only Way to draw near to God and receive the Life of Promise. The resurrection of Jesus transforms faith from the empty pomp and circumstance of tradition and rituals to a living Hope, for our heavenly Father has given us His Spirit to bestow all we need encouragement, comfort, knowledge, understanding from His Word to fill us with the Lord’s power and joy and peace so we can live a righteous life, giving all the glory to our heavenly Father. 1 Corinthians 15:14 states if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our faith is futile and believers are still in their sins (1 Corinthians 14:17) still condemned to death eternally separated from God.
Jesus willingly laid down His life because He knew the great joy that was set before Him, the multitudes of people He would heal and deliver and save for the Father’s glory. Therefore, His heart was glad and His tongue rejoiced for He knew His body would rest securely because the Father would not abandon Him to the grave, nor would He let His Holy One see decay. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, and make known the path of Life. If we are willing, God’s Word will fill us with joy for truly we are in the presence of our God, our Savior, our Lord, Who from His right hand bestows eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:9).
The Father whose will was to crush Jesus and cause Him to suffer, and through the Lord make His life a guilt offering to pour out His life unto death, and be numbered with the transgressors, for He bore the sins of many (Isaiah 53). Just as physical life comes before spiritual life, we are destined to face physical death once (Hebrews 9:27), and after that receive our heavenly reward or be convicted by our sin – not believing Jesus is the Son of God – and therefore face the consequence of such pridefulness to join death and fear and every sort of evil in the waterless pit of hell.
Jesus was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through Whom He went and preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:18). In fact, He disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15). Praise God, for His secret wisdom was hidden. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:7).
Yes, Jesus was not spared from suffering the worst pain – spiritual suffering. He explained to His disciples, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so too the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” Matthew 12:40. This AI Overview explains spiritual pain is a deep inner distress from a threatened sense of meaning, purpose, hope or connection, often triggered by suffering, loss or life changes, manifesting as questioning beliefs, anger at God, despair, guilt, or feeling abandoned, and distinct from but intertwined with physical pain. A traumatic experience, a crisis in one’s spiritual and emotional well-being, affecting one’s relationship with themselves, others and God. Signs and symptoms can manifest
- Emotionally: Anger, hopelessness, deep sadness, anxiety, depression
- Behaviorally: Withdrawing from religious practices, negative self-talk, difficulty finding comfort
- Physically (indirectly): By possibly exacerbating physical pain or appear as fatigue, tension or stomach issues
Jesus made us aware of His spiritual pain, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46. All who see Me mock Me! They hurl insults, shaking their heads: “He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue Him. Let the Lord deliver Him since He delights in Him,” Psalm 22:7. The resurrection of Christ Jesus serves as the ultimate proof of God’s power, which is at work within every believer, offering victory over spiritual death. The resurrection is the ultimate proof Jesus is the Word, Who through the eras of time has given a candid portrait of Love.
Yes, God has given us His Word so we could know, through Jesus all things were made. So, we could truly understand in Christ is life, and that life is the Light of men shining through the darkness (John 1:1). That we would choose to believe Christ and the Father are One (John 10:3). That we would honor the Word as Lord as we honor Jesus as Savior, for they are One and the same, giving us assurance, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and peace of heart. This peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I have told you: I am going away, but I will come to you again,” John 14:27 NLT.
So, do not lose heart, do not allow fear to cause you to faint or become despondent, at what you too may suffer in the Lord’s behalf. Think on things that are true and noble, admirable and praiseworthy. Put into practice what you have learned and received, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:7). For it is an honor to you to glorify the Lord in trouble, in persecution, even in death. For this reason, understanding the greatness of God’s plan by which you are built together in Christ. Be disciplined and determined to bow your knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the honor and the privilege of worshiping Him, Who empowers us through the Spirit of Grace and Truth, Wisdom and Revelation. So, in whatever we do or say, like Philip, we too do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17 NLT).
Remembering – No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Lord, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders|
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30