Spiritual World Part 2 – Memory & Thoughts
This is an excerpt from Peter Tan’s book “The Spiritual World”, which can be downloaded for free here: The Spiritual World
(Other parts in this series can be found by following the links at the bottom.)
Memory and The Mind
All the memories of the earth life are remembered by every spirit that leaves its earthly body. Memory is stored in the mind of the soul rather than in the human physical brain. The brain is only one of the “sensations of mind”. All the cells of the physical body also have their centre of “sensation of mind”. Self awareness is a “sensation of mind” from the soul. When the spirit of man rules the soul, there is a “sensation of mind” from the spirit realm. When the spirit, soul and body of an individual are in disharmony, there are opposing “sensations of mind” occurring in the mind of the soul causing conflicts within an individual (Romans 7:22-25).
We are to allow the spirit to rule the mind rather than the physical realm (Romans 8:5). We need to separate the “sensations of mind that are of the spirit” from the “sensations of mind that are of the soul and of the body” (Hebrews 4:12).
The memory is more intense in the spiritual world than in the physical world because memory recall involves a total experience of every detail of the memory and not just the flitting thought of an event. Thus while peace, love and joy can be thousands of times more intensely experienced, suffering can also be equally magnified. The healing unconditional love of Jesus and of our Father God brings a great restoration of the soul and spirit through the blood of Jesus. There are many trees, plants and waters of the Paradises of the various spheres of heaven that bring restoration and growth to the souls marred by their earthly experiences (Revelation 22:1, 2).
Thoughts are creative in the spiritual realm. All spiritual beings emanate spiritual light through their thoughts. The light that is emanated reveals the various strengths of the spirit being; the various areas of perfections; the various areas of differentiation and characteristics, etc. Light in the spirit world is like blood (Here we are not referring to physical light made up of photons but rather spiritual light made up of the life and substance that flows from God Himself through the Word, our Lord Jesus.
In the physical world, life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). In the spiritual world, life is in the light (John 1:4). All our thoughts on this earth emanate light or darkness according to our inner spiritual life (Matthew 6:22, 23). All our words uttered, which are the vocal expression of our thought life, flow accordingly with the light of our thoughts. And just as it is possible to analyse physical blood to diagnose the strengths or weaknesses of the physical body; it is also possible to diagnose the strengths or weaknesses of our spirit man from the light that emanates from our spiritual life.
Thoughts
Thoughts from the spiritual world of light can sometimes be felt by those who are sensitive to them on the earth. They radiate and inspire the thoughts of the people on the earth to higher realms through the work of the Holy Spirit. The thoughts of evil spirits who live in the spheres of darkness also influence and affect the thoughts of those who lean towards darkness. How much these thoughts can influence humans depends on the inner strength and character of each human heart. Light attracts light and darkness attracts darkness. It is the free choice of all humans to which realm of thought influence they yield to.
The effect of thoughts from the spheres of the spiritual realm on the present physical earth is more extensive than humans realise. These, combined with the actual work of angels and saints on the earth as opposed to the work of evil spirits on the earth, cause the activities that are on the physical earth.
The invisible continues to influence the physical world in an astonishingly great manner. Good and holy thoughts of those who live on earth can be seen in the spiritual world like a light that radiates from us in various colours. By the means of this light our inner natures can be discerned. The analysis of this luminance that flows from the character of our thoughts can reveal all our strengths and weaknesses. Through it, God and angelic spirits are able to see what areas in our lives still need help and which bad areas need to be changed.
When we leave our physical bodies and live in the spirit world, our whole spiritual body will radiate light revealing our strengths and our weaknesses. No one can hide who they are in the spirit world for it would be plain for all to see each person’s character, strengths or weaknesses through the light they radiate. The characters that are dominant become reflected in our spiritual clothing which classifies us to our respective spheres.
Actions and Reactions (Predestination and Free Choice)
In the spiritual world, one can see the ultimate result of each thought and action. They ripple through space and time causing the results that we see in the physical earth. Every human that is born into the earth becomes part of the thoughts, actions, and reactions of the totality of thought and spiritual forces (good or bad) released since the creation of the earth. Not all the evil or suffering in the world is caused directly by first choice of the individual. The majority of it is caused by the ripple effect of the thoughts and decisions of others preceding the individual.
Whole communities, cities and countries are gripped by the strongest ripple (more like it building to a tsunami wave) of forces that influence people on the earth. The whole earth looks like an ocean of ripples and waves of forces ebbing and flowing according to each new action and reaction of the human race. Positive or negative forces of influence sweep over entire communities, cities or countries from time to time. Every sin causes more suffering for the entire human race and every righteous thought and loving act releases a power that lifts the whole human race.
In spite of this strong invisible influence that grips every new human born to the earth, there is still the power of free choice given to each one. If the humans by free choice choose to understand the existence of this and yield to the power available through the Holy Spirit, the negative effects of these forces are powerless in their lives. It does not take much to open themselves to the spiritual forces available for their aid. Even the smallest cry for help, the weakest prayer of an unregenerate human releases positive change to the spiritual forces that ebb and flow into their lives. God answers both the prayers of those who love Him and even those who hate Him but cry for His help in their need. Great is the mercy and love of our Father God. Even the slightest inclination of heart towards love and goodness releases a measure of help from the Holy Spirit.
Humans who do not open themselves to the power of help from the Spiritual World become weak and susceptible to existing forces preceding them. They are too weak to counter the effect of the negative forces present in the human race. All humans need help from outside themselves. Even those who thought that they had succeeded by their own strength and capacity received help from the spiritual world without them knowing it.
There is no possibility of success in the physical world against the tide of forces that ebb and flow against the human race. Without aid from the spiritual world no one can overcome. Those who through heart, thought and action choose to continually reject help from the spiritual world in the end succumb to these forces and are destroyed; eventually losing their physical lives prematurely.
Every human is born with the potential for goodness and greatness (John 1:9). Whether one is well known or unknown, of great visible influence or of little visible influence, everyone is powerful in contributing to the forces that affect the entire human race. An insignificant little life could be very important in the spiritual world because of what the impact that life may have twenty generations later in word, deed or action, etc. Everyone born on to the earth has a powerful world influence. Unfortunately, many do not open themselves to their spiritual destinies. No human lives and leaves this earth without contributing to the tides of forces influencing the whole human race whether positive or negative.
Those who do not yield to the forces of goodness and love become destroyed by forces of darkness that are attracted to the darkness they allow in their hearts. All humans are like magnets that constantly (by their free choice of thought and heart) attract to themselves forces of good or bad which work for them or against them. No matter how weak they think they are, by choosing the right thing in their heart of hearts, they release forces of good that would gradually overcome all the power of evil assailing against them. One small loving thought or action can fell a tsunami of evil forces. Evil spirits are powerless against the love of God. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). When a person is influenced to do evil or wrong things, it is because they attract evil spirits to themselves by their own evil desires.
To be tempted is not wrong but to entertain the temptation and allow it to produce an evil desire in our lives is wrong. This evil desire attracts evil spirits who then entice us to do evil. The desire is our choice, the enticing is the encouragement received from evil spirits to do evil. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (James 1:14).
Thus it is important never to allow wrong or evil desires to form in our heart – they attract evil spirits to our lives who will cause us to sin. The free choice is still ours. We must stop sin at its temptation stage and not allow it to grow into the desire stage. When our heart is pure and no wrong desires exist, not a single evil spirit can stand in our presence. Angels and all the heavenly hosts are attracted to our lives and encamped around us. A pure heart of love is the greatest asset in the spiritual world. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
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Part 4 (Emotions & Evil Desires)
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2 Corinthians 10 4-7. It is a must to live and think the word of GOD! Though we fall we are not totally cast down! Just keep going on! Take every knock as a boost and every stumbling block as a stepping stone!
Fascinating. Glad to see someone exploring this from a grounded perspective.
If it is true that our spirits and bodies are the soul’s interfaces with either the spiritual or physical realms, then we are out of balance.
We understand how to get around in the physical world. But dealing with the spiritual is a mystery in many ways.
Many are spiritually inept or even comatose because they don’t realize their spirit is just like their body. That leads us to living life from a flesh only perspective. And that leaves us missing out on a whole other level of our existence in Christ.
PM what is your opinion of Peter Tan’s teachings ?
Great question. When I first began reading Tan’s book ‘The Spiritual World’, it challenged my understanding of things. This isn’t the kind of material most of us hear preached from the pulpit. That makes the subject matter hard for most people to wrap their head around. Most Christians have no grid of understanding for purely spiritual discussions that are removed from the usual bible studies or discussions about church life. I’ve been interested in learning more about the spiritual world for a while now. It stemmed from the many testimonies I’ve heard from people who died and went into eternity then returned. When I read Tan’s book, I realized that it provided a kind of blueprint for the spiritual world, which was something I sorely needed. Tan’s descriptions of the various spheres and planes of the spiritual world is consistent with nearly every other story I’ve ever read. The thing that helps me most is that his descriptions encompass all the other descriptions in one panoramic, wide-screen view.
For me, the greatest benefit of reading Tan’s teachings is that they’ve helped me understand that my very purpose for existence is to be conformed into the image of Christ, not only in this life, but in the ages to come. As we behold His glory in all the realms of the spiritual world, we are being transformed from one level of glory to another for all eternity in a never-ending process of greater and greater perfection.
thank you, i find your insight helpful. i enjoy your website and value your opinion, i am trying to grasp Peter Tan’s work. lately i have found your website and Todd White and Dan Mohler very helpful for me in my growth. i will continue coming here everyday. thank you and God bless you!
Thank you Greg. If there are any topics you’d be interested in learning more about – please let me know.
hope the week has gone well, just curious about what you think of Derek Prince’s teachings on healing, deliverance ? do you think alcoholism is sickness or demon oppression? to me it seems that healing and deliverance is so closely linked that both are important to healing someone. i appreciate your comments, i am new to my spiritual journey.
Great questions, Greg. To be honest, I haven’t read much by Derek Prince, other than his book “War in Heaven”, which I liked a lot. I haven’t read his teachings on healing or deliverance.
Personally, I suspect that alcoholism is a combined work of the human will and demonic influence. I’d wager that all addictions are likely to be a result of the same things, manifesting differently.
Thanks for dropping by!
thanks for the encouragement , i drop by every week almost daily and enjoy your insight , it helps with my desire to continue growing in Christ1