Embracing Intimacy with Christ: Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit

“Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, 'If you are faithful to what I have said, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:31-32 Phillips).

“Jesus said, 'I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you will know him. You’ve even seen him!'” (John 14:6 MSG).

The truth you discover in deep intimacy with Jesus, embracing your spirit, soul, and body, is what will truly set you free—not just from sin and death, but also to experience our Heavenly Father. God's glory can flow through us once we know Jesus Christ intimately as our soul's lover. We've discussed the necessity of putting on the mind of Christ, but let's examine how our body responds to this. In previous chapters, we've considered how to cultivate the mind of Christ and allow that mindset and those nerve tissues to descend along your spinal cord.

When thoughts of Christ descend from the brain down the spine and ignite different parts of your body, your body responds in specific areas of pain, sending messages that healing is needed. The sympathetic nervous system reacts to an injury affecting those parts of your body. But did you also realize that you're carrying emotional hindrances in certain areas? When the mind of Christ and the word of God attempt to bring healing to your body, it’s essential to remember that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to purify it. Oftentimes, we think of cleansing as simply avoiding alcohol and tobacco, eating healthy foods, getting enough rest, and exercising properly. 

I play pickleball three to four times a week. It energizes and excites me, making all my muscles feel alive while I play. It helps me refocus, bringing oxygen into my lungs and strengthening my muscles and skeletal system. My diet is good. I drink plenty of water, adding beet, cranberry, lemon, greens, and herbs. Instead of taking multiple supplements, I prefer to drink them throughout the day. I likely spend two hours every morning, starting with my prayer and devotional time, just immersing myself in the word.

Despite the checklist we are taught in church for taking care of the temple of God, things still happen, leading us to wonder how we could have avoided conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. I have battled breast cancer for thirteen years and am now diagnosed with stage four cancer, which is supposedly in remission.  Maybe or maybe not, but rather than looking for cancer to return, I choose to have intimacy with Christ, telling His temple how to function on earth. The Father controls when I begin breathing, giving Life, and when my last breath is released.

In the meantime, while dealing with cleansing the temple of the Lord, I want to focus on the father's business rather than what doctors and nutritionists attempt to impose on me as a medical checklist. But what about when we desire those healings from the Word ministers to our spirit as the resurrection life and the glory of the Lord flowing through us? Can we truly believe that death has been conquered? Others claim they pray for our healing, but what does that signify? Could their prayers hinder us, like taking the wrong medicine? 

“But let me tell you something extraordinary, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die, but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes, it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. We'll all be changed at the exact moment and in the same way. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable is taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now, in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!” (1 Corinthians 15:55 – 57, MSG).

What is Paul writing to Corinth about? If we interpret what he is saying as that the best part of our inheritance from Jesus is meant for when we die and go to heaven, then why do we grieve and mourn when our loved ones cross over? Why do we spend so much energy trying to stay alive in our natural bodies? Shouldn’t we celebrate when we are told by our loved ones or even ourselves that there is nothing more the medical profession can do and that they will need to go to hospice? 

God doesn't need another death for heaven to be a place where He dwells within us. That's the back door. It's a back door into His presence. He wants us to use the front door. He desires us to enter through Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. But what does it mean for Christ to be in you? Part of that involves healing and freeing your captives, one bone at a time.

Let’s turn to Ezekiel 37, where God speaks about dry bones with Ezekiel, a priest. Although Ezekiel wasn't a prophet, God prompted him to deliver a prophecy concerning dry bones. We have dry bones within our spirit, soul, and body. Our bones make their best effort to work alongside the nerve tissue, muscle tissue, tendons, and the entire skeletal system of our bodies. 

Messages are sent to our bodies to ensure they function harmoniously with what the brain provides. Our spinal cord serves as the main highway of communication. Energy bundles located in our spine act as places for these messages to gather and regroup. Eastern traditions refer to them as the body’s “chakras.” They transmit energy frequencies and light energy to all parts of the body. 

“Chakra (cakra in Sanskrit) means “wheel” and refers to energy points in your body. They are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay “open” and aligned, as they correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect our emotional and physical well-being.” (https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/7-chakras).

Most Western Christianity starts with the gospel message that humanity is a “sinner saved by grace.” This creates a red zone at our energy center near the tailbone. It hinders our soul and spirit as we attempt to wear the “mind of Christ” while working our way to the mountaintop called heaven. Jesus has already completed the work of addressing our identity challenge, telling us, “As He is, so are we today in this world” (1 John 4:17). We don’t need to “do” anything, but “BE” who our Heavenly Father says we already are. By embracing that position, we activate the mind of Christ within us.

We are already the Beloved of Christ Jesus, seated with Him in the heavenly places called the mercy seat of Christ. “God raised us with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). What we desire is His mind of Christ to begin sending those scriptures, the word of mercy flowing through our bodies, setting our spirit, soul, and body free from death, and restoring abundant LIFE, LOVE, and LIGHT.

So, as we get back to the ministry of laying on hands to heal, you may be laying hands on a shoulder when the blockage is in the spine. The calling of God in our life and journey should be the ministry of reconciliation that Jesus gave as our assignment, the resurrection life of Christ in me, for His body to be glorified on earth. When we have areas of our natural body that are not functioning correctly, we consult a specialist for that part. You wouldn’t go to a podiatrist if you have a heart issue. The same principle should be applied to the ministry, which lays its hands on people to heal the sick.

Paul gives us wisdom about laying on hands for healing. Make sure our heart has the right motive as we fan the flames of the Spirit of God in us to impart restoration to the body of Christ in ourselves and others.  “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1 6-7).

The writer of Hebrews shares that the laying on of hands is for the mature in Christ to anticipate that resurrection life will follow. Not in a wishful way, but because there is a knowing intimacy with Jesus Christ that allows His name and nature to flow through us.  “Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. God permitting, we will do so” (Hebrews 6:1-3).

Whatever you're experiencing—be it diabetes, heart issues, grief, anger, or anxiety—or perhaps you're dealing with the fear stemming from all the COVID-related concerns. Fear can settle into your body and trigger your bodily responses. You might recite all the scriptures you want, but if fear is blocking specific organs, you'll find it difficult to let those scriptures facilitate the healing that promises, "by his stripes, I'm healed." Or when it says, "I will heal you of all your wounds and afflictions," it sounds great, but how do we transition that promise into the areas needing healing? That's what we've been discussing. Referring to Romans, Paul spoke of a pathway to the “mercy seat” of Christ, where grace begins to flow through our bodies, starting at the cervical area known as C-1. This is the first cervical vertebra, followed by C-2, recognized as the “rulership”—Christ is your ruler.

From there, we move to the “giver” that you're inviting into your body, pouring love into your body, and to “exhort,” encourage, and express gratitude and thankfulness toward your body. These form the first four bones in the spine. The fifth bone represents “teaching” your body what the word of God conveys, nurturing it as a child, and providing “service” to your body as the Holy Spirit ministers to C-7 with “prophetic” blessings and promises of God. That accounts for the first seven bones in your spine. They are Christ's anointed. The Holy Spirit desires to anoint us from the tops of our heads to the soles of our feet.

We've heard pastors lay hands on you and say, "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are blessed from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet." You can do that for yourself and speak to each of these bones. Then, when you get to the vertebrae right after C7, you move into the thoracic region. Here’s a little nugget about the male and female gender issues we like to discuss regarding identity crises and masculinity and femininity. Keep in mind that the body of Christ is entirely feminine. If it's the bride of Christ, there's only one husband. However, every person possesses both a feminine and a masculine side. The feminine side is the receiver, while the masculine side is the worker that the Holy Spirit should be leading.

These first seven bones represent the feminine aspects of receiving Christ, with the mind of Christ flowing through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we reach the 12 bones of the thoracic portion of our spine, the masculine side within our spirit sends healing to our body from the prophetic blessings the Holy Spirit gave us through C-1 to C-7. Now that the Holy Spirit is leading us with the mind of Christ, prophetic blessings enter T-1, which ministers to our arms and chest, and T-2, which ministers to our esophagus and larynx. T-3 focuses on our heart and trachea, and T-4 deals with our lungs.

Think of T-1 to T-7 as receiving the reversal of what the Holy Spirit imparted with C-1 to C-7. How we receive the gifts found in Romans 12:8, which releases the Light of God unveiled in rainbow colors, will resonate with the communication of the body between the mind of Christ and the heart. 

“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalms 85:10).

What you hear relates to judgments about the right and left arms, where truth and justice coexist with mercy and grace. Pain in this area may indicate issues; if you experience discomfort, it's likely originating from here. This region contains a lot of nerve tissue that is being traumatized. It’s a complex situation. However, soothing this area and resting in the Lord promotes healing. Every part is working to bring forth the healing works of Christ within you. As we do this and unveil His glory from within, we become more aware of what's happening throughout the rest of the body. Significant cleansing and detoxification must occur in the heart, lungs, and digestive areas.

This body area tends to hold a lot of unnecessary energy that we don't know how to release. We often attribute it to cultural customs or believe it has been passed down through our DNA because we recognize it in a parent or grandparent. We inadvertently speak against the prophetic blessings of the Holy Spirit, allowing familiar spirits from our family history to take root in our bodies. 

Our heart will not be functioning in the fullness of receiving the mind of Christ because we have a stress factor in there. If you're dealing with grief, that's a lung issue; that focuses on our oxygen supply. We can become stuck with the emotion of grief in our lungs. If you're dealing with anger, you're going to have a gallbladder or liver issue, a blockage. So, the filtering system of the gallbladder and the liver, which is supposed to be doing its job, is being hindered by anger. What about worry? How often are we worrying? We say, I know God's plans and the promises He's giving, but…! Once we add a “but,” we cause the Spirit of God to grieve, preventing Him from being present and in control of healing His body.

Behind it, we start to worry or bring up the past. You know the conversation: my mother had this, my grandmother had it, my dad and my great-grandfather too; it runs in our family. Or this is how we've always done things in our traditions and cultures. Those concerns and worries relate to your pancreas, stomach, spleen, and entire digestive system, which is responsible for absorbing food. Although I'm referring to something natural, it is also spiritual. If you're trying to receive the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Lord from the mind of Christ, but as it flows down, you have a matter of the heart—a blockage, perhaps due to stress or trust issues. Something's blocking you; maybe it's identity issues, which will hinder your ability to receive.

Then, it will relate to how you breathe; you see it in your breathing. If you're not praising the Lord, let every breath praise the Lord. There will be another blockage. If you have frustration or anger, if people annoy you, or if you feel victimized, well, now you have gallbladder and liver organs that will impact that because that's where you're storing these feelings. Everything I'm saying refers to chronic issues. Sometimes, these chronic issues stem from being raised in a particular household. This means that if you find yourself worrying, such as when you watch the news and feel anxious about everything, your body is also worried about it…you're not resting in the Lord. 

Your whole digestive issue is going to have an impact. And then fear—your adrenal glands are your fight or flight response, and they’re supposed to help get you out of trouble. But if you don't give them some rest and you're constantly in a fearful state, like when you go into a store and think, ‘What if I get this, this, or this because the world is facing this, this, and this?’ Or if you're worried about gas prices or going out into the sun because of skin cancer, you remain in that fearful state of ‘what if.’ What if your body develops some serious issues? 

You can set your body free simply by allowing your hands to be healing hands with the mind of Christ.

However, you must come back to rest with the Lord. You must pray in conversation with a relationship with Christ as your beloved husband in oneness with Jesus Christ. “Be careful of nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

During our trials, we learn to count all joy, creating a safe space in our spirit, soul, and body for patience to bring forth her perfect work, and for the promises and blessings of life, light, and love to flow through us. God said in Jeremiah 30:17, “I will heal you of all of your wounds and all of your afflictions.” Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life. Whom shall I dread?” Or how about Isaiah 41:10, which says, “Fear not. I am with you. I am your God, and I will strengthen and uphold you in my right hand.”

Can we rely on those promises for ourselves or loved ones? The third thing is perseverance and trust. Turn it over to God and not worry about it, but hear our Beloved speak into our spirit, “I'll take care of it; you rest in ME, surrounded with My Peace that surpasses our understanding. We are prophesying to those dry bones within ourselves as written in Ezekiel 37, when God said, “Thus saith the Lord, speak to the bones and behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.” 

Speak to your bones; just lay hands on them and speak the word of God. Speak these promises to your bones, reminding them that the Lord is saying, “I will heal you,” and let the Holy Spirit do the cleansing work through you as you rest when you go to bed at night and get up in the morning. Anticipate seeing and tasting the goodness of what the Lord is doing for you here and now. Meditate on the fact that your body is the temple of the Lord and what you can do to rejuvenate the body that is not your own but belongs to Christ. Once you set your own self free, you will be able to bless other people and bring the fullness of what heaven has to offer into this world so that the earth is filled with the glory of God. 

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)