Parts
People Are Made Up of Distinct Parts or Ages
Man, created by God, is a very complex being. The Lord has shown us, through His Word and through ministering to our families and to other Christians, that people are made up of multiple parts or ages that make up the whole person. Take a moment to meditate seriously about yourself.
- Do you tend to feel and act younger when you get tired or are under too much stress?
- Do you find that under certain circumstances you are outgoing around people and at other times you just want to hide?
- Are there times when you feel, even as an adult, like a kid in a candy store or a kid on Christmas day and other times you feel like a bah-humbug scrooge?
- Are you afraid of a given situation one time and not afraid of the same situation another time?
- Do you sometimes feel like you are or should be the center of attention and other times your focus is outside of yourself and your desire leans more towards helping others?
- Do you desire to get close to God sometimes and other times have no interest whatsoever?
There are many variations on these types of seemingly opposite or very different feelings that we have while in the same or similar circumstances and surroundings. At times we find ourselves asking, "Why did I just do that?" or "I don't like it when I get that way." or "I wish I could be that free around people all the time." or "Why can I get close to God sometimes and not other times?"
The Lord has revealed through scripture and first hand experience that we are made up of multiple parts or ages. These parts correspond closely to Piaget's Cognitive Development Stages, as discussed in further detail below. There are approximately four or five major stages in the growth of a child from infant to adult, most of which occur in the first 12 years of life. In the way that the Lord made us we need to be trained in each of these ages to come to the Lord and trust and obey Him and be willing to receive His loving discipline in our lives. For those of use who were not trained correctly in childhood the Lord gives us opportunity through the ministry of setting the captives free and healing to be retrained in God's ways, in each of our parts/ages, in order to then come together as a whole new God centered person - to create a whole hearted person so that all of our heart/mind/parts/ages can trust and agree with and obey God, our Lord and Savior.
Scriptures Which Reveal Parts
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who [voluntarily?] falls on this stone [Jesus] will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Matt 21:42-44 (ESV)
17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?18 Everyone who [voluntarily?] falls on that stone [Jesus] will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Luke 20:17-18 (ESV)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psa 51:17 (ESV)
14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Isa 8:14-15 (ESV)
Two kinds of brokenness - both from the Lord - one leads to destruction due to a constant lack of humility but the other results in life and healing. As in Isaiah 8:14 we can choose to fall on Jesus as our sanctuary or reject Jesus Christ and suffer the consequences.
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. Proverbs 29:1 (ESV)
...in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. Isaiah 30:26 (ESV)
When we willingly fall on Jesus He "breaks" us into our various parts / ages so that each one can be set free and then trained to trust and willingly obey our God after which the Lord spiritually unites all the parts which are then in agreement so we can truly say we love Him with a whole heart and with all our heart.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Psa 51:6 (NKJV)
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body. Pro 18:8 (ESV)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:11-12 (ESV)
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. James 3:10-12 (ESV)
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:1,8 (ESV)
Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 1 Chron 29:19 (ESV)
1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. ... 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. 2 Chron 25:1-2, 14-16 (ESV)
More "whole heart" scriptures Psalm 119:2,10,34,69,145 (ESV)
or click on Titles
Piaget's four stages of intellectual (or cognitive) development are:
- Sensorimotor. Birth through ages 18-24 months.
- Preoperational. Toddlerhood Ages. 18-24 months through early childhood age 7.
- Concrete operational. Ages 7 to 12.
- Formal operational. Adolescence through adulthood.
Piaget acknowledged that some children may pass through the stages at different ages than the averages noted above and that some children may show characteristics of more than one stage at a given time. But he insisted that cognitive development always follows this sequence, that stages cannot be skipped, and that each stage is marked by new intellectual abilities and a more complex understanding of the world.
Sensorimotor Stage
During the early stages, infants are only aware of what is immediately in front of them. They focus on what they see, what they are doing, and physical interactions with their immediate environment.
Because they don't yet know how things react, they're constantly experimenting with activities such as shaking or throwing things, putting things in their mouths, and learning about the world through trial and error. The later stages include goal-oriented behavior which brings about a desired result.
At about age 7 to 9 months, infants begin to realize that an object exists even if it can no longer be seen. This important milestone -- known as object permanence -- is a sign that memory is developing.
After infants start crawling, standing, and walking, their increased physical mobility leads to increased cognitive development. Near the end of the sensorimotor stage, infants reach another important milestone -- early language development, a sign that they are developing some symbolic abilities.
Preoperational Stage
During this stage, young children are able to think about things symbolically. Their language use becomes more mature. They also develop memory and imagination, which allows them to understand the difference between past and future, and engage in make-believe.
But their thinking is based on intuition and still not completely logical. They cannot yet grasp more complex concepts such as cause and effect, time, and comparison.
Concrete Operational Stage
At this time, elementary-age and preadolescent children demonstrate logical, concrete reasoning.
Children's thinking becomes less egocentric and they are increasingly aware of external events. They begin to realize that one's own thoughts and feelings are unique and may not be shared by others or may not even be part of reality. Children also develop operational thinking -- the ability to perform reversible mental actions.
During this stage, however, most children still can't tackle a problem with several variables in a systematic way.
Formal Operational Stage
Adolescents who reach this fourth stage of intellectual development are able to logically use symbols related to abstract concepts, such as algebra and science. They can think about multiple variables in systematic ways, formulate hypotheses, and consider possibilities. They also can ponder abstract relationships and concepts such as justice.
Although Piaget believed in lifelong intellectual development, he insisted that the formal operational stage is the final stage of cognitive development, and that continued intellectual development in adults depends on the accumulation of knowledge. [1]
WebMD, "Piaget's Cognitive Stages," WebMD.com, last modified Unknown, http://www.webmd.com/children/piaget-stages-of-development.
So the stages (3-10 months and 2-4, 6-8, 10-12, and 14-16 years) are now experimental facts and not just theory. These brain growth spurts have been found to occur at the earliest onset ages of the Piaget stages of reasoning development (Epstein, 1980, 1986; Hudspeth and Pribram, 1990); therefore, they are probably the biological basis of the Piaget stages.
Dr. Herman T. Epstein, "Brainstages - The Roles of Brain in Human Cognitive Development," last modified Unknown, http://www.brainstages.net/stages.
Most people act surprised to learn that their personalities come in parts with various ages. Yet our culture is full of such terms as "broken hearts", "all of me", "part of me", "sometimes I do and sometimes I don't", etc. Parts often show up under stress after the older parts grow tired under the strain. The hand writing will change; the behavior will become more silly or more serious depending upon the foundational training of that life. Tiredness and sleep tend to show younger or more hidden parts. Unless the person being prayed for is unfamiliar to the person praying, many of the parts can be discerned through daily living if one is watching for them.
Begin by identifying the various names that the person has been called in his life and place an approximate age by each name if applicable. Such a list will provide useful insight into future ministry.
Following is a common example:
Gordon H. Powlison in Principalities and Powers. (Gordon H. Powlison and Associates, 2011), 159-160.
- Elizabeth Ann - name given at birth and used on documents
- Tin Lizzy - nickname given by schoolmates
- Big Nose - name given by little brother at age 10
- Liz - self created name for teenage diary
- Beth or Betty - college year with sexual involvement
- Ann - adult name