THE STATE OF THE SOUL
This past week President Bush gave his annual “State of the Union” Address.
According to Wikipedia, “The State of the Union Address is an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country, normally to a joint session of the U.S. Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). The address is also used to outline the President's legislative proposals for the upcoming year. It has occurred in January except for 6 occasions in February since 1934.
“Modeled after the Speech from the Throne, the requirement for the address is written into the United States Constitution:
‘The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.’ (Article II, Section 3)
This requirement does not specify the address's form, frequency, or depth of information. Although all Presidents have given an annual message, its form has changed over time…
“For many years, the speech was referred to as ‘the President's Annual Message to Congress." The actual term "State of the Union" did not become widely used until after 1935 when Franklin Delano Roosevelt began using the phrase.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union_Address
Of course messages and written documents similar to the State of the Union message are often presented. Messages are given on the “State of the State” in many places, or “the state of the city”. In fact, pastors, including myself, have spoken on the “State of the Church”.
Such messages usually sum up how things are now and what the plans are for the future. This is the type of message I usually give in the Pastor’s report as part of our written Annual Report.
What if each one of us was called upon to give a “State of” message? What might you report on?
· The state of your education?
· The state of your marriage?
· The state of your employment?
· The state of your family?
· The state of your finances?
· The state of your church (as you see it.)?
Let me suggest to you that the most important thing you have to report on is “THE STATE OF YOUR SOUL”,
Your soul, of course, is the part of you that will live forever. It is the real you. And the status of your soul is of extreme importance.
Mark 8:34-37 - And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [35] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. [36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
The state of your soul is so important that Pastors like me have been assigned to watch for it, and to take active part in helping you take care of your soul.
Hebrews 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
So this morning I want you to give a report on the State of your Soul. I’m not asking you to do it out loud. I’m asking you to do it within, reporting to yourself, and to God. Such a report will help you to review the state of your soul right now, and what you need to do this year by way of making improvements.
I will assist you this morning by giving you five questions to ask yourself in relation to your soul.
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
3. IS MY SOUL REMISS?
4. IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?
5. IS MY SOUL READY?
IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Most of you know the Gospel.
You know that all of us are sinners.
You know that we are not righteous enough to earn our ways into Heaven.
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
You know that Christ redeemed us, purchasing our souls out of condemnation.
Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
You know that Christ has risen from the dead.
You know that faith in Christ makes us righteous before God and makes us citizens in Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So examine yourself!
Have you placed your faith in Christ as Savior?
Do you have the assurance of Christ dwelling in you?
Can you say with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20, Christ liveth in me?
Paul expected them to examine themselves and indeed find that Christ was present!
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?
(N. A. S. B.)
You should be able to examine and find that you have had fellowship with the Lord Jesus. That He has changed your life! You realize that since making a profession of faith in Him, you are different and now interested in the things of God.
You should be able to examine yourself and find the assurance from God that you are His child.
Romans 8:15-16 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
If you examine and find no real evidence that you have trusted Christ, do so.
If you examine yourself and find evidence that Christ is in your life, that you are indeed a child of God, then you have reason to rejoice and to be reassured.
You also have reason to encourage yourself to a deeper, more intimate walk with Him, seeing that He is present!
The State of my soul:
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
I have a cousin who is divorced from his wife. Since the divorce they both have gotten closer to the Lord and have followed Him in Baptism. They hope to get back together.
I feel that one of the issues they are facing is the trust issue.
She got involved with a guy on the internet, went to see him, and even gave him money. Yes, it was a scam. The guy did this with several women. My cousin and his wife need to work on rebuilding trust.
There are times when we have all failed to be trustworthy. Sometimes, we have not been worthy of being trusted because of our actions, because of our sinful nature.
And yet how much it hurts when someone does not trust us, especially when we’ve done nothing wrong, when there’s no reason not to trust us!
Imagine how God must feel when we are not reliant on Him!
He is perfect.
He has done all things well!
He is almighty!
If He can’t be trusted who can!
And all through Scripture we are encouraged to put our trust in Him and His Son! We need to be reminded of these Scriptures.
Psalm 62:5-6 - My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. [6] He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
You know in your head that God can be trusted.
But do you know in your heart that God can be trusted?
Has it ever occurred to you, that as a Christian that the biggest insult to God is to live in a continual state of worry and unbelief; to be out of sorts and anxious about the past, present or the future?
God makes it clear that everything is to be committed to Him in prayer so that we can have peace of mind.
Psalm 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
So how reliant has your soul been?
Have you lived in a state of trust or anxious worry?
To please your God and for your soul to right with God there MUST be reliance on Him!
The State of your Soul:
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
3. IS MY SOUL REMISS?
Some of the hardest words for anyone to hear are, “I don’t love you anymore.”
It’s said often, but actually practiced even more frequently.
Often our actions, and even more so, our attitudes say to someone, “I don’t love you anymore.”
Revelation 2:4-5 - Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
These words were spoken to the Christian church in Ephesus. This was a church that was very active and doctrinally sound. And yet Jesus had a problem with them.
The fervent love which they once had for the Lord Jesus was no longer there.
The things they did were only a going “through the motions.”
They left their “first love”, which implies they were loving something or someone else more than they were loving the Lord.
It’s very easy to do, because there are so many things around to “love”.
· We can love our families more than we love the Lord.
· We can love our jobs more than we love the Lord.
· We can love the world with all its pleasures more than we love the Lord.
· We can love sports more than we love the Lord.
· We can love our homes and leisure more than we love the Lord.
· And on we could go.
The Lord tells us what to do.
He tells us to remember what it was like when we were most in love with Jesus.
He tells us to repent, to turn around.
He tells us to go back do the first works.
Think like you thought when you most loved Jesus.
Act like you acted when you most loved Jesus.
Love like you loved when you most loved Jesus.
The state of your soul:
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
3. IS MY SOUL REMISS?
4. IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?
How responsible a Christian are you?
Check out the New Testament.
In the Book of Acts, when a person believed he was baptized.
Jesus’ command was very simple.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Baptism is to follow belief. Have you been baptized?
How responsible a Christian are you?
Do you attend this church regularly?
Are you a member?
You’re not?
In most cases that’s irresponsible.
You want to receive but you don’t want to give, at least not to the extent that you need to give.
You can find all sorts of excuses not to join.
But joining requires commitment.
Commitment means responsibility.
And if you don’t join, you never have to worry about responsibility.
Does Jesus love his church?
Did Jesus make a commitment to His church?
Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Christ loves His Church.
Do you love His church?
How about his local church?
Then love it, or I should say “us”, enough to make a commitment to membership.
One more thing in the way of commitment; and if you’re tired of hearing this one, just fix it, and I won’t mention it so often.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
You need to be here more than once a week or once every couple of weeks.
You need to be in Sunday School and Church.
We need you in the Evening Service to be encouraged and to be an encouragement.
We need you to be part of our Prayer Team on Wednesday nights.
Some are concerned about our lack of growth, and the need for new blood. So am I.
Let’s get out and pray for these things.
How is the State of your Soul?
Ask yourself:
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
3. IS MY SOUL REMISS?
4. IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?
5. IS MY SOUL READY?
Are you ready for Jesus to come back?
What if He had appeared last week?
Would you have been ready?
Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Here’s how to be ready:
Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
How is the State of your Soul?
Ask yourself:
1. IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?
2. IS MY SOUL RELIANT?
3. IS MY SOUL REMISS?
4. IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?
5. IS MY SOUL READY?