ALL THAT IS WITHIN
SOUL MATTERS — Message #1
Text: Genesis 2:7-10; Psalm 103:1-5; 3rd John 1:1
INTRODUCTION:
Good morning! How’s everyone doing today? Have you had a good start to your weekend? Well, it’s great to see you here today. Before we get to far along, I thought I might begin with something to make you smile.
HUMOR:
The story is told of two young boys who were attending their first wedding. After the service, the first boy said to the second boy, “Wow, that was awesome. Did you see that girl in white? She was beautiful.”
The other boy replied, “Yes, she was. I sure hope I get to marry a girl like that when I grow up.” Again, the first boy spoke up and asked, “Well, how many girls like that do we get to marry?” The other boy thought for a moment and said, “I guess we can marry 16!” The first boy was shocked and amazed and excited all at the same time. And he said, “Sixteen! Really? Well, how do you figure?” The other boy said, ”Well, it’s pretty simple really. I just did the math. Didn’t you hear what the pastor said? You can take 16: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, and 4 poorer”
Hey listen, I only took one — but that’s enough for me. 🙂 Would you welcome my wife, Lori today. She has been my partner in ministry from the very beginning. And I am so thankful God blessed me with such an incredible lady to stand by my side.
MESSAGE:
In Genesis chapter 2, the Bible describes the creation story — and focuses on God’s greatest creation, mankind. In verse 7 we’re told that God initiates the human race by breathing His own breath into Adam and gives him life.
If you’ve got your bible out, turn there with me. Genesis chapter 2, and verse 7. Here we read:
7 “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.8Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.9The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.10A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.”
Genesis 2:7-10 (NIV)
In this passage, we discover that God is the initiator of life. He created everything from nothing. And when it came to mankind, He created our physical being — but we weren’t alive until He breathed His breath (the breath of life) into us.
Verse 7 says, then — “the man became a living being.” The Hebrew word for “living being” is the same word used again and again throughout the Old Testament to describe the SOUL.
In essence, God is saying, Adam wasn’t alive until his SOUL was made alive. And I’d like to submit to you today that noting has changed. We aren’t fully alive until our SOUL becomes alive by His presence within us. And that’s what happens during salvation. Christ breathes His life again in us and we are made fully alive!
But what is our SOUL?
Deep down I think we all know that the “soul” refers to more than just our eternal destiny. If we were to take an educated guess — we could probably identify that the soul has something to do with our ongoing relationship with God. But beyond that, its pretty hard to define.
Throughout the centuries, many theologians have tried to identify the make-up of who we are. Most have described it this way. We are: BODY, SOUL, & SPIRIT!
I don’t want you to get too caught up in this today — it can be complicated and confusing. But to try and give you a simple explanation, let me say:
- The BODY is that physical aspect of who we are.
- The SPIRIT is that eternal and lasting identity of who were are. And . . .
- The SOUL is that part of us that defines our personality — our emotions, and thoughts, and will.
It’s not my intention to become to specific today — only to say that there is a part of us that is seen and another part which is unseen. A part of our life that is tangible and that is not.
John Ortberg puts it this way, when he says:“You have a soul — it weighs nothing, but means everything…” He says, “The soul is the deepest part of you.”
The psalmist David seems to agree with Ortberg — as he defines the soul in Psalm 103 (ESV). If you have your bibles, look there with me. Psalm 103 and verse 1. Here he writes,
1 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
David has a lot to say about the soul here in this psalm — and throughout his writings (for that matter). We know he was a great leader, a great warrior, a great song writer and musician, an incredibly creative person, and someone who wasn’t shy about revealing his deeply emotional thoughts that stirred within.
And I bet you love that about him! And what’s so ironic is that all of that creative wonder came from his soul. It is this aspect of his creative spirit and emotional expression that seems to draw us to his writings within the Scriptures. There’s something wonderful and magnetic about hearing and feeling the emotions of another expressed as David expresses himself.
And what is so unique interesting to me, is that the creative, emotional expression we all love — comes from His soul.
We get that — right? I mean, consider that genre of music that is super emotional and passionately charged, that which is connected to the struggles and wonder of black culture here in the U.S. We sometimes refer to that type of music as SOUL MUSIC!
The soul then is that place within us where our heart and passions and emotions and creativity flows. But more than that — David defines it as — that inner place — where all that is within me is kept. Again, notice verse 1 of this psalm. He cries out:
1 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me…”
David points out that the soul is that inner reservoir where our emotions and thoughts stir. And to this place he calls out— even commands that everything within it — “all that is within” him, shouldboldly and unashamedly “Bless the Lord!”
David says this because he knew the necessity of maintaining a healthy SOUL — one that relies upon and acknowledges the Lord!
I’ve pastored for nearly 24 years, and I can tell you — when it comes to the human soul, it’s vitally important that our soul remains healthy. Because, a healthy soul is able to maintain peace even when the external circumstance of life are hard.
Yet, an unhealthy soul struggles with anxiety and stress and hurt and is never satisfied — constantly in search for something more, something better, something lasting, something true.
Thomas Aquinas (a 12th century Italian church leader) once said that “the neediness of the soul is a pointer to God.” His point was that the cravings of the soul — the dissatisfaction of the should should lead us to God! Our basic neediness for more is fulfilled in Christ alone.
I would agree with Aquinas. The health of our soul is so critical to the health of our life — and we are only healthy when we find our fulfillment in Christ!
That’s the point of this morning’s message — to examine ourselves and determine if we have given attention to the care of our soul.
TRANSITION:
There’s a little book in the New Testament known to us as 3rd John. In its opening verses, it references the importance of what we might call “SOUL TENDING!”
It was written by the apostle John. He writes this letter to a friend of his named Gaius. Gaius was a fellow believer — and follower of Jesus. He was an elder and overseer within the early church. Listen to what John writes to him. He says,
1 “The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
3 John 1-2 (NIV)
Embedded in this simple verse, located in this tiny book, tucked away at the very end of the New Testament we find these powerful words addressing the importance of our soul.
John reminds us that God created us with both an outside and an inside — and each needs to be cared for.
In the time that remains, I want to share a little of what I’ve discovered — throughout the course of my life as I’ve studied the scripture and what it has to say about our SOULS. And first foremost:
1. GOD WANTS YOUR SOUL TO BE WELL!
That’s why John prays that it would go well with our physical, external selves just as it goes well with our soul.
Have you ever stopped to think about how much attention we pay to our physical selves. We spend an incredible amount of time and energy caring for our physical well being. But how often do we focus on our souls?
While there may be routines to maintain the health of our physical bodies, how intentionally are you and I about caring for our spiritual bodies?
But just think about it:
- We care for our bodies (we will spend time and money to establish a healthy body)
- We care for our children (school is about to begin — we have some starting this week, so we will buy them new clothes and book bags and paper, etc.)
- We care for our homes
- We care for our cars
- We even care for our money (hiring experts to oversee and invest for our future)
But do we ever care for our souls?
Have we even given the slightest of thought for the care of our soul? Too often, we will neglect our souls altogether. Many of us have a soul that’s just surviving — but God longs for us to have a soul that’s thriving.
Think about it — we don’t have routine soul checkups. (Do we?) / We don’t go around asking each other, “How’s you soul?” (Do we?) But maybe we should — and here’s why, because God created us to live well. To experience deep and lasting joy. To possess an inner strength and peace that far surpasses the realities of our external circumstances! In short, God wants our souls to be well!
When God designed life — he had far more in mind for us than just surviving physically. Our existence isn’t simply to thrive in this physical world in a natural way. We were created for more.
For that reason, your soul needs to be well.
In fact, if you ever want to be used by God — you better seek to maintain the health of your soul. Because ministry can be tough. It can be grinding at times. It can be exhilarating, but it can also be exhausting.
Have you ever noticed how God always calls us to tough (but life-changing) assignments?
In the Bible, God never gives anyone an easy job. God never comes to Abraham, or Moses, or Esther and says, “I’d like you to do me a favor, but it really shouldn’t take much time.” Or, “I can you help me out here — it’ll be easy!”
God need does that. He’s not in the business of recruit people to do unimportant or simple tasks. God always calls us to great things. Things that are life-giving, life-challenging, life-changing! And those things are demanding. They will in fact, demand that we rely upon Him. That we find our strength through the supply of His Holy Spirit. And to do so, we will need our soul to be well!
So, let me ask you, “How’s your soul?”
Because, God wants your soul to be well!
The second thing I’ve discovered in my search of God’s Word regarding the soul is this:
2. YOUR SOUL NEEDS TO BE TENDED!
There must be an intentionality about the care of your soul. Soul-tending doesn’t just happen. When left to itself, the soul will suffer and struggle to find that peace and hope that God longs to provide.
I recently read a simple allegory that speaks to the importance of tending to our souls. As the story went:
There once was a town high in the Alps that straddled the banks of a beautiful stream. The stream was fed by springs that were old as the earth and deep as the sea.
The water was clear like crystal. Children laughed and played beside it, swans and geese swam on it. You could see the rocks and the sand and the rainbow trout that swarmed at the bottom of the stream.
High in the hills, far beyond anyone’s sight, lived an old man who served as Keeper of the Springs. He had been hired so long ago that now no one could remember a time when he wasn’t there. He would travel from one spring to another in the hills, removing branches or fallen leaves or debris that might pollute the water. But his work was unseen.
One year the town council decided they had better things to do with their money. No one supervised the old man anyway. They had roads to repair and taxes to collect and services to offer, and giving money to an unseen stream-cleaner had become a luxury they could no longer afford.
So the old man left his post. High in the mountains, the springs went untended; twigs and branches and worse muddied the liquid flow. Mud and silt compacted the creek bed; farm wastes turned parts of the stream into stagnant bogs.
For a time no one in the village noticed. But after a while, the water was not the same. It began to look brackish. The swans flew away to live elsewhere. The water no longer had a crisp scent that drew children to play by it. Some people in the town began to grow ill. All noticed the loss of sparkling beauty that used to flow between the banks of the streams that fed the town. The life of the village depended on the stream, and the life of the streams depended on the keeper.
The city council reconvened, the money was found, the old man was rehired. After yet another time, the springs were cleaned, the stream was pure, children played again on its banks, illness was replaced by health, the swans came home, and the village came back to life.
The life of the village depends on the health of the stream.
In this story — the stream is your soul. And you are its keeper.
You aren’t the source of the life supplying water.
You aren’t the designer of the city or even the river within.
But you are the one responsible to oversee the ongoing care and tending of the river that flows within your life.
So, how do we go about caring for our soul.
Here’s what I’ve observed through the years:
When we feel empty inside or saddened inside or the pain of heart-break inside — when our soul is aching we often attempt natural solutions to try and fix our inner cravings. But they never work!
— Our first approach is typically to to try and double-down on human efforts.
And so, we may try to find the solutions to our pain or our problems within ourselves.
Or we try to cover up the pain and emptiness we feel inside with other relationships. Or we will try to distract ourselves with stories and books and movies and bingeing television.
But in the end — doing more doesn’t make our souls well!
When we feel empty inside or saddened inside or the pain of heart-break inside:
MORE OF THE SAME NEVER SATISFIES!
— Another self-reliant approach to satisfy our soul’s cravings is to try and solve the pain by exterior successes. And so:
We try to do more! To work harder. To achieve more. To give into the cry of success. We pour ourselves into our job. We work more hours. We gain more education. We fight for the bigger pay-checks and hoard our money until we do succeed. But in the end, we discover once again that:
Exterior solutions will never satisfy our inner cravings!
The only solution to the inner cravings of our SOUL is reliance upon God — and a closeness with His Son Jesus!
Which leads me to the third thing I’ve discovered in my search of God’s Word regarding the soul— and it’s this:
3. YOUR SOUL’S WELLNESS IS FOUND IN GOD!
For the soul to be well, it needs to be with God.
There are many who might think that the way to make your soul healthy and well (as the Bible puts it), is to try and avoid mistakes and error. To try and do less wrong. To try and sin less. But, in all their efforts to keep from sinning, what they are actually doing is focusing all their efforts on their sin!
But the way we tend to our soul, the way we help our soul flourish, the way we experience true health is not by focusing on sin avoidance — but rather by focusing on God! And why not? He wants us to focus on him. He wants us to draw close to Him. He wants us to be with him.
In fact, the invitation of our Heavenly Father is to “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you”! Jesus said it like this, “Abide in me.”
I don’t know about you, but I love to travel. I enjoy going out of town and seeing new things. I like meeting new people and experiencing the excitement of a new place. But after a few days — I like to come home.
More than that, I long to come home/ There’s just something about coming home that brings comfort. I like my own bed, and my shower, and my own bathroom. I like the security and the peace that getting back into my chair and my surroundings brings.
This is more than a mental place of comfort — it is a physical place of comfort. Home just FEELS RIGHT! And as much as my physical body longs for home, moreover — my SOUL longs for home. So where is home for the soul? Home for the soul is found in its creator.
And when we sense that life is hard — and our SOUL is empty, its probably because we are trying to live our lives on our strength — separated from Him.
It was Elisabeth Elliot who once said, “We know that there is no real satisfaction, no real rest, except in Christ Himself. God made us with a God-shaped vacuum, and nothing will ever fill that vacuum except God.” And she’s right.
There is a place deep within you and me — within our soul, that longs for home. And that home is found only in God — and His Son Jesus.
And so, over the next few weeks we’re going to explore how to tend to this place even more — but this morning, I want us to settle this most important issue: the longing we feel deep inside, that sense of dissatisfactionwith things and places, and even the pursuit of success, — it’s there because none of those things will ever be able to fill the void we have inside.
Only God can do that! Our souls long for home — and that home is found in our creator.
And it begins by surrendering our lives to Christ. By repenting of our sin and making Christ our Lord. But then it continues each and every day as we seek to live our lives completely dependent upon God.
Every day — we are given a collection of moments, 86,400 seconds worth of moments (to be exact). And God invites us to use those moments to draw close to Him. To rely upon Him. To welcome Him into the midst of our daily routines and ongoing experiences.
The fact is, He is with us and for us! And just as John stated:
He longs “that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
3 John 1-2 (NIV)
The best place to start living your life with God (and having your soul satisfied by His presence) is in the simple moments of everyday. So, “Are you willing to share those moments with God?”
Maybe you’d say, “Pastor, I’ve not done so well at living my life dependent upon God.” Well, don’t beat yourself up. Don’t condemn yourself — instead, start where you are. Start with today. Start with right now and grow from there!
CLOSING PRAYER