A Spiritual Tune-Up

SPRITUAL TUNE-UP

Date: July 7, 2002

Place: Allendale Baptist Church

Text: Mark 12:30-31

Several weeks ago, my family & I drove to St. Louis for the Southern Baptist Convention. We decided to drive the some 800 plus miles (seemed like 9 million mile drive).

My greatest fear when traveling is breaking down. I am not by any stretch of the word a mechanic. I don’t enjoy working on cars. Mainly because I can’t. But before I made the drive I had my car checked out. Oil change; tires checked; battery. The whole 19-point check-up @ Wal-Mart. It is always better to fix possible problems now instead of waiting when you’re out in the middle of nowhere. Those 3 strand barbed wire fences don’t throw off a lot of shade.

As we take time to tune up our automobile, we must also take time to examine ourselves, our lives and do spiritual tune-ups.

I. Adjust your lights so others may see your good works.

A. Matt. 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

B. This week you & I may be the only light some folks see in this dark and dieing world.

II. Set your timing so that you have time to meditate on God’s Word.

A. Psalms 1:1-2 “ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

B. Make time each day to spend time with God. It will be time well spent.

III. Adjust the brakes on your tongue.

A. James 1:26 “If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

B. Oh, how we need to guard the words that come from our mouth.

C. The words of hurt we say today can never be taken back.

IV. Align your steering mechanism so that you may stay on the straight and narrow way.

A. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

B. Every one of us, no matter how young or how old we may be, will be forced to make choices this week.

C. If we are faithfully following God, we can never get lost.

V. Anti- freeze your heart to protect it against chilling winds of doubt, and always be fervent in spirit.

A. Mark 12:30-31 “ Above all things love the Lord God with all your heart, and all your soul and with all your mind.”