A SOUL-SEARCHING INVENTORY
Mark 12:28-34
Sermon Objective: Loving God with our soul means turning our life and will towards Him.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 2:7; Psalm 42:1-2;Psalm 84:2; Matthew 10:28; Mark 8:36-37; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Revelation 6:9-11
Mark 12:28-34
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: ’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these."
32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
INTRO:
So how is your closet coming along? You know … the closet I was talking with the kids about earlier? If you are like me, you and God are sorting through the stuff in your life. You are looking at that which shows evidence that you love Him and you are discovering other aspects that need discarded or renewed with fuller meaning.
I keep asking myself whether “this” or “that” shows evidence that I am loving God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Last week we looked at the heart. We discovered that it is the command center – it is the place where my desires and passions reside. I gave you some questions to take home to help you as you ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).
This week we will do some SOUL-searching.
There is, of course, some interplay between each of the realms represented in the greatest command. One could make a case that they work as stair steps, first we create a desire, then we act upon the desire, and that shows itself in the activities of the mind and the body (strength). Each component influences and tugs at the remaining … in unison, they show whether one loves God or some alterative.
There is some overlap; but each stands on its own too.
Sometimes I see another relationship. I see them less as categories and more as complimentary superlatives. If I may paraphrase, it is as if Jesus was telling us to “Love God with all your HEART … you know, all your being … you know…. You know with your mind AND your body!”
If I look at the command in this way I see all four components as pretty much being synonymous with each other … each trying to emphasize loving God with the whole you from a different vantage point.
Today we will focus on “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR … SOUL”
I appreciate the positive perspective of this command. I appreciate that God is calling us to relationship and to love rather than calling us from something. It shows us much about the character of God.
It shows us much about the character he wants in us … for us to be people of love.
The soul is a confusing entity to us. Its understanding has been assumed and misunderstood for so long that it has become hard for us to define or explain. But, if God requires us to love Him with it, it seems necessary that we give some attention to what it is before we look at how to love him with it,
The New Testament word is “psuche” & the Old Testament word is “nephesh”. They mean pretty much the same thing. They mean the “life”, “self”, or “life’s essence.” We have tried, at times, to make them mean something else. This is what often confuses the subject.
The first time the word “soul” is used is in Genesis 2:7. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (KJV). The NRSV and the NIV translate “living soul” as “living being”. The ESV translates it “living creature”. This is important because it helps us get a grasp on what is being communicated.
You see, the first time the word is used it is in creation … it helps us grasp how God understands our composition.
1. Our bodies were formed from the dust
2. A living spirit was breathed into us (the word breath and spirit are the same word)
3. And the two parts together made a “living being”, a “living creature”: a “living soul.”
4. Another word we might possibly use here is “person.”
You have a body.
You have a spirit.
You ARE a soul (person)!
Maybe Psalm 84:2 will help us see this further. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. In the Old Testament we are introduced to the soul not as something we possess – but what we are. Adam did not get a soul … Adam WAS a soul.
The New Testament use of the word bears this out as well. 1 Corinthians 15:45 (KJV; emphasis added) says: And so it is written, The first man Adam WAS MADE A LIVING SOUL; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The term used in living being is equivalent to Genesis 2:7 & Psalm 84:2 lends evidence to the whole of the created man being understood as … a soul.
To speak of the soul is to speak of your life’s essence or personhood. In fact, that is exactly what nephesh means.
The last times the word soul is used in the New Testament is in the book of the Revelation. Listen to 6:9-10.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
We often spiritualize or see this verse figuratively but it might be significant that the souls can be seen and heard.
The word “soul” is used again of the martyrs in chapter 16 and it’s use on this book gives us a bit more insight into what a soul is. We discover that the soul is … eternal.
The soul is eternal but not immortal and there is an important distinction. Immortal is defined as “without beginning or end”. Only God is immortal. The soul is a created entity but has no end … that is eternal. There are some groups that understand the sol to be immortal; Mormons and reincarnationists come to mind, but the Bible does not teach that. You are created and have a point in time when you became a living being.
So what is a Biblical composite of the soul? The soul is the essence of who you really are. It includes everything that makes up the real you. It is the animating principle within you that lives forever.
Having said that … there are some nuances we should address before we see how to love God with our whole “soul.”
YOUR SOUL HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRITUAL.
Theologians will tell you that the human spirit and the soul cannot be separated cleanly in the Scriptures. They go together and seem to describe the eternal you.
Your soul is that God-sized hole in you that cries out to be filled with something authentic. It is that which is “spiritually dead” and must be made alive through faith in Jesus’ resurrection and the “quickening” of God’s Spirit.
To be “spiritually dead” is a fancy term that means we are not able to respond to God in a way that connects. We are spiritually incapacitated. It does not mean you do not have yearning or even spiritual inclinations; it means that, apart from a relationship with God through Christ you are unable to connect with God in a manner that is satisfying and complete.
You soul is that which longs to know God. Your soul is what calls you to search for God and spiritual answers. You soul is that which is saved and purified by Christ’s blood and grows in Christ-likeness.
• Mark 8:36-37 says: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
• 1 Peter 1:22 says: Now that you have purified YOURSELVES (your souls) by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
YOUR SOUL HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PSYCHE
Remember, the New Testament word for soul is “psuche.” It is where your person … personality (psyche) comes into play. Your personality is related to the soul. It is the “inner you.”
Jesus taught (Matthew 10:28) that man could kill the body but he could not kill the deeper / inner you. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
This inner-self is important when we think about how to LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR … SOUL”
You see, God wired your personality (inner self) and made each of us unique. Some of us are more social than others, some are more introverted that others, some are more cerebral, some are more sensual, some are more analytical, some are better at seeing the bigger picture, etc. Our personalities differ but each has the capacity to love God fully. In fact, God has wired you like He did so you could love him (and your neighbor) fully just the way he made you. If you’re introverted, for example, you don’t have to become a social butterfly that warms up to people quickly to love God and your neighbor. God doesn’t want you to do that unless he made you that way. God wants the real you to love Him with the whole you.
YOUR SOUL HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HUMAN WILL
The “psuche” is where the human will comes into play too. Once the heart (desires and passions) is influenced the human will (you) must respond. You will either override the heart’s inclinations (we do that all the time) or you will give it a vote of confidence and follow through with its requests. That follow-through that you do is either sinful or pleasing to God. This (follow through of the heart’s inclinations) may be why loving God with all your soul is Jesus’ second component.
The human will is interesting. In all creation only two entities do not automatically submit to God; angels and humans. We are concerned today with humans for it is with our soul/life that we must choose (your will) to love God.
That is the beautiful thing about human will. It can choose to do the right thing (with the help of God’s Spirit) in spite of the yearnings of the depraved heart.
And, like the heart, the human-will must be surrendered to God. It must turn to God for cleansing and empowerment. In fact, until this happens it will run for the Holy One.
Did you know that it is possible to live a life that is turned to God? It is possible to live a life that loves Him fully. But it is only possible when you have had your sin problem addressed through the atonement, are fully surrendered to God, and are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
One of the biggest hang-ups that we humans face is surrendering our will. We are willing to love God with our emotions (heart) but when it comes to surrendering our very selves to Him well … we want to call the shots don’t we?
Sadly, millions of people have passed from this life into a Christ-less eternity all because they would not surrender themselves fully to God. They chose to gain the whole world in exchange for their soul.
But fortunately, millions more have discovered a freedom, joy, and empowerment they never thought possible once they did surrender themselves to God. And it is in that act that we show we will love him with all our soul.
A STORY MIGHT HELP
Maybe a story from an average Joe (or Jolene) will help you understand what it means to love God with all your soul.
Jolene Begins her day early. After she wakes up at 5 a.m. she begins her day with prayer, meditation, and Bible reading. She sits in her favorite chair and picks up where she left off yesterday … she is reading through the Bible in a year. She has done this for last three years.
Jolene is a member of her church’s prayer team and every morning she prays for those names which have been entrusted to her. After her prayer time she works out on her elliptical machine for 30 minutes, hits the shower, and gets ready for work. By 7:30 she is out the door and headed to her job where she is a customer service representative for a cable company.
When Jolene gets to work she stops by Monica’s desk to drop off a “Thinking of you” card. Monica has been going through a rough time lately. Her husband (Tom) has recently lost his job and her mother has recently been diagnosed with a terminal disease. When Monica arrives and opens the card she finds a gift certificate for a local restaurant.
Jolene explains in the card that she often thinks of and prays for Monica and Tom and that she would love to watch the kids one night and let them steal away for quiet meal together. Tears swell up in Monica’s eyes because she knows (has known for a long time) that Jolene is a real friend and that Jolene’s emotional and spiritual support has made the last few months more easy to work through.
Jolene understands adversity. Her father dies when she was nine. Her mom worked two and three jobs to make ends meet and Jolene, the eldest of five children was the primary care giver for the other siblings.
While a teenager Jolene began to feel God’s presence in a very real way. She knows it was her relationship with Christ and her time in the Word (even as a teenager) that gave her the wisdom she needed to take such responsibility at such a young age.
At 21 her fiancé was killed in a car crash with a drunk driver. It took Jolene a long time to recover emotionally but looking back she sees God’s hand and healing. God used those circumstances to make her a stronger and more compassionate person. She will tell you that if it wasn’t for the support of her church and her faith that she may not have made it through that ordeal.
Throughout her day Jolene encounters customers who are less than satisfied. Some are rude and mean. Some are at wits end. But in most cases Jolene is able to help the customer feel better about their relationship with the cable company. In fact, she has won several awards for providing outstanding customer service. Jolene has a innate talent for helping people feel better about their life and their current circumstances.
After work Jolene meets with friends from church at their local gathering spot and she indulges in what she calls her “one vice” … a cinnamon latte with whipped cream. She and her friends talk about their day, laugh some, pray some, and all of them leave feeling better than they did when they arrived.
Later that night Jolene calls her mom (a nightly ritual) and then crawls into bed. She gives God thanks for the day, prays for Monica, and goes to sleep thinking about tomorrow’s opportunities … and the new cable guy that just started working at her station whom she’d like to get to know.
You see, Jolene is an average gal. She’s just like the rest of us. But her whole “self” or “person” is turned to God and has experienced God’s renewing life. She offers herself to be used as an instrument of God’s grace and love wherever she finds herself. She is coming to understand what it means to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul …
YOU CAN HAVE WHAT JOLENE HAS!
Your bulletin’s sermon page comes with a little test this week. I want you to take it home and tonight or tomorrow when you meet with God I want you to take the quiz.
As you do, you’ll be taking the “stuff” out of the closet so you and God can take a SOUL-searching inventory.
May God’s grace be with you today.
THINGS TO PONDER:
The soul-searching quiz*. On a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the strongest) respond to these statements:
My faith is involved in every aspect of my life.
Because of my faith I have meaning and purpose in my life.
My faith gives me an inner peace.
I spend time in worship and prayer everyday.
Because of my faith I have forgiven people who have hurt me deeply.
My faith has called me to develop my God-given strengths.
Because of my faith I have taken unpopular stands.
I speak words of kindness to those in need of encouragement.
* Special thanks Albert Winsman’s Book, “Growing an Engaged Church” for the soul-searching quiz and the idea for the story of “Jolene.”
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
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CHILDREN’S SERMON
“THE CLUTTERED CLOSET”
Mark 12:29-31
Object: Picture of a cluttered closet
Objective: Sometimes we must take the time to pull all the “stuff” out of the closet and go through it piece by piece if we want to bring order to chaos.
Hi everyone. It is great to see you today.
In my house there is a closet that I call the “junk closet.” This closet is rather disorganized. It seems that everything that needs to go somewhere but does not have a place goes in this closet. I stick all sort of stuff in there and it gets pretty full after a while.
It sort of reminds me of this picture. This is a picture of a lady holding the door of her closet shut so that it doesn’t burst open.
My closet isn’t that bad but sometimes it seems like it is.
After a while I get tired of not being able to find what is in that closet and I take everything out and organize it.
Some stuff I throw away.
Some stuff I put in a different place … where it is supposed to go.
Some stuff I put back in the closet in an organized way.
While everything is out of the closet I look around and think “It will NEVER go back in there again!” But it does … and I am able to find it the next time I need it.
Sometimes we have to “de-clutter” our lives spiritually too. That is what we are doing these weeks as we look at the two commandments that Jesus called the “Greatest Commandments.” Listen to them:
’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:29-31
We are asking ourselves questions like:
Do I love God the way he wants me to love Him?
How can I know if I love him?
How do I love my neighbor like God wants?
In order to do this we have to take a bunch of stuff out of the closet we call our lives and decide if that stuff is worth keeping or if it needs thrown away. Sometimes we hide stuff in there that offends God or is unloving. By asking God to help us sort through it we can be pleasing to the Lord and our love can grow.
The Psalmist said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139)
That is what we are asking God to do too. We want Him to search us so we can seek Him.
As we pray today, lets ask God to show us ways we can love him more fully.
This Children’s Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
