• THE VULCAN STATUE IS THE LARGEST CAST IRON STATUE IN THE WORLD, HE IS THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA,
• ONCE KNOWN AS "STEEL CITY", VULCAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO BIRMINGHAM'S ROOTS IN THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY.
• DESIGNED BY ITALIAN SCULPTOR GIUSEPPE MORETTI, IT'S MADE OF 29 CAST-IRON SECTIONS FASTENED TOGETHER FROM THE INSIDE.
• THE HEAVIEST SECTION IS HIS HEAD. IT WEIGHS OVER 5 TONS.
• IRON WORKERS DESIGNED THE CONNECTIONS FOR THE STATUE, WHICH HAS NO INTERNAL FRAMEWORK AND CAN STAND ON ITS OWN.
• THE COMPLETED WEIGHT OF THE FIGURE IS 50 TONS.
• WHEN YOU FACTOR THE ANVIL, BLOCK, HAMMER, AND SPEAR POINT, THE WHOLE THING WEIGHS A TOTAL OF 60 TONS.
• HE STANDS ATOP RED MOUNTAIN ON A PEDESTAL 123-FEET HIGH.
• HIS CHEST MEASURES 22 FEET 6 INCHES. HIS WAIST 18 FEET 3 INCHES.
• IN THE 1990'S I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE VULCAN STATUE WITH MY SON WHILE WE VISITED MY PARENTS IN BIRMINGHAM.
• I HAD RECENTLY BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
• LOOKING UP AT THE STATUE I REMARKED TO MY SON, "THAT SURE IS A BIG STATUE."
• KURT LOOKED AT THE STATUE, UNIMPRESSED, THEN AT ME AND SAID, "THAT'S AN IDOL DAD."
• THE DIMENSIONS OF THE VULCAN STATUE CAN BE FOUND ONLINE ALONG WITH THE STORY OF HIS CONSTRUCTION.
• EVERYTHING YOU'D WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS NATIONAL TREASURE.
• AND IT YOU'RE EVER IN BIRMINGHAM, I'M SURE HE WOULDN'T MIND IF YOU STOPPED BY.
• I'M JUST KIDDING BECAUSE IN REALITY, HE WOULDN'T KNOW.
• FOR ALL HIS HISTORY, HIS HERITAGE AND GREAT SIZE, VULCAN IS JUST A STATUE.
• HE HAS A BODY BUT NO LIFE, NO MIND, SOUL OR SPIRIT.
• THIS IS MAN 1.0.
• CREATED BY GOD THE FATHER IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
• EACH MAN HAS 206 BONES MAKING UP A FRAME CALLED A SKELETON.
• HE CAN WEIGH ANYWHERE FROM 2 POUNDS AT BIRTH TO 1,000 POUNDS OR MORE WHEN FULL GROWN.
• MAN HAS ORGANS THAT PROVIDE FOR HIS NOURISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
• HE IS POWERED BY THE HEART.
• A FIST SIZED PUMP THAT FORCES BLOOD THROUGH THE 60,000 MILES OF ARTERIES, CAPILLARIES AND VEINS IN HIS BODY.
• MAN HAS A SELF CONTAINED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CALLED THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
• THIS SYSTEM IS DRIVEN BY HIS BRAIN.
• A GELATINOUS MASS PRODUCING ELECTRIC IMPULSES THAT GIVE MAN ANIMATION AND THE ABILITY TO THINK AND REASON.
• THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THIS VERSATILE BODY IS A LITTLE MORE THAN 70 YEARS.
• AND MAN HAS ONE MORE THING DEEP INSIDE.
• AN IMPERCEPTIBLE, INVISIBLE SOMETHING THAT GIVES HIM SUPREMACY OVER ALL OTHER LIFE ON THIS PLANET.
• LOCKED INSIDE, HELD WITHIN THE BONDS OF HIS CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE THING THAT MAKES MAN "ALIVE".
• THIS MORNING WE BEGIN A THREE PART SERIES ON "THE DIMENSIONS OF YOU".
• THIS MORNING - YOUR SOUL.
• BUT, BEFORE WE START THAT PART OF THE LESSON, LETS PRAY.
• DO AN INTERNET SEARCH OF THE SOUL AND YOU’LL FIND MANY DEFINITIONS.
• ONE SOURCE DEFINES THE SOUL AS A CURRENCY TO TRADE WITH THE DEVIL.
• ANOTHER SAYS THE SOUL IS THE INTANGIBLE IMPRINT OF YOUR BODY IN THE MATERIAL WORLD.
• I EVEN FOUND ONE SITE THAT SAYS “SOUL” IS THE GODSON OF JAMES BROWN AND ARETHA FRANKLIN.
• IN THE BIBLE THE SOUL IS GIVEN TO MAN BY GOD.
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.
• IT IS DEFINED AS THE IMMATERIAL, INVISIBLE PART OF MAN.
MATTHEW 10:28 - 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.
• THE SOUL IS THE SEAT OF MAN’S INTELLECT BY WHICH WE HAVE DESIRE, FEELING, UNDERSTANDING AND REFLECTION.
LUKE 1:46 – MARY SAID, “MY SOUL REJOICES IN THE LORD.”
• THE SOUL OF MAN IS ALSO VERY COMPLEX.
• JUST AS A SOUL CAN REJOICE, A SOUL CAN BE TROUBLED.
JOHN 12:27 – JESUS SAID, "NOW MY SOUL IS TROUBLED, AND
WHAT SHALL I SAY? 'FATHER, SAVE ME FROM THIS HOUR'? NO, IT
WAS FOR THIS VERY REASON I CAME TO THIS HOUR.
• A SOUL CAN BECOME DAMAGED.
JOB 10:1 - “I LOATHE MY VERY LIFE; THEREFORE I WILL GIVE
FREE REIN TO MY COMPLAINT AND SPEAK OUT IN THE
BITTERNESS OF MY SOUL.
• A PERSON CAN DESTROY HIS OR HER OWN SOUL.
PROVERBS 6:32 - THE ONE WHO COMMITS ADULTERY WITH A
WOMAN IS LACKING SENSE; HE DESTROYS HIS OWN SOUL.
• BUT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT A SOUL IS THAT IT CAN BE RESTORED…BY GOD.
PSALM 23:1-3 - THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES; HE LEADS ME
BESIDE QUIET WATERS. HE RESTORES MY SOUL;
• THE SOUL CAN BE RESTORED BECAUSE ALL SOULS A VERY VALUABLE – TO GOD AND TO MEN.
MATTHEW 16:26 FOR WHAT WILL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAINS
THE WHOLE WORLD AND FORFEITS HIS SOUL? OR WHAT WILL A
MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?
• THINK ABOUT IT, IF GOD IS THE CREATOR OF THE SOUL, EACH SOUL MUST HAVE GREAT VALUE TO HIM AND TO US.
• ACCORDING TO DATA GENETICS DOT COM, THE VALUE OF ALL THE CHEMICALS THAT MAKE UP THE HUMAN BODY IS ABOUT $160.
• YOUR SOUL IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION.
• IT’S THE ESSENCE OF WHO YOU ARE.
• YOUR SOUL WAS CREATED BY GOD TO LIVE FOREVER AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE HAS TURNED TO DUST.
• WHEN THE SUN AND STARS HAVE BURNED OUT
• YOUR SOUL WILL STILL GO ON.
• ENDLESS, MEASURELESS, TIMELESS, MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD…
• YOUR SOUL IS WORTH MORE THAN ALL THE HOUSES, PROPERTY, STOCKS, BONDS, DIAMONDS, SILVER AND GOLD IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
• YOUR SOUL IS WHAT GOES ON FOREVER INTO ETERNITY.
• YOUR BODY CAN BE KILLED.
• YOUR BODY CAN RETURN TO DUST. BUT YOUR SOUL WILL NEVER EVER CEASE TO EXIST.
• THINK ABOUT IT; YOU DON'T JUST POSSESS A SOUL
• GOD MADE YOU IN HIS IMAGE.
• YOU HAVE A SOUL. YOU LIVE IN A BODY.
• AND YOU ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
• THE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IS, THEY TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE BODY AND FORGET ABOUT THE SOUL.
• OUR BODIES SENDS A MESSGAE AND WE RESPOND TO ITS NEEDS.
• THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HUNGRY”, I’M THIRSTY” AND WE FIND SOMETHING TO EAT OR DRINK.
• THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HOT OR TOO”, “I’M COLD. WE ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE.
• THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HURT”, “I HAVE PAIN”, OR SOME OTHER NEED.
• WE PAMPER THE BODY, WE FEED THE BODY, WE REST THE BODY. WE LOVE THE BODY.
• BUT SOMETIMES THE SOUL IS LEFT FOR DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS WITHOUT ATTENTION AND CARE.
• "WHAT GOOD IS IT FOR SOMEONE TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, YET FORFEIT THEIR SOUL?"
• THE WORD “SOUL” IS IN THE BIBLE 458 TIMES SO IT MUST BE IMPORTANT TO GOD AND TO MAN.
• SINCE THE BEGINNING, MEN UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SOUL WAS ALIVE
• THE BIBLE SAYS THE SOUL CAN BE SEPARATED FROM GOD AND SATAN IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO FACILITATE THAT SEPARATION.
ISAIAH 59:1-2 - SURELY THE ARM OF THE LORD IS NOT TOO SHORT TO SAVE, NOR HIS EAR TOO DULL TO HEAR. BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED YOU FROM YOUR GOD;
YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU, SO THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.
1 PETER 5:8 - BE ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR.
• THE SOUL CLINGS TO A LOVED ONE OR A DEAR FAMILY MEMBER.
• THE SOUL CAN LEAVE THIS WORLD. NEVER TO RETURN.
• THIS IS DAVID AT THE DEATH OF HIS FIRSTBORN. A CHILD TAKEN BY GOD BECAUSE OF THE KING'S ADULTERY.
2 SAMUEL 12:20 - THEN DAVID GOT UP FROM THE GROUND. AFTER HE HAD WASHED, PUT ON LOTIONS AND CHANGED HIS CLOTHES, HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND WORSHIPED. THEN HE WENT TO HIS OWN HOUSE, AND AT HIS REQUEST THEY SERVED HIM FOOD, AND HE ATE. HIS ATTENDANTS ASKED HIM, “WHY ARE YOU ACTING THIS WAY? WHILE THE CHILD WAS ALIVE, YOU FASTED AND WEPT, BUT NOW THAT THE CHILD IS DEAD, YOU GET UP AND EAT!” HE ANSWERED, “WHILE THE CHILD WAS STILL ALIVE, I FASTED AND WEPT. I THOUGHT, ‘WHO KNOWS? THE LORD MAY BE GRACIOUS TO ME AND LET THE CHILD LIVE.’ BUT NOW THAT HE IS DEAD, WHY SHOULD I GO ON FASTING? CAN I BRING HIM BACK AGAIN? I WILL GO TO HIM, BUT HE WILL NOT RETURN TO ME.”
• WORST OF ALL THE SOUL CAN SIN, AND THAT CARRIES THE GREATEST PENALTY OF ALL.
EZEKIEL 18:20 – THE SOUL WHO SINS WILL DIE.
• SO WITH MAN, HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO LOSE OR SAVE HIS SOUL,
• SATAN, SEEKING TO DESTROY THE SOUL,
• LIFE TAKING IT’S OWN TOLL, HINDERING OUR GROWTH, DEFILING THE SOUL.
• KEEPING US TOO BUSY TO CARE FOR OR WORK ON THE SOUL
• THE SOUL AT WAR WITH ITSELF…
• HOW CAN THE SOUL, CREATED BY GOD IN HIS IMAGE TO LIVE FOREVER IN ETERNITY WITH HIM...
• HOW CAN IT LAST THAT LONG? HOW CAN THE SOUL MAKE IT?
• HOW DOES THE SOUL FIND ITS WAY, STAY ON TRACK, PICK ITSELF UP, FIND THE POWER TO HEAL AND EMERGE VICTORIOUS TO BE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN?
• JUST AS GOD IS THE RESTORER OF SOULS, HE IS THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL AS WELL.
DEUTERONOMY 4:29 - YOU WILL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM IF YOU SEARCH FOR HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR SOUL.
• WHEN THE SOUL IS THIRSTY.
• WHEN THE SOUL NEEDS TO BE BLESSED.
• WHEN THE SOUL NEEDS SATISFACTION SEEK THOSE THINGS IN THE CREATOR OF THE SOUL, GOD YOUR FATHER.
• THE VALUE OF YOUR SOUL IS MEASURED BY HIS CONCERN WITH SAVING IT.
2 PETER 3:9 - GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH
BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
ROMANS 5:8 - GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US,
IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
• TO GOD YOUR SOUL IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING IN THE WORLD,
• SO VALUABLE THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY SON TO THE CROSS TO SUFFER AND DIE SO YOUR SOUL MIGHT BE SAVED.
• IF YOU WERE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, JESUS WOULD HAVE DIED FOR YOU.
• THAT’S HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOUR SOUL. THAT’S HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU.
• IT IS A TERRIBLE THING TO LOSE YOUR HEALTH, YOUR MONEY OR YOUR FRIENDS.
• BUT WHAT DOES IT COST WHEN A PERSON LOSES THEIR SOUL?
• THINK ABOUT THE TIMES WE HEAR OF AMBER ALERTS FOR MISSING CHILDREN.
• PEOPLE COME FROM ALL AROUND TO LOOK FOR A MISSING CHILD.
• WE CALL THE POLICE AND THEY DOGS TRAINED TO SEARCH.
• THE MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA GET THE WORD OUT.
• FLYERS AND POSTERS OF THE MISSING ARE MADE AND PUT UP ALL AROUND THE AREA.
• SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS ARE ORGANIZED. THEY MIGHT GET A HELICOPTER.
• EVERYTHING THAT IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE IS DONE TO FIND THAT CHILD.
• BUT IF A PERSON'S SOUL IS LOST?
• THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF PRESS.
• THAT DOESN'T CAUSE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
• BUT NOTHING IS WORTH MORE THAN YOUR SOUL.
• THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR SOUL.
• THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR IT.
• JESUS SAID IT WOULD BE A POOR BARGAIN TO OWN EVERYTHING BUT LOSE YOUR SOUL.
• THINK ABOUT IT, NOBODY CAN EVER GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD.
• GOD OWNS IT ALL ANYWAY. HE DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING FROM US.
• BUT HE STILL WANTS YOUR SOUL.
• PEOPLE WILL SELL THEIR SOULS SO CHEAPLY.
• JESUS SAYS. “WHAT CAN ANYONE GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR SOUL?”
• AN ILLUSTRATION AND THE LESSON IS YOURS...
• THERE WAS A RICH MAN WHO DECIDED TO IMMIGRATE FROM EUROPE TO AMERICA.
• HE WANTED TO TAKE ALL HIS WEALTH WITH HIM
• HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO SELL EVERYTHING HE HAD OF VALUE AND BUY ONE LARGE DIAMOND.
• WHEN HE GOT TO AMERICA HE WAS GOING TO SELL IT AND START A NEW LIFE.
• WHEN HE BOARDED THE SHIP HE TOOK THE DIAMOND OUT OF HIS POCKET.
• SOME PEOPLE AROUND HIM SAW THE DIAMOND, HOW LARGE IT WAS.
• THE NEXT DAY THE MAN TOOK THE DIAMOND OUT OF HIS POCKET AGAIN AND HELD IT IN HIS HAND.
• PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW RICH THIS MAN MUST BE TO HAVE SUCH A LARGE DIAMOND.
• THE MORE THE PEOPLE TALKED THE MORE THE MAN LIKED THE NOTORIETY AND ATTENTION.
• THE NEXT DAY HE TOOK THE DIAMOND OUT OF HIS POCKET AND HELD IT OVER THE RAIL OF THE BOAT OVER THE WATER.
• THE PEOPLE WATCHING GASPED.
• HE GOT MORE ATTENTION WHEN HE TOSSED IT IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT IT.
• THE OTHER PASSENGERS CONTINUED TO TALK AND GUESSTIMATE THE MAN'S WEALTH.
• THEY DIDN’T KNOW THAT ONE DIAMOND WAS ALL HE HAD IN THE WORLD.
• THEN ONE DAY HE TOOK THE DIAMOND OUT OF POCKET…, TOSSED IT INTO THE AIR…HE MISSED IT…IT BOUNCED…IT ROLLED….
• RIGHT PAST THE RAIL AND OVER THE SIDE INTO THE OCEAN.
• THE MAN SAID TO HIMSELF…“WHAT A FOOL I WAS! HOW COULD I BE SO CARELESS?”
• DON'T TAKE CHANCES LIKE THAT WITH YOUR SOUL.
• THINK ABOUT IT; YOUR SOUL IS ALL YOU HAVE.
• BUT PEOPLE SIT IN CHURCH PEWS UNMOVED, THEIR HEARTS UNBROKEN AS HARD A A DIAMOND.
• PEOPLE STILL TAKE CHANCES WITH THEIR ETERNAL DESTINY.
• BETTING ON TOMORROW, THAT MAYBE SOMEDAY THEY WILL GIVE THEIR LIVES TO JESUS.
• DON'T BE CARELESS WITH THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU HAVE.
• EVEN IF YOU COULD GET EVERYTHING YOU WANTED, IT WOULDN'T GIVE YOU PEACE.
• YOU WOULD STILL BE SEARCHING.
• GREAT RICHES CAN’T REALLY MAKE YOU HAPPY.
• POPULARITY CAN’T REALLY MAKE YOU HAPPY.
• ONLY THE PEACE OF GOD COMING INTO YOUR HEART THROUGH JESUS CHRIST CAN BRING PEACE AND JOY AND HAPPINESS.
• THE ETERNAL SOUL CAN ONLY LIVE ONE OF TWO WAYS
• THE FIRST IS ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD.
• IF THAT CONDITION ISN’T MADE RIGHT IN THIS LIFE BY BEING RECONCILED WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON,
• THAT SOUL IS SEPARATED FROM GOD IN ETERNITY.
• THE ONLY REAL WAY TO LIVE IS TO ACCEPT JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS.
• GET INTO FELLOWSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THIS LIFE
• THEN YOUR SOUL CAN ENJOY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN HEAVEN FOREVER.
• TODAY YOU CAN BE SURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
• CHRIST ASKS FOR MORE THAN JUST COMING TO CHURCH.
• MORE THAN JUST BAPTISM, MORE THAN JUST BEING GOOD.
• HE WANTS YOUR TOTAL SURRENDER—THE SURRENDER OF YOUR MIND, YOUR HEART, YOUR BODY,
• EVERY PART OF YOU—TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
• GOD WANTS YOUR SOUL.
