BEFDL 16 (FROM HGM ON 17 MAY 22)

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-16

TEXT:  "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." 

(Romans 13:1)  

 I.   BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SOUL

       A.  God has make our soul with capabilities that allow us to be able to do certain things well enough that we can do them without asking God to help us, without praying about it.  We can simply do them because God has already that in us.

       B. The real test is to know which things we can do for God because He has already gave to us this capability and the things we cannot without God's help and strength.  In Matthew Jesus shares this very important spiritual truth,

          "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."  (Matthew 17:20)  

We are to speak to the mountains in our life, those situations and circumstance that block our progression in God.  Those areas that we come short of the glory of God, those areas where we are ever learning, but never learning. 

        C.  This also is why He said,

             "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Not to suffer temptation above what He is able, but what we are able because He has already made a way of escape by giving us things in God and putting a capability in us to work correctly in Him.  He has put in capability there.

      D.  This capability is to bring itself under authority.  A soul can actually give itself to authority; whether it is the authority of Satan or whoever, to anything and to God.

           "Incline your ear, (we can actually to that) and come unto me:(we can actually to that)  hear, (heed this NKJV)(we can actually to that)  and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." 

(Isaiah 55:3)

      E.  The soul has the capability of directing itself.  Do not bury your head in the sand, be responsible and a keeper of your soul.

           "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, (that is our responsibility) lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, (this is a hint on how we should keep our soul) and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"  (Deuteronomy 4

     F.  We should be concerned at the direction of our soul.

           "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them."  (Proverbs 22:5)

We need to keep our soul from not going near the thorns and snares of life we come across in life and the thorns and snares we make from the words of our mouth and deeds of our hands.

     G.   As to our soul's dedication and the responsible, Jesus shares provides this guidance,

 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."  (Matthew 22:37)

This is to be our dedication.  That is how, or the direction, of its whole hearted dedication towards the Lord. 

     H.  There should be a desire for cleanness for our soul, "Ye shall not make soul abominable with any creeping thing . . ."  (Leviticus 11:43)     

     I.  Do not subject your soul with all the filth of the world by taking that into your soul. It is not God's responsibility to keep your soul clean.  Keeping your soul clean, that is your responsibility.  If you soul is polluted with the things of the world it is not Satan's fault it is yours. 

      J.  As to our position, that is also our responsibility

          "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."  (Psalms 24:4)

Our soul shall not be lifted up into vanity and live in the area of vanity.  That is not your position for your soul, that is very detrimental for your soul.

 II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  In the Proverbs we see the provisions for our soul,

           "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."  (Proverbs 13:4)

Be diligent! God's responsibility is to make you fat, but your responsibility is to be diligent.

     B.  In Luke we see our responsibility for patience,

          "In your patience possess ye your souls."  (Luke 21:19)

         "In your patience possess ye your souls." (Luke 21:19 Greek)

If you check this thing through on patient waiting you will see many things that come through patient waiting.  If you are going to provide a lot for your soul you do it through patient waiting.

    C.  Many are on the spiritual quest. some for truth, some for power, some for faith, some for wealth, some for health, some for a formula, some for the maximum liberty allowable.  The only legitimate quest is fir the Lord and His and His will in us and through us.