Pastor Richard Waialeale
March 14, 2021 - W2111

"Developing A Healthy Soul"

Arise, Awake, Act!

Pastor Richard Waialeale

March 13 & 14, 2021

Aloha and Welcome, New Hope Oahu--Everywhere and Anywhere! It's so good to have you worshiping with us, today! God is in the business of changing hearts and restoring souls, and He can do what doctors cannot. 

Ezekiel 36:26 NLT says: "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."

The healthcare industry's spending increases every year; and in 2019, the U.S. spent $346 billion on prescription drugs and in 2020, $359 billion. What if there were a pill that could add years to your life? As a Christian, you already have the key to long life--and it's FREE! God has given us principles for good health management in the Bible, the owner's manual for our body!

Deuteronomy 32:47 NLT says: "These laws are not mere words—they are your life! Through obeying them you will live long, plentiful lives in the land you are going to possess...”

God says that if you will do what I tell you to do, you will have long life!

Proverbs 3:1-10 NKJV says: "My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; ² For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. ³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you...⁴ And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. ⁸ It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."

There are three important factors in this Proverb: 

                        (1) Trust in God (2) Humility (3) Generosity

The physical health is influenced by the spiritual health. You can have a religious spirit but not be transformed; you can have knowledge but not have wisdom.  

Proverbs 4:23 NASB says: "Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs [issues] of life."

Solomon was saying keep watch over your heart and protect it from the issues of life as the heart can become spiritually contaminated by the ways of the world. A young man at the crossroads of his life can feel the pull of the world to make money and make it big in business. That's his top priority and decides he won't have time for church, so he tells his pastor he's not coming back to church. 

Mark 8:36-37 NIV says:  "³⁶What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Have you ever lost your inspiration for ministry and are just going through the motions--not really feeling it in your heart? Your soul allows God to touch you. Without a healthy soul, you might get knowledge but not wisdom; you can become conformed but not transformed. The point is: Through Christ we have the power to be transformed--taking the negative and turning it into a positive to turn this world around. Loving God with all your soul affects you not only on the outside, but on the inside, too.  

Today, we will learn to develop a healthy soul by applying a few health principles--not only physically but also spiritually.  The spiritual will always guide and influence the physical. We do that by Developing A Healthy Soul and keeping it in good working order by:

1. Focusing on What Will be Healthy for Your Soul

3 John 2 NASB says: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

God is concerned for the health of your body, as well as our soul.  It is our responsibility to care and discipline our body so that we are at our best to serve God. Moses was leading over a million people through the desert and was doing everything by himself, so God intervened and sent Jethro, his father-in-law, to visit him. Jethro noticed a long line of people waiting for Moses to hear from God, then counsel them, individually. Jethro told Moses if God so commands, train the elders and leaders to take on some of the responsibility of helping you. 

Numbers 11:17 NIV says: "...I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone."

Numbers 11 demonstrates how God wants to equip all the people by taking the same spirit that is here and putting it on them--He wants to empower all with the same spirit! At New Hope Oahu we call that Doing Church as a Team (DCAT), everybody functioning as one--serving God by serving you!  

2. Identify What's Harmful for Your Soul 

1 Peter 2:11 NASB says: "Beloved, I urge you...to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul." 

The enemy has a strategy to tear you down and wear you out. Satan doesn't steal you from the church; he steals your soul away from the church through fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul. David identifies the enemy of his soul in... 

Psalm 143:3-4 NKJV says: ³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead. ⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed." 

David is downcast as the devil has oppressed his soul through his thoughts and imaginations, causing fear and doubt. Therefore, we must fight by casting down these imaginations--it's the battle for your mind! 

In the book of Acts, a Pharisee named Saul was persecuting and terrorizing Christians. He believed in God, but he didn't believe in Jesus or the resurrection. The turning point in Saul's life came when he was on the road to Damascus to persecute more Christians--then he was confronted by a light so bright that it blinded him and knocked him off his horse! When he realized the Light was Jesus, he asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

This one encounter by Jesus transformed his life: He acknowledged that Jesus is Lord, confessed his sins and surrendered his life to obey and follow Jesus; he had a name change from Saul to Paul, the apostle; and he wrote more than half the New Testament. True conversion comes through a personal encounter with Jesus! 

APPLICATION: It's not how you fall as much as how you get up! 

3. Know How to Restore Your Soul 

Two ways:  Be quick to Repent and Forgive

Quick repentance will save you from a lot of damage. Forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give ourselves because there is so much freedom in repentance and extraordinary healing power. Forgiveness is not because the person deserves your forgiveness; but because you deserve PEACE! Holding a grudge or unforgiveness is like letting someone live rent-free in our head!

God promises healing, but you decide how long it will take. Give God your scar; and He will turn your scar into a Star!

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV says: "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

Once we get over the repentance and forgiveness, then we are ready for the next part! 

5. Draw Near to The Shepherd.

 Psalm 23:6 NKJV says: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever."

Verse 1, "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want." Just like sheep, we need a shepherd to shepherd us. When David wrote this Psalm, he was hiding out from his enemies.  These were difficult times for David, but one thing he knew--God was all he needed! For us Jesus is all we need, too. 

Verse 2, He makes me lie down. Sheep get rattled and skittish, so the shepherd applies gentle but firm pressure on the sheep to make it lie down. How does that apply to us? When we get ill or have setbacks (lose your job, a family member, etc.) if we allow it, God will gently but firmly lay his hand upon us to help us to lie down. 

Verse 3, He restores my soul. Only God knows how to do that. If left to themselves, sheep will eat the same grass until there is only stubbles, but it's up to the shepherd to move them to new pastures. We're like that! Oftentimes, we get comfortable in our routine and the shepherd will guide us to new pastures, if you let him. 

Verse 4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  The shepherd must sometimes lead us through deep ravines and dark valleys, but He doesn't leave! He stays with us and moves us through the dark valley and... 

Verse 5, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The shepherd doesn't remove us from our enemies. When we come to the Lord's table to are refreshed and we remember that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If you want your soul restored, let Jesus do it through this Psalm by Developing a Healthy Soul!

STUDY QUESTIONS: 

1.      What three important factors are found in Proverbs 3:1-10?
2.      When we are downcast and depressed, what can we do to get back up?
3.      Share an experience of falling; how you get up?
4.      What are two things you can do to restore your soul?