Soul Maintenance
Or, Winterizing the Soul
by Bill McIlvain
INTRODUCTION
A. Now is the time for us to winterize our vehicles, before the winter comes.
1. Before a bad winter sets in, it is important to have a vehicle that is
ready to run in any type of situation.
2. Take it from someone who's been there...it is no fun working on a car in the middle of
winter when the temperature is below freezing.
B. When we prepare for the worst, sometimes it just doesn't happen.
1. I don't know very many who take snow storm warnings for granted.
a. At the first hint of a warning, most people start thinking about going to the store, checking
the generator, wood supply etc.
b. They take the proper precautions – they want to be ready.
2. We buy insurance for something we hope we will not use.
a. But we also try to take the proper precautions that we will not have an accident by
having a smooth running vehicle.
b. Who was it said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
C. It truly is an indictment on our society when we think more of our vehicles than we do of our soul.
1. How many people have you passed on Sunday mornings that were outside paying homage
to their god of iron & chrome?
2. Some men have degenerated to a point where they have allowed their
possessions to possess them.
a. Why should it seem so odd that some people have requested to be buried in their cars?
3. While we're still in full possession of our souls, let us take time to make sure our soul
is weatherproofed from all types of adverse spiritual conditions.
BODY
I. NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR SOUL'S ANTIFREEZE.
A. We are told in (Romans 12:11) not to be lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord;
B. We need to be filled with the right stuff or the results can be disastrous.
1. I know a person who tried putting motor oil in his radiator.
2. I know another who tried substituting windshield washer fluid.
3. Here is what the Bible says of those who were filled with the wrong stuff...
(Romans 1:28-32) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; {29} being
filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; ... {32} who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death."
4. Get the rust out of your radiator. (Colossians 3:2-5) Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth. {5} Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
C. This would be a good time to test your heater or furnace as well.
1. (Romans 12:10) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another;
2. Praise is the best way to transfer that warmth.
a. You may admire a good quality in one of your brethren.
b. Have you ever told them so?
c. If not you haven't been utilizing your ability to provide warmth to a brother who
may need it.
d. Most management consultants to the large corporations have documented proof that a
raise does not get as much productivity from its workers as praise does.
3. Make sure your praise is sincere or it may have reverse results.
a. It's like the person who tried to find something to praise the preacher for.
b. After his sermon he said: "Preacher, your sermon was like the peace and mercy of God,
first, it is beyond comprehension, and secondly, it endured forever."
D. It's always good to check your alarm system - You never know when you'll need it.
(Matthew 24:42-51) "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
{43} "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. {44} "Therefore
you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. {45} "Who then
is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them
food in due season? {46} "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will
find so doing. {47} "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
{48} "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' {49} "and
begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, {50} "the master
of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is
not aware of, {51} "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
II.GENERAL ADJUSTMENTS
A. Most Christians' lives aren't running smoothly all the time; thus, every now and
then we need to make the necessary adjustments to get us back to
optimum performance.
B. Set the timing.
1. It is just as important with the Christian to be in time and ON time.
(Hebrews 10:24-25) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, {25} not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
2. Keeping the proper hour is just as important as the proper day.
a. Do you know how irritating it is to have an engine that misses all the time?
b. I wonder how irritating it is to God when some of His children
consistently have their little misses?
c. They don't stay away, but they may habitually miss the opening song or opening prayer.
3. Having set the proper attitude toward work and worship helps us to have a smoother
running life no matter what storm arises. (Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
C. Adjusting your attitude can be compared to adjusting your headlights.
1. Have you ever found it difficult to drive at night when someone has their lights shining
directly into your eyes?
2. Jesus told us that we were the lights of the world.
a. He then went on to say... (Matthew 5:16) "Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
3. All too many times we may be guilty of shining our light in someone
else's eyes instead of using it to light their path.
a. I'm talking about having a self-righteous and holier-than-thou attitudes
toward those who we feel are inferior to us.
b. God will hold us accountable for those who are lost because of our action or our inaction.
c. Paul showed us the proper attitude when he said...
(1 Corinthians 9:19-22) For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant
to all, that I might win the more; {20} and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win
Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are
under the law; {21} to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law
toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
{22} to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all
things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
D. Adjust the brakes.
1. Not only do we need to make a vehicle go, we have more important need for a way to
make it stop.
2. We should pray to God to give us the wisdom to know when to stop.
3. Controlling the tongue is probably the hardest thing to do.
(James 3:2-8) For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he
is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. {3} Indeed, we put bits in horses'
mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. {4} Look also at ships:
although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very
small rudder wherever the pilot desires. {5} Even so the tongue is a little member and
boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! {6} And the tongue is a
fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole
body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. {7} For every kind
of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by
mankind. {8} But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
E. A car with wheels out of alignment will go down the road, but haven't you
been behind one that was going kind of SIDE WAYS?
1. It is wise to get the wheels aligned – will keep ya straight and it will likely
prevent troubles down the road.
(2 Thessalonians 3:5) Now may the Lord align your hearts into the love of God and into
the patience of Christ.
2. There are some of God's people who are not going straight because their
life is out of alignment.
3. Considering all that is in the world, it's easy to see how we can be easily
sidetracked.
a. The remedy for this is found in (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatever things are
true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
b. You need to be more concerned with your character than with your
reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your
reputation is merely what others think you are.
(1 Peter 2:11-12) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts which war against the soul, {12} having your conduct honorable among the
Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good
works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
III. DAILY MAINTENANCE
A. The best way to prepare for the storms is found in daily maintenance.
1. This way there is no panic or rushing about when the storms do come.
2. And yes, they will come ... and all who desire to live godly in Christ
Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
3. In order to be prepared for the fight we need daily conditioning.
a. Paul said, (1 Corinthians 9:26-27) Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air. {27} But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
B. Lubrication is an integral part of a daily maintenance regiment.
1. We need to lubricate any stiff and rusty hinges with the oil of gladness
(Hebrews 1:9) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than
Your companions."
(Philippians 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
2. Failure to lubricate will result in unnecessary wear.
C. To protect our possessions from the elements we will use paint and sealant for our homes.
1. We will use all sorts of waxes and rust proofing methods to keep our vehicles protected.
2. All the while we leave our souls unprotected from the tempter.
3. We need to heed the advice found in Ephesians 6:10-13: Finally, my brethren, be strong
in the Lord and in the power of His might. {11} Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. {13}
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.
a. I can't find a better "Armor All" than that.
D. One of the worst things you can do to any of your possessions is to let them
stand idle too long.
1. A house can virtually fall apart from neglect.
a. Mechanics have told me that it is harder on an engine to run idling in
neutral all day than running 65 m.p.h. on the highway.
2. So it is with the soul... (Proverbs 19:15) Laziness casts one into a deep
sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.
IV. IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE PROVISIONS STORED
(Matthew 25:1-13) "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten
virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. {2} "Now
five of them were wise, and five were foolish. {3} "Those who were foolish
took their lamps and took no oil with them, {4} "but the wise took oil in
their vessels with their lamps. {5} "But while the bridegroom was delayed,
they all slumbered and slept. {6} "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold,
the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' {7} "Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps. {8} "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give
us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' {9} "But the wise
answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go
rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' {10} "And while they went
to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the
wedding; and the door was shut. {11} "Afterward the other virgins came also,
saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' {12} "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly,
I say to you, I do not know you.' {13} "Watch therefore, for you know neither
the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
A. Over the course of our life we are either storing or depleting our treasures.
B. Where we store our treasures makes all the difference in the world.
(Matthew 6:19-21) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; {20} "but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. {21} "For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
CONCLUSION
A. Sooner or later any possessions we do not destroy, sell, trade or give away, will just
become the property of someone else.
1. The Bible tells us that (1 Timothy 6:7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is
certain we can carry nothing out.
2. It is sad people hold on to their possessions and think of them as being of supreme value.
a. They need to realize that the SOUL is the on thing of supreme value.
b. The soul is what they need to get ready and to maintain that readiness.
1) When it's time for this old vehicle to retire to that great garage in the sky, how can we
be sure that it's not going to end up in the junk heap?
2) We can make provisions for that today... (2 Peter 1:10-11) Therefore, brethren, be
even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you
will never stumble; {11} for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into
the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
B. Is your soul being maintained properly?
1. Is it ready for winter, storm, efficient use and, FINAL INSPECTION.
2. The maintenance book gives step-by-step instructions, so if your soul is ready for whatever
then it is time to get it ready.
a. Become a Christian
b. "Walk in the light"(1 Jn. 1:7)
Return to Total Health