Renewing Your Soul

Intro

Getting dropped off alone in the dark, wondering if everyone forgot about me

Dark Night of the Soul (St. John of the Cross)

When people lose all the pleasure that they once experienced in their devotional time

Psalm 42:1–11 NIV

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

God weans us from all other dependance and pleasure by allowing us to have dry times and inward darkness

He does this to purify our souls

Seven Deadly Sins of the Soul

God takes away these vices and gives us virtues in their place

Vice=Pride Virtue=Humility

Pride

Pride of the soul causes us to speak of spiritual things all the time

Prefer to teach rather than be taught

Become content with your growth

Condemn others who are not as spiritual as they are

The purpose of their spiritual exercises is to be esteemed by others

Example would be the Pharisees

Humility

The humble person thinks the least of himself and the most of others

The humble person speaks less and listens more

The humble person is always teachable and never content with their spiritual growth

1 Peter 5:6 NLT

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Vice=Greed Virtue=Simplicity

Greed

Discontent with what God has given them

They attempt to read more, volunteer more, pray more because in an attempt to gain some spiritual consolation

They do not focus on the substance of their devotion, therefore the object of their devotional time becomes themselves

What can this passage teach me? What word does God have for me?

Simplicity

They realize it is not about them

They are sincere and content regardless of the outcome

They simply focus on Jesus

1 Corinthians 2:2 NLT

2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

Vice=Lust Virtue=Peace

Lust

Search for some sensory form of pleasure

During their devotional time they may experience profound temptations and find it difficult to keep from giving in to them

Will turn to impure things that grant immediate pleasure

Peace

Not anxious

Their focus is not on the immediate pleasure or the impure thoughts

Their focus is on Christ alone

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Vice=Wrath Virtue=Patience

Wrath

Mad at God because their devotional life is not where it once was

Prayers are not being answered

Mad at themselves because they think it is because of something that they neglected to do

Lack patience for whatever God would choose to give

Patience

Patient people realize that when something happens is not as important as who makes it happen

They are content in all circumstances

They look forward to the waiting

Romans 8:25 NLT

25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

Vice=Gluttony Virtue=Self-Control

Gluttony

Addicted to spiritual food and kill themselves with spiritual exercises

They do the exercises for themselves, not for God

Never share with anyone out of fear of starvation

Take food away from others

The person that always needs to be fed (in Sunday School)

Self-Control

Portion control

Sharing with others

They have healthy boundaries

Proverbs 25:28 NLT

28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

Vice=Envy Virtue=Joy

Envy

Don’t want to hear about the spiritual growth of others

Chief concern is for their own praise

Joy

They celebrate the victories of others

Chief concern is the praise of God

More concerned about being in the presence of God than being recognized by someone else

Psalm 16:11 NLT

11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Vice=Sloth Virtue=Endurance

Sloth

Become tired of spiritual disciplines

They are called disciplines for a reason

Give up because they don’t see them as beneficial

Only do things that require minimal effort

Endurance

Do not give up

Remained disciplined even when things are difficult and your not seeing results

Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Summary

Pride/Humility

Greed/Simplicity

Lust/Peace

Wrath/Patience

Gluttony/Self-Control

Envy/Joy

Sloth/Endurance