“It’s All About Soul” is part of the sermon series “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals,” focusing on the eternal value of the soul as referenced in Matthew 16:26. This sermon examines what it means to search, appraise, sell, and ultimately save the soul. Through an exploration of key Biblical passages, it emphasizes that while the world offers temporary gains, only Jesus can save and give us a new identity in Him. The sermon encourages listeners to recognize the unmatched worth of their soul and the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for its salvation.
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Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
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“It’s hard to imagine these experiments getting any serious attention from the scientific
community today. But the lines of thinking that led to them — and the reactions they
generated — remain with us to this day.
We’re still profoundly ignorant today, as any honest scientist will tell you.
According to scientific consensus, the soul does not exist and cannot be weighed.”
I. A SOUL SEARCHER.
Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Proverbs 11:30 ” … He who wins souls is wise.
Soul searching is defined as a penetrating examination of one’s motives,
convictions, and attitudes.
The person who never searches the soul will never find the need to save the soul.
II. A SOUL APPRAISER.
Matthew 16:26 For what PROFIT is it to a man if he GAINS the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in EXCHANGE for his soul?
1) THE SOUL’S CREATION.
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.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship,…”
2) THE SOUL’S DURATION.
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the
lake of fire.
3) THE SOUL’S DISTINCTION.
4) THE SOUL’S APPRECIATION.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
III. A SOUL SELLER.
Matthew 16:26 … what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 18:18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
Luke 18:22 “… Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and
distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Luke 18:23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Matt. 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Matthew 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him
unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
IV. A SOUL SAVIOR.
John 1:12 ” … As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Colossians 1:27 “… Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Galatians 2:20 “… It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God …”
I HAVE A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We are in Christ, Christ is in us.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink from it, all of you.
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins.
When we are born physically, a new person emerges that did not previously exist.
When we are born again spiritually a new person emerges that did not previously exist.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood.”
Pastor Ed emphasizes the contrast between the fate of the wicked and the righteous on this day, using vivid imagery of fire and healing. He discusses God’s judgment on the proud and wicked, while also highlighting the hope and restoration for those who fear God’s name. The sermon incorporates various biblical references beyond Malachi, including Psalms, Romans, and New Testament passages, to reinforce its points. Additionally, Pastor Ed touches on contemporary issues, such as changes in school disciplinary problems over time, to provide context and relevance to his audience.
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Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud,
yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn
them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Malachi 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles
of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him
in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Malachi 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the
hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with
a curse.”
The Supreme court offered this justification and quoted a psychologist who stated:
“If portions of the New Testament were read without explanation, they could be and
had been psychologically harmful to the child.”
Sixty years ago, the top disciplinary problems in schools were:
Talking in class, chewing gum, making noises, running in the halls, cutting in line
That was then, this is now
Disrespect – students speak and act in a disrespectful way to adults and peers
including verbal abuse of teachers and faculty
Defiance – students openly refusing to listen to adults or follow directions.
Bullying – students consistently trying to intimidate others,
Widespread disorder in classroom, cyberbulling & school shooting possibilities.”
I. WHAT A FIERY DAY OF BURNING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud,
yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn
them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, …”
Romans 2:5 (NLT) But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin,
you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming,
when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven,…
Psalm 21:9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
Isaiah 47:14 Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them;They shall
not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be
warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!
Malachi 4:1 “… And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of
hosts, That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire
of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Malachi 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles
of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
II. WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY OF HEALING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
Malachi 1:14 “… For I am a great King,” Says the Lord of hosts, and My name is to
be feared among the nations.
Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, and I gave them to
him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me and was reverent before My name.
Malachi 3:16 “… So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
fear the Lord
Malachi 4:2 ” …my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being …”
John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly
seen, that they have been done in God.”
Malachi 4:2 ” …my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His
wings, …
Malachi 4:2 “… And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.
III. WHAT A FUTURE DAY OF TESTING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him
in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Malachi 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the
hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with
a curse.”
IV. WHAT A FINAL DAY FOR THE PROUD THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:1 ” … All the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. ”
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 15:25 ” The Lord will destroy the house of the proud …”
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God,
on those who know not God, and on those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1 Peter 5:5 “… God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Join us as we dive deep into the book of Malachi, exploring the profound questions posed to God and His revealing responses. Discover how these ancient dialogues are still relevant today, reminding us of God’s unwavering love and our relationship with Him.
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Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have
You loved us?’
Malachi 1:2 “… You say, ‘In what way have You loved us?
Malachi 1:6 “… Where is My honor? Where is My reverence? You say, “In what way
have we despised Your name?’
‘Malachi 1:7 “… In what way have we defiled You?
Malachi 1:13 “…Should I accept this from your hand?
Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words;Yet you say, “In what way
have we wearied Him?”
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?
Malachi 3:13 “… What have we spoken against You?’
This is not what God has said, this is what God is still saying.
I. GOD’S LOVE BURDENED.
Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, …
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Mark 2:3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered
the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on
which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins
are forgiven you.”
Didn’t someone believe for you before you believed?
Didn’t someone pray for us before we knew to pray for ourselves?
Every person’s salvation begins with the burden, interest and influence of another.
II. GOD’S LOVE ANNOUNCED.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.”
Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father?
III. GOD’S LOVE DOUBTED.
Malachi 1:2 “… Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Catergory #1. We Must Take The Good With The Bad.
Job 2:10 (NLT) Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never
anything bad?”
Catergory #2. Right Place, Right Time, Wrong Place, Wrong Time.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that–
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
Catergory #3. Be Ready: It Could Happen To You.
Luke 13:4 (NLT) And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in
Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”
Catergory #4. Don’t Worry, It’s None Of Your Business.
John 21:18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you
liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and
take you where you don’t want to go.”
John 21:19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify
God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
John 21:20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—
the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will
betray you?”
John 21:21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
John 21:22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to
you? As for you, follow me.
Catergory #5. God Is Not Obligated To Explain Himself To Us.
Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter…”
Isaiah 45:15 ” Truly you are a God who hides Himself.”
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,”
says the Lord.
Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher
than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11:33 “… How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Psalm 139:2 “… You know my thoughts even when I’m far away
Psalm 139:3 “… You know everything I do.”
Psalm 139:4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save
He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Luke 7:11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain;
and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.
Luke 7:12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was
being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large
crowd from the city was with her.
Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her,
Do not weep.
Luke 7:14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried
him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
Luke 7:15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented
him to his mother.
Luke 7:16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great
prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
Luke 7:17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding
region.
I. THE TOWN SETTING: ONE FUNERAL, TWO PROCESSIONS.
Luke 7:11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain;
and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.
Pastor Lindell said “As the ladies prayed for Krissy Dines over the next 30 minutes,
all three toes grew, and by that point, were longer than her pinky toe. Within an
hour, nails began to grow on all the toes,”
Luke 7:12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was
being carried out,…”
Luke 7:12 ” … a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother;
and she was a widow .
Jeremiah 6:26 “O daughter of my people, dress in sackcloth and roll about in ashes!
Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation …”
Amos 8:10 “I will make it like mourning for an only son, and its end like a bitter day.”
Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants
of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom
they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and
grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Luke 7:12″… And a large crowd from the city was with her.
II. THE COMPASSIONATE SAVIOR: ONE MIRACLE, MANY WITNESSES.
Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her,
Do not weep.
Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a compassionate God;
Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort
Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them,
Matthew 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes;
Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him
Luke 7:13 “… and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Luke 7:14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried
him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
Luke 7:15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented
him to his mother.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for
evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
III. THE FEARFUL RESPONSE: ONE CONFESSION, MULTIPLE REPORTS.
Luke 7:16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great
prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
Luke 19:44 “… you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses … He has made
alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Romans 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 7:17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the
surrounding region.
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
Colossians 1:20 And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of
His cross.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
Colossians 1:22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight —
Colossians 1:23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became
a minister.
I. THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF RECONCILIATION.
1 Corinthians 7:10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord:
A wife is not to depart from her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be
reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Reconciliation can be defined as restored favor, goodwill, and friendly relations
between two parties formerly at odds with one another.
Reconciliation has been described as putting back together the pieces of a
broken vase.
Reconciliation has been defined as,”The restoration of trust in an interpersonal
relationship through mutual trustworthy.”
Reconciliation has also been defined in counseling “as mutually agreeing to
not proceed with divorce. ”
Colossians 1:18 ” … that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The Message translate this verse “He’s there towering far above everything,
everyone.., everything of God finds its proper place in Him.”
II. THE VICTORIOUS MEANS OF RECONCILIATION.
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
There is only one LIVING God.
But there have always been man-made gods.
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God,
1 Chronicles 16:25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to
be feared above all gods.
1 Chronicles 16:26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made
the heavens.
Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked
within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the ONLY wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16 “… Who is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords;
1 Timothy 6:16 Who ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man
can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen.
Jude 1:4 “… the ONLY Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:25 To the ONLY wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and ever. Amen.
John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Colossians 1:20 And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, …
Colossians 1:20 “… having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Song lyrics “Written in Red”
God wrote His love on the hillside so long ago
For you and me Jesus died, and love’s greatest story was told
I love you, I love you that’s what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you, Written in Red.
III. THE VIRTUOUS MARKS OF RECONCILIATION.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
1. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR PROBLEM.
I am friend of God, He calls me friend
What a friend we have in Jesus
2. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR POSTION.
Colossians 1:22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight —
3. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR PERSERVERANCE.
Colossians 1:23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became
a minister.
IV. THE VALUABLE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:19 That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to
God.
