Preached Feb 7, 1999 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays

"IN EXCHANGE"

Mark 8:27 - 37

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
28 and they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
29 and he saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
30 and he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 but when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

I love to trade, there is just something about it and me… I just love to trade. I can't help it. When I go down to Mexico those folks down there barter, you never pay the asking price, you barter with them folks…. I've got a blanket at the house that I bought down in Mexico. They asked one price and before I'd EXCHANGE money for Blanket, I wanted to work that price down some. To me that is a lot of fun. Sometimes they get the best of you and sometimes you get the best of them. I love that.

The Bible deals with folks who are making exchanges… sadly, I've seen this type of exchanging going on a lot. In fact, unfortunately, I've got into some of this type of exchanging.

In our text we see folks exchanging for their soul. This morning I want to look at this subject for just a bit.

Turn with me to

Ps. 106:13-15 13 ¶ They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Friend, in the text I've just read, we see folks who know God, who forgat what He's done for them, Exchanging the Soul for something temporary… God help us today, we are doing the same thing!

I. Exchanging our Soul for Possessions

Mark 8: 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Ps. 116: 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

What are you willing to sell your soul out for? Most would say nothing… Then they turn around and sell their soul to have more possession!

The Devil tried this with our Lord… (There is no temptation taken you…) Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Oh my how many Demases are in the Church today.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

There are folks here today who have traded happiness and true Joy for some possession. You bought some stuff at Christmas, or something last year, and the new has worn off of it, and it doesn't satisfy anymore and now in your soul you feel empty. Was it worth the exchange?

Maybe there is someone here today who is about to exchange their Soul's well being for some material thing. Oh don't do it.

I John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Remember where joy comes from! Not from things but from God. You that are wise know this, if you are a fool, you're trying in vain to be satisfied with things that cannot. Why don't you give serving God a try!

John 15: 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

II. Exchange our Soul for Pride

I know folks who are so hard headed… They need to get right but they never will.. why not? Pride! They've sold their soul to pride! What an exchange! God Help us!

Folks who need to get at an altar but won't because they are filled with pride! God knows what you are and so do most of the rest of us!

God resists the Proud… You that are always right, You're pushing God away…

III. Exchange our Soul for People

Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

I know folks who have sold their soul to maintain relationships that don't need to be maintained!

I've seen men and woman, who were smart, who were capable, who had all the ability in the world exchange their soul for some member of the opposite sex that made their life a living Hell after they got married. What a mess!

Are you selling out to People? I've seen parents get jealous of God, and hold their kids back. Pitiful! I've seen moms go against kids who wanted to dress right, sad!

IV. Exchange our Soul for Pleasure

I Tim. 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

Ps. 106:15 but sent leaness… . They despised the manna, calling it light or innutritive food. God gave them flesh as they desired, but no blessing accompanied it; and, in consequence, they did not fatten, but grew lean upon it; and many, surfeited by excess, died of disease. Instead of {razon,} "leanness," however, {zeraön,} "nausea or loathing," …

Prov. 6: 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

V. Exchange our Soul for Popularity

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

If you do right some folks ain't going to like it…
Will you exchange your soul to be popular?




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