Text: 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Self examination is to try, make trial of, test oneself to see if you are still in the faith.
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WHY DO WE NEED TO EXAMINE OURSELVES
1. To avoid falling away: 2 Corinthians 13:5A “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith”.
2. To avoid getting rejected on the Last Day: 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
3. Because our works shall be tried with fire (1 Cor. 3:12-15). It is not every good work we do that receives rewards from God. Matthew 6:1
”Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
4. So that we don’t lead others astray: 1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” According to Jesus Christ “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14).
2 Timothy 2:17, 18 “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and OVERTHROW THE FAITH OF SOME.”
AREAS TO EXAMINE
1. HEART
When a person decides to follow God they make the decision in their heart, followed by REPENTANCE which is simply a CHANGE OF MIND. When a person backsides their heart becomes dull towards the things of God, followed by a CHANGE OF MIND. It is with the heart we believe and also disbelieve. A thorough examination of our hearts is very crucial.
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart”
Do you still love God? In John 21:15-17 we see how Jesus Christ challenged Peter to examine his heart if he still love Him.
2. FOCUS
What is your main focus in life? Do you still see Heaven as your utmost goal.
Do you lay treasures in Heaven? Do you work for Heaven, give to the work of God and the poor?
Do you let go of some things for the Heaven’s sake? Are you a religious person or you are focused on having Heaven as your goal?
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Do you see Heaven as a kingdom that you belong, live for and cherish?
3. DOCTRINE
Doctrine simply means teaching, instruction, that which is taught, teachings, precepts.
Matt. 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.”
Today, many people don’t care about the primary beliefs of the Church they belong. There are dangerous doctrines out there that can lead one to everlasting condemnation.
This is why God told me to evangelize, but not just win souls but teach them the truth, so that even as they go to different Churches they will know the truth and be led by the truth.
Are you worshipping God in spirit and in truth? John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
What you are taught and what you believe and practice are determinants of where you shall spend eternity, either in Heaven or in Hell Fire.
4. SPIRIT
This is examining your spirit man if it is possessed by the Holy Spirit or by another spirit. It is the type of spirit that lives in you and controls you that tells where you belong.
The Holy Spirit dwells in every born believer. But if someone falls from the faith an evil spirit could possess such one. Remember Saul in
Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
If you have been in the Church yet an evil spirit lives in you, controls and uses you, know that you are not fully abiding in Christ. You need deliverance.
Some people were possessed, initiated into demonic kingdoms, but refused to submit their evil powers and exiting their dark kingdoms when they were “giving their lives to Jesus Christ”, yet they believe that they are in Christ, despite their involvement in the work of darkness. To all such people here’s what 1 John 1:6 says “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth”.
5. LIFESTYLE
Does your lifestyle reflect the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Are bearing good fruits? “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” (Matt. 7:17).
Is your light shining? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).
6. ZEAL
John 2:17 “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
Zeal for the things of God
Prayer life
Study Life
Zeal to evangelize
In John 21:15-17 Jesus Christ asked Apostle Peter if he really loved Him thrice. After Jesus Christ had made him a “fisher of men” he went back to “fish fishes”. Jesus’ question is a call to self examination to Peter, to look onward to see if he still really loved the Lord as before. This is the same way we are expected to examine ourselves if we still have the zeal to save lost souls. Real love for God is to do what God wants: staying saved and saving others.
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