March 8, 2020
Evening Service

As we saw this morning by the altar call, God was faithful to speak to us through His word.  There are times in our lives that it is necessary to stop and take a look back at the path that we have been walking and also look at where this path is leading us.  It is so easy with the busyness of life to drift off the path that we know we need to be following we must stop and examine ourselves.  The real question is what are we going to do with what we find out?

As part of Lehigh’s employee evaluation program, every year there is a set time that you look back at the previous year and rate yourself on how good of job you have done.  Did you achieve all the goals you set for yourself?  Did you go above and beyond in certain areas?  What areas do you need to improve on?  I believe it is good for us look back and to do this kind of self-examinations from time to time.  It is also important look forward at the path that lies ahead and be sure it is leading us where we want to go.  Are the things I am doing preparing me for the long term career path that I would like to achieve?  The biggest problem though with these work place self-examinations is that once we do them it seems nothing changes.  Things go right back to the same old routine without any action being taken or changes occurring.  We do put in all this time and effort to analyze our work ethic and goals only to forget about them once they are turned in and move like nothing has changed.  Both of these scenarios remind me of a very familiar passage from the Book of James.

Jas 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  (23)  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (25) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

        When the Holy Spirit speaks to us about something that needs to change in our lives we must do more than just listen; we must act and make the changes necessary.  If we do God promises us that we “will be blessed in what we do.”  The Spirt may have spoken to you through the communion reading, the communion video, or perhaps through the message but we know when He speaks to us.  He also can speak to us through a song, through the wisdom of a good friend, or even through the mouth of babes.  The key is to have our “mind set on things above and not on things of the earth” so we can know it is the Spirit speaking and then act upon it.  Change often times take courage on our part, but it first takes us to realize that a change is needed.  I want to look at a few examples from the scriptures where we are instructed to examine ourselves to determine if changes are needed.

 

 

 

1Co 11:28-31 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

        As we partake of the Lord’s supper we have to examine our own hearts to judge whether we are doing it in a worthy manner or not.  We are not examining whether we are worthy, because none of us are, but we are to examine the attitude in which we are participating.  Am I mentally focused on what I am about to do; partake of the body and blood of Christ?  Is my attitude adjusted correctly by humility and gratefulness and it should be?  Am I taking this for granted and just going through the motions? 

It really is important for us to spiritually prepare ourselves for entering into this most precious and intimate time with our Lord and Savior.  I love how Jeremy put it this morning; “speak to Jesus at the communion table just as you will when you see Him face to face.”  Examine your attitude and preparation to see if they both would be pleasing to the Lord at such a precious and holy time.  Look what he says when we don’t take the time for this self-examination; “for this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep.”  Our spiritual health depends upon us to “examine ourselves” and realize that as he says in verse 31; “for if we judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”  We are first to be accountable to ourselves for our own attitudes and by judging ourselves we are not judged.

 

2Co 13:5-6 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified. (6) But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

            This is Paul’s way of calling us all in for a reality check.  As we journey along with Jesus, we should be able to see the transformation that is occurring in our lives.  Take a hard look at your life and ask the tough questions that need to be addressed.  Are the things I am doing drawing me closer to the Lord or drawing me away from Him?  Looking back over the past year, have I proved Him more than failing Him?  Is my desire to grow closer?  What changes do I need to make to correct the situation?  Am I willing to make that sacrifice?  (Softball example).

 

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

            When we “let go and let God” He often rewards us with restoring the things we give up with things that we enjoy and treasure even more.  He blesses our obedience.  Finally, I want to look at examining ourselves in regards to carrying our own part of the load.

 

Gal 6:2-5 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (4) But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  (5)  For each one shall bear his own load.

            Each of us must realize that when we stand before God we will give account for the things we have done in our lives; not our parents, spouse, or children us.  We need to truly own our own faith and take our relationship with Jesus very personal.  God created me for the purpose of serving Him in His kingdom.  I need to examine myself to see if I am doing my part of “bearing my own load.”  God is expecting your best and when we do not give it to Him, we are cheating ourselves as well as God.  We are called to humbly serve the Lord by giving our “bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service” (act of worship).

            To look in the mirror can sometimes be a very scary time because we may not like what we see.  By not looking or ignoring to examine ourselves however can even be scarier.  It is important for us to look deep inside ourselves from time to time and then take action on what it is we see there.  By ignoring the problem, it does not go away it actually gets worse.  Just as we need an annual physical exam to maintain our health, we need to examine ourselves spiritually to remain healthy.

 

Heavenly Father, open the eyes of our hearts to see ourselves in a true light, and grant us the courage we need to make the needed changes.