Taking Spiritual Inventory
Text: Psalms 90:1-17
Introduction:
1. We are told in the word to number our days… that wisdom may come
Heb. #4487, maw•naw v. to number off, count, reckon
In other words, to stand before the hourglass of time
2. I have numbered my days. I am 45 years of age.
a. Days to live
365 days yr.
25,550 days 70 yrs.
I have 9,198 days left
Months to live
12 months yr.
840 month till 70
I have 302 months left
b. What’s all this tell you?
The greater portion of my life is behind me.
I want to live my last 36% better than I lived the first 64%.
c. "…For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14, KJV)
Pause for reflection….
3. That we may apply our hearts to wisdom
Literally, Heb. #935- to move in a linear movement. From point A to point B without wandering.
4. "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:" (Proverbs 24:3, KJV)
Established- Heb. #3559- formed, set in order.
a. Lets word it another way… "Through wisdom is a life builded, and by understanding it is established:"
b. It is simply unbelievable the amount of folks who think they will be better off the next year than the past year but have not established concrete plans on how to do it.
A. What does it mean to take spiritual inventory ?
1. It means sitting down and taking a serious look at our strengths and weakness… and then planning a course of action to correct that which is lacking and a strengthening of that which is good.
2. I have a spiritual inventory checklist that will guide you in how to evaluate your life and correct as necessary.
B. Several questions to stimulate our thinking?
1. Has my success, whether in the secular or the spiritual, outweighed my failures?
Am I a more spiritually matured having lived this past year?
2. When facing obstacles, did I run from them?
Seek to go around them?
Simply pretend they did not exist?
Or stand faith, speaking to the mountain?
Pause for reflection….
3. Have I pondered the future?
Where will we be in 3 yrs. 5 , 10 yrs. From now?
4. Will our marriage be stronger, our love for our mates more fervent?
5. Have I really considered the seriousness and brevity of life?
Pause for reflection…
Closing…
"O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." (Psalm 71:17-18)
Spiritual Inventory
How would you describe your spiritual temperature in your walk with the Lord?
____hot ____lukewarm ____cool ____cold
Evaluate your time alone with the Lord. Circle the quality that you most lean toward
lately.
unhurried / hurried
satisfactory / unsatisfactory
fresh / stale
much time in confession / little time
renewed spirit / troubled spirit
Confessional Prayer Work
The following questions are categorized and intended to help you identify sins of commission and omission. Every “yes” answer indicates a sin to be confessed for cleansing.
Ask the Lord each self-examining question. Listen for His response. If there is silence or peace in your spirit, proceed slowly to the next question. If there is conviction, confess it immediately to the Lord.
Relationships:
Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge?
Anyone you haven’t forgiven?
Are there any relationships that need to be reconciled?
Are you secretly pleased over the misfortune of another?
Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancement of another?
Do you quarrel, argue or engage in heated discussions?
Do you complain or find fault?
Do you ever carry hidden anger?
Do you have outbursts of anger?
Do you become impatient with others?
Are you harsh, unkind, or sarcastic?
Do you grumble or gossip?
Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present?
Do you lie or stretch the truth?
Personal Life:
Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first?
Are you careless with your body?
Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
Are you guilty of overindulgence in eating or drinking?
Do you have any habits that are defiling to the body?
Have you been careless in the payment of your debts?
Do you listen to unedifying radio or music programs?
Do you read unworthy magazines?
Do you worry?
Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind?
Have you allowed yourself to become “spotted” by the world?
Is your manner of dress pleasing to God?
Christian Service:
Is your life failing to reveal Jesus to your friends and neighbors?
Have you robbed God by withholding your time, talents, and tithe?
Are you undependable so you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work?
Do you whisper or think about other things during the preaching?
Are you irregular in attending Bible study?
Have you neglected or slighted your daily private prayer time?
Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals?
Have you neglected family devotions?
Do you fail to submit to leaders in the church or elsewhere?
Do you rebel at requests given to you to help in the work of the Gospel?
Do you have a stubborn or un-teachable spirit?
Are you lazy or irresponsible?
Have you failed to pray regularly for your pastor or other spiritual leaders?
Do you find it hard to be corrected?
If the sin is against God, confess it to God, and accept His cleansing. If the sin is against
another person, confess it to God, and accept His cleansing. However, the Holy Spirit may
require you to confess it to the other person before you receive a complete healing of the soul.
If there is full confession, there will be full cleansing, and the joy of the Lord will fill
one’s heart.
