The Examination
II Corinthians 13:5
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?
Intro:
We try to teach our kids and grandkids what is right and what is wrong. Yet, there are many times we question before we take action whether or not we are about to do what is right or if we are about to do everything wrong. Then after we have done things, we question whether we did the right thing or the wrong thing. We all do this!
So then we start making our decisions about what is right and what is wrong based on the following:
1. Feelings - Does this feel right? There has been a lot of people base their decisions and actions on feelings, but the trouble is feelings will fluctuate. Do not always trust your feelings!
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
2. Friends - There has been a lot of people who have based their decisions and actions on a friend’s advice, but the trouble is friends will fail. Do not always trust your friends!
3. Facts – True facts are fixed, final, and forever, but sometimes facts will hinder your faith.
Example: What if Moses had never trusted the Lord enough to lift the rod at the Red Sea? Do not let facts hinder your faith. Do not always trust what is being presented as facts!
So what can I do preacher about knowing if my steps are right or wrong? Take this examination!
1. Will this defile the temple of God?
I Corinthians 3:16-17 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
(Defile means to corrupt, and we should not corrupt our temple outside or inside.)
2. Can you do this knowing that the Holy Ghost lives inside you?
I Corinthians 6:19 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
(Let the Holy Ghost guide you. We must get a strong sense for knowing the difference between the Holy Ghost and our feelings.)
3. Can you do this knowing that you belong to God?
I Corinthians 6:20 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
(Can you take God with you to this place and can God be pleased with your actions in this place?)
4. Will this cause a weaker Christian to stumble?
I Corinthians 8:9-12 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
(Most of us are more worried about offending a sinner by not following along than hindering a brother.)
5. Does this glorify God?
I Corinthians 10:31 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
6. Would you want to be caught doing this when the Lord comes?
7. How will you feel facing this, and the consequence of it, at the judgment seat of Christ?
II Corinthians 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
8. Would Christian people who I have confidence in as being close to God participate in this action?
By no means am I perfect, and I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. However, I have taken this examination many times in my life . . . sometimes before my actions, and sometimes after my actions.
Sometimes I have passed this examination. Other times I have failed this examination, but in those times it has driven me to repentance and to getting forgiveness of God.
We often hear preaching that tells us what is right and what is wrong, and we need that. However, I can help you more if I teach you why it is right and why it is wrong. I can help you more if I can teach you how to make good decision and how to tell if what you are doing is right or wrong.
I have just given you the test questions to an examination concerning your steps. Take it often with each decision you face; it will keep you from failing the Lord and falling.
Now our text tells us to “examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith . . .”
I want to give you ways to examine yourself not just concerning your steps, but three ways to examine yourself concerning your soul.
Body - The Examination
I. Examine Yourself by the Word of the Holy God
** John 5:39 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
** I Peter 1:23 23 Being born again . . . by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Here is the test question: Have you done what the Word of God says?
A. The Word of God says to Come!
Isaiah 1:18 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
B. The Word of God says to Call!
Romans 10:13 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
C. The Word of God says to Confess!
** Romans 10:9-10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
** Matthew 10:32 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Have you Come to the Lord?
Have you Called on the Lord?
Have you Confessed the Lord?
Examine yourself!
II. Examine Yourself by the Working of the Holy Ghost
** Romans 8:9 . . . Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
** Romans 8:14 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
** Romans 8:16 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Here are the test questions: Has the Holy Ghost worked in your life through the work of . . .
A. Identification?
I have been identified by the Spirit working in my life as . . .
1. A Son of God 2. A Servant of God
B. Liberation?
Romans 8:2 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1. Free from Sin!
2. Free from Satan!
3. Free from the Sizzle!
C. Education?
John 14:26 “ 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things . . .”
D. Supplication?
Romans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
1. He interacts! 2. He intercedes! Examine yourself!
III. Examine Yourself by the Working of the Heavenly Grace
Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Here is the test question: Can you honestly say . . .
A. I’m a New Creature?
II Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1. Notice the Transformation (V-11 Salvation transforms us.)
2. Notice the Teachings (V-12 Teaches us right and wrong.)
3. Notice the Trophies (V-14 Purifies us unto himself!)
B. I’m Not Condemned?
1. Not Condemned by Sin (Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation who walk after the Spirit!)
2. Not Controlled by Sin (Romans 8:2 - Free from the law of sin!)
3. Not Continuing in Sin
a. We have a new Law! (Romans 8:2)
b. We have a new Lord! (Romans 8:14 – Sons of God.)
c. We have a new Life! (Romans 8:6 - Not living carnal, but living in the Spirit of God!)
EXAMINE YOURSELF!
Close
1. I realize we are living in a day and age that no one wants to take the exam.
2. Everybody wants to be exempted from the exam, but if we are going to be right with God we must take the exam.
3. God is examining our souls and our steps, and one day we will stand before Him and take one final exam! Either we will pass with the blood of Jesus or fail without the blood of Jesus!
4. This is why God is telling us to examine ourselves. We must take this self-examination and quiz ourselves and check ourselves to make sure our souls and steps are lining up with the Holy God, the Holy Ghost, and the Heavenly Grace!
5. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God! There are no straight “A” students. Nobody makes a hundred on this examination.
6. However, we have a merciful God if we will approach Him and tell him where we have come up short, He will correct us and help us make it right!!
7. Have you examined your soul? Have you examined your steps? Where have you failed? What areas need correcting? Take it to Jesus and cast your cares on Him for He careth for you!!
