JESUS CHRIST PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON MEETING THE UNBELIEVER RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE AND IN WHATEVER STATE THEY ARE CURRENTLY LIVING. HE REALIZED THAT MANY CHRISTIANS, EVEN TODAY, STILL STRUGGLE TO COMPREHEND THIS AS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN THEIR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE LATEST PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS THAT “SHUT DOWN” MANY CHURCHES PROVED THAT MANY WERE OPERATING TOO “INTERNALLY” RATHER THAN “EXTERNALLY” WITH OBEYING THE “GREAT COMMISSION” TO “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.”
ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT HELP BUT HOST VARIOUS MINISTRY EVENTS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE CHURCH BUILDING, WE CANNOT REST COMFORTABLY BY ENSURING THAT ALL WE DO TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CHURCH BUILDING.
OPENING THE DOORS AND HOPING THEY SHOW UP IS NOT LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE GREAT COMMISSION. STATISTICS PROVE MOST WON’T COME TO US UNINVITED, THEREFORE, WE MUST GO OUT AND ENGAGE THEM LOVINGLY WHEREVER THEY ARE.
JESUS MODELED THIS UNDERSTANDING FOR US. ACCORDING TO ONE COUNT, THE GOSPELS RECORD 132 CONTACTS THAT JESUS HAD OUT IN PUBLIC WITH THE PEOPLE.
WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT OF THOSE 132 ACCOUNTS, ONLY 6 WERE IN THE TEMPLE AND JUST 4 OF THEM WERE IN THE SYNAGOGUES. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, WE CAN EASILY FIND AT LEAST 122 REPORTS WHERE JESUS WAS SEEN OUT WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE MAINSTREAM OF LIFE.
THIS IS WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES. THIS IS WHERE WE FIND OUR MINISTRIES. WE ARE A MINISTRY-BASED BODY OF BELEIVERS LIVING OUT AMONGST THE MAINSTREAM OF LIFE.
WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR MINISTRY IS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, INSIDE THE CONFINES OF OUR HOME OR MOVING AMONGST THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE TO BE FOUND OUT “IN THE MARKETPLACE” LIVING OUT AND TESTIFYING TO OUR FAITH AND THE GOOD NEWS.
WHEN WE DO THIS, WE ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST WALKING AROUND MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS OR IGNORING ALL THAT IS GONG ON AROUND US. WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES FOR US TO INTERACT AND ENGAGE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND US.
IT IS SAID THAT “YOUR WALK TALKS LOUDER THAN YOUR TALK, TALKS.” IT IS VERY TRUE THAT PEOPLE EXPECT MORE PROOF FROM HOW YOU ACTUALLY LIVE THAN FROM ALL THE THINGS YOU SAY ABOUT HOW YOU SUPPOSEDLY LIVE.
PAUL IS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH. PAUL IS IN NO WAY QUESTIONING THEIR SALVATION NOR IS HE MAKING ACCUSATIONS THAT THEY LACK FAITH AND REALLY AREN’T CHRISTIANS.
PAUL IS CHALLENGING THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE TRULY LIVING OUT THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IN OTHER WORDS, DO THEY LIVE-OUT AND PRODUCE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT THEY NOT ONLY HAVE FAITH, BUT HAVE JESUS LIVING WITHIN THEM.
PAUL CHALLENGES THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH TO EXAMINE AND TEST THEMSELVES TO SEE IF THEY REALLY WERE THE CHRISTIANS THEY WERE VERBALLY CLAIMING TO BE. HE IS LITERALLY URGING THE BELIEVERS TO GIVE THEMSELVES AN HONEST SPIRITUAL CHECKUP.
THEY NEEDED TO LOOK DEEP WITHIN THEIR HEARTS FOR A GROWING AWARENESS OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE AND POWER IN THEIR LIVES. PAUL IS EMPHASING FOR US THAT: ACTIONS WILL ALWAYS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. PAUL IS LITERALLY SAYING, “OK, YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN? WELL, THEN, PROVE IT!!”
PAUL’S PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO BRING SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND WHOLENESS TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN CORINTH. IF THE INDIVIDUALS WERE GENUINELY IN THE FAITH, THEN THEY WOULD KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST LIVED INSIDE THEM.
MORE PROOF WOULD COME AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD BE AT WORK WITHIN THEM, PROMOTING SANCTIFICATION AND MORAL LIVING. BUT IF THEIR LIVES SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF THE SPIRIT’S ACTIVITY, THEN JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT INDWELLING THEM. AND IF CHRIST WAS NOT IN THEM, THEY FAILED THE TEST.
I WONDER IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD THE QUESTION THAT “IF YOU WERE PUT ON TRIAL FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE IN A COURT OF LAW TO CONVICT YOU?” PAUL IS SAYING “WOULD YOU GO FREE OR STRAIGHT TO JAIL?”
THEREFORE, WE ASK A QUESTION: WHAT IS IT AND HOW ARE WE GOING ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND CHRISTIAN LIFE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE “LEAVING A TRAIL OF EVIDENCE” BEHIND US TO NOT ONLY PROVE, BUT TO VALIDATE THAT WE ARE LIVING OUT AN OBEDIENT LIFE OF FAITH AND ARE TRULY BORN-AGAIN IN JESUS?
THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SURE OF THIS, AS PAUL SUGGESTED, IS TO “EXAMINE YOURSELF.” THIS IS THE SAME PHRASE PAUL USED IN RELATION TO RECEIVING THE LORD’S SUPPER IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:28. WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING COMMUNION, PAUL SAID, “[THIS] IS WHY YOU SHOULD EXAMINE YOURSELF BEFORE EATING THE BREAD AND DRINKING FROM THE CUP.”
THE WORD FOR "EXAMINE" PAUL USES BOTH TIMES MEANS "TO PUT TO THE TEST," OR "TEST TO APPROVE." WE ARE TO PUT OURSELVES TO THE TEST AS TO OUR POSITION WITH CHRIST. WE NEED TO TEST AND SEE IF THE ATTITUDES OF OUR HEART, SOUL AND MIND IS IN PERFECT ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE OF JESUS.
WE NEED TO EXAMINE AND TEST OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO SAY, “I AM A CHRISTIAN”
THERE HAS TO BE EVIDENCE BEYOND JUST WHAT YOU SAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE PROOF “OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE” AS JOHN 15:8 TELLS US, “THIS IS TO MY FATHER’S GLORY, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, SHOWING YOURSELVES TO BE MY DISCIPLES.”
THE EVIDENCE WE NEED AND THE PROOF WE MUST HAVE FOR VERIFICATON IS ALL SUMMED UP IN A NAME: JESUS. WE MAY NOT ALL BE EXPERT MATHEMATICIANS, BUT JESUS MUST BE AND HAS TO BE THE “SUM TOTAL” OF OUR LIFE’S EQUATION.
THIS IS WHY PAUL MADE THE STATEMENT “DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU?” PAUL WANTED TO REAWAKEN THEM TO THE FACT THAT IN ORDER TO BE A CHRISTIAN, THEY MUST FIRST HAVE CHRIST IN THEM. ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST AND ACCEPTING CHRIST ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT ACTIONS.
THERE HAD TO BE A TIME WHERE THEY BELIEVED THIS. THERE HAD TO BE A TIME WHERE THEY PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY ACCEPTED THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST BY REPENTING OF THEIR SINS, ASKING FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS, AND INVITED JESUS INTO THEIR LIVES TO BE THEIR LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR.
PAUL WANTED THEM TO ENSURE THEY HAD REALLY DONE THIS FOR REAL. HE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THEY “PASS THE TEST” BY EXAMINING AND TESTING THEMSELVES TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE FAITH, HAVE ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL AND HAVE SET INTO MOTION A LIFESTYLE THAT CONFORMS TO THAT BELIEF.
WE JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THE MESSAGE IN OUR MINDS AS IF FAITH IS JUST INTELLECTUAL. OUR BELIEFS MUST NOT ONLY RESONATE WITHIN OUR HEART AND BELIEVED, BUT LIVED-OUT IN FAITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEN SHARED WITH OTHERS SO THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT JESUS.
EUGENE PETERSON, IN WRITING 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 FOR “THE MESSAGE,” SAID IT THIS WAY: “TEST YOURSELVES TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SOLID IN THE FAITH. DON’T DRIFT ALONG TAKING EVERYTHING FOR GRANTED. GIVE YOURSELVES REFULAR CHECK-UPS. YOU NEED FIRSTHAND EVIDENCE, NOT MERE HEARSAY, THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU. TEST IT OUT.”
OUR DENOMINATION HAS A WORD FOR LIVING A HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, “EXAMINED” AND “FAITH-FILLED” LIFE THAT LEAVES “CONVINCING EVIDENCE” FOR EVERYONE TO SEE: CONSECRATION!
I LIKE WHAT THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH DEFINES AS “CONSECRATION” (BOD; P:3107): GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO SET THEMSELVES APART TO HIS WILL AND PURPOSE. ANYTHING THUS SET APART IS SAID TO BE CONSECRATED.
ALL CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE GOD IN LOVE. CHRIST DEMANDS THAT HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOW HIM IN MIND AND SPIRIT. IF CHRISTIANS ARE TO WITNESS EFFECTIVELY IN THE WORLD, THEY MUST BE DISTINGUISHED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, JOY, FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
GOD WANTS A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK. WHEN CHRISTIANS SINCERELY FOLLOW CHRIST AND LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS HE SPEAKS IN THE SCRIPTURES, THEY SHOULD SENSE THIS NEED OF CLEANSING FROM INWARD SIN.
THEY SHOULD DESIRE EARNESTLY TO BE FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD AND LONG FOR A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST WHICH WILL SATISFY THEIR DEEPEST INWARD NEED AND EMPOWER THEM TO SERVE AND OBEY THE LORD.
CHRISTIANS, THEREFORE, MUST CONSECRATE THEMSELVES TO GOD AND SURRENDER THEIR WILLS TO THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. THOSE WHO DESIRE INWARD SANCTIFICATION MUST DENY THEMSELVES, BEAR THE CROSS, AND FOLLOW CHRIST. DEVOTION TO SELF IS IDOLATRY.
A CHRISTIAN WHO IS DIVIDED IN LOYALTY CANNOT SERVE GOD VICTORIOUSLY AND STEADFASTLY. CHRIST MUST BE GIVEN PREEMINENCE. HE MUST BE THE LORD OF THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE.”
I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE ACCEPTED AND KNOW JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY AS YOUR SAVIOR. I PRAY THAT CHRIST DWELLS RICHLY WITHIN YOU AS IS EVIDENCED BY HOW YOU LIVE, HOW YOU WORSHIP, HOW YOU SERVE AND MINISTER TO OTHERS. ARE YOU LIVING AND SHOWING “CONVINCING EVIDENCE?”
IF SO, MAY WE CONTINUE LEAVING “CONVINCING EVIDENCE” THAT THIS IS TRUE OF US BY FIRSTHAND DEMONSTRATION. MAY WE RID OURSELVES OF OUR IDOLATRY TO “SELF” BY BECOMING FULLY CONSECRATED TO GOD, OUR FATHER.
MAY WE FREELY YIELD ALL TO THE PURPOSES OF GOD AND DEVOTE EVERY DESIRE AND AMBITION TO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST. MAY IT BE OUR HEART’S DESIRE TO PURSUE WITH UTMOST PASSION INWARD SANCTIFICATION BY DENYING OURSELVES, BEARING THE CROSS, AND FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
