Articles
Examine Thyself
EXAMINE THYSELF
Brad Phillips
The apostle Paul instructed the saints in Corinth to, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith...” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Brethren, we too need to be mindful of the need to take some time for self-examination. So, knowing that, take some time to...
Examine Your Thoughts.
What are you thinking about? You see, although men do not know the thoughts of other men, the truth is, God knows our thoughts. For, the inspired Psalmist declared, “The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile” (Psalm 94:11). Again, God knows our thoughts. Therefore, examine your thoughts, and strive to bring your every thought into the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Examine The Company You Keep.
Who are you keeping company with? You see, Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Therefore, we all need to take heed to those words of Paul, and we need to seek to surround ourselves around those who are a positive influence on us, rather than a negative one. So, with that in mind hold on to these words of wisdom from Proverbs 4:14-15, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.” Once more, take some time to examine your close associations, and be one who chooses your friends carefully (Proverbs 12:26).
Examine Your Habits.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I have a bad habit?” Well, I venture to say that most all of us have either said this, or heard this at some point in time. However, we need to examine any so-called “bad habits” that we may have, and we need to understand the need to discipline our bodies and to bring them into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27). For as Peter wrote, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul...” (1 Peter 2:11). May we all keep these words of Paul and Peter in mind, and let’s not let “bad habits” get the best of us.
Examine Your Affections.
Where are your affections? You see, in Colossians 3:2, Paul, instructed the saints in Colosse to, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things of the earth.” My beloved brethren, we all need to be reminded of the need to focus on things above (spiritual things), rather than the things of the earth (worldly things). For, as John revealed, “...the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Therefore, do not be one who loves the world and the things of it (1 John 2:15), but rather be one who sets your affections on things above.
Examine Your Motives.
A motive is defined as “ a thing that induces a person to act in a particular way.” However, as we pointed out earlier, God knows the thoughts of man. Therefore, He also knows our motives. So, knowing that let’s always keep these words of Paul in mind, “...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Again, we need to examine our motives, we need to beware of being vindictive, and we need to be one who always seek’s to glorify God in all that we do.
Examine Your Aspirations.
What is your ultimate goal? What is that one thing that you aspire to achieve the most? Hopefully, everyone’s aspiration or ultimate goal is to obtain eternal life in heaven. You see, we know this was the apostle Paul’s aspiration, for he said, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). My beloved brethren and friends, take some time to examine your aspirations, and be one who always seeks to press toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
These are just a few things for us to keep in mind while doing some spiritual self-examining. So, now the question is, will you examine thyself as to whether you are in the faith?
ARE YOU GOD’S VOMIT?
Kyle Campbell
Jesus had some harsh words for the church members of Laodicea when He wrote, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). I’d imagine that Jesus had a long time to watch over this church; His remarks weren’t made lightly.
Another way of describing the phenomena of lukewarmness is putting it in the context of halfheartedness vs. wholeheartedness. An example of wholeheartedness would be Jesus’ charge in Matthew 22:37-38: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” Jesus didn’t want us to love God a little; He wanted us to love God with everything we have.
Perhaps the most pervasive problem that churches face now is lukewarmness. Saints are lukewarm when they don’t support the work financially like they could. Saints are lukewarm when they don’t volunteer in various congregational roles like they could. Saints are lukewarm when they let other activities interfere with worshipping God like they could. All of this makes members inherently weak. When these weak members raise children, they either fall away or become replicants of their weak parents. In either case, the local church struggles harder to advance, and inevitably succumbs to dying interest and a dying membership.
The good part about lukewarmness is that it can be corrected. Jesus told the Laodiceans, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19). If you’re lukewarm, all you have to do is repent and return to the zeal that you most likely had when you became a Christian — a zeal that produced joy (Acts 8:39), hospitality (Acts 16:15), service (Acts 16:33), etc.
And yes, I understand the irony of issuing a call to action to someone who has demonstrated that they care little about the Lord. But remember that you are going to have to give an answer to what you’ve done (and what you haven’t done). Jesus said that you can’t live with a divided heart (Matthew 6:24). James said this makes you “double-minded” and “unstable” in all your ways (1:8).
- southside_sower_bulletin_January_19.pages (741.62 kB)
