Taking Inventory

Back in the years when Judy and I were trucking I remember stopping on the side of the road in downtown Boston, lost and I called our point of contact and asked if she could give me help getting to where we needed to be. Her first and only question was “where are you?” when I could not effectively answer that question she said “no I can’t and hung up. First, we need to know where we are then we can figure out what is next and ultimately get where we need to be, but first we need to know where we are. That is also so true for us spiritually, says: (NIV)

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

A. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. TEST yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.

B. I am not asking you to question your faith, our salvation is a gift from God and it is never about what you do it is about what He did for you. What I am saying is you should be different than before you accepted Jesus into your heart, your world should look different.

Examine Your Consecration

(NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Examine Your Consecration

Are you dedicated to Him?

Is all you have dedicated to Him?

Is is part of your body committed to God for His service?

, ,

(NIV)

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

(NIV)

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Roman 6:16

(NIV)

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

You Should Examine Your Conduct

EXAMINE YOUR CONDUCT

(NIV)

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Examine Your Conduct

How Is Your Home life?

How Is Your Social life?

How Do Others View The Way You Live Out Your Faith?

(NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

EXAMINE YOUR INFLUENCE

(NIV)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Examine Your influence

Is Your Light shining?

What Are You Doing To Make The Light Within You Visible?

(NIV)

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ;15

(NIV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

EXAMINE YOUR LOVE

(NIV)

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Examine Your Love

Do People see it in your actions and character?

(NIV)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

EXAMINE YOUR IDEALS

(NIV)

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Examine Your Ideals

What Is God’s Good and Perfect Will For Your life?

EXAMINE YOUR ATTITUDE

(NIV)

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Examine Your Attitude

Towards Christ

Towards Others

Towards Yourself

(NIV)

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

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