Everyone Ought to Examine Themselves

All sorts of things are tested to prove that they are genuine. When you go to a bank and give a $20 bill to the cashier, she holds it to a special light. Why would she do that? Because she is testing it to make sure it is genuine. During the time when the Philippines was not using a special light to determine the genuineness of the dollar bills. The bank tellers would just hold the dollars close to the light and then examine the pictures that were printed on the dollar bills. I was so curious what the teller was doing and I asked him how to know that the dollar is genuine by just looking at it. He told me that if the hair of the picture of a man on the dollar is not combed properly the dollar is fake.

We expect EVERYTHING that has value to be tested. The faith that is not tested is the faith that can not be trusted.

BOOK | 1 CORINTHIANS 11

In the first section of this chapter, Paul dealt with the rules for worship— this section focuses on proper attitudes and conduct in worship

Perhaps these Christian women in Corinth felt that their freedom in Christ entitled them to worship without their heads covered

While Paul’s specific instructions may be cultural, the principles behind his specific instructions are timeless— principles like respect for spouse [submission is not inferiority], reverence and appropriateness in worship and focus all life on God

If anything your do easily offend members and divide the church, then change your ways to promote church unity

It sounds silly for us now (Catholic women wear covering when in the church) due to Jewish women have head covering when they worship but the Greek are not use to wearing head coverings

And then in the other half of chapter 11, Paul wrote about the Lord’s table— he felt that certain individuals who are partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an uncustomary way— seeing no meaning and having no insight into what they were doing

As we know that the bread represents the Body of Christ, and the cup His blood

Luke 22:19–20 (NIV)

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

But, Paul has a stern warning to those who partake of the Lord’s Supper that if they do not examine themselves, it could result to illness or even death

Those who approach the Lord’s Supper should not treat it like any other meal— it’s a time of sober reflection on Christ’s sacrifice for sin

To eat bread that represents Christ’s body and drink fro the cup that represents His blood without first examining oneself for sinful attitudes towards Christ and other people invites God judgment

1 Corinthians 11:28–29 (NIV)

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

LOOK

Last Sunday we heard from Pastor Arnel to be mindful of God, to be mindful of the church and to be mindful of doing good

Today, the scriptures tells us to be mindful of ourselves

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH

2 Corinthians 13:5 (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?

EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE IF YOUR FAITH IS GENUINE

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

CLEAR CONSCIENCE DOES NOT MAKE ONE INNOCENT

1 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

TOOK

LET’S BE HUMBLE WHEN WE EXAMINE OURSELVES

1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

James 4:6 (NIV)

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Question: Am I truly humbling myself before God? When trials and testings comes, will we bow up with pride or bow down in humility?

LET’S BE HONEST WHEN WE EXAMINE OURSELVES

Romans 12:3 (NLT)

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Luke 8:15 (NIrV)

15 “But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. They hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.

Question: What is your definition of honesty? What happens if we are not honest with God, with ourselves and with others?

LET’S BE WILLING TO CHANGE WHEN WE EXAMINE OURSELVES

Psalm 51:10 (AMP)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)

26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Question: What three things in your life that you already know that you needed to change and yet you’re not changing them? What’s keeping your from surrendering these changes to the Lord?

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