No Doctor- Examine Yourself

 

Your Doctor is so important for physical examinations but this one is essential for only you to do....

Here's the essential test and examination for me and you too...


 

IS YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST GENUINE?



Three different insights from the same verse,
 2 Corinthians 13:5, reading from three different versions  in the Bible regarding self examination

2 Cor.  13:5 (New International Version)
"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?"  

2 Cor. 13:5-9 (The Message)
"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it."

2 Cor.  13:5 (New Living Translation)
"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."


FOR LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES...
WHY IS SELF EXAMINATION OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST SO IMPORTANT?

In my opinion based upon many years of involvement with faithful church goers from many different Christian backgrounds...
Here's what a self examination looks like through the lens of the Word of God.

THREE HEAVY DUTY QUESTIONS:

1- Do you belong to church more than Christ? Think about it and examine yourself. So often when asked if they are a Christian people will say yes I go to ___church. When you invite someone to church do you ever instead invite them to Christ?...Is church mainly fellowship, like-minded people and a sense of belonging but very little focus on Christ and growing in Him?
2 Peter 3:18... Why haven't you-if ever- shared your personal faith in Christ with an unbeliever?

2-For Conservatives-(that's me)- Revelation 2:4-5 talks about the church standing for and being commended for righteousness, but losing its first love. Extreme righteousness can sometimes make you less gracious, more judgemental, and unforgiving, becoming like a 'noisy gong and clanging symbol.'
1 Cor. 13:1 Has this happened to you during this Presidential election?  Ask a friend that will level with you- are you known as a GRACIOUS PERSON?  If not, what are you going to do about it?

3-For Liberals- Have you, as Rev 2:15,20 points out, welcomed and tolerated everyone including ones who distort the truth of the Word of God by following people who lead others away from God and have allowed sexual immorality? The Bible warns us about following the crowd...
For the sake of being politically correct have you welcomed everyone and every teaching without taking a stand for Jesus Christ who said of himself- "...I am the way, truth and the life...no man comes to the FATHER except through Me" ...or do you believe there are many ways to God?



WE DON'T HAVE TO  FAIL THE TEST THROUGH THIS SELF EXAMINATION... INSTEAD BE RESTORED by the Word of God because...

As Paul says at the end of 2 Corinthians 13...
BUILDING YOU UP,  NOT TEARING YOU DOWN

2 COR.13:10-14 
"...the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God's people here send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

SOMETIMES A MEETING WITH THE DOCTOR IS PAINFUL.

SOMETIMES SELF EXAMINATION IS PAINFUL TO A BELIEVER.



HOWEVER GOOD NEWS THERE IS A PRESCRIPTION FOR EVERY BELIEVER  

As the verses above say:
WE CAN...  
STRIVE FOR FULL RESTORATION...BY KNOWING AND GROWING IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
2PETER 3:18

REMEMBER...THE TRIUNE GOD 
IS WITH YOU

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Ted Sprague
2Cor 13:5,14

 

P.S .     ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAY CLOSER TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR...

...share your personal testimony in less than 3 minutes with a trusted Christian friend...have them do the same with you. Each of you cover 3 points in your testimony:
1-your life before Christ 
2-how and when you put your faith in Christ 
3-what has happened since your rebirth

...then pray for the opportunity and boldness to share  your testimony with a person who God puts in your path
...a great way to start a conversation is to say and mean:
"HOW'S IT GOING?" then listen intently to what they say and respond as led  (see WB website and book for a lot more insights)
...or 
"What did you think of the ELECTION?"
...don't get sidetracked- sharing your testimony is more important than your opinions of the election
...use the election to springboard to the Gospel of  Jesus
***
A few days ago  I was speaking to a man who I just met that day- I didn't know how he stood politically...I simply used the subject of the ELECTION and said to the man "...during these uncertain times I'm glad I have a certain future...", then I gave my 1 minute testimony. In his case there was very little response however he immediately put on the wristband I gave him...but- praise God- I definitely and clearly presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ through my testimony...what a privilege!   I'm not the "whole enchilada" but part of God's team on the playing field...

I TOOK THE ELECTION "VERY, VERY, VERY" SERIOUSLY...because the country is so deeply divided. This makes SELF EXAMINATION critical for every believer...so we are at our best by God's grace on the playing field not in the stands...that's where LOVE,  JOY, PEACE abounds for ordinary people serving the Lord.



Check out our latest book to help you be more effective 
on the
playing field- 
for you or your small group:
to order: 
www.condeopress.com


our new website will help you on the playing field also
 www.witnessbreakthrough.org