03/19/14 SELF EXAM

03/19/14 SELF EXAM

Ask yourself these questions.

#1 When was the last time, and how often do I tell others about something uplifting and God exalting that I just read in the Bible?

#2 How much of my normal conversation is Christ centered and God glorifying?

#3 Does my time with other people edify them (build them up in faith, love, joy, peace, holiness, compassion), or "deadify" them (burden them with negativity)?

#4 Do the things I say about other people, races, groups of all kinds, gender love, kindness and respect, in those with whom I am speaking?

#5 Am I manifesting the beauty of Jesus in my life, attitude and conversation, or am I being toxic, cynical, provincial, small minded?

#6 Is it obvious to other people that I choose, by the grace of God, to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive?

#7 Does my interaction with other people make it clear that I eschew evil and love that which is good?

If any of your answers indicate anything less than the power and purity of Jesus, then repent and let God conform you to the image of His Dear Son.

TWO DIFFERENT BATTLES...
This internal victory over sinful disposition is not to be confused with the external battle we fight against Satan. The battle with the Old Man was settled on the cross. resulting in the very peace of God. But the battle with Satan can be very trying, demanding, wrenching.

At this point we are not struggling with inner turmoil, but with outward forces. Remember, Jesus fought a bloody battle with Satan in the garden, and even in the wilderness, and Paul fought the good fight until his dying day.

It is not fun fighting the forces of evil or resisting the attacks of Satan. But this is different from inner conflict with the fifth column of the evil heart of unbelief. The inner battle with sinful inclination ceases to exist when we die to self and secularism, but our battle against the gates of hell is an ongoing thing, until we have fought our last fight.

1 Timothy 6:11-12
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:3-4
(3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Timothy 4:5-8
(5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
(6) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
(8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.