INSTITUTE OF LOVE

Examination
Text Box: 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. 2. Corinthians 13:5 NLT It is common that people periodically go to the doctor for physical checkups, hoping of course that they pass the medical test, and that everything is OK health wise with them. This same principle applies to us who call ourselves Christians. We ought to periodically go to God, our Doctor, for spiritual checkups to know if we are actively seeking to grow closer in love to God, and also to check if we have a growing awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ and His power in our lives. It really comes down to whether we are living according to God’s will, in order to receive His OK, which is His blessing. David, for instance, went to God and asked Him for one of those checkups: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 NLT This may be the time for us to have a serious examination of our spiritual lives, to see whether anything might be holding us back from receiving the breakthroughs and blessings of God. As David did, we want to ask God to point out anything in us that might offend Him. That means anything that might stop the flow of God’s abundant life and blessings for us. As we seek God with a sincere heart, He will reward us. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT As we are now ready to examine ourselves, here is a list of wrong behaviors and its consequences, the absolute NO NO’s, if you will, that might help you in the test of finding out whether you are walking in any of them, and as a result, missing God’s true blessings in your life and circumstances. About Gossiping, Abusing, and Falsely Accusing Others "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people."Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:16 NLT "No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. "If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. Isaiah 58:6-11 NLT About Husbands Abusing Their Wives And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. Colossians 3:19 NLT Don't use foul or abusive language. Ephesians 4:29 NLT If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard. 1. Peter 3:7 NLT About Wives Rebelling Against, And Disrespecting, Their Husbands You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Colossians 3:18 NLT So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33 NLT About Children Disobeying And Dishonoring Their Parents Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. "Honor your father and mother." This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing." Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT About Fathers Abusing Their Children And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NLT Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying. Colossians 3:21 NLT About Mothers Who Are Seductive and Obsessed With Appearance Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Proverbs 31:30 NLT Her children stand and bless her. Proverbs 31:28 NLT About Unbelief Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison. Hebrews 12:15 NLT And because of their unbelief, He couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6:5-6 NLT About Lust For Sex, Money, And The Good Things Of This Life Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. 2. Timothy 2:22 NLT Give up your lust for money, and throw your precious gold into the river. Job 22:24 NLT So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 NLT About Getting Drunk Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Ephesians 5:18 NLT Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. Romans 13:13 NLT About Stealing Do not steal. Exodus 20:15 NLT If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. Ephesians 4:28 NLT About Lying Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. Colossians 3:9-10 NLT "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies." 1. Peter 3:10 NLT About Being Selfish Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NLT Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Philippians 2:3-4 NLT About Hatred And Wanting To Take Revenge "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront your neighbors directly so you will not be held guilty for their crimes. Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:17-18 NLT Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:19-21 NLT The above list is just a sample of some of the problem issues we can encounter in our lives that need to be dealt with. After you have examined yourself, and you recognize one or more issues from the list above as being trouble areas in your life, the following action needs to be taken in order to be restored and receive Gods blessing: Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the LORD your God… Jeremiah 3:13 NLT So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor. James 4:7-10 NLT If you have sinned against your brother or sister, the following applies to you, and is that you “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 NLT In Closing In conclusion of the examination; we should never run or try to hide from God who knows everything that happens in our hearts, as He says in Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT: "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40 NLT Copyright©2009 Sophia & Edwin Christiaan Text Box: By Edwin Christiaan