YOUR SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
TEXT: 2 Corinthians 13:5
INTRODUCTION:
1. Warren Wiersbe tells about the time the late William Randolph Hearst sent out his agent to secure particular art pieces. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Heart’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for art pieces he already owned.
2. We are fast approaching the end of another year. Very soon now you will see business sending people up and down the aisles of the stores with little clipboards or hand-portable computers. They are TAKING INVENTORY.
3. Companies do this for taxes. But they also do it to figure out
a) How well they did last year, and
b) To figure out what they can do to improve the next year
4. Perhaps now is a good time for each of us to look back at the past year and take a SPIRITUAL INVENTORY.
5. This would give us the opportunity
a) To thank God for the areas of growth we have each experienced and
b) To determine in which areas we need to put forth a special effort to improve in the coming year.
6. Some would become very uneasy at the very thought of a spiritual inventory.
7. They would have all kinds of reasons for opposing such a lesson, but the truth of the matter is the real reason they would be upset, by the lesson, is because they are afraid of what they might find.
8. The Bible commands us to test ourselves:
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
9. Others are probably thinking that the church needs an inventory.
10. When we the members get our own inventories straightened out the church will come out right.
11. Perhaps it would help us to put it down in black and white.
12. Many have thought they were doing well financially until they set down the figures in black and white.
13. The necessity of a budget.
14. We must be honest in making our inventory. If we lie to ourselves about our physical condition there can be little hope of improvement; the disease will persist. Worse still, deep inside we will know that we have lied to ourselves and the problem will continue to plague us.
15. It is far better to recognize our problems so that we can put them behind us.
DISCUSSION:
I. Do you give thanks at meal time?
"forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (I Tim 4:3-5)
A. A. If we eat without prayer, we are eating polluted food (V - 5).
1. Compare to Jews cleansing items with water.
2. We don't use water but we do use prayer.
B. Worst of all, if we eat without giving thanks we are ungrateful children.
C. Even in public we give thanks if we care more about the Lord than
we care about what complete strangers think of us.
II. Is prayer a part of your personal life?
"pray without ceasing;" (I Thess 5:17)
A. Is your prayer life such that you can stop and pray at any time?
Ephesians 6:18-19 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
As Hendriksen noted, the word "all" is used four times in this verse.<23>
ALL kinds of prayers and supplications are to be used: public prayers, private prayers, intercessory prayers, prayers of thanksgiving, every kind!
ALL seasons are the season of prayer: all times of the day, all conditions and circumstances, all occasions, all states of mind, etc.
ALL perseverance: through times of discouragement or defeat when it seems that all is lost, when victory has smiled or when it has failed .... let nothing hinder the prayer life.
ALL the saints are to be remembered in prayer. What an intercessor was Paul. His letters abound with the word that he is praying for those whom he remembers and for those who will receive his letters.
Even though the Christian has put on the whole armor of God, he cannot win the victory except through a constant reliance upon prayer. A prayerless Christian is a contradiction of terms. (Burton Coffmaan Commentary on Ephesians)
B. We should pray in the closet and in public.
C. We should “Keep alert.”
III. Do you give as you've been prospered?
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you do also; On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come." (I COR 16:1-2)
A. How the Jews gave (Cf. FILE & Transparency: GIVING IN THE OT.
B. To whom much is given much shall be expected. Consider the blessings we've received that are superior to theirs: better priest-hood, High priest, hope, covenant. etc.
Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
C. Often new converts have budgets structured in such a way that they
can't give as they've prospered: they should pray and develop a plan. Perhaps pick a bill that would amount to about what they need to be giving, pay it off
and go from there. Perhaps it would help to give 20% to 30% of each
raise.
IV. Do you make time for personal Bible study?
A. We must study to be approved of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
B. Instead of being used by your habits, make habit your tool. Find
or make a place for regular private QUIET study.
1. It should be regular (daily).
Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
a. Daily study is always the most productive kind.
Psalms 1:1-2 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
2. It must be quiet and private.
3. Turn off the sound and distractions and focus on God.
4. Study should be systematic and planned.
a. None of us would dream of going into a field with a
shotgun and just shooting in any direction, WITHOUT
AIM.
b. Imagine having a math problem, opening the book to the
middle and expecting to solve the problem.
c. List the different methods of study.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
V. Do you attend Bible classes?
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
A. You should be there to share what you know.
B. You should be there to learn from others. Otherwise you will become
stagnant.
1. The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
VI. Do you attend ALL SERVICES of the congregation?
A. We must attend for encouragement of ourselves and each other.
Hebrews 10:24-26 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
B. Actions speak louder than words.
C. Story of the boy with one leg etc.
D. If you miss a service because friends dropped in, you are telling
the Lord that you love your friends (BUT NOT THEIR SOULS) more than
the Lord.
1. The fact that people that know you well would think of dropping by on Sunday AM, PM or Wednesday shows that they don't think you're THAT dedicated.
E. If you are working overtime you could have turned down; you've told
the Lord which is more important to you.
F. If you took it because you were afraid to say no, you've told the Lord you fear the Foreman more than the creator.
G. If you weren't too sick to stay home from work or school but you did stay home from church; you're telling the Lord something.
H. If you don't stay away from work because of hypocrites and foremen that always get their way; would you stay away from the church for the same reason.
VII. Do you wholeheartedly give your attention to all the activities of the
Assembly?
A. Would you daydream at a meeting with the president of the U.S.?
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them." (Matt 18:20)
B. You're in a special meeting with the Lord of all.
C. How we conduct ourselves during services will have a great bearing on the growth of the congregation.
"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." (I Thess 5:11)
D. Do you sing in such a way as to help build up the church (edify)?
1. If the only way we can tell you are singing is because we see
your lips moving, you aren't admonishing anyone.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Col 3:16).
2. How loud should you sing? Loud enough to admonish.
E. Watching the children during services.
F. Playing with babies at Keith Stotts' meeting at Fairview W.V.
G. We are not here to be entertained. We are here to provoke one
another, to admonish each other and declare the worth of God.
VIII. Do you put the Lord before business and pleasure?
A. During ladies Bible class, during periods of fellowship, during area
meetings
Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Matt. 6:19-33
IX. Do you do your part to lead the lost to Jesus?
A. In the OT
Ezekiel 3:17-21 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
B. In the NT -
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit...By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples...You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." (John 15:2,8,16)
X. Do you invite people to attend services with you?
Isaiah 2:3 and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
A. Notice the order in Isa 2:3 in this prophecy concerning the NT
church. They invited and then the law flowed forth.
B. This one of the most elementary things we can do to help promote the spread of the gospel.
XI. Is your home life such that you would be happy for all your friends to see
it as an example?
A. The way you act could cause some to refuse to even come to services.
Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
B. The way you treat your spouse and children.
XII. Do you practice hospitality/ fellowship?
A. If evil companionships corrupt good morals, surely good ones will
make good morals.
B. Hospitality is a characteristic of the Christian mind set.
Romans 12:9-12 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
1 Timothy 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1 Peter 4:7-9 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
XIII. Do you rigidly try to abstain from words, actions and thoughts which do not reflect credit to Christ?
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:5-6 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
XIV. Do you visit the sick and sorrowing?
James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
A. You're paying the preacher to do that?? Could you pay him to do the rest of the Elders work and wear the name?
XV. Do you see things to do and volunteer your services for the Lord's work?
XVI. Do you accept responsibility and do the job without requiring
continual prodding? Do you labor in the vineyard out of Love to Glorify God instead of self with joy?
1 Peter 4:9-11 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
A. Illustration:
MAKING SERVICE EASIER
An amusing story was told to me by the manager of a New York hotel. The great Paderewski occupied a suite there a number of years ago during one of his seasons at Carnegie Hall.
It was the master’s custom to practice for a couple of hours every morning on the magnificent instrument that he had brought with him.
On the third morning of his stay an angry lady stormed into the manager’s office and said, “Someone is hammering on an old tin can piano every morning across the corridor from me. This is the third day. It is driving me mad, and unless you stop it I shall leave immediately.”
The astonished manager remonstrated, "But madam, that is Paderewski himself!"
The lady nearly fainted with surprise and said, "Paderewski! Oh, that's different. Of course I had not the slightest idea. I adore good music. I am an excellent musician myself. Please say nothing at all about it." The hotel man was much amused to note that thereafter, for the remainder of Paderewski's stay, the good woman kept the door of her apartment wide open and entertained a party of friends there every morning while he practiced.
What was the difference? The room? The hotel? The music? No! The only thing that changed was the woman's attitude. Before, she was irritated and annoyed; now, she was thrilled.
Often our own attitude needs some serious readjustment. The next time you are tempted to complain about your service to the Lord, stop and think about whom you are serving.
What a privilege it is to know Jesus and to be His coworker. A love for the Lord takes the dead weight out of service and puts wings to it. Love makes serving Christ much easier.
Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The great Redeemer! What a privilege to be close to Him!
XVII. Are you a Christian?
A. If you answer to all of the previous points is Regularly and you answer "no" to this point, all of the work is in vain.
Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
XVIII. Do you need to be restored? Do you need to rededicate your Life to Christ?
Hebrews 3:12-15 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Conclusion:
Service Attitude
“An amusing story was told to me by the manager of a New York hotel. The great Paderewski occupied a suite there a number of years ago during one of his seasons at Carnegie Hall.
It was the master’s custom to practice for a couple of hours every morning on the magnificent instrument that he had brought with him.
On the third morning of his stay an angry lady stormed into the manager’s office and said, “Someone is hammering on an old tin can piano every morning across the corridor from me. This is the third day. It is driving me mad, and unless you stop it I shall leave immediately.”
The astonished manager remonstrated, "But madam, that is Paderewski himself!"
The lady nearly fainted with surprise and said, "Paderewski! Oh, that's different. Of course I had not the slightest idea. I adore good music. I am an excellent musician myself. Please say nothing at all about it." The hotel man was much amused to note that thereafter, for the remainder of Paderewski's stay, the good woman kept the door of her apartment wide open and enter¬tained a party of friends there every morning while he practiced .”
What was the difference? The room? The hotel? The music? No! The only thing that changed was the woman's attitude. Before, she was irritated and annoyed; now, she was thrilled.
Often our own attitude needs some serious readjustment. The next time you are tempted to complain about your service to the Lord, stop and think about whom you are serving.
What a privilege it is to know Jesus and to be His coworker. A love for the Lord takes the dead weight out of service and puts wings to it. Love makes serving Christ much easier.
Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The great Redeemer! What a privilege to be close to Him!
Find and Use Your Inner Power By Emmet Fox p. 174
