LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SELF

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   It is easy for us to look at others and judge them.

1.    Clothing

2.    Weight

3.    Hair style

4.    How they talk

5.    Body language

6.    Make-up

7.    Attitude

 

B.   We are warned by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount about judging others (Matt. 7:1-2).

 

Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For which what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:  and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to your again.

 

C.   Instead of focusing on others, each of us needs to take a look at self (2 Cor. 13:5).

 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

D.   Our theme for OceanSide in 2023 is:  “Reaching Back, Reaching Out, Reaching In, and Reaching Up.” 

1.    This month we are focused on the “Reaching In” element. 

2.    This lesson is entitled:  “Let’s Take A Look at Self.”

 

I.             AM I SAVED IN CHRIST?

 

A.   Paul teaches us that salvation in in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:10).

 

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

 

B.   When God looks down upon the world, He sees two groups of people.

1.    The world

2.    Those who are “in” Christ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a.    Notice that the church is in the world, but it is not part of the world (John 17:16).

 

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

b.    The world contains all those who are lost.  Only those who are “in Christ” have salvation.

 

C.   This is why we want each person to ask himself the question:  “Am I saved in Christ?”  NOTE:  If you have not been baptized, you are not in Christ Jesus.

1.    Romans 6:3

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 

2.    1 Corinthians 12:13

 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…

 

3.    Galatians 3:27

 

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

D.   When the Lord returns, He will be taking only those who are “in Christ” to be with Him in eternal glory.  Thus, it is imperative for us to as ourselves:  “Am I saved in Christ?”

 

II.           AM I GROWING IN CHRIST?

 

A.   A Christian is born into the family of God when he is converted (John 3:3, 5).

 

B.   The individual is a babe in the eyes of the Lord.

 

C.   The responsibility and the challenge for the newborn is to grow in Christ.

 

D.   The growth of a Christian is predicated on the attainment of knowledge.

1.    1 Peter 2:2

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.

 

2.    2 Peter 3:18

 

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.

 

E.   When we grow, there is evidence of our growth that others can see.

1.    2 Thessalonians 1:3

 

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly…

 

2.    1 Timothy 4:15

 

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear unto all.

 

F.    Evidences of one’s Christian growth.

1.    Addition of the Christian graces

2.    Less fear and more faith

3.    Involvement in the works of the church

4.    Accepts teaching positions

5.    Moves into leadership positions

6.    Does not have to be pampered and coddled

7.    Ability to endure trials and afflictions

 

G.   When the Lord returns, He will be seeking those who have grown as His servants.  Do you remember the five talent man and the two talent man?  So, it is imperative that we ask ourselves:  “Am I growing in Christ?”

 

III.         AM I FERVENT IN CHRIST

 

A.   It is not enough to call ourselves Christians and be knowledgeable of His Word.

 

B.   The Lord longs for each of us to be fervent in His service.

1.    Romans 12:11

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

 

2.    Fervent:

a.    Strong (2204):  to boil (liquids), to glow (solids), to be fervid (earnest)

b.    Thayer:  to boil with heat, be hot, a zeal for what is good

c.    Vine:  to be hot, to boil

d.    Dictionary.com:  intensity of spirit, feeling, and enthusiasm,

e.    Displaying a passionate intensity

 

C.   A person who is fervent will:

1.    Pray for the work

2.    Talk about the work

3.    Be actively involved in the work

4.    Attempt to make the work better

 

D.   Luke 12:43 states:  “”Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”  The Lord will be looking for the doers.  Again, it is absolutely essential for us to ask ourselves:  “Am I fervent in Christ?”

 

IV.         AM I STEADFAST IN CHRIST?

 

A.   Just outside of Brookland, AR, there was a taxidermy shop.  The owner had built a fairly large elephant in the front yard of his business. 

1.    For years, that elephant stood in the front yard.

2.    In the course of time, the weather took its toll on the elephant, but it continued to stand.

3.    The hot and cold caused the colors to fade, but it continued to stand.

4.    For a long time, the elephant was tattered and torn, but it stood.

 

B.   This how we should be in Christ.  The word that describes that elephant and the word that should describe us is “steadfast.”

1.    1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

2.    Hebrews 3:14

 

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.

 

3.    Colossians 1:23

 

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…

 

C.   Steadfastness involves

1.    Being regular

2.    Being consistent

3.    Never moving

4.    Never vacillating

5.    That which is lasting

 

D.   Two applications:

1.    In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks a question at the end of the verse:  “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”  If Jesus returned today, would He find your faith on the earth?

2.    Hebrews 11:13 begins with these words:  “These all died in faith…”  We have faith now, but will we die in faith as the patriarchs of the Old Testament. 

3.    For either of these things to happens, we must continually ask ourselves:  “Am I steadfast in Christ?”

 

V.           AM I JOYFUL IN CHRIST?

 

A.   The word “joyful” simply means “full of joy.”

 

B.   Every one of us should have begun our Christian life with great joy (Matt. 13:44).

 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

 

C.   That joy is not to fade away.  That joy is supposed to increase as we live our Christian lives.

1.    Romans 5:11

 

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

2.    In that same book, Paul tells us that joy is supposed to be part of being in the kingdom (Rom. 14:17).

 

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

3.    It is one of the fruits of the Spirit that grows in our life (Gal. 5:22).

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…

 

D.   Joy is not impacted by circumstances.

Joy sees the things that are divinely important.

Joy does not cease in pain and affliction.

Joy is rooted in the eternal and not the temporal.

Joy involves elation of one’s heart because of one’s relationship with God.

E.   Heaven is a place of eternal joy.  The Lord will say to His faithful on the day of Judgment:  “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:21, 23).  Those full of joy here will experience joy untold over there.  Again, ask yourself:  “Am I joyful, that is, full of joy in Christ?”

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Self-examination is good from two standpoints:

1.    It keeps me on track if I am doing the things that I should be doing.

2.    It enables me to correct things in my life if I am not doing what should be done.

 

B.   Questions:

1.    Are you save in Christ?  Or, do you need to be saved?

2.    Are you growing in Christ?  Or, do you need to begin to grow?

3.    Are you fervent in Christ?  Or, do you need to turn up the heat?

4.    Are you steadfast in Christ?  Or, do you need to put stability and consistency in your Christian life?

5.    Are you joyful in Christ?  Or, do you need to change, re-think, and re-focus yourself so that you are full of joy?

 

C.   My friends, it is best for us to examine ourselves now rather than waiting to be examined by God when it will be too late.