Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
The Bible tells us to examine ourselves, and I wholeheartedly agree that we need to do so. We should examine ourselves to see if we have sin, and if so, we should sincerely repent, then move on to living without that sin in our lives.
There is a great difference between examination and condemnation. Examination helps us prove to ourselves that we are in Christ and He is in us, and that in Him we have been set free from sin. Condemnation keeps us mired in the very sin we feel condemned about. It does not deliver us—it traps us! It weakens us and saps all our spiritual strength. We give our energy to feeling condemned rather than living righteously.
There is such a thing as excessive self-examination, and I personally believe it opens the door for much of the unbalance we see today in this area among God’s children. To be overly introspective and continually examining our every move opens a door to Satan. In the past I experienced multiple problems in this area, and I know for a fact that you and I will never be confident in prayer until the problem is dealt with thoroughly and completely.
Examine, but don’t condemn. God has forgiven confessed sin so you can move forward. He isn’t dwelling on it; why should you?
Lord, I ask You to search my heart and expose any sin in my life. I refuse to get trapped in endless introspection and condemnation. Set me free from all sin. Amen.
The Rooster’s Sermon
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:59–62
I have had the privilege of visiting Jerusalem on multiple occasions. Just outside the wall of the Old City, there is a small church known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Built over what is believed to have been the house of the high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was taken to be tried, the ancient church has been rebuilt and destroyed numerous times through history. Underground, there are prison cells where the Lord may have spent the night before His crucifixion. The most striking feature you see when you approach the church is a golden rooster that rises from the dome—a reminder of the moment when Peter was convicted for denying that he knew Jesus, just as Jesus had told him would happen.
The brash Peter was completely self-confident. When Jesus told him that he would deny Christ three times, Peter confidently declared himself ready to die for the Lord: “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:35). Yet when the test came, Peter completely failed. We must not judge him too harshly, for each of us have failed to take the stand we should for Jesus. How deep the conviction that comes to us when we hear our “rooster” remind us that we have sinned. How sweet the restored fellowship when we confess and return to God.
Luke 22:59–62
I have had the privilege of visiting Jerusalem on multiple occasions. Just outside the wall of the Old City, there is a small church known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Built over what is believed to have been the house of the high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was taken to be tried, the ancient church has been rebuilt and destroyed numerous times through history. Underground, there are prison cells where the Lord may have spent the night before His crucifixion. The most striking feature you see when you approach the church is a golden rooster that rises from the dome—a reminder of the moment when Peter was convicted for denying that he knew Jesus, just as Jesus had told him would happen.
The brash Peter was completely self-confident. When Jesus told him that he would deny Christ three times, Peter confidently declared himself ready to die for the Lord: “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:35). Yet when the test came, Peter completely failed. We must not judge him too harshly, for each of us have failed to take the stand we should for Jesus. How deep the conviction that comes to us when we hear our “rooster” remind us that we have sinned. How sweet the restored fellowship when we confess and return to God.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If we do not heed the warnings of the Word of God, we must taste the bitter tears of repentance.
Examine Yourself
by Joyce Meyer - posted October 20, 2016Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
The Bible tells us to examine ourselves, and I wholeheartedly agree that we need to do so. We should examine ourselves to see if we have sin, and if so, we should sincerely repent, then move on to living without that sin in our lives.
There is a great difference between examination and condemnation. Examination helps us prove to ourselves that we are in Christ and He is in us, and that in Him we have been set free from sin. Condemnation keeps us mired in the very sin we feel condemned about. It does not deliver us—it traps us! It weakens us and saps all our spiritual strength. We give our energy to feeling condemned rather than living righteously.
There is such a thing as excessive self-examination, and I personally believe it opens the door for much of the unbalance we see today in this area among God’s children. To be overly introspective and continually examining our every move opens a door to Satan. In the past I experienced multiple problems in this area, and I know for a fact that you and I will never be confident in prayer until the problem is dealt with thoroughly and completely.
Examine, but don’t condemn. God has forgiven confessed sin so you can move forward. He isn’t dwelling on it; why should you?
Lord, I ask You to search my heart and expose any sin in my life. I refuse to get trapped in endless introspection and condemnation. Set me free from all sin. Amen.
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