INVENTORY AND THE CHRISTIAN

We have to be in a deep place usually to begin the process of doing an “inventory” of ourselves don’t we? If things are good, sun is out, family is well then we are not usually going to be digging deep to be better usually. Our inventory time is focused on things are good, I am all good!

Mike just read to us from the book of 1 Corinthians. I am sure you were asking yourselves, what are we reading scripture for communion. So many times, many days I have come to the Lord’s table, in a hurry, a million other things on my mind. I was not there for Jesus.

Paul tells us in the book of Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 11:28 “28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (So then Paul says after we have examined ourselves, took action in prayer, maybe forgiving someone, giving someone some help, a shoulder, a gas card ......you getting this church?

How do we start this “inventory” process? It’s like going on a diet, we WEIGH ourselves first don’t we? We have to establish a starting place......Or maybe wanting to be a better Dad. We should sit and talk with our child. If you feel there is a disconnect, you should want to find out where or what it is right?

You begin to think of the issues or a problem or something that might be making you feel a little restless and establish a process don’t we?

FIRST THINGS FIRST!

I. EXAMINE YOUR LIVING

A. Are we waking up every day searching for Sincere living?—1 John 1:6.1 John 1:6 “6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Don’t be a hypocrite. Practice what you preach. Live right before both God and man. WHAT..........

B. Are we waking up daily wanting to be living with Sacred living? 2 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Note: Cleanse yourself. Don’t merely pray for holiness—practice holiness! This must be done daily. An unclean Christian brings shame and sorrow upon God’s work.

C. Are we looking forward daily to being in the word of God? Scriptural living? Do you even want to keep God’s commandments?—Our love for God is measured by how we obey Him.

John 14:15 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. Remember, love always obeys! If we truly love God, we are going to want to obey God!

D. Do we practice to increase our Spiritual living?— There should be a desire to continue each day in reading God’s Holy Word. You should want to continue where you left off reading the day before. Like any great book, this is however the greatest. Ask God for a desire that you cannot control. We must be so eager to learn more of our Father each day.

Psalm 42:1–3 “1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” There should be a hunger and a thirst for God. He will satisfy this need.

We read in:

Matthew 5:6 “6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

II. EXAMINE YOUR LIFE, Yep this is different that our living.......

A. Have any of yo sit back, really sit back and evaluated your Desires in your life?—. Notice the desire or the craving of David for the Lord in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 27:2–4 “2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple."

Can any in here this morning say we crave or desire the Lord like David did?

If not, it’s probably time to make a few changes. AMEN!

If we don’t have a desire for God, then we will have desires for sin and the things of this world.

B. Devotional life—Job 23:11–13 “11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food. 13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.”

Job desired God more than food. We need to have a daily devotional time with the Lord. Every person here today as well as on FB need to be having devotional time with God.

C. Do we even remotely have a Dedication of life to God?—we read in Joshua:

Joshua 14:7–9 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.”

Caleb wholly followed the Lord. He put his heart into serving God. Whatever we do, we should do with all our might.

Now comes the whining, “were to busy, gotta take the kids to practice, I didn’t sleep well..........Bla-Bla-Bla. Sound familiar?

D. Do we really like to have Determination for anything? Are we just wanting to “play it safe?”

yesterday on FB, there was a Knights of Columbus in Texas, they give a FAMILY of the year award. This year it went to a family I know, It all started with the GRANDPARENTS. Their commitment to the community, to their children, grandchildren, etc—

Eccles. 12:1. Don’t be like Solomon, who “lost out” with God. God gave him everything! He had money, fame, and intelligence, but he did not include God in his all his plans. Don’t waste your life! Give it to God!

III. Are you taking a few moments each morning to EXAMINE YOUR LOVE for others? Isn’t that just a pain some days? We really don’t have the time, or the feeling to love someone that day do we?

A. Do we focus each morning to begin the new day by focusing on Jesus Christ? We are told to in scripture over and over:

Matthew 22:37–39 “37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Loving God with all that is within us. Loving God will help us love others. It will also help us to put Him first in our life.

B. What is our present outlook on our church? Do you badmouth the worship? Do you whisper about the Pastor? Do you chat about what time we start or what time we finish? What about ????????? Church...

Hebrews 10:24–26 “24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Each time we miss church on a Sunday or we asking someone to church when the Holy Spirit prompts you to ask, LISTEN CHURCH..... we cast a vote to close it. Sound familiar in this society we live in?

C. What about our Christian attitude concerning love?—

We hear this in wedding vows don’t we? How many abide by this scripture? Real love is kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 “4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;”

It forgets the mistakes and failures of others. We need to fellowship with Christ and other Christians

D. Compassion—Jer. 20:9. Despite suffering, Jeremiah could not keep quiet. He kept telling others about the goodness of God.

So........now comes the work which results in the progress and blessings which = growth. Like that diet I mentioned earlier.

IV. You must be EXAMINING YOUR LEARNING DAILY TO BE GROWING IN THE Lord.

Note Jesus’ words, Matthew 11:29 “29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In closing this morning.

A. WORK HARD Ecclesiastes 9:10 “10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. A good Christian will work hard. He will also work hard for God.

B. Worship HARD...—John 4:24 “24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”. Worship God in spirit and truth.”

C. We must commit to do God’s Will daily, not just on Sunday mornings.

Psalm 143:10 “10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Not only finding or seeking or desiring His will, but doing it. God blesses those who do His will.

1 John 2:17 “17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

AMEN