Self-Examination: Every Man's Duty - AV1611HOUR - Pastor Nelson Turner

Sermon Notes on "Self-Examination: Every Man's Duty" by Pastor Nelson Turner (an exegesis from the King James Bible in prayer that God's word and God's purpose will come forth from the preaching of His word) (copyright 2022 -- All right reserved)

SELF EXAMINATION

KJV 2 Corinthians 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? KJV 2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

KJV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Christianity is uniquely the one true spiritual religion that provides to believers in Jesus Christ the spiritual capacity to see themselves for what they are and see Christ for who he is. Repeatedly throughout the Bible all mankind are admonished to judge themselves, examine themselves and know for themselves what their state is before God. The focus of the Christian is first his own condition, and then once he knows his own condition and the power of Christ’s saving virtue imparted to him by faith he comes to a knowledge of God. The love of God is shed abrod in His heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto him. He esteems the riches of Christ greater than the riches of the world. His affections are set upon things above and not on the things of the earth. His speech is seasoned with salt. His love to God and his fellow man comes from the power of God placed within him, and he esteems others better than himself.

God has given the Christian power to be a son of God and to believe on the name of Jesus Christ. His heart's desire is to be right in all things both great and small. In his sight it is not enough to render an outward, visible obedience to the word of God. He desires a full inward obedience to the movement of the Holy Ghost within him. It is not enough to not steal: the Christian must desire not to steal. It is not enough to not lie: he must not ever purposefully desire to lie to himself or others. It is not enough to not commit adultery: he must not conceive the act in his heart. It is not enough to be kind to others in every interaction: he must be kind and charitable in his thoughts towards others, especially to his brothers and sister in Christ, his spouse and his family. He must owe no man anything, but to love him. It is not enough to depart from the evil without; he must depart from the evil that dwells in his own soul. The evil within must be forsaken, be repented of, and not returned to. Christ desires man to have truth in the inward parts that it may show forth in the outward parts. God’s word is truth, and those that are of the truth humbly submit to the precepts, counsels, commandments, and testimonies of God. The man of God must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness within and renounce the unfruitful works of darkness without. These things are the work of Christ in the heart, mind, and soul of man. These inward works are necessarily manifest in the behavior, words, speech, and life conversation of the truly born again child of God.

Mental assent, the keeping of ordinances and ceremonies, baptism, prayers, and the reading of the Bible cannot save the soul. Only Christ can save the soul. He quickens the sinner to understand and know his state of condemnation, persuades him that he is completely worthy of hell, and then imparts to him a lively faith that empowers the sinner to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. We do well to remember that while Jesus was on the earth the Comforter had not come to dwell in the hearts of the disciples, Christ rebuked them for their unbelief, their desire for vain glory, and their sinful desires. Even the power that he gave them to work miracles they would have misused without his guidance.

KJV Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, KJV Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. KJV Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. KJV Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? KJV Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. KJV Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

So then we find the Apostle John admonishing those gathered together in the name of Christ to “try the spirits, whether they be of God.” This begins by looking inward and discerning what manner of spirit ye are of. You are completely incompetent to judge others if you have not first judged yourselves. If, as a true believer, you judge yourself, you will not be judged with the world. An incapacity to see clearly your own sinful condition and the depravity and utter wickedness of your own heart is and indication that you are not a partaker of the grace of God. You may make fair speeches and hold up a profession of Christ, but without an inward change, a regenerating power, and a faith that produces works, you are doomed to hell. This should not be marvellous to any person. If the Satan could speak through Peter while Christ was on the earth, how much more can a sinner in this day be deceived by their own heart and Satan to think of himself more than he ought. If Christ’s disciples in His very presence could desire to destroy those that would not receive Christ, how much more is it possible for us to be deceived by our own desperately wicked hearts. KJV 2 Corinthians 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?

To be in the faith is to be filled with the Sprit of God, and God is love. If you love God it is because he first loved you. If you have Christ it is because he quickened you to receive him. If you have not Christ you can do nothing. All that we have, both lost and saved, we have received of God. KJV 1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Thus Paul rebuked the vainglorious Corinthians who had a contentious spirt and walked after the flesh. There is no room in a spiritual man for strife, contention, envy, and desire for the world. If ye be Christ’s, your faith will move you to love, for love is of God. Bitterness, clamour and wrath will not be found among you. If you have Christ you have a hope stedfast and sure, anchored within the veil of the tabernacle in heaven. You desire to do well to all men and are possessed of a meek and lowly spirit like your heavenly Master. You lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, worshipping God in spirt and truth. No lie is of the truth, and you know whom you have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which you have committed unto Him until the day of Christ. KJV 1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. You endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ and esteem your light afflictions but dung that you may be found in Him, not having your own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness which is by the faith of Jesus Christ. You are new creatures fill with a new spirit. The fashion of this world is passing away and the lust thereof, but He that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Doing the will of God from the heart is evidence of your setting apart for Himself by the Father in heaven. You show your faith by your works and understand what God said when he declared, “faith without works is dead.” The first work is love, and everything else flows from that.

KJV Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. KJV Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; KJV Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. KJV Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. KJV Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

So then examine yourselves and see what manner of persons ye be. Are you possessed of a meek and gentle spirt which is an ornament of great price in the sight of God? The lawgiver Moses was meek above all men on the face of the earth. Jesus Christ was meek and lowly in heart. Love worketh no ill to it’s neighbor, and charity covereth a multitude of sins. If you would look for wrongs, look for them in yourself. He that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he is judged of no man. Look into your own souls and clearly discern what you see. If you are possessed of the spirt of God, you are filled with love. If you are full of the world, you will be loved of the world, but know that you are hated of God. Jesus came into the world that the world through Him might be saved. Do you know what this means? Are ye of an understanding heart? Do you have within you the first principles of the oracles of God? Are you living to and in the Spirit, or are you living to the flesh?

KJV Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. KJV Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. KJV Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.