July 7, 2011 ~ Bible Study with Sis. Doris Allen

1.  Lamentations 3:40 ~ Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.2 Corinthians 13:5 ~ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Psalm 26:2 ~ Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.

• We must examine ourselves to make sure we are in right standing with God. Examining ourselves means searching the Word & seeking God to ensure that our walk is in line with His will. When we examine ourselves & follow after God & His way of doing things, we become His sons & daughters & we reap the benefits of being His children!

2.  1 Corinthians 11:25-28 ~ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

• Even when receiving the Lord's Supper, we must examine ourselves. If we drink & eat unworthily, we bring upon ourselves God's wrath. If we don't participate because we are in sin, we are still wrong & are subject to chastening by God.

3.  1 Corinthians 3:16-20 ~ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

• The temple of the Holy spirit, our bodies, should be clean. We must examine ourselves to ensure purity. Sacrifice yourself - our bodies are the temples of the holy spirit, therefore we must not put anything in/on us that is not of God - music, conversation, drugs, alcohol, tattoos, etc.

4.  1 Timothy 5:22 ~ Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Philippians 3:13 ~ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

• We must sacrifice being with people who are not saved & doing things we did before we came to the knowledge of the truth! Looking back creates problems because we begin to reminisce - thinking on the old things - rather than thanking God for the change & the future we have in Him. To "look" means to glance; we might think back & say "thank you Lord for deliverance" or "thank God I'm not that old person I once was"! "Looking" means you are thinking back more than you should which will lead to your desiring the past! Press forward to the mark of the higher calling in Christ Jesus. Don't be like Lot's wife! Don't let your past hinder your present & your future. Also, don't be condemned by others who remember your past! In Christ, old things have passed & all things are new! We become new creatures in Him who has saved & delivered us, created in us a clean heart & set us free! Witness with your life & walk because someone is watching your actions despite what you say. Don't blow your testimony & don't be a stumbling block to others.
   
•  Remember, God does not change; He is always the same. Don't be upset with God when things change; we should always examine ourselves.