the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13: 5-7 examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith test yourselves do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified but I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified now I pray to God that you do no evil not that we should appear a approved but that you should do what is Honorable though we may seem disqualified the word of God calls us to examine test and evaluate ourselves to see whether we are in the faith so what
does it mean to be in the faith do you get to heaven because you simply state that you're a Christian and you are in the faith why no if you remember in the Book of Matthew Jesus said not every one who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven I believe that we have to test and examine ourselves against the word of God and that is what reveals the will of God Jesus said everyone who simply says Lord
Lord will not get into heaven so that means you can shout about Christianity and not get to heaven you you can go to church as many times as you like and still miss Heaven Jesus said it's the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven so dear listener examine yourself are you doing God's will now I want to read to you a few passages of scripture that should serve us all as a warning about pursuing ungodly sinful appetite Romans 1:24 says therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts
to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies amongst themselves a different translation says God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts now if you read Romans 1:26 the Bible says for this reason God gave them a up to dishonorable passions for their women exchange natural relations for those that are contrary to Nature and if you move on to Romans 1 28-35 the Bible says and since they did not see fit to acknowledge God God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done they were
filled with all manner of unrighteousness evil covetousness malice they are full of Envy murder Strife deceit maliciousness they are gossips slanderers haters of God insolent huy boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents foolish faithless heartless ruthless though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them so on three occasions the Bible says these four words God gave them up be warned that if you are persistent in entertaining that appetite for sin if you choose to reject God and
don't repent there are consequences Saints let us starve any and every desire for sin we have let us have an appetite for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Alone Satan is after your heart and our own sinful flesh wants to attack and fill our hearts with sin when we're having a hard day or going through tough times it can be easy for our hearts to drift away Proverbs 423 says keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the Springs of Life all of our thoughts actions and attitudes are determined by the contents of our
hearts depending on what's in your heart we have the power to speak either life or death to those around us that's why it's so important to guard our hearts even a trace of impurity can have grave consequences Psalms 51:10 says create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right Spirit Within Me David wrote this Psalm after committing one of the most wicked acts of his life he had committed adultery with ba Sheba plotted the murder of her husband and attempted to cover it up in a dishonest way when Nathan revealed his sin
to him he immediately repented in this Psalm David Cries Out create in me a clean heart and you can almost hear the desperation in David's voice David didn't deny the wickedness that lurked in his heart he simply humbled himself and pleaded with God to give him a new one Matthew 5:8 says blessed are the the pure in heart for they shall see God our reward for a pure heart is a close and fruitful relationship with the Lord that's worth far more than any pleasure we could get from living in sin and impurity the promise of
one day seeing God face to face communicating with him and enjoying him forever that's what should motivate us to faithful obedience now let us pray father I pray for each and every person under the sound of my voice may we find our ultimate fulfillment in your presence and in your presence alone may we find spiritual and emotional nourishment in your presence father in all that we do King Jesus let our appetite be known to you more to walk with you and abide in you let us be hungry for the one who is the bread of
life let us thirst for the one who has Living Waters father may I be a believer who is filled with the word may I only find nourishment and fulfillment in you King Jesus 1 Peter 2 1 through3 says so put away all malice and all dis deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good create in me a clean heart renew in me a right spirit I know that such
a heart is pleasing to you you more than sacrifices or good works you desire a heart that is broken over sin and one that humbly seeks your forgiveness Psalms 119:9 says how can a young man keep his way pure by guarding it according to your word Lord give me Grace to make my way pure before your sight whenever I think impure thoughts and whenever sinful desires start creeping in give me strength King Jesus to resist the devil I pray that you would have mercy on me in this world I'm surrounded by Temptation there are so
many polluting influences that threaten to infiltrate my heart each and every day so Lord help me to guard my heart help me to fill my heart with your word help me to be vigilant again against every force of evil and every cunning lie of man help me to be in the world but not of it help me to be in this world but not to love it Empower me to be a strong Godly influence in this world rather than for me to be influenced by this world help me to be salt in this earth help
me to be a light in the darkness guiding my friends and my family and Neighbors and strangers alike to the Glorious cross your word calls me in Philippians 4:8 to say finally Brothers whatever is true whatever is Honorable whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is commendable if there is any Excellence if there is anything worthy of Praise think about these things Lord I pray that I would not be a sponge that absorbs all the filth of this world no instead let me be like a mirror reflecting your goodness for all to
see thank you master for hearing this prayer may your name be blessed and honored Forever More in Jesus name I pray amen examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith test yourselves do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified but I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified now I pray to God that you do no evil not that we should appear approved but that you should do what is Honorable though we may seem disqualified and since they did not see fit to
acknowledge God God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness evil covetousness malice they are full of Envy murder Strife deceit maliciousness they are gossips slanderers haters of God insolent huy boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents foolish faithless heartless ruthless though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the Springs of Life
blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God so put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn infants long for for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good finally Brothers whatever is true whatever is Honorable whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is commendable if there is any Excellence if there is anything worthy of Praise think about these things [Music]
