PUT YOURSELF TO THE TEST



Text: I Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.



Intro: We should not wait until we are in the presence of the elements with the church gathered to take the Lord’s supper, before we begin the examination of ourselves. Our testing should be a continual process with every move put to the test.



This is not speaking of an introspective examination of the mind by the mind, for we possess an uncanny ability to find approval in our own minds of all that we are and do.
This speaks of testing oneself by putting into actions the things known, by the word, to be right.





It is not enough to dwell in a spiritual ‘Walter Mitty’ dream world where we imagine ourselves to be spiritual giants, we must Be spiritual MEN. It is not a matter of how brave a soldier is in his mind, or boasts before the battle; the test is, how well does he stand before the enemy?





The challenge of the day is to every child of God to test himself and PROVE himself by the doing of the will of God.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
To will is easy - can you pass the test of doing?



I The test of discipleship
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?



A. Peter wanted to be true to Christ but couldn’t, until he got a stubborn, loudmouthed fisherman out of the way. Only then could he pass the test.



B. Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
The young man’s desire was not great enough to pass the test of material versus spiritual. Many still are willing to give up a bridal relationship with the Lord for job, fame, or fun.



C. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
By putting our bodies (lives) into the Lord’s service, we not only meet the test, but also we prove that the will of God is;



1. Good - When we present ourselves in purity to Him, His will proves to be pure. He requires on deceit, sin, etch. In his service
Rom 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.



2. Acceptable (Well-pleased.) You may give SOME time, money, effort and still be miserable. When you give yourself, you and God will both be pleased.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.



I Cor 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;


2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.


3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;


4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.


5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.





3. Perfect - lacking nothing. Present logical service; God doesn’t ask for 100% of our time, money or effort, but he holds back nothing from us.


D. Real discipleship is a manifestation of Divine power - Prove it!


II Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
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?



E. We should be our own most severe critics
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.



II We need to meet the test of stewardship
II Cor 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.



Ananais and Sapphira willed, but didn‘t do! When we pass the test, we will prove God also.


Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.



III Only through Christ are we qualified to even take the test.
A. In Salvation - we must meet God’s standard.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.



Jno 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.



B. In service - ‘a’ church isn’t enough. Is it HIS church? Can it pass the test as to origin, doctrine and practice?
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.



Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.



Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.



C. When you put last year to the test, how much comes through that will count in eternity?
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:



What about 2009? You wouldn’t want to spend eternity without Christ - then don’t waste the time he has given you to prepare!
II Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)



Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.