Open Heavens Devotional March 12 2021 – Examine Yourself

MEMORY VERSE:

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fa ll.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

BIBLE READING: John 9:39-41

39• And Jesus said, For judgment I Am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40• And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

41• Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

A. 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? 2 Corinthians 13:5

1• Many people only consider Matthew 7:16-20 in relation to others.

2• Matthew 7:16-20 says. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

3• A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

4• They assess the fruits others are producing but forget to assess theirs.

5• Salvation is on an individual basis and not congregational. 6• You need to ask yourself some serious questions to know if you are on your way to Heaven or hell.

7• Don’t be surprised to know that many people who are in the Church, fervent and tongue-speaking will go to hell.

B. In fact, Matthew 7:22-23 says “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’

1• And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

2• Some who have been performing miracles will end up in hell.

3• Thus, you really need to examine yourself to be sure where you are headed.

4• Ask yourself: Am I saved? Am I born again?

5• Note that I am not telling you to ask yourself “Do I go to Church? Do people say I am born again? Am I a Pastor?”

6• The real number 1 question is “Am I saved?

7• Are the fruits I am producing the kind that should be produced by someone who is saved?”

8• The word of God says it clearly: except you are born again, t you shall not see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

C. We now live in a world where there are all manner of people calling themselves ‘BORN-AGAIN’ CHRISTIANS.

1• There are ”BORN-AGAIN’ ‘ ROBBERS.

2• They lift up ‘holy’ hands on Sunday, but on Monday morning, they use those hands to doctor figures in the office. 3• Examine yourself: are you one of ·, them?

4• There are ‘BORN-AGAIN’ HARLOTS, very fervent in the Church, but behind closed doors, they sleep with people who are not their spouses and engage in all other sorts of sexual immorality.

5• Examine yourself.

There are ”BORN-AGAIN’ ‘ LIARS;

6• They know how to brandish lies so well that by the time they are done you may not even be able to differentiate between the truth and lies. Examine yourself.

D. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,

1• Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:1 2

2• Carry out a sincere examination on yourself with fear and trembling-

3• FEAR for the destruction that awaits anyone who is not truly saved and

4• TREMBLING at imagining yourself standing before God on judgement day.

Examine yourself: are you truly ‘BORN-AGAIN’ ? Or are you Just putting up appearances?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 20-22

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!