SELF EXAMINATION

Subject: SELF EXAMINATION Gene Sullivan


THE "HOW TO’S" OF EXAMINING YOURSELF TO SEE IS YOU ARE CURRENTLY WALKING IN
FAITH!

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Ingratitude.....is a symtom of the times God has answered prayer that I have
not recognized or remembered as having asked for, many times. Loving God- (Mt
22:40, Jn 3:20-21) Is your heart divided toward your heavenly father? How
many times do you make plans without asking or clearing them through him? How
much of your free time is given to his service? How much of your thought life
is on Him, or do you think of other things, people, self recreation, you want
to enjoy? Would you make plans apart from your family- Your Wife- Your
Husband- Your Parents? Is your thought life, your inner man life "Private"?
If you honestly have to say yes to any of these, YOU SHOW A DIVIDED HEART-AND
IMPURE LOVE- in some cases, AN ADULTEROUS HEART- A HEART LOVING AND SERVING
THE SPIRIT OF SELF AND THE WORLD. (One who loves God-delights in his
commandments. Ps 119:35 If you loved God you would do his commandments. Jn
14:15 & 14:21- By thinking the law is unjust, hard & an unfair requirement
for many to do, from God- proves a heart with little or no love. Agreeing
with God against self proves love!)

NEGLECT OF THE WORD '- How much of your day to day life keeps you in the word
for understanding, direction, and conformation? Do you only read when you are
asking God for something or in need or is his word your daily food? If not,
it's because your not walking in the Spirit. The Spirit and the Word are one.
If there's not any Spiritual activity going on in you, you won't be in the
word :

UNBELIEF- As Christians, we are called Believers, and called to believe- yet,
truthfully, we are in unbelief as much, if not more than in Faith- we are
surrounded by doubt on every side. Our biggest doubt is always in our own
experience and life with God. Will He see me through this thing, does He have
a plan? Or am I making something up? The Prophecy that was spoken to me, was
it truly from God? The things that are happening to me now, are they from
God? Are they for my good or as a result from Disobedience somewhere? Is my
Lord pleased with me when He looks upon my heart? Or is He grieved? Have I
done what He's shown me to do- whether it regards a duty, action of
performance, change of mind or attitude, prayer and love?

Have I obeyed? Am I actively in Faith for His attention, for his favor? Do I
know? Am I convinced, that what-He has promised, what is in His word, what he
has called me to ...... HE WILL PERFORM!? If not- I'm in doubt, unbelief!


NEGLECT OF PRAYER- Neglecting to talk to our Father. How much less of a child
could be said, than of a blatant disregard of Love, then not to communicate
to the ones who love Him- To arise in the morning- eat food prepared by a
loving parent- leave the house to come home later that night, eat dinner, go
on to bed- never saying a word- No Gratitude- no sharing of experience, no
asking of any questions. One in this state would be considered an infidel.
Yet, one might say, "I think of God continually. He's always on my mind. I
don't do anything, but what I don I t wonder about how he f eels. 11 But we
never take time out to pray or talk to Him personally about anything. "HE
KNOWS MY HEART" we say, confidently- fact is, WE ARE REBELLIOUS, SELF
ASSERTING, INDEPENDENT CHILDREN! The holy Word says- "His thoughts are
continually towards the Righteous".

"THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS- HIS EARS OPEN TO THEIR CRY".
Our relationship to our Father should be continual- we should include Him in
everything we do- not just for His permission, but for His pleasure. How can
we say we believe in God, if with God we have no relationship? Prayer is our
relationship with Him. How many times when you are talking to God, if He
would interrupt you in the middle of a sentence, and say, "would you mind
repeating your last statement, I missed it." Would it shock you to realize
that He really is listening to you? How many times in the course of your
praying, have you either been interrupted, by an impulse or someone, or a
thought of a duty, and just left off what you were saying, and got involved
with something else? Do you see that what you have done is left Gods
presence, left the throne room in the middle of a sentence, left God without
excusing yourself, showing an absolute disregard for is person- His holiness,
His Authority, and His Relationship- I dare say, if you did this to your
employer or your family or friends- they would avoid you like the plague. How
much more should we esteem our Heavenly Father, than our carnal
relationships- yet we respect Man more than the blessed creator.

PRAYER- Above all things, IS A RELATIONSHIP. A true Man of prayer will be a
man of relationships- How can a man say He loves, (worships), (knows) , God-
and doesn’t walk in love- or even have care, and show concern, relationships
with his brothers? If a man truly loves God, He will love Gods people. This
means more than just "Lip Service" "I love you brother- you've got 15
minutes"!The man who preaches an hour and a half at Gods people who won't
give equal time or more if needed to minister to them', or just be there to
encourage them by a handshake or a "God BLESS"- is NO MAN OF GOD!- This is a
selfish, egotistical, Pharisee, who thinks he's Gods gift to the body. 01
that mens hearts would be filled with Gods encouraging love, longsuffering,
and patience for His weaker Saints- a man of prayer, is a man 7who has been
imparted to by God, His character, His love, compassion, mercy, His
sternness, discipline, and truth. LACK OF PRAYER CREATES A HIDDEN HEART-
People who won't open up to people. Darkness in our hearts closes us to God
in prayer! Every devil in Hell is against you opening up .... and telling The
Father of Light, the hidden secret's of your heart and thoughts!! Once they
are exposed to the light in prayer, God's grace comes to enlighten you, and
encourages you to be open always, as a way of life!! Prayer opens the door of
your heart to receive God's manifold Wisdom and Under- standing!! HOW GREATLY
WE NEED THIS!. RESOLVE IN YOUR HEART NOW --- THAT YOU WILL NOT GO ONE DAY
WITHOUT THROWING EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY MOTIVE, EVERY DESIRE, INTO GOD-S
GLORIOUS LIGHT FOR HIS APPROVAL, CORRECTION REPROOF, DIRECTION ...
FORGIVENESS AND HEALING, WISDOM, AND HIS DIVINE UNDERSTANDING. DO THIS AND
HIS GLORY AND GRACE WILL REMAIN WITH YOU!! SYMPATHY AND DISHONORING GOD- in
relation to fallen Christians and sinners alike, this is an area of extreme
importance, that we have the Godly perspective of this subject, because of
what WE REFLECT TO OTHERS AS BEING GOD'S ATTITUDES! SHOULD OUR ATTITUDES BE
HIS ATTITUDES?? God's love and mercy is wrapped up in the gift of His Son for
mankind- Jn 3:16 Gods anger, wrath, and displeasure, is toward ALL THOSE
DENYING HIS LOVE AND MERCY! Ps 7:9-11. WE SHOULD NEVER SIDE WITH THE SINNER
OR THE FALLEN SAINT IN SYMPATHY FOR HIS ACTIONS OF OVERT DISREGARD AND
DISOBEDIENCE of Gods manifest love for him. To do this is to take the sinners
position of "it wasn't my fault!

Gods position of "you have walked away from my love!" TO REFLECT A FALSE
ATTITUDE FROM GOD, IS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUILT AWAY FROM THE
SINNER!! THEREBY, ROBBING HIM OF TRUE REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE,

AND CORRESPONDING GRACE FROM GOD TO STAY IN VICTORY! THE FALLEN SAINT AND
SINNER ALIKE, MUST BE MADE TO SEE WHAT GOD'S ATTITUDE IS TOWARD SIN. That is
not something we fall into, it is what we choose, by an act of our own will!
Even the sinner has been given God's truth in His heart, that he must
intelligently disregard truth to remain in his darkened state! Ro 2:14-15, Ro
1:18-20 We can have sympathy upon ones condition, or circumstances, but never
upon the active position of disregard for God, and choice of disobedience, in
their heart! There's a great difference between ones CIRCUMSTANCE, and ones
HEART POSITION!! For them to receive forgiveness and Grace from GOD, THEY
MUST BE MADE TO SEE THEIR OWN HEARTS CONDITION!!!

THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE THIS IF WE REFLECT SYMPATHY to THEIR FALLEN
STATE! THIS IS A FALSE REFLECTION!! IT WILL NEVER BRING CONVICTION WHICH
LEADS TO REPENTANCE!!

GRIEVING THE SPIRIT-THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CONSTANTLY GRIEVED IN MOST CHRISTIANS
LIVES DAILY! Probably the best example of this can be found in Song of S
5:2-6 The Lord says "OPEN TO ME ... MY LOVE" speaking to us His bride, We
are indifferent to Him! We don't want to get up and go to the door. Finally
we are moved we go to the door to open it, HE IS GONE! THERE IS NOTHING THAT
GRIEVES GOD MORE THAN OUR INDIFFERENCE TO HIM- HIS WORD- HIS MESSENGERS, HIS
HANDMAIDENS AND SERVANTS- HIS HOLY SPIRIT! HARD HEARTED, SPIRITUALLY DULL,
ADULTEROUS PEOPLE ARE INDIFFERENT TO ALMIGHTY GODS GENEROUS LOVE. WE WONDER
WHY, IN OUR CHURCHES, THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS TO MOVE, BUT IN A SHORT TIME HE
IS GONE! THERE IS NO BROKENESS IN THE CONGREGATION- THEY FEEL HIS PRESENCE
AND REACT CARNALLY AND RUN HIM OFF ... EVERY TIME! They will not allow Him to
do a deeper work in them! Their hearts are set on

"mirth, joy and laughter, not on being broken, mourning and groaning because
of sinful practices and divided hearts in need of MAJOR OVERHAULS. The truth
is, "God is near to those poor in spirit, a broken and contrite heart He will
not despise. 11 Ps 50:17 69:33, Is 57:15, "God will dwell (remain with) the
contrite and humble spirit" vs. 16-17 "God will not contend with the froward
forever." He will hide HIMSELF FROM SUCH AND LET HIM GO ON HIS WAY!'

WHO WILL BRING CONVICTION TO YOU, AFTER_ YOU HAVE GRIEVED THE SPIRIT OF LIFE
AWAY?? HOW WILL THE TRUTH EVER COME TO YOU AGAIN?? SEEK THE HOUSE OF
MOURNING, LOOK FOR THOSE OF A SOLEMN SPIRIT IN CHRIST, POUR OUT YOUR HEART
BEFORE OUR MERCIFUL CREATOR, IF POSSIBLE YOU MAY FIND GRACE AND HE ONCE AGAIN
BREAK YOUR HEART! With out a heart of flesh that's soft and open to His
prompting, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GRIEVE HIM, ALWAYS! IF THIS DOES NOT DEEPLY
AFFLICT US, WE ARE TRULY WICKED!

ONLY A DIVIDED, WICKED HEART, COULD NOT BE TRULY MOVED BY THIS REALIZATION! I
AM AFRAID, THAT MULTITUDES, THAT CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS, FALL INTO THIS
CATEGORY! SELF INDULGENT, RIOTOUS, SEEKERS OF PLEASURES AND MIRACLES, WHO
CANNOT BE BROKEN! "To this man will I look, sayeth God, to him that is poor
and of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at my Word" Is 66:2 Is 57:15. LET
US HEAR THIS AND FEAR! LET US EXAMINE OUR HEARTS BEFORE GOD IN ALL SINCERITY
AND TRUTH, LET US BE FOUND BROKEN-IN LOVE- SOFT- HUMBLE BEFORE OUR REDEEMER,
THAT_HIS KINGDOM MAY COME, HIS WILL WOULD BE DONE, THAT WE MIGHT SHOW HIS
POWER AND GLORY TO A LOST WORLD!!