Examine Yourself

HEART-SEARCHING

For Prayer, Preparation, and Personal Revival

This is not my own, I found this pamphlet at church. Searching the web, I cannot find the original author to credit.

Go through these 25 verses with questions. Confess your sins. Ask God if there is any wicked thing in you, or reveal the sins you do not want to give up. 

Unconditional surrender. Give them up!

Psalm 139:23 - "Search me, O God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Repentance and confession of sin is necessary for fellowship with God, and revival among God's people. Prayerfully, consider the following questions. Go through these questions one by one. Answer truthfully these questions.

In reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Be willing to make it right. Then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness.

Be sure to name your sin to God, as . . . "Lord, I have not put you first in my plans," or "I have neglected your work and prayer." Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. No matter what others do, or do not do, 

Christian, leave nothing undone on your part. God wants to work through you to bring about a great spiritual awakening. He can begin by fulfilling every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His word. A revival from the Presence of the Lord begins today IF you desire it! (Read the Scriptures indicated first. Then read the questions and answer them truthfully. 

 1. Matthew 6:12-14 -  and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.  “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

 Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Anyone you haven't forgiven? Anyone you hate? Anyone you do not love? Are there any misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget? Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment or jealousy? Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?

 2. Matthew 6:33 - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

 Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first? Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God's will? Do any of the following in any way interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money, your own plans?

 4. John 13:35 - Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

 Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another? Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another? Are you guilty of contention or strife? Do you quarrel, argue, or engage in heated discussions? Are you a partaker in any divisions, or party spirit? Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

 5. Acts 20:35 - And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Have you robbed God by withholding His due of time, talents, and money? Have you given less than a tenth of any money you receive for God's work? Do you regularly give at your church? Do you help people who are in need? Do you overlook the poor? Do you have an arrogant attitude towards some people?

 6. Romans 14:21 –  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

 Are you stubborn in wanting your rights? Do you have a defiant attitude when someone has a problem with your appearance, your music, or your activities? Are you willing to give up your rights for the sake of peace…so it is not an offense to someone else?

 7. I Corinthians 4:2 - Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord's work? Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord but doing nothing about it?

 8. I Corinthians 6:19, 20 - Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 Are you in any way careless with your body? Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you have problems with over-eating, under-eating, binge eating, purging? Do you have any habits which are defiling to the body? Do you use illegal drugs? Do you drink? Do you push the limits “sexually”?

 9. I Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about you, rather than give all the glory to God? Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done? Are your statements mostly about "I"? Are your feelings easily hurt? Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not?

 10. Ephesians 3:20 - Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

 Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious? Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should in serving God?

 11. Ephesians 4:28 - If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

 Do you cheat? Do you steal? Are you really honest? Do you owe money to someone and refuse to pay it back on time? Do you shoplift? Do you borrow things without permission? Are you generous with your possessions?

 12. Ephesians 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

 Do you complain? Do you find fault? Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or thing? Are you irritable or cranky? Do you ever carry hidden anger? Do you get angry? Do you become impatient with others? Are you ever harsh or unkind? Do you ever post unkind things on the internet?

 13. Ephesians 5:16 - Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

 Do you listen to unedifying music that glorifies sex and/or violence? Is your music God-honoring? What about watching TV shows that flaunt values that are displeasing to God? Do you read unworthy magazines? Do you partake in worldly amusements? Do you go to the wrong kinds of movies? Do you go to the wrong kinds of chat rooms? Are you doing certain things that show that you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you wasting your time with too much TV, gaming, or time on the computer?

 14. Ephesians 5:20 - And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Have you neglected to thank Him for all things, the seemingly bad as well as the good? Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word? Do you worry? Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God's Word? Do you thank God for the blessings despite the difficulties? Do you thank God for your parents? Family? School? Church?

 15. Philippians 1:21 - For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

 Are you taken up with the cares of this life? Is your conversation or heart joy over "things" rather than the Lord and His Word? Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing Christ?

 16. Philippians 2:14 - Do everything without complaining and arguing,

 Do you ever by word or deed seek to hurt someone? Do you gossip? Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present? Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different groups than yours, or because they do not see everything exactly like you?

 17. Philippians 4:4 - Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

 Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things? Do you carry any bitterness toward God? Have you complained against Him in any way? Have you been dissatisfied with His provisions for you? Is there in your heart any unwillingness to obey God fully? Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His will? Have you disobeyed some direct leading from Him?

 18. Colossians 3:9 - Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

 Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation? Do you ever lie? Do you exaggerate? Steal? Do you cheat on tests, or reading assignments? Do you copy from others? Plagiarize from someone else’s work?

 19. II Timothy 2:22 - Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

 Do you have any personal habits that are not pure? Do you allow impure thoughts about another person to stay in your mind? Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things? Do you indulge in any unclean entertainment? Are you looking at pornography? Are you guilty of the lustful look?

 20. Hebrews 10:25 – And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

 Do you regularly attend church? Are you allowing school work and activities to keep you away from youth group? Are you listening in church and engaged in what is happening? Do you sit in the far back? Do you try to meet other people in your church family? Do you engage in conversations with older people? With children? Are you faithful? If your church helped send you on a mission trip, did you thank them? Are you developing a sense of thankfulness and loyalty to your church family?

 21. Hebrews 12:3 – 4 – Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[a] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

 Are you teachable and willing to resist temptation? Do you want to overcome the problems you’re facing? Are you willing to obey God---no matter how difficult it is?

 22. Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

 Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church? To parents? To teachers? To youth leaders? Are you lazy? Do you in any way have a stubborn or unteachable spirit? Do you have a good attitude when asked to do some work?

 23. James 1:27 - Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

 Have you allowed yourself to become spotted by the world? Is your manner of dress pleasing to God? Do you spend beyond what is pleasing to God on anything? Do you neglect to pray about things that you buy?

 24. James 4:6 - And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

 Do you feel that you are doing quite well as a Christian? That you are not so bad and God is lucky to have you? That you are good enough? Do you insist on having your own way? Do you insist on your "rights"? If people don’t notice you, do you get hurt? Is life all about you? 

 25. James 4:11 -  Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

 Have you dishonored Him and hindered His work by criticizing His servants? Have you failed to pray regularly for your pastor, other spiritual leaders, your parents, your friends? Do you find it hard not to gossip? Are you more concerned about what people will think than what will be pleasing to God? If you disagree with a rule, do you become sinful in your reaction?

 If you have been honest and true in the matter of admitting your sins, then you are ready for God's cleansing. Sins that are admitted are sins that are confessed.

Remember these three things:

1) If the sin is against God, confess it to God, and make things right with God.

2) If the sin is against another person, confess it to God, and make things right with the other one.

3) If the sin is against a group, confess it to God, and make it right with the group.

If there is a full confession, there will be full cleansing.

The joy of the lord will follow. Then there can be testimony and prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Revival will follow.