Examining Yourself

So Far… Who Are You? What Are You? Made in the very image of God, you have been given life and told, as a Christian, you are salt and light, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, the temple of God What Are You? You are a child and servant of God and all that entails…your time, your efforts on His behalf, the entirety of every minute of every day of the life God gives you.

WhEN Are You?

2019

2019

“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us.” Ecclesiastes 1:9,10

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Projects (2:4-6) Amusement (2:2) Stimulation (2:3) “I said of laughter, It is madness, and with pleasure, what does it accomplish?” Stimulation (2:3) “I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely.” Projects (2:4-6) “I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and orchards for myself; and I planted all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself…”

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Entertainment (2:8) Sex (2:8) Possessions (2:7) “I bought male and female slaves, and had home born slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.” Collections (2:8) “Also I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and provinces.” Entertainment (2:8) “I provided for myself male and female singers…” Sex (2:8) “I provided for myself…the pleasures of men—many concubines.”

Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.”

“All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.” Ecclesiastes 3:20 “All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few.”

Ecclesiastes 5:3 “For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool's voice is known by his many words.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed- better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

Ecclesiastes 5:6 “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?”

Ecclesiastes 5:7 “For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity; but fear God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:15 “As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand.”

Ecclesiastes 6:12 “For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.”

Ecclesiastes 7:29 “Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

Ecclesiastes 8:5 “He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.”

Ecclesiastes 8:6 “Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, though the misery of man increases greatly.”

Ecclesiastes 8:7 “For he does not know what will happen; so who can tell him when it will occur?”

will not deliver those who are Ecclesiastes 8:8 “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.”

How Will You Die? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned and saw under the sun that-the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:12 “For man also does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”

TIME AND CHANCE

“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

Matthew 4:1-11

“Do not love the world or the things in the world “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

“For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16,17

The Temptation of Jesus The Lust of the Flesh: “Command that these stones become bread so you can eat.” (vs.3,4) The Pride of Life: “Throw Yourself down, God has promised to protect You.” (vs.5-7) The Lust of the Eyes: “All these things I will give You if You will worship me. (vs.8-10)

Busy… Being Under Satan’s Yoke

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33,34

Matthew 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Matthew 16:22 “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Matthew 16:23 “But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

“You believe that there is one God. You do well “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!” James 2:19

“Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him “Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly.” John 13:27

Pawns of Satan

The strong likelihood is that some will be deceived. Be Not Deceived! The strong likelihood is that some will be deceived. Deception based on a misconception of our God and His teachings. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9,10

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

1 Corinthians 10:11,12 “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

James 4:7,8 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Shining as Lights in the World

Examining Yourself