Self-examination - Part 1 - Psalm 105:1-4

On June 13, at our outdoor service, pastor Ken began a new mini-series on questions we must ask ourselves for proper self-examination. Today are questions 1 and 2 ...

Q1 - Do you truly seek God with all your heart? (Psalm 105:4) Repentance, turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14) Seeking God’s face. Recognizing our own sin. Worship, look to him. Let’s not just assume that we seek after God with all our heart. Three specific ways we are called to seek God:

a. With all our heart represents a single focus (Psalm 105:1), no competition of other affections in our life, seek God’s face is to seek his presence, left our first love (Revelation 2:4), our love of Jesus can fade and transform into works – busy serving Jesus without true affection,

b. With all your heart represents a covenant relationship (Psalm 105:2), “all of his wonderful works” among his people, all his faithfulness to us, constantly in his presence, not just in a 10-minute devotional time, checking off our task list,

c. With all your heart focuses on his name (Psalm 105:3), name represents his character and nature, drawn to him observing his greatness, manifested in the face of Christ, not seeking out of routine or participation, drawn to his beauty and majesty, seeking God alone (Thomas a’Kempis)

Q2 - Which best defines your life? Striving to be “like Christ” or “in Christ”? (2 Corinthians 5:17) We will never fully be like Christ until we’re with him. Our status – we are a new creation, right with God, brand new in Christ, not partially new, defined by status rather than striving. Seven facts of a life living in Christ…

1. New Creation – the purpose of the cross.
2. Our sin debt is cancelled – our brokenness caused by sin has been restored.
3. Christ’s righteousness has been substituted for our own failed attempts to be right with God.
4. Our faith… in the work of Christ. Faith placed in him, not a righteousness of our own.
5. Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is in us transforming us.
6. The lordship of Christ over our life – we live for him, our ultimate affection – living in response to him.
7. Our hearts surrendered to his love – that keeps us surrendering every day.