Sunday, January 10, 2021

Your Spiritual Check-Up List

[Feel free to print this post]

Real Christians put all their hope, faith, trust, and future upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Do you believe and trust for your full salvation from Jesus Christ alone?

Real Christians forgive those who hurt them and have hurt them. Take a moment to pray, and forgive those you are holding grudges against.

Did the Bible live in me today? Am I living with a Bible mindset or am I living worldly? Real Christians live out the Bible.

Real Christians pray everyday. What is state of my prayer life? Am I praying everyday? And do I enjoy it?

Prayer is oxygen to the Christian. Learn techniques to pray effectively and develop a pattern of practice. As you mature, add in weekly times of fasting.

Real Christians read the Bible everyday.Am I reading the word & feasting on it?

The Bible is our daily bread, we need the words of God to strengthen us in this broken world. Set aside time each day to read a chapter or several, and study them carefully.

Real Christians tithe 10% and give offerings regularly. Do I tithe, or am I stealing from God?

Tithing as a general principle is that you give 10% of your income back to God. 10% is the minimum, but the New Testament standard is to give all, so begin to give more as you are led by God to do so. Give where you are fed, give to your church. Also give offerings as you feel led, for other ministries and for world missions.

Real Christians evangelize the lost. When is the last time you shared the gospel? Share the gospel with someone new today.

Evangelize to the lost - this means to share the gospel, your testimony, and encouragement with others throughout the week. Find ways to make it happen! The souls of lost humanity hang in the balance.

Real Christians practice sabbath. Are you spending the Lord’s day resting and seeking the Lord? Rest is a gift from God.

We are no longer under the Old Testament law of Moses. But the sabbath rest is still an important teaching from God.  We should be taking one day a week to rest, seek God, and abstain from work.

Real Christians practice purity of life. Are there sins in my life? Am I in need of repentance? Pray for the Lord’s help to be free from sin. Begin a fast if you are trapped and cry out to God for deliverance.

Real Christians meet the needs of fellow Christians. Are you providing food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, visiting the sick and prisoner, and befriending those who have no friends?

There are various ways to care for the poor. Food pantries, soup kitchens, visiting shut-ins, giving out clothing, visiting those in jail, homeless shelters, and giving out water to those on the streets. These are express commands in scripture from Matthew 25:31-46.

Real Christians do not forsake gathering together. Are you gathering with the church regularly? Are you attending church every Sunday?

Real Christians serve in various church ministries. Are you serving actively in your church? Talk to your pastor about serving in a ministry.

Serving in the church is an effective way to minister to those of the body of Christ.  Don't be part of the dreaded "80-20 rule" which says "20% of the people do 80% of the work."  Don't be a martyr either, but please do serve.  Ask to speak to your pastor or a lay-leader one on one and ask about how to get involved or how to start a new ministry. 

Do you really love God & people genuinely? Take time today to love.

So those are some simple basics for Christians to understand how to live.  But I want to now direct your attention to some questions put together by one of my heroes of the faith, John Wesley.  He really pioneered what we now today call the small group.  And in his small groups they would help hold each other accountable, by asking one another these questions.  They are printed on the back of your spiritual check up list.  Let’s take a look at some of these.

John Wesley’s 21 Questions

1.Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2.Am I honest in all my acts & words, or do I exaggerate?

3.Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?

4.Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

5.Am I self‐conscious, self‐pitying, or self‐justifying?

6.Did the Bible live in me today?

7.Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

8.Am I enjoying prayer?

9.When did I last speak to someone about my faith?

10. Do I pray about the money I spend?

11. Do I get to bed on time & get up on time?

12. Do I disobey God in anything?

13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

16. How do I spend my spare time?

17. Am I proud?

18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?

19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward, or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?

20. Do I grumble & complain constantly?

21. Is Christ real to me?