Testimonials
"I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people." Psalms 35:18
"Praise the Lord for His work in and through you!!! We are enjoying and growing in the "Soldiers of the Sanctuary" series..."
- Constance, Tennessee
"Calvery greetings may reach to you as many as the sea sand. Thank you very much Pr. John Skeete. On behalf of the Fiwagoh Mission Oprhanage Ministries, I thank Our God for this great blessing He sent to us through you and the Sanctuary lessons. They were amazing and we are teaching other pupils and even church members. We will continue to pray for you and your wife and the whole ministry..."
- Joshua, Nairobi Kenya "Thank you for your good work. I will be praying for your progress..."
- Samuel, Nairobi Kenya "Meeting the needs of body, mind, and spirit is so important in these days with diseases, drugs and immorality pounding the human species. I am thankful you are doing your part to make a positive difference..."
- Sylvia, Michigan
"I really appreciate what you all were able to do to help me, may God continue to bless you..."
- Tee, California
"Thank you so much. Power packed presentation. I learned so much. What I will focus on is to die to self daily. I want Jesus & God to be King of my life, my heart, my mind...I need to get His character, seek His face, so it may reflect in me...All glory to the Lamb & to the Father! And thank you for all your diligent study! Keep shining & showing His character!
- Theresa, Wisconsin
Examine Yourselves
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2Cor. 13:5
The word examine in the Greek is 3985 pirad’zo and means to test (objectively), endeavor, scrutinize, prove, try.
When you examine something that you want to purchase for example, you are going to take a very close look at it, observing it from every angle; you will inspect and scrutinize it carefully, no doubt. If able, you would even test it for its strength, to see if it proves to do what it is claiming it can do, and you are hoping it can do. And this is what we are to do with our own selves, as the Bible says. We need to “closely criticize the temper, the disposition, the thoughts, words, inclinations, purposes, and deeds.” (1SM89)
We are often quick to criticize others, while not criticizing ourselves, because we rarely spend the time looking at ourselves under the microscope. However, if we were more critical of ourselves, we would be less critical of others. Why is that? We would see our defects standing out so clearly in contrast to the character of Christ, that we would tremble in spirit to even speak of someone else’s faults.
One of the best ways to examine yourself is through prayer. In Psalms 139:23, 24, David asked God to “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Once we closely scrutinize ourselves from every angle to discover what we are really made of, then we like David should ask the Lord to search us; which from the Hebrew 2731 chaqar means to penetrate; hence to examine intimately. After we examine ourselves we are now to allow the Lord to penetrate deeply into our hearts to really “know” it, unlike we think we know it, so He can reveal to us where we need a change in our experience. Then we are to allow Him to try us. This word try comes from the Hebrew 974 bachan and means to test (especially metals); to investigate. What are we to allow Him to know and test? Our hearts, thoughts, and ways.
Our hearts in the Bible often means the mind and in some cases the feelings. In this text the word for heart in the Hebrew 3824 lebab says, the heart (as the most interior organ), used also like 3820, bethink themselves, mind, understanding. The Bible says in Psalms 26:2 “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” The use of the word heart here in the Hebrew 3820 leb says, the heart; also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect. In this text the idea is the same as in Psa. 139:23, however, this text gives us a little bit more insight into what God is specifically examining.
The word thoughts in the Hebrew 8312 sar`aph says cogitation. The dictionary definition is, 1. concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation. 2. The faculty of thinking. 3. A thought; design or plan. So the Lord is intimately examining what we are thinking, what we commonly reflect upon, what we use our mind to meditate on, or what we contemplate. These all reveal who we really are, what our motives are, and what are minds most especially love to dwell upon; Him, self, or the world. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."
Therefore, when you begin to examine yourself, take a close look at what your mind gravitates to in the evening when you lay down to sleep, and in the morning when you first awake. And take note of what comes out of your mouth, because the Bible also says in Matthew 12:34, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Are you waking with praise on your heart to your Savior for His goodness for keeping you through the night? Are you speaking to Him about what you can do for Him on this day? Are you speaking to Him about becoming a partaker of His Divine nature, that you may vindicate His name this day? Or do you find yourself meditating upon your spouse that is lying next to you, or your children, or maybe even your job and co-workers? Perhaps you awake finding yourself as burdened as you were when you went to bed the night before. Or you are contemplating how you are going to make more money today than you did yesterday. We should become very familiar with what our minds are dwelling upon during the day. A lot of what our minds dwell upon, has to do with the environment that surrounds us, and what we set before us, what we are viewing on television, the internet, or our smart phones?
The heart and mind are the two centers from which our ideals of life are made up, and through which our behavior and actions flow. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Our way, which God is examining, in the Hebrew 1870 derek is a road, a course of life or mode of action. Proverbs 4:26 tells us to “Ponder the paths of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”
This text also says He is searching to see if there be any wicked way in me. The word wicked in the Hebrew is 6090 `otseb, and means idol (as fashioned) also pain (bodily or mental); idol, sorrow wicked.
An idol is anything that is adored or set above the Creator. However, pain derived from the body or mind would not be looked upon as something wicked. But the Bible brings out various texts to bear this out. Psalms 42:11 talks about being cast down. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?” The word cast down, or down in the Hebrew 7817 shachach is to sink or depress.
Despondency is a state of depression of spirit from either internal or external factors. It reveals a lack of faith in God, and reliance upon self. As Christians we are to trust God with our life, and leave all things in His hands. The last half of Psalms 42:11 says, “Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” If we have consecrated ourselves to Him. then whatever comes our way we know He has allowed, and we therefore, should not let it get us down, angry, or bitter.
Anger and bitterness are (wicked) emotions that derive from the heart as Hebrews 12:15 reveals; “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Most cases of cancer can be traced to harboring anger or bitterness, or to emotional depression. We need to let these thoughts and feelings go! If while examining yourself you discover you have been holding on to negative (wicked) emotions, confess and repent, and turn them over to the Lord at once. The body and mind are partners, working in cooperation with the other. Your physical pain may be the direct result of your mental pain or depression.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." 2Cor. 13:5
And after you have done so, pray to the Lord as did David, "...For thy names sake lead me, and guide me." Psalms 31:3
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