Examine Thyself

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJVS

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?

For some, it may come without saying, the common belief that just because I have the knowledge of my identity as an Israelite I must be in the faith. However, in time and with wisdom one learns that you can be “in the truth” so to speak but not “in the faith.”

Acts 19:1-7 KJVS

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve.

Here we have a situation where a number of about twelve disciples of John the Baptist had some knowledge of the law. And were applying some aspects of the law in their lives based on the contextual understanding. They were in a camp. However, they were not yet baptized, meaning repentant enough. Especially, in order to receive the Holy Spirit. And in their case it was particular information they lacked that Paul was in a place to teach them. And for some of you, it may be the same. You have to remind yourself to study, both independently and formally, through classes and lessons, so you are filling in the vital gaps in your learning that may be leaving you with some blemish or lacking in the spirit. And just because you are in a camp, that doesn’t mean you are getting everything you need to grow adequately.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJVS

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

A key thing we must be aware of, is are we departing from the faith? Are we giving heed and listening to people who are seducing us with doctrines that seem convenient for our lifestyle but do not stand in line with what is sound doctrine according to the scriptures? You can easily find yourself being seduced by Satan, need he arise from your own thoughts and feelings or come in the form of another being; need it be man, woman or child. Who is now luring you away with things that sound good yet are evil. But the root is a lie, or something that would make one a hypocrite according to the scriptures. But you get one scripture and run with it because it seems to fit the narrative. And you can become blinded (again) to the truth because the spirits got you in the chokehold. You can’t breathe in the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom 1:5 KJVA

For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.

If you start going left that Holy Spirit won’t go with you. It left your vessel. Yet, you can’t perceive it. You think you’re still on the path. But because your sins have blinded you, you can’t see you left the path weeks or months ago.

Sirach 19:1 KJVA

A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.

Your so concerned about the big sins you don’t even notice the little bit of leaven that’s been growing over time. Now you’re so puffed up, you think it’s normal. The small sins do you in worse because it’s a gradual falling away. You weren’t correcting the little things and as a result, they grew over time. But because it wasn’t sudden you didn’t react. Like taking a shower and slowly turning up the temperature; you adjusted to it, so much so, now it’s comfortable.

1 Timothy 1:6 KJVS

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

You see, some people have swerved out of the way of righteousness and are now in a place where they are going left and are no longer in line with the right path. Yet, they still have the desire to teach or profess to others how the way in which they are walking is good and just and how you should be walking the same path. Better yet, walk with me on it together. Not knowing they are spewing worthless ramblings. Thinking it’s good as gold. Doesn’t matter the follower count. Need it be great or small.

Matthew 7:13 KJV

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

You forget the path of destruction is broad. Whatever vice or belief you have someone in the truth will co-sign it.

1 Timothy 6:5 KJV

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But now you’re in a place where you think gain is godliness. I got a new job APTTMH (All Praises To The Most High)! I got a new spouse, APTTMH! Increase in members or followers, APTTMH! Forgetting not all blessings are good.

Matthew 4:9 KJV

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Satan will bless you if you’re going left. Because now you are following him. Which makes it even harder to correct you because you seem to be prospering. Remember, Satan’s job is to deceive you. Make you believe your way is good when it is really bad.

Proverbs 16:25 KJV

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

That path can seem right but if you stay on it long enough you will die; first spiritually and then physically if/ when The Most High sees fit.

Proverbs 15:10 KJV

Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

But when the reproof comes you not trying to hear it. Everyone else is wrong, people are just attacking you. Or even worse, people keep saying how right you are, you speaking the truth. And heck, if I don’t agree, now I can just block you. You mess around and block The Most High right out of your life. The very thing you felt was an attack was the very thing coming to save you. But you so far down in the trenches you think those walls are a defense barrier. Not even realizing you’re stuck in a ditch.

1 Timothy 1:7 KJVS

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Yet, for all this you want to teach somebody else. You want to say you put YHWH first or you are a number one Hebrew. Yet you don’t have a solid foundation anymore. You may not even know what you wholeheartedly believe. You have lost sight. Even if you can’t substantiate certain doctrines, you will hang on to it. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or false, you want it to be true, therefore it is. You can feel like, who is anyone else to tell you different?

Judges 17:6 KJV

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Without a set leader who you know God chose directly or through a prophet. Everyone is just some man or some woman. Which makes it so much harder to build and correct one another. All someone has to say is who are you? And if I don’t like it I can leave and go elsewhere, or better yet start my own camp.

Romans 2:17-24 KJVS

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, [18] And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; [19] And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, [20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. [21] Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? [22] Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? [23] Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? [24] For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

You have to seriously examine if you are in a place where you are moving hypocritically. You’re teaching another to not do so and so, yet the very thing you are teaching against you’re guilty of. And some can be even so forward therein, that instead of repenting and apologizing, you downplay it and even justify your wickedness. Taking yourself further out of reach of reproof.

Sirach 18:19 KJVA

Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.

You have to take time to learn. Study, review and evaluate before you teach, lest you begin to bring sickness upon yourself because you’re going off.

Sirach 18:21 KJVA

Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.

Make sure to humble yourself. Tread carefully lest you be full of pride and perish. And prove your path to be just and good. And how do we do that? What is the remedy?

Psalm 35:13 KJV

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

You humble your soul through fasting. Fasting forces unclean spirits out of your temple, the longer you practice going the better. Fast and pray. Ask The Most High to reveal any sin or secret fault in you and that if I am blind give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Read the scriptures and listen to them in your sleep, peradventure The Most High speak to you through them and you hear through his word what you lack or what change you need to make. He will reveal it to you just watch and be patient. And if you are ever lost, confused, stagnated, or want further help do a three day fast no food and no water.

2 Peter 3:16 KJV

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.