Sunday Sermon
SPIRITUAL HEALTH CHECK-UP - Part 1
Date: November 11, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: John 17:3
Listen to Audio Sermon

(JOHN 17:3)
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

IN ORDER TO BRING SPIRITUAL REALITY INTO THE PRESS OF RAW HUMANITY, YOU NEED TO BE IN GREAT SPIRITUAL HEALTH. IF YOU’RE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT, YOU MAY WANT TO GET A HEALTH CHECK BEFORE YOU DO IT. I.E. (GOING INTO SPACE, YOU WOULD NOT SEND A SICK PERSON OR ONE WHO IS WEAK PHYSICALLY INTO THAT JOB). THE SAME APPLIES TO SPIRITUAL TASK. YOU NEED STRENGTH AND TO KNOW WHO IS YOUR STRENGTH.

AS WITH A PHYSICAL CHECK-UP THE DOCTOR MAY ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS LIKE, IS THERE CANCER, TB, DIABETES IN YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? THAT WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY SOME BLOOD AND OR URINE TEST AND MAYBE SOME X-RAYS, MRI ETC.

TODAY DR. JESUS IS IN AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM, HE IS WAITING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. SO, LET’S GET ON WITH THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH CHECK BEFORE GOING INTO THE HARVEST. (OUTER SPACE).

AS YOU ARE ASKED THE QUESTIONS, JUST ANSWER THEM TO YOURSELF AND PRETTY SOON YOU WILL BEGINS TO SEE IF YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY. THIS CHECK UP IS SO IMPORTANT IT MAY TAKE MORE THAN ONE SESSION TO COMPLETE.

FIRST, LET IT BE SAID THAT IF YOU WERE IN GOOD SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND YOUR SPIRITUAL HEART WAS WELL ORDERED, YOU PROBABLY WOULD LOVE PEOPLE SO MUCH THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO DECEIVE, MANIPULATE, OR ENVY ANYONE. HOPEFULLY YOU ARE NOT DOING THAT RIGHT NOW IN YOUR LIFE. IF YOU ARE WE WOULD HAVE TO OPERATE IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT THIS IMPERFECTION.

SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY PEOPLE WOULD SEE THEMSELVES AS UNIMPORTANT, BUT ONLY AS INSTRUMENTS THAT GOD CAN USE IN HIS PURPOSE. A SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY PERSON WOULD RISE EVERY DAY AND ASK HIS MASTER WHAT THERE WAS TO GET DONE TODAY IN THE KINGDOM.

THEY WOULD ALSO REALIZE THAT A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST IS ONE WHO RECOGNIZES THAT HE/SHE HAS TO BE CONTINUALLY RESHAPED IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED.

NOW FOR THE QUESTIONS:

1). DO YOU THIRST FOR GOD? (BE HONEST) IS YOUR SONG, LORD, I WANT TO KNOW YOU MORE?

LOOK AT PHIL 3:10-14 –
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[
1. a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[b]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

OR DO YOU SAY, I CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, LET ME LIVE MY LIFE MY WAY?

PSALM 42:1-3 —
1AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
2. 2My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?(A)
3My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, Where is your God?

EVEN THE UNCONVERTED MAN IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL QUENCH HIS THIRST IN LIFE. THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR IT IN MONEY, SEX, HOUSES, LANDS, SPORTS, HOBBIES, ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION.

LOOK AT EPHESIANS 2:3 —
3Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

THIS IS WHAT DICTATES AND DIRECTS PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE SAVIOR AND IT ONCE DIRECTED US ALSO.
LETS LOOK AT A COUPLE OF TYPES OF SOULS. WHICH ONE SOUNDS LIKE YOU?

A). THE EMPTY SOUL - HE HAS NEVER TASTED OF THE LIVING WATERS THAT IS SPOKEN OF IN JOHN 7:38 –
38He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.
THEY HAVE TOO MUCH WORLD AND NO RIVER OF GOD IN THEM.

B). THE DRY SOUL - THEY HAVE TASTED OF THE LIVING WATERS, BUT NOW HAVE A PERCEPTION THAT GOD HAS LEFT THEM. THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF HEB 13:5 –
5Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] [b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor [c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [e]let [you] down ([f]relax My hold on you) [[g]Assuredly not ](A)

ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL STATEMENTS ON HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT HIS CHILDREN AND ONE THAT CAN REALLY ENCOURAGE US WHEN WE FEEL THAT THE LORD HAS LEFT.

CONCERNING JESUS, LOOK AT MATTHEW 27:46 –
46And about the ninth hour (three o'clock) Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?--that is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me [leaving Me [
3. a]helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My need]?(A)

KNOW THIS, THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL ABANDONED, BUT HEBREWS 13:5 STILL HOLDS TRUE FOR US TODAY.

JESUS HAD BEEN CONTINUOUSLY IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS FATHER AND WHEN THE FATHER TURNED HIS HEAD FOR A MOMENT, INSTANTLY JESUS KNEW THAT WAS NOT THE NATURE OF THE FATHER BUT IN SACRIFICING JESUS FOR THE SINS OF MAN, IT HAD TO BE DONE. WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING WAS FATHER, I DON’T FEEL YOUR PRESENCE BUT HE INSTANTLY REBOUNDED WITH, “INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” BETTER STILL, FATHER I AM TRUSTING YOU TO BRING ME HOME.

HOW BIG IS YOUR THIRST FOR GOD? THOSE THAT HAVE TASTED CRY FOR MORE. FOR THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTING JESUS GAVE THE ANSWER IN MATTHEW 5:6 –
6Blessed and fortunate and happy and [
4. a]spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God [b]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [c]completely satisfied (A)

CHURCH ARE YOU THERE YET? YOU WILL BE SATISFIED, KEEP THIRSTING

THREE (3) THINGS TO DO TO BECOME THIRSTY FOR GOD:

1. MEDITATE IN HIS WORD. SPEND25 TO 50 PERCENT OF YOUR BIBLE INTAKE TIME MEDITATING ON SOME VERSES.

2. PRAY THE SCRIPTURES I.E. PSALM 63 –

O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.
5. 2So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
3Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
4So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips
6When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
7For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
8My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.
9But those who seek and demand my life to ruin and destroy it shall [themselves be destroyed and] go into the lower parts of the earth [into the underworld of the dead].
10They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a prey for foxes and jackals.
11But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him [that is, who binds himself by God's authority, acknowledging His supremacy, and devoting himself to His glory and service alone; every such one] shall glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

3. SING PSALM AND SPIRITUAL SONGS EPH 5:19

19Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [[ and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,
COL 3:16-17 —
16Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.
6. 17And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
YES, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS

QUESTION 2: ARE YOU GOVERNED INCREASINGLY BY GOD’S WORD?

SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO OWN THEM – SUCH THINGS AS THE HOPE DIAMOND, THE MONA LISA PAINTING, MICHAEL ANGELO’S SCULPTURE OF DAVID, AND SOME SKYSCRAPERS COULD BE HIGHER IN COST, LIKE TRUMP TOWERS OR THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. BUT, IF YOU OFFER THESE TO AN EMACIATED MAN WHO IS HOURS AWAY FROM DYING OF HUNGER AND THIRST, TO THIS PERSON, THE RELATIVE VALUE OF THESE THINGS DROPS TO NOTHING.

THE BASICS OF LIFE ALTHOUGH OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED, THESE ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS THINGS. NOW, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND PRECIOUS THING ON EARTH IS THE BIBLE? GO TO EPHESIANS 5:26 SAYS ITS WATER —
26So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,
THE WORD OF GOD GIVE US THE ULTIMATE STEPS FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND THE ANSWER AS TO WHAT LIES AHEAD BEYOND THE GRAVE. (LIFE ETERNAL WITH GOD). HOW CAN ANYTHING BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TRUE HAPPINESS AND THE MEANS OF OBTAINING IT.

THE WORD OF GOD IS CALLED THE LIGHT IN PSALM 119:105
105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
EPHESIANS 6:17 SAYS IT’S A WEAPON, 1 PETER 1:23 SPEAKS OF IT AS A SEED, HEBREWS 4:12 SAYS IT’S ALIVE AND FULL OF POWER AND SHARPER THAN A TWO EDGED SWORD AND THAT IT CAN JUDGE THE VERY THOUGHTS AND PURPOSES OF THE HEART.

LET THIS BLOW YOUR MIND, “THE WORD” WAS GOVERNED BY “THE WORD”. MATTHEW 4:1-11 NARRATES THE STORY OF JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS WHO BEING TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL ALWAYS REPLIED, “IT IS ALSO WRITTEN” JESUS LET GOD’S WORD GOVERN HIS LIFE.

ALL OUR PATHS NEED TO SHOW EACH DAY THAT WE ARE BEING ALWAYS GOVERNED BY GOD’S WORD, WITH THIS SHOWING IMPROVEMENT EVERY DAY. IN EVERY ACTION, WORD OR DEED WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY.

BEING SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY MEANS YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE IS BEING GOVERNED BY THE WORD OF THE LORD IN EVERYTHING.
HOW CAN WE GET THERE PASTOR, YOU MIGHT SAY? GOOD QUESTION
LIST AT LEAST 5 AREAS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE NOT CONSIDERED FROM A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE. THEN SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES AND PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER ONE AREA EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT 5 DAYS.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF AREAS YOU MIGHT LIST:
1. CHURCH - ATTENDANCE, SERVING IN, GIVING TO, LEARNING IN, PRAYING WITH, PROMOTING UNITY IN.

2. DISCIPLESHIP - MEDITATING ON PERTINENT SCRIPTURES, PRAYER FOR, EVANGELISM, MISSIONS, STEWARDSHIP, FASTING, SILENCE, JOURNALING, READING.

3. FAMILY - MARRIAGE, FAMILY CRISIS, UNCONVERTED FAMILY MEMBERS, DEALING WITH AGING PARENTS, PARENTING CHILDREN, DIVORCE, SEX, FAMILY DEVOTIONS.

4.MONEY - GIVING, SAVING, INVESTING, CONTROLLING DEBT, CONTEMPTMENT, BUDGETING, GAMBLING, LOVING IT, SIMPLIFYING WITH LESS.

5. WORK - PURPOSE, AMOUNT OF, TRAVEL, ATTITUDE TOWARDS, DEPENDABILITY, INTEGRITY, WITNESS AT, RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOSS AND CO-WORKERS, CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIES, RETIREMENT FROM.

QUESTION 3: ARE YOU MORE LOVING?

(JOHN 13:34-35)
34I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
35By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THIS COMMAND?
LET US NOTICE IN GOD’S WORD THE IMPORTANCE HE PLACES ON LOVE BY CHRISTIANS. LEY’S LOOK AT JUST A FEW AND MAYBE GIVE YOU SOME TO MEDITATE ON.

JOHN 15:12, 17;
12This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.
17This is what I command you: that you love one another.

ROMANS 12:1010Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

ROMANS 13:8 -8Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements]

1 COR 16:14 - 14Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us).

NOW THESE ARE JUST A FEW AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT IT BECOMES QUITE CLEAR THAT WE ARE TO BE IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING MORE LOVING.
MEDITATE ON THESE : GAL 5:14 LOVE NEIGHBORS AS SELF.
EPHESIANS 5:2 WALKING IN LOVE.
1 THES 4:9 TAUGHT BY GOD TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
HEB 13:1 NEVER LET YOUR LOVE FAIL.
JAMES 2:8 IT’S THE ROYAL LAW.
1 PETER 1:22 LOVE FROM A PURE HEART.
1 JOHN 3:11; 3:23; 4:21; 2 JOHN 2:5 AND LIFE GOES ON.

WHEN LOVE GROWS COLDER, OUR SINS INCREASINGLY MANIFEST THEMSELVES AND WE LOOK MORE UNLIKE JESUS. I.E. NO PATIENCE FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF.
WE BECOME MORE FAULT FINDING AND THINK EVIL

WHAT TYPE OF LOVE GROWS?
1 JOHN 3:14 14We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is [
1.a]held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death.
LOVE FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS.
LUKE 6:27-32 -
27But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [[
2.a]in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred,
28Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].
29To the one who strikes you on the [b]jaw or cheek, offer the other [c]jaw or cheek also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold your undergarment as well.
30Give away to everyone who begs of you [who is [d]in want of necessities], and of him who takes away from you your goods, do not demand or require them back again.
31And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.
32If you [merely] love those who love you, what [e]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even [f]the [very] sinners love their lovers (those who love them).
OUR LOVE FOR THE LOST WILL GROW.

EPH 5:25 -
25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

LOVE FOR THE FAMILY AND DON’T WE NEED THAT IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE CONCLUDE BY ASKING, WHY IS CHRISTIAN LOVE SO SCARCE IN THE WORLD? IT MAY BE BECAUSE IT’S CULTIVATION REQUIRES NOTHING LESS THAN THE REVERSAL OF EVERY INSTINCT IN OUR FALLEN NATURE. AND BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT DO THAT FREELY WE HAVE A SICK CHURCH EVERYWHERE. THIS TYPE OF
LOVE IS AGAINST THE GRAIN OF NATURE. IT IS AGAINST EVERY FIBER OF OUR BEING AS SINNERS.

ONLY IN THE POWER OF GOD CAN OUR NATURE BE REVERSED. GODLY LOVE IS THE MOST DISTINGUISHING MARK OF A CHRISTIAN, SO LET YOU HEART BE OFTEN WARMED BY THE FIRE OF GOD’S LOVE.
BE CHALLENGED BY EPHESIANS 5:1-2 -
1THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
3.2And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a [a]slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.(A)

Related Article:
Spiritual Health Check-up - Part 2