Self Discovery
TEXT
: Gen. 41:9INTRODUCTION
:A. ROBERT BURNS – TO A LOUSE:
Oh what a gift the Giver give us, To see ourselves as others see us.
B. WE NEED TO SEE OURSELVES AS WE REALLY ARE.
1. It will alter our view of others and God.
2. It will motivate us to change.
I.
SOME WHO FAILED TO SEE THEMSELVES AS THEY WERE.A. DAVID ( 2 Sam. 12:1-7 ).
B. THE PHARISEE ( Luke 18:14-17 ).
C. THE LAODICEAN CHURCH ( Rev. 3:14-17 ).
D. THE RICH FOOL ( Luke 12:15-21 ).
II.
SOME WHO DISCOVERED THEMSELVES.A. THE CHIEF BUTLER – story of Joseph ( Gen. 41:9 ).
B. ISAIAH ( ( Isa. 6:5 ).
C. PETER:
1. His pride ( Matt. 26:33-35 ).
2. His discovery ( 26:69-75 ).
D. THE PRODIGAL SON ( Luke 15:17 ).
E. THE JEWS ( Acts 2:36-37 ).
III.
WE NEED TO DISCOVER OURSELVES!A. WITH REGARD TO SIN ( 1 John 1:8 ).
B. WITH REGARD TO PERFECTION ( Phil. 3:13-14 ).
C. WITH REGARD TO SPIRITUAL STRENGTH ( 1 Cor. 10:12 ).
IV.
WE CAN INSTEAD DECEIVE OURSELVES.A. BY LOOKING AT THE FAULTS OF OTHERS ( Luke 18:10-14; Matt. 7:1-5 ).
B. BY COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OTHERS ( 2 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 6:4 ).
C. BY ASSUMING VIRTUES WHICH ARE NOT OUR OWN.
1. Virtue by association? We can’t go to heaven on someone else’s coattails.
2. Neither can we fantasize ourselves there.
3. We must measure ourselves ( 2 Cor. 13:5 ).
4. We should use the standard by which we will be judged ( John 12:48 ).
D. BY DISGUISING OUR SINS WITH NEW NAMES ( Isa. 5:20 ).
E. BY CHANGINGTHE FORM OF OUR SIN.
1. We don’t kill, but we hate.
2. We don’t steal, but we covet.
3. We don’t commit adultery, but we lust.
James 2
:10CONCLUSION
:A. I SHOULD STRIVE DILIGENTLY TO DISCOVER MYSELF.
B. MUST BE OBJECTIVE.
1. Emotional considerations get in the way of the Truth ( Jer. 17:9 ).
2. Prov. 23:7 – Actions and Speech tell a lot – Matt. 12:34.
C. I MUST BE HONEST ( Gal. 6:7-8 ).
D. IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE WE ARE KNOWN BY ALL ( Heb. 4:12-13 ).
Do We Need To Make Some Changes
?