Personal Evaluation
Personal Evaluation IS to recognize that the only thing that counts is what Christ does IN us, NOT what we do for Christ.
There are things that you need to know before you can move forward, but don’t push. Wait on the Lord, because everything needs to be in His perfect timing. Refuse to get frustrated when things aren’t moving along as quickly as you would desire. Take a deep breath, rest in the assurance that God is in control, and trust HIM. Everything will be all right.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved but the one whom the Lord commends.
(2 Corinthians 10:17-18).
Whenever anybody boasts, Paul says, it is to be in what the LORD HAS DONE. How that wipes out with one stroke all the proud evaluations you see people making of their own work- ministries -hobbies!
Paul only defends his ministry because that is the kind of argument the Corinthians have been listening to from false teachers, and they seem to think it is important.
A brief example of Paul’s approach occurs in 1 Corinthians 15:10, where he says this about himself:
*“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Some may think this sounds like boasting. But notice what Paul says:
*“Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Paul always recognizes that the only thing that counts is what Christ does in him, not what he does for Christ.
How Can We Evaluate Our Spiritual Growth?
When it comes to spiritual maturity, we can’t simply take for granted that we’re growing.
To evaluate personal progress, here is a brief inventory of spiritual benchmarks. Check the list for an idea of how you’re doing. But remember, these items are just a place to START; see the Bible for a complete growth chart! Amen!
We know we’re growing spiritually when:
***We become increasingly aware of our sinfulness and weakness.
As I read and listen about biographies of godly saints, it’s clear that they don’t “get better” with age and spiritual maturity.
***Instead, they Become ever more sensitive to their dependence upon the Lord.
Moreover, progress is apparent when we respond to sin with Quick heart felt repentance.
* Failure to deal with sin is rebellion against God.
*When we study His word, it takes root in our heart.
*Every time we use the scripture against sin, it stops it.
* We must be mindful of the importance of prayer. If we are on good communication with God in the good times, then it would be easier to pray with God during the tough times.
* There must be a transformation of our minds. We must think better, and the way to know what to think, is to read about Jesus’ Character in the Bible.
*** Growing believers turn away from wrongdoing and embrace righteousness.
** As we live with the good results of dependence and repentance, “Our Desire to OBEY intensifies”, and the attraction of sin lessens.
*******Because Jesus lives, I can face tomorrow!
**Growth is also marked by an increase in two things—joy and struggle.
Emotional choices are more deeply felt and experienced than faith choices, but we must constantly remind ourselves that emotional choices will keep us in total bondage to our flesh.
* “For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8
*Faith is often developed through hardship because living out the principles of trust and endurance help us “get it.” So we’ll see maturity in our relationship with God when we view trials and temptations as “Opportunities for Growth”.
Paul, David, and Daniel prove that adversity can help form spiritual giants. These men recognized sovereign God as the gatekeeper of their lives.
* The mother of all sins—the one that gives birth to all others—is the sin of unbelief!
I am not speaking of the unbelief of a hardened sinner. What angers
God more than anything else is the unbelief and troubling doubts of those who call themselves by His name! His children who say, “I am of Jesus,” and yet hold Doubt, Fear and Unbelief in their HEARTS grieve Him more than all others!
Jude 5:5 Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.
*Jude is reminding believers of God’s attitude toward unbelief! He is saying,
“I am bringing to your remembrance God’s utter hatred for unbelief among
His saved people.
God may no longer destroy His people physically as He did in the Old Testament but His judgments on our unbelief today are spiritual and they are just as severe.
***Unbelief is just as destructive today as it ever was.
– We may not turn into a pillar of salt, but we do become stiff-necked and bitter! (Genesis 19:26)
-The ground does not open up to swallow us but we are swallowed by troubles, stress and family problems.
(Numbers 16:30- 35)
– Fire does not come down and consume us but our spiritual life is destroyed.
(2Kings 1:12)
—Many of us are guilty of the mother of all sins and we do not fear it. We do
not take our unbelief seriously; in fact, we live as though God winks at it.
****And yet it is the One sin that opens our Body and Spirit to every other sin
known to man.
***We are maturing when we perceive whatever comes our way as being from Him, which also means that He’s working it for good (Romans 8:28).
Lord, I am Grateful for the privilege of having the opportunity to be an instrument in Your hands. Knowing You and Believing your Word to be absolute TRUTH and having You as my identity is the true evaluation I seek.
Lord, let us see and know we are Your masterpieces and let us be content to labor at what You have given each one of us to do, knowing that the fruit and the harvest will be of Your making and not ours. Jesus, help me transform my mind and get read of all my Doubt, Fear and Unbelief in my HEART and give You All the Glory. Amen