MCK THIKA CHURCH SERVICE ON 22/03/2020

Theme: Examine our Hearts

Readings: Psalms 23

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-14

Health experts are informing us that we may not know the one has the deadly COVID-19 between infection and fourteenth day. At this time symptoms may appear like those of normal common cold. During this incubation period and one may spread to many contacts without their knowledge (through coughing, sneezing, touching etc.). The cycle of contacts may go on, on, and on making the spread massive. Such camouflage nature of this disease is making it dangerous, thus, quarantine (self, government, or hospital) is advised.  

Examine character.

Did you know that we may hide our appeal/character from others for some time which may cost others a great deal?  We can also be deterred/misled by character of an individual at times leading us to judge them rightly or wrongly.

The question that comes to mind is what is to examine?

Cambridge dictionary define examine as - “to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them”

 Or inspect (someone or something) thoroughly in order to determine their nature or condition.

Thus, to examine is to inspect, scrutinize, analyze, test, etc.

However, we live in a society where people can be very deceptive including ourselves, of which God points us to this;

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

God the omniscient examines us often and it is pleasing when we pass such test.

Psalms 32:2 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose Spirit there is no deceit”

Them and Us.

In many cases when we are required to do a self-examination, we look outward or look at others and judge them by looks, dressing, background, family, occupation, gender, etc. while we are supposed to search ourselves. (Luke 18:10)

Many Christians are wallowing in sin because they are not examining their hearts and walk with God, instead they are justifying their evil thought and actions through comparisons and scapegoating.

We should always remember that our relationship with God is not dependent on how sinful other people are or society is, but with how faithful our walk is with Him.

When we fail to learn the art of inward looking first, we become spiritually blind and so behave like the neighbors and pharisees of this man born blind. (John 9:8-13).  Instead of rejoicing that a man born blind in their midst is now healed, they start looking for reasons why such a miracle was null and void.

Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

If we allow sin to indwell it will cause us to digress thus disallowing Holy Spirits work to perfect and restore us and others towards Godly ways. (Psalms 51:12-13).

David cries that God would restore the Joy of salvation such that he will have the courage to teach other/transgressors/sinners Gods ways. When salvation is evident in us, we will teach other through actions, words and deeds. We manifest the glory of our Father to the rest of the world. 

During this period of Lent God is calling all of us the search our hearts again and remove all that is grieving Holy Spirit in us thus heal ourselves, our families, communities, country and the world.

The Almighty God indwells in us through the Holy Spirit. Look at this, after Prophet Samuel obeyed the voice God to go and anoint David as the king over Israel, the spirit of God Indwelt in him hence forth. (1Samuel 16:13).

This was unlike in other incidences where the spirit would visit and individuals and they would do extraordinary things. For example, Samson, Gideon, and even King David’s predecessor King Saul.

The word of God admonishes us to be filled with Holy Spirit so as not to please the desires of the flesh. Through this we will do as Paul is guiding the Ephesians church.  “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light.” (Ephesians 5:8ff)

Children of light should display and practice precautions and obedience to our authorities, government or otherwise. Children of light should set example even with how we purchase goods from supermarkets, and other stores. We should not display greed and other virtues of darkness. Children of light should show care and concern to those suffering from this pandemic. Children of light lighten the dark, worried, anxious, broken world.    

Brothers and sisters, as we grow while walking with the Lord, obedience to the Word of God will be evidence, and since our faith is not dead but alive the doctrines we know and love will be lived out in our everyday lives. (James 2:14)

Our growth should start from within then be manifested outside to the rest of world. Let’s grow towards Godliness and the world will be a better place to live and thrive. It starts with us first and the goes to the others. It starts with self-examination. The Lord is asking us to repent and turn to him believers and he will heal us, our neighbors, our land and our world.  Amen and Amen.