SURVIVING SELF-DISCOVERY

INTRODUCTION:
1.  We all have the same goal spiritually speaking.
2.  Our goal is spiritual survival.
3.  We all want to keep our spirits alive, keep pleasing God and live the way He would
      have us to live so we can live forever with Him in Heaven.
4.  This morning and this evening we are going to talk about spiritual survival.
5.   Human beings are naturally physical survivors (hardship, hunger, abuse, war etc.)
6.  Surviving spiritually is more important than surviving physically.
7. Today we are going to talk about surviving self-discovery.
I.  SELF- ANALYSIS IS DIFFICULT :
  A.  One of the keys to spiritual survival is an honest, balanced look inside ourselves.
  B.  2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test
        yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless indeed
        you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
  C.  It is difficult to get people to be honest with themselves about who and what they
        really are.
     1)  Some are too hard on themselves and get discouraged because they don't seem to          
           be enough good when they look inside.
     2)  Others ignore the bad qualities and see only the good.
     3)  It is impossible for anyone besides ourselves to know us completely because
           everyone else has only half the picture.
     4)  Self analysis is absolutely necessary, because no one knows the whole you except
           you and God. No one else can accurately do it for you.

II.  WITH SELF-ANALYSIS COMES SOME STINGING REALIZATIONS:
  A.  Adam, Genesis 3:6-10 I was afraid ...I hid myself.
  B.  Achan,Joshua 7:13-26 I saw, I coveted, I took.
  C.  Samson, Judges 16:16-21 He could no longer break the cords.
  D.  David, when confronted by Nathan, 2 Samuel 12:1-14 I have sinned.
  E.  Peter, Matthew 26:31-35;75 Went out and wept bitterly.

III.  WHY DO WE SEE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK INSIDE?
  A.  Genetics (Exodus 20:4-6; Numbers 14:18).
  B.  Effects of early enviroment (2 Samuel 3:2,3; 13:22,39; 14:21,24,28,33).
  C.  Training and nurturing by caretakers (Exodus 2:1-8; Hebrews 11:23-26).
  D.  Personal choices (Genesis 4:3-11; Acts 5:1-10; Daniel 1:1-8).
  E.  Of God or of Satan? (Ezekiel 18:4).

IV.  A GOOD, HONEST LOOK INSIDE SHOWS US OUR STRENGTHS AND
       WEAKNESSES:
  A.  Discoveries in the desert (Exodus 3:18; 5:1; 14:11; 16:2)
  B.  The meeting of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 32:24-28;33:1-12).
  C.  Moses called to lead Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3:1-11).
  D.  Peter's proud boast to Jesus (Matthew 26:31-35).
  E.  Joseph's dreams, tells his brother and is hated (Genesis 37:3-11, 18-22).

V.  WE MAY AS WELL BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES: GOD ALREADY
       KNOWS US:
  A.  (Hebrews 4:13)  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are
         naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
  B.  God formed us, but He did not program us (Psalms 139:13).
  C.  Search me and know my heart (Psalms 139: 23).
  D.  God knows us and loves us anyway (Romans 5:8).
  E.  My grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
  F.  Create in me a clean heart O God (Psalms 51:10).

VI.  AFTER A REAL, HONEST, SELF-EVALUATION, THE NEXT STEP IS
        REPENTENCE AND RECOVERY:
  A.  John 21:15-18 - It is often the case that when a follower of Christ gives in to the
       temptations around  him, he feels so guilty, that it takes a great deal of
        encouragement to give him back his confidence.
  B. Such is the case in John 21.
      1.  John 13:36-38; I will lay down my life for Your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will
           you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall
          not crow till you have denied Me three times.
      2. John 18:17,25,27;
      3.  Luke 22:60-62.   So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
      4.  By the time we get to chapter 21:
    a) Peter had gone back to fishing, maybe he had given up any hopes of being an
        effective preacher of the gospel.
    b) It is three days after the crucifixion. 
  C. In verses 15-17 Jesus asked Peter three interesting questions.
DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE? (21:15)
    A. Jesus asks do you agapao Me? Value or esteem, unselfish love, ready to serve.
    B. More than who or what? other apostles (friends); fish- job; world.
    C. Peter answers "I phileo you!", cherish above all else; a constant love; reveres Him!
    D. "Feed my lambs"- Take care of the young, the timid, the weak, the newborn.
         ( Matt.5:6 hunger & thirst, Matt.28:18-20- Go and feed!)
DO YOU LOVE ME? (21:16)
    A. Same thing as above.
    B. "Take care of my sheep"-  The older, mature ones need care, encouragement,
         love, patience, fellowship, and a number of other things (Acts 20:28 elders;
         1Pet.2:25-You were like sheep going astray, but now have returned to the
         Shepherd and overseer of your souls"
DO YOU LOVE ME? (21:17)
    A. Do you phileo Me?
    B. You know all things, and you know how deeply my love for you runs!
         "Look inside me and see!"
    C. "Feed my sheep"- The responsibility spreads to all people! Peter would learn
           later in Acts 10 that this included Gentiles as well. Perhaps it was not
           until after this lesson from Jesus, that he would be able to accept it!
    D.  Denied Him three times and asked Him three times.
DO YOU AGAPE JESUS OR PHILEO HIM?
    A. Do you simply hold Him in high enough esteem that you'll serve Him
         when its easy? Peter had denied him the face of trouble.
    B. Or is He above all else in your life?
    C. Have you given up on yourself, because you still sin and commit blunders?
    D. Jesus did not give up on Peter, even when Peter did!
VI.  WHO ARE YOU LORD?  ACTS 9:5
VII.  LET US FALL INTO THE HAND OF GOD. 2 SAMUEL 24:10-14
VIII.  CAST YOUR ANXIETIES ON THE LORD, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR
           YOU 1 PETER 5:6-7;
IX.  THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD - YOUR
        FAITH 1 JOHN 5:4).