Spiritual Inventory

December 30, 2007

Introduction

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. For countless millions, it will be a time to have a party. Parties will range from those of good clear Christian fun, as some of you will probably gather to enjoy fellowship and games together as you wind up the old year. Others will be involved in drinking, drunkenness, and various kinds of immorality.

This morning, we want to focus our attention on something that is pretty much the opposite of what we have just described—Inventory time! In our business, Andy, Jonathan, and I each have an area of unique responsibility in our company. Mine is called sales, legal, and financial. Let’s talk about the financial. In our business, we borrow money, and guess what banks want from us—financial statements! And you’ve probably figured out who gets to do those. The end of the year is one of those great markers. It’s balance sheet time. Profit and loss time, tax time around the corner, and yes, inventory time. Between you and me, it is the part of my work that I like the least, so why do I do it? I do it because I must to stay in business.

This morning, we aren’t talking about a business, but we are talking about accountability. Some say that some businesses keep three sets of books: One for the IRS, one for the banks, and then the real set of books. For the IRS, you want to show as little profit as possible so your taxes will be low. For the bank, you want to show as much profit as possible so you can get a loan and a good rate of interest. Then there is reality. Well, guess what. The banks are probably aware of this thinking because they always want a copy of my tax return.

We aren’t dealing with banks this morning, nor are we dealing with the IRS, but we are dealing with God. God does speak of auditing our books. Last Sunday morning, I concluded our thoughts with the poem, “’Twas the night before Jesus Came,” and it referred to the book of life as containing the name of every saved man.

The great day of accounting is coming. The question is, will we be ready? How are we using our time, talents, and opportunities?

Body

I. We are accountable.

A. Jesus said we would give account for every idle word.

(Mat 12:35-37 NKJV) "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. {36} "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. {37} "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

1. How am I using my words?

(James 3:8-10 NKJV) But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. {9} With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. {10} Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

a. Am I using my words to encourage others?

b. Am I using my words to invite others to church?

c. Am I using my tongue to teach others the truths of God’s word?

2. What is it that is in my heart?

(Mat 12:35 NKJV) "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

a. What’s in your heart?

(Mat 15:18-19 NKJV) "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. {19} "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

b. Be careful what you set your heart on.

(Prov 4:23-24 NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. {24} Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.

c. Do you have a tender heart?

(Eph 4:29-32 NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31} Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

d. Are we filling our minds with good things?

(2 Tim 2:15 KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It’s a new year. Do you have a Bible reading plan for daily reading?

B. We are accountable for what we have been given.

(Mat 25:14-30 NKJV) "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. {15} "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. {16} "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. {17} "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. {18} "But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. {19} "After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. {20} "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' {21} "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' {22} "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' {23} "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' {24} "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. {25} 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' {26} "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. {27} 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. {28} 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. {29} 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. {30} 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

1. Notice how the passage begins.

(Mat 25:14-30 NKJV) "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

2. It simply means that we are stewards of what belongs to God.

a. As stewards we are accountable.

b. As we reflect on 2007, are we happy with our year?

II. Do we need to make adjustments?

A. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to change while it is called today.

(Heb 3:10-15 NKJV) Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.' {11} So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" {12} Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; {13} but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. {14} For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, {15} while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

B. Can we be more evangelistic in 2008?

1. Can we reach out to the lost in Venus and those around us?

2. Can we reach out to those of our number who are discouraged?

(Heb 12:12-13 NKJV) Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, {13} and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Conclusion

I. 2007 is almost gone. Can we make this a time to reflect on making 2008 a better year?

Do we have heart problems we need to address?
Do we have time management problems so that we can give more time to doing the things we need to do?
Will we make 2008 a year when we are closer to God?
Will we make 2008 a year when we are more evangelistic than we have been this year?

II. If you are not a Christian, you can become one before 2007 is over if you are willing.

Welcome to my Web site Sermons I have Preached Back to Venus Church of Christ Home Page

Hit Counter