Sunday Service: 02/01/2022
Supporting Scripture: Luke 13:6-9
Title of Message: It’s Time to Evaluate Yourself
Delivered by: Pastor Mercy
Normally at the end of the year we have year-end appraisals at our workplaces – where our performance will be reviewed for the whole year. Our contribution, productivity, performance, involvement etc… will be reviewed – like wise specific smart objectives will be given for the coming year which we will have to accomplish. We will have to mention all that we have accomplished/contributed – like special tasks, meeting targets etc. This review will determine how much increment/promotion we will get – or whether we will continue with the company or will be fired.
Let us take a similar approach as we have started a new year – as a church & individually.
As we are all gathered here, let me ask you directly – how did the Church perform last year?
Individually how did you perform in 2021?
Another year has gone, and we are in another! What kind of a year has 2021 been for you? Where would you place it on a scale of 1 – 10?
Maybe you would give 2021 8 or 9 out of 10 – in other words, it was a really good year.
It was a good year because you had success in your business, a good year at work or at school, good family relationships, and new friendships? Was 2021 a year that included a lot of exciting things, new challenges, tasks completed, a great holiday for you? Or just another year, pretty much the same as any other year? Nothing very exciting happened. Just getting up, going to work, coming home, going to bed and then doing the same thing the next day and the next and the next.
Maybe to you, 2021 was a really dreadful year. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The year included tragedy, sickness, loss of friends, marriage problems, the kids were just impossible, loneliness, even a death in your family. How would you rate the year??
Think back and check what kind of a person you were during 2021. Are there some regrets? If you were able to have some part of the year over again, how would you have behaved differently? Would you have shown more understanding, cared more, been more patient, less critical, been more supportive and helpful?
As you evaluate your life, ask yourself the following questions.
What is your relationship with God like? Did that flourish and grow during 2021 or did it just hang in the same place as it did the previous year or perhaps even went backwards. Maybe God didn’t have a big part to play in your life during this past year; somehow, he just slipped into the background.
Ask yourself, how much did my life reflect the fact that I am God’s child. As an individual what was your contribution, productivity, performance, involvement etc… (Luke 13:6-9)
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbered it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
God expects some fruit from you! (the owner is coming year after year – reviewing the performance…)
The owner expected some fruit to be on the tree– it was a REASONABLE REQUEST. However, every time the Owner came to the tree with a REASONABLE REQUEST, the owner kept receiving a REDUNDANT REPORT – This tree had no fruit.
Why should that tree remain standing?
Why should it keep taking up space, using up the goodness of the soil if it’s serving no purpose? What’s the point of having a tree that should bear fruit but does nothing?
The owner wanted to chop it down, but the gardener isn’t going to give up. He’s going to dig around it, turn over the soil, add some fertilizer, show it some more TLC and give it another chance! Isn’t that just typical of the Spirit of God? The soil may be brown and hard-baked, but he’s going to send rain. (John 15:5)
“Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me”.
What is the Level of your Mental Transformation?
Ask yourself, have I gained mental maturity? If not, how am I going to develop superior beliefs instead of wrong ones?
Your Health – (3 John 1:2, 1 Cor 6:19-20)
How is my health doing? Do I feel better this time around compared to last year? Am I paying proper attention to my health? Am I still eating the junk foods I am used to, putting my health at risk? How am I going to maintain good health?
Financial Progress – (Deut 28:1-2)
Have I taken good care of my finances or misused it? Maybe I made decisions regarding a business deal, my job, family or buying things without thinking properly about it and therefore made loses. How am I going to correct things?
Your Purpose and Destiny – (Jer. 29:11, Jer. 32:19)
How well am I doing with my life? Have I found what I want to do with my Life or purpose? Dr. Miles Munro once said, the wealthiest place on earth is not the gold mines of South Africa or the copper mines of Congo but the cemetery. Where dreams, and purpose that were never realised are buried. People die with their dreams, books that were never written, the businesses that were never started. You have to find your purpose and fulfil because time is running fast, and we are growing old every day. Nobody knows what is going to happen in the next minute hour or a day.
This year set Goals for Every Category of Life. We need short-term and long-term goals.
Look at Your Relationship with others, This is Very Important
We rise and pride ourselves on the kind of relationships we have. Bible says that “He who walks with the wise shall be wise himself, but the companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
Above all Let us not disappoint our Lord in 2022. May we be fruitful!
2022 should be a year where Worship, Service, Love, Prayer and Evangelism are our priority.