Examine Yourself – Evidence of the Holy Spirit without ONE mention of tongues!

Want to know where you are with Jesus? How ‘good’ a Christian you are? How active is the Holy Spirit in your life? 

Below is a list that should help you self assess ¹1 Cor 11:28, Phil 2:12 . Avoid the temptation to use it to judge others (unless they ask – meaning they are likely saved!) 

It is true that you cannot earn God’s love, that nothing you can do will make Him love you more, that He has done it all…but there are clear indicators if you are in His flock or not… (not an exhaustive list, but these are rarely mentioned)…

• Are you being convicted of sin? The first and foundational work of the Holy Spirit, we can never have the same attitude toward sin. ²John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.,
• Do you understand God’s righteousness – how perfect and holy He is? ³John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment., 
• Are you concerned about the coming Judgment – for yourself or others? ⁴John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 
• Despite the above, are you at peace, knowing that you are God’s child as opposed to being merely a religious observer? ⁵ ”Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” ,
• Are you aware of being empowered by God to avoid the temptation to sin? ⁶1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.,
• Does God teach you? Do you somehow know deep down what Jesus said and seem to know when something is not Biblical? It’s not only for those with a gift of discernment…  ⁷John 14:26 (NLT) But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. ⁸1 John 2:27 (NLT) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 
• Do you have the desire to worship God? ⁹ Ephesians 1:14 (NLT) The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 
• Are you aware of how God is transforming you into the image of God continually?¹⁰2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 
• Do you actively follow the Holy Spirit’s leading at times when your sinful nature is enticing you? ¹¹ Galatians 5:16 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹² Jude 1:19 (NLT) These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. 
• Do you internally desire to do activities that please God – or are they a chore? ¹³Philippians 2:13 (NLT) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
• Are you excited as you serve God? ¹⁴Romans 12:11(NLT+alt) “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically (or) let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord”. (Emphasis Added)  
• Do you look for the approval of God more than people? ¹⁵Romans 2:29 (NLT) No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. 
• Are your very thoughts and attitudes being changed supernaturally? ¹⁶ Ephesians 4:23 (NLT) Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  
• When you do fall and decide to sin, are you aware of the Holy Spirit being sad / grieved afterwards? ¹⁷ Ephesians 4:30 (NLT) And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 
• Do you love others – especially other Christians? ¹⁸1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NLT) But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.  
• Do you have love and compassion that compels you to give to those in need? ¹⁹ 1 John 3:16-17 (NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?  
• Do you experience joy? Despite your suffering or how people treat you for being a Christian or following Him? ²⁰1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NLT) So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. ²¹ Romans 4:7-8 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those
  whose disobedience is forgiven,
  whose sins are put out of sight.
  Yes, what joy for those
  whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”  

There are many things that confirm to you (the believer) that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in and around you – above are a few. 

Please, please, PLEASE – keep reading God’s Word, meditate on it, commune with Him – time is precious – actually it is running out!

Lord, may we experience the love, peace and power of Your resurrection. May we be willing to align our lives with Yours and live for You. May we be fully open to whatever your Spirit wants to do in our lives. Help us to see what You are doing in our lives and submit to it. May we experience the benefits, power, peace and joy of living in Your Kingdom. 

Psalms 1:1-3 (NLT)

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

Footnotes:

• 1
  1 Cor 11:28, Phil 2:12
• 2
  John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
• 3
  John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
• 4
  John 16:8 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
• 5
  ”Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children”
• 6
  1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
• 7
  John 14:26 (NLT) But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
• 8
  1 John 2:27 (NLT) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
• 9
  Ephesians 1:14 (NLT) The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
• 10
  2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
• 11
   Galatians 5:16 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
• 12
  Jude 1:19 (NLT) These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
• 13
  Philippians 2:13 (NLT) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
• 14
  Romans 12:11(NLT+alt) “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically (or) let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord”. (Emphasis Added)
• 15
  Romans 2:29 (NLT) No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
• 16
   Ephesians 4:23 (NLT) Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
• 17
  Ephesians 4:30 (NLT) And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
• 18
  1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NLT) But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
• 19
  1 John 3:16-17 (NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 
• 20
  1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NLT) So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
• 21
  Romans 4:7-8 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those
  whose disobedience is forgiven,
  whose sins are put out of sight.
  Yes, what joy for those
  whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”