Check Your Pulse

By Pastor Jeff Hanson

 

2Co 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

 Having a Pulse is a very important thing, a normal pulse can range from 60-100 at rest. I used to watch an old tv show called, “Emergency” when I was younger and in nearly every episode on a call Roy or John would in most occasions check to see if a person they were caring for had a pulse.

 The pulse would not only let them know that the person was a live but it could narrow down what was happening on the inside, if it was high called tachycardia the person could be under stress, could be as result of a fever, or pain.

A low pulse or bradycardia, could signal a heart problem, a person on medications.

An irregular rhythm is a sign of arrythmia which could be weak, thready indicating other issues going on. It is important to recognize so that proper treatment can be applied.

 We as Christians need to check our own pulse occasionally to make sure we are doing well in our walk with Christ!

We can’t always rely on what we feel however, for sometimes we are headed for danger that we can’t see on the outside.

1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

 When we are examining ourselves, we must do it in a way that measures up to Gods measurements, not mans!

Just like when some people are struggling physically with Arythmia, an irregular pulse, Christians can be irregular,

Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” The winds are blowing all over in our world today!

 Two of the ways that we can getting a better pulse rate is diet and exercise, the bible tells us is:

 Philippians 2:12-13 is, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

 What does it mean to work out your own salvation? We know without a doubt that we can’t earn our salvation by doing works to earn it

First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means “to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition”

We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, which Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness. The “trembling” one experiences is the attitude we are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. ” Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” and brings great joy.

  Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.

 When we work out especially our cardio we attempt to raise our pulse rate to levels sometimes 60% or more of our normal pulse rate to burn fat and improve our endurance, we need to work out our salvation,

  Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

 Hear me, it is something each person is responsible for doing, no pope, no pastor, no parent, no child, no neighbor can do for you, it is you that determines your walk with Christ. You can read all the “How To’s” you can get your hands on, listen to every sermon spoken by mankind, but you and you alone are responsible for how much of God you want.

I also need to check my pulse,

 James 3:1, “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

 How do I do that?

Psalms 26:1-2, “A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

 It’s a check that I need to do often, I many times revert back to what Jesus says to determine if I’m giving my opinion or “It is written”!

Am I allowed opinions? Absolutely but they can never go in violation of what the Lord has said in His word. Maybe that’s why we have so many different churches in this world, it has become not “what sayeth the Lord, but “what I feel”.

 Jer 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

How is your pulse this day? Have you been kinda blah in your walk, have you been questioning if you want to continue on this path?

 Are you in a place of “Bradycardia”?

Psa 51:1-4, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”   

 You may need a heart transplant!

Psa 51:9-12, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold 2

 2Co 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Let’s read on,

 6-9, “But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” Check your pulse!