Every year before Passover, we are told to examine ourselves.

Why? 1 Peter 4:17 - The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of Yahweh: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of Yahweh?

1 Cor 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

As you know (or should know), WE who are the Called Out Ones, the Firstfruits, those of us who are to rule and reign with Yahshua, are NOW being judged. We are the Spring Harvest. The REST of mankind will not be judged until the Great Fall Harvest, the Last Great Day, when ALL who ever lived who were not in the first resurrection will be raised to be taught, and given an opportunity for Salvation that they never had before.

Doubt this? Then explain these Scriptures: (Mat 10:15 NRSV)  "Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

(Mat 11:24 NRSV)  "But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.""
(Mark 6:11 KJV)  "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

(Rev 20:4-6 NRSV)  "Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Yahshua and for the word of Yahweh. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Messiah a thousand years. {5} (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. {6} Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and they will reign with him a thousand years."

Read the rest of this chapter. It explains the final judgment of all mankind, when all who have ever lived will be resurrected and taught truth that they never understood or knew before. Those who accept will be given eternal life; those who will not repent will be thrown alive into the lake of fire to be consumed and become ashes under the feet of the righteous (Malachi 4:1-3).

Everyone is not now being called. Mat 13:10-16  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. See also Isaiah 44:18.

So we who have been called to be Firstfruits are NOW being judged. From the time of our conversion until our death, or until Yahshua returns to change us to Spirit, we are being judged DAILY. I would much rather judge myself than to have Yahweh do it!

What are we to look for when we examine ourselves? Hidden sin or sin we have become accustomed to and fail to recognize it in us, or maybe don’t recognize that it IS a sin. We ALL still have some sin. And we search ourselves to root out those sins.

First John 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Master, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

We are told that Yahshua is our example, so we check to see if we are following Him:

John 13.15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
1 Pet 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Phil. 2:12  work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

This is a daily activity. At the end of the day, every day, review your day. What you thought on, what you said, and what you did. Remember, ALL sin begins in the mind.

Did you think any wrong thoughts? Lust, hate, anger? Did you lose your temper? Did you commit LaShon Hara (the EVIL TONGUE)? Spread any gossip? Slander someone? Curse or swear?

How about wrong actions? Smoke a cigarette? Breathe in poisons and pollute your Body, the Temple of Yahweh? Sure, your body craves it. It took me a solid year to get it out of my system back in 1961, and completely lose the desire. Chew? Dip? MLB players are a sorry example to young boys with a plug in their jaw or a dip in their lip. These kids look up to them as “heroes.” Some heroes! Eat and drink the wrong things – so-called “soft drinks” which are mostly acid. Fast food - burgers and fries. Obesity and diabetes are national epidemics. So is cancer, stroke, heart attacks. Much worse than so-called “swine flu.” How about excessive alcoholic drinks? Or addictive drugs?

All these and more pollute your body, the Temple of Yahweh’s Ruach ha Kodesh. And His Spirit will not abide in a polluted house.

1 Cor. 3:16-17:  Know ye not that ye are the temple of Yahweh, and that the Spirit of Yahweh dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of Yahweh, him shall Yahweh destroy; for the temple of Yahweh is holy, which temple ye are.

If we don’t have His Spirit, then we cannot please Him –

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against Yahweh: for it is not subject to the law of Yahweh, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Yahweh.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Yahweh dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his. Other ways to pollute the body – sex sins.

But we know all these things, don’t we? So why do we need to be reminded? Because our minds are like sieves. We forget, or we excuse ourselves. Or just turn a blind eye and give in to the temptation, and go ahead and sin, then feel really bad afterward.

OK, I want to finish by quoting a few verses from the Apostle Peter’s first letter, as translated in the Good News Bible:

Chapter 3:8-22: To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what Yahweh promised to give you when he called you.

      As   the scripture says, "If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies. You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart. For Yahweh  watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil."  Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry. But have reverence for Messiah in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Messiah will become ashamed of what they say.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be Yahweh's will, than for doing evil. For Messiah died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to Yahweh. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,…”

Chapter 4:1-2: Since Messiah suffered physically, you too must strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that he had; because whoever suffers physically is no longer involved with sin. From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by Yahweh's will and not by human desires.

Chapter 4:7-19: The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.   Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.  Open your homes to each other without complaining. Each one, as a good manager of Yahweh's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from Yahweh. Those who preach must preach Yahweh's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that Yahweh gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to Yahweh through Yahshua Messiah, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen. My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Messiah's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed. Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Messiah's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of Yahweh, is resting on you. If you suffer, it must not be because you are a murderer or a thief or a criminal or a meddler in other people's affairs.  However, if you suffer because you are a [Believer], don't be ashamed of it, but thank Yahweh that you bear Messiah's name. The time has come for judgment to begin, and Yahweh's own people are the first to be judged. If it starts with us, how will it end with those who do not believe the Good News from Yahweh? As the scripture says, "It is difficult for good people to be saved; what, then, will become of lawless sinners?"  So then, those who suffer because it is Yahweh's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise.

Chapter 5:1-11:I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Messiah's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you

to be shepherds of the flock that Yahweh gave you and to take care of it willingly, as Yahweh wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness.

 In the same way you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, "Yahweh resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble." Humble yourselves, then, under Yahweh's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. But after you have suffered for a little while, the Lord of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Messiah, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation. To him be the power forever! Amen.