Make Every Effort

Psalm 139:23-24; Ephesians 4:21-24; 2 Peter 1:3-9
 
Theme: Being committed to grow spiritually (What it means to "put on the new self")
 
Step back and look at the big picture of your life.
 
Reflection on Scriptures

1. Ephesians 4:21-2
   

• A Hello? from Paul (implying, "Surely you know better")
  

Put off the old self that is being corrupted
Requires being honest with yourself
Reject and renounce what you know is wrong
Get enslaved to righteousness, not to sin (Romans 6:19)

• Be renewed in the attitude of your mind. How you think (and look at things/people) affects how you act.
  

Put on the new self
Surrender to God's will
Acknowledge inability to overcome sin in your own power 
Don’t look for magical solutions. 
Take action

2.  2 Peter 1:3-8
Putting on the new self is made possible because of God’s presence within us.
“Make every effort” to add to your faith…
Develop godly qualities, viz. Goodness, Knowledge, Self-control (saying more Yes to what God wants for us rather than what we want), Perseverance, Godliness (living as God would live), Brotherly Kindness, Love.
Change is possible for Christians. God supplies the power, and we supply the effort.
Spiritual growth leads to more effective and fruitful Christian service.
Application

• The daily test of our commitment: living it out is not easy. Choose your first priority based on the better outcomes.
  
• Listen and Cooperate
  
• How has the Holy Spirit been speaking to you today?
  
• What are your goals and priorities for your spiritual life this year?
  Listening to the Holy Spirit and then cooperating with however He leads will lead us to greater focus on the right things and higher commitment to what's most important.

 
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