How do you get Spiritual?
Ephesians 4:20-24 “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (NIV)
If you want to Get Spiritual: it starts with an Inside Job!
1. Getting Spiritual starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ!
Admit: 1 John 1:9 / Believe: Rom. 10:9 / Accept: Eph. 2:8-9 / Invite: John 1:12-13.
Once you Believe in Him you Learn about Him!
2. Getting Spiritual is putting off an old way of living.
1 Corinthians 5:7 “Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are.” (NLT)
Once you become a Christian your past does not define you.
When we are putting off our Old Self: We must understand TEMPTATION AS IT IS AN INSIDE JOB!
Will Rogers said “You can summarize American History into two great movements: The passing of the Buffalo and The passing of the buck.”
It is not a sin to be Tempted. It is a sin to give into Temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)
James 1:13- 17—The Four D’s of Temptation:
1. Desire: vs. 14 “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire.”
There is an inward and outward part to desire.
2. Deception: vs. 14 “He is dragged away and enticed.”
Dragged away—is a hunters term which means “snared in a trap.”
Enticed—is a fisherman’s term which means “to lure by bait.”
What kind of bait does Satan use on you?
You can choose your sin but you cannot choose your consequence.
3. Disobedience: vs. 15 “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;”
What begins in your mind results in an action.
Sin is an inside job it starts in your mind and actions will follow.
4. Death: vs. 15 “And sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
I can enjoy the kicks of sin, but I am not free to eliminate the kickbacks of sin.
3. Getting Spiritual you put on a new way of living.
Vs. 23-24 “To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (NIV)
Are you going to let the inner new person, change by Christ, come to the surface of your life?
Godliness is not a gift, Salvation is a gift, but Godliness is a pursuit of life.
The single most important principle to destroying the old self is to let God have total control of your life, from the inside out!
