God is strong; we are weak.

• Job 38:1-5, 22-30, 33-37
• Psalms 147:1, 7, 10, 15-19
• God says something and it happens! His word has tremendous power.
• God used His word to give us laws. The elements must obey, but we have a choice.

Count your (basic) blessings.

• I Kings 17:10-12 – This woman was pretty desperate at this point!
• Philippians 4:11-12
• II Corinthians 11:23-27
• I Timothy 6:8 – Are we content with food and clothing?

It’s wise to be prepared.

• Matthew 25:1-13

What happens if I don’t put on the new self? (continued)

It allows spiritual laziness to continue.

• II Peter 1:5

It implies that some sins are okay.

• John 9:28-34 – Is it possible for members of local churches to have this sinful attitude?
• I John 3:7 – The one who practices righteousness is righteous! Wearing a label doesn’t make you righteous.

How to change

Think of yourself as a new person.

• Ephesians 4:23-24
• Romans 6:2, 11
• Colossians 3:2-3

Shape your environment so it will help shape you.

• Deuteronomy 6:6-9
• Proverbs 5:8; 7:7-8, 25

• Love them when they are unlovable.
• Commit to lifelong companionship.
• Find delight in them.

• The core of a person’s conduct is a person’s attitude.

  • Coaches know this and key on it.

  • Motivational speakers are all about attitude.

  • Our attitudes are important to God – and should be important to us.

    • They drive our actions.
      • Our attitude is the engine that drives us.
    • Change attitude to change action.

• Attitude is not the only thing – Christianity is not all attitude.

  • Does God want our hearts or our obedience?

    • He wants our hearts first and the obedience that follows!

  • How about under the Mosaic Law? Circumcision of the heart:

    • Obedience: Leviticus 26:1-2, 14-16; Deuteronomy 27:9-10; 28:58-63

    • Attitude (hearts): Jeremiah 9:24; Leviticus 26:40-43; Numbers 15:38-40; Deuteronomy 4:7-9, 29-31, 39-40

      • God wants hearts that are devoted to Him.

    • Poetry: Proverbs 21:3; Psalms 119:2, 7, 10-11, 32, 34, 36, 58, 69, 80, 111-112, 145

      • It is better to live righteously than to sacrifice!

    • Prophecy: Isaiah 1:13-20; Joel 2:12-13; Deuteronomy 13:1; Jeremiah 3:7-10

    • Law: Deuteronomy 10:14-22; 13:1-4; 30:6-14

    • New Testament: Romans 10:13; Mark 12:28-34

• What happened to the heart?

  • Levitical jurisprudence – Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:8-13

    • God gave the Levites leeway.

    • The Pharisees ran with it!

    • Leviticus 19:18 – Case in point.

      • Matthew 5:43

Put on the New Self

• Ephesians 4:17-24 – “lay aside the old self … put on the new self”

  • Being a Christian means more than going to church on Sundays! It is a total transformation to serving God.

  • I Peter 1:15-16 – Be holy!

  • We must lay aside bad habits and start good ones.

• Romans 6:3-13 – “walk in newness of life … our old self was crucified with Him”

  • Baptism is the start of a new life in Christ. It is not an end in itself.

• Colossians 3:1-11 – “laid aside the old self … put on the new self”

  • We must put aside our old ways. We can’t make excuses and say, “This is just who I am.”

  • We must continually change for the better.

• Galatians 2:11-14 – This is a good example of the change Jesus demands in our lives.

What happens if I don’t put on the new self?

My soul is doomed

• II Peter 2:20-22

It’s hypocrisy and it ruins my credibility

• Romans 2:1-3, 21-24
• Hypocrisy among Christians causes onlookers to blaspheme. There may be no quicker way to ruin our influence with others!