Maturing in Christ

Lord, help me to "CHANGE"!! Romans 12:1-8; Galatians 5:16-17 and Romans 7:14-25 NLT

Romans 7:21-23 New Living Translation

 

²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

The blessing of being in Christ - Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:8-10 New International Version

 

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Summoned to Spiritual Maturity - Ephesians 1:1-23 NKJV

Ephesians 1:3-6 New King James Version

 

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Rules of Engagement - 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 ; 12-23 NKJV

2 Chronicles 20:12 New King James Version

 

¹² O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Keep climbing the ladder of virtues!! -2 Peter 1:1-15 NKJV & NLT

2 Peter 1:8 New Living Translation

 

⁸ The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Power of a Controlled Spirit - Proverbs 16:32; Numbers 20:1-13 NKJV

Proverbs 16:32 New King James Version

 

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

The Lifestyles of the Righteous- James 5:13-20 NKJV & NLT

James 5:16-18 New King James Version

 

¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

The problem with showing favoritism

James 2:1-4 New Living Translation

 

2 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

² For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. ³ If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, ⁴ doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

The characteristics of drawing near to God -James 4:1-10 NKJV & NLT

James 4:1-10 NKJV & NLT

⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Faith produces Godly Wisdom - James 3:13-18 NKJV & NLT

James 3:13-18 NLT

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.