‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life… In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises… The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 2 Peter 1:3,5,8,10 NLT
THE FIRST RUNG THAT WE DILIGENTLY ADD TO OUR LIVES IS FAITH
FAITH IS SIMPLY STAYING SUBMITTED AND COMMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD.
THE SECOND RUNG THAT WE DILIGENTLY PURSUE IS MORAL EXCELLENCE
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence… 2 Peter 1:5 NLT
‘ “If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 NLT
Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. Judges 15:20 NIV
‘The woman ran and told her husband, “A man of God appeared to me! He looked like osonne of God’s angels, terrifying to see. I didn’t ask where he was from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’” Judges 13:6-7 NLT
One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”Judges 16:1-2 NIV
RARELY DO WE GET TO THE WRONG PLACE IN LIFE BY ONE BAD CHOICE. WE GET THERE ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME, AND ONE BAD DECISION AT A TIME.
WE DON’T BELIEVE OUR BAD DECISIONS OR DISOBEDIENCE WILL COST US.
But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. Judges 16:3 NIV
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. Judges 16:4 NIV
IThe rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Judges 16:5-6 NIV
After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. Judges 16:19-21 NIV
HOW DO YOU PURSUE MORAL EXCELLENCE?
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
1. GIRD YOUR MINDS
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Peter 1:13 NLT
But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. 1 Timothy 6:11 NLT
WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU LOVE FREEDOM OVER THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR TEMPTATION
So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. James 1:21 GNB
2. GUARD YOUR HEARTS
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. 1 Peter 1:14 NLT
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11 NIV
3. GUIDE YOUR LIFESTYLE
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 NLT
‘And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO COMPROMISE
4 MAJOR TRIGGERS:
- PLACE
- TIME
- MOOD
Tremble and in your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Psalms 4:4-5 NIV
- PEOPLE
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 NLT
Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE GOING THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT