We feel weak We feel weak We want to be “bad” We want to be “bad” Not as close to God as we used to be Not as close to God as we used to be God didn’t.

•We feel weakWe feel weak•We want to be “bad”We want to be “bad”• Not as close to God as Not as close to God as we used to bewe used to be• God didn’t walk away God didn’t walk away from usfrom us• Romans 3:3-4Romans 3:3-4 – “let – “let God be found true …”God be found true …”

• I Peter 3:10-12I Peter 3:10-12 – “… let – “… let him turn away from evil, him turn away from evil, and do good …”and do good …”

•Many of our so-called Many of our so-called “friends” can be the “friends” can be the worst influence on usworst influence on us• I Corinthians 15:33-34I Corinthians 15:33-34 – – “Evil companionships “Evil companionships corrupt good morals”corrupt good morals”

•What are we watching, What are we watching, reading, or listening to?reading, or listening to?• TV, movies, TV, movies, magazines, radiomagazines, radio

These can influence us These can influence us to:to:

•Immoral dressImmoral dress• I Peter 3:1-4,7I Peter 3:1-4,7 – “let it – “let it not be the outward not be the outward adorning”adorning”

These can influence us These can influence us to:to:

•Vulgar and crude Vulgar and crude languagelanguage• Ephesians 4:29Ephesians 4:29 – “no – “no corrupt speech”corrupt speech”•Mark 7:18b-23Mark 7:18b-23 – “that – “that defileth the man”defileth the man”•Matthew 12:36-37Matthew 12:36-37 – – “every idle word”“every idle word”

These can influence us These can influence us to:to:

•Indecent situationsIndecent situations•Matthew 5:27-30Matthew 5:27-30 – “to – “to lust after her”lust after her”

•We become desensitizedWe become desensitized• I Timothy 4:1-2I Timothy 4:1-2 – – “branded in their own “branded in their own conscience”conscience”

• Consider our Consider our employment, the places employment, the places we go, etc.we go, etc.• I Thessalonians 5:22I Thessalonians 5:22 – – “abstain from every “abstain from every form of evil”form of evil”

• Consider the people we Consider the people we surround ourselves withsurround ourselves with

• ““Oh, Be Careful”Oh, Be Careful”• ““Oh, be careful little Oh, be careful little hands what you do, hands what you do, Oh, be careful little Oh, be careful little feet where you gofeet where you go””

• I Peter 5:8I Peter 5:8 – “seeking – “seeking whom he may devour”whom he may devour”• II Corinthians 11:14-15II Corinthians 11:14-15 – – “whose end shall be “whose end shall be according to their according to their works”works”

• PrayerPrayer• I Thessalonians 5:16-I Thessalonians 5:16-1818 – “Pray without – “Pray without ceasing”ceasing”• PrivatePrivate•Matthew 6:1, 5-6Matthew 6:1, 5-6 – – “pray to thy father “pray to thy father who is in secret”who is in secret”

• PrayerPrayer• ““Pray without Pray without ceasing”ceasing”• PublicPublic• Acts 12:4-5, 12Acts 12:4-5, 12 – – “prayer was made “prayer was made earnestly of the earnestly of the church … many … church … many … were praying”were praying”

• ReadingReading• Romans 15:4Romans 15:4 – – “written for our “written for our learning”learning”• Ephesians 3:4Ephesians 3:4 – “when – “when ye read, ye can ye read, ye can perceive”perceive”

• ReadingReading• PrivatePrivate• 1,189 chapters in the 1,189 chapters in the BibleBible• Read two from the Read two from the OT and two from the OT and two from the NTNT• OT every 1.3 yearsOT every 1.3 years• NT 2.8 times per NT 2.8 times per yearyear

• ReadingReading• Public/FamilyPublic/Family• I Timothy 4:13I Timothy 4:13 – “the – “the public reading of public reading of Scripture” (ESV)Scripture” (ESV)

• StudyStudy• PrivatePrivate• II Timothy 2:15-16II Timothy 2:15-16 – – “Study to shew “Study to shew thyself approved thyself approved unto God” (KJV)unto God” (KJV)

• StudyStudy• PublicPublic• Acts 20:20Acts 20:20 – – “teaching you “teaching you publicly”publicly”• Acts 17:11Acts 17:11 – – “examining the “examining the Scriptures daily”Scriptures daily”• And these weren’t And these weren’t even Christianseven Christians

• Hear the Word of GodHear the Word of God• Romans 10:1Romans 10:1 – “But what – “But what saith it? The word is nigh saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we word of faith, which we preach”preach”

• Believe in that WordBelieve in that Word• Romans 10:11Romans 10:11 – “For the – “For the scripture saith, scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to him shall not be put to shame.”shame.”

• Repent of your sinsRepent of your sins• Acts 3:19Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye – “Repent ye therefore, and turn therefore, and turn again, that your sins again, that your sins may be blotted out, that may be blotted out, that so there may come so there may come seasons of refreshing seasons of refreshing from the presence of the from the presence of the Lord”Lord”

• Confess that Jesus is the Confess that Jesus is the Son of GodSon of God• I John 4:15I John 4:15 – “Whosoever – “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in abideth in him, and he in God.”God.”

• Be immersed in water Be immersed in water (baptized)(baptized)• Acts 2:38Acts 2:38 – “Repent ye, – “Repent ye, and be baptized every and be baptized every one of you in the name of one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”gift of the Holy Spirit.”