1. Sustaining Your Spiritual Vitality!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

2. If someone were to ask me what the most important spiritual reality revealed in the Bible is I would point them to this sentence in Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthian church!

3. 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

4. Why?
Because this scripture contains the beginning and continuing points of the Christian pilgrimage!

5. Begins with a Supernatural Spiritual Encounter!

6. Biblical Christianity begins in the life of a person when their life is opened up to the transforming presence and power of God through Jesus Christ!

7. “Our culture teaches us that people are basically good and that their internal problems are the result of external circumstances.

8. But Jesus taught that no outside-in program will rectify the human condition, since our fundamental problems stem from within.

9. All holiness is the holiness of God within us—the indwelling life of Christ.”
Dr. Ken Boa
‘The Art of Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude in the Character of Christ’

10. Mark 7:20-23
“And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications…

11. …murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’”

12. The Story of Nicodemus
You must
be born again!

13. John 3:3
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

14. a Supernatural Spiritual Empowerment!
Continues with
a Supernatural Spiritual Empowerment!

15. You cannot Sustain the Christian life
by your own Power!

16. Galatians 3:1-3
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed…

17. …among you as crucified
…among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

18. Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

19. You can only Continue by the Power of the Spirit!

20. James 1:21-22 NCV
“So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching…

21. …that is planted in your hearts, which can save you
…that is planted in your hearts, which can save you. Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves.”

22. Going Deeper requires Dependence upon God’s Power to determine…

23. What Must Stop?
What Must Change?
What Must I Do?

24. Worship
Word
Witness
Walk

25. Going Deeper requires allowing God’s Transforming Power to Control Your Life!

26. Sustaining Your Spiritual Vitality!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17