1. Four Reasons for Spiritual Weakness “…the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body…” (Eph. 4:16)

2. Four Reasons for Spiritual Weakness 1.Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2

3. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.

4. Hebrews 5:12-13 Hebrews 5:12-13 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

5. 1 Peter 2:2 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. Cure for immaturity: Study and Application of the word of God

6. Four Reasons for Spiritual Weakness 1.Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2 2.Worldly Distractions Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:11-13; James 1:2-3

7. Matthew 26:41 Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

8. Ephesians 6:11-13 Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

9. James 1:2-3 James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Distractions are there for everybody… How you react to them determines whether you will be strengthened or weakened by them.

10. Four Reasons for Spiritual Weakness 1.Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2 2.Worldly Distractions Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:11-13; James 1:2-3 3.Being Overcome By Sin Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20

11. Galatians 6:1 Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

12. James 5:19-20 James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

13. Four Reasons for Spiritual Weakness 1.Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2 2.Worldly Distractions Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:11-13; James 1:2-3 3.Being Overcome By Sin Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20 4.Neglecting God’s Word (as standard) 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; John 12:48

14. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

15. John 12:48 John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

16. Left Alone, Spiritual Weakness Becomes Carnality 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit… … 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (Romans 8:5,7)