Why Trying Hard Doesn't Work

Sermon Notes, July 15, 2012

Pastor Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s sermon titled “Why Trying Hard Doesn’t Work,” was based on Ephesians 4:25-32, where Paul gives the Ephesians practical advice on how to implement the three principles of holy transformation: put off the old self, be renewed in mind, and put on the new self.

Transformation is a matter of spiritual training as opposed to just trying harder.  Paul shows us five specific areas of spiritual training.  Each area represents a specific aspect of our life in which God wants to bring about continuous progress in our transformation.

The first area where transformation needs to occur is Personal Integrity. (v. 24-25) God desires TRUTH in our innermost parts.  We need to be honest with ourselves, honest with God, and honest with others.

Once we’ve strengthened our muscles of personal integrity, we can move into the next area of Emotional Control. (v. 26-27) The Bible is very clear that the anger of man doesn’t achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)

When integrity and emotional control begin to make progress under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the next issue involves our Financial Stewardship.  (v. 28)  At the heart of stewardship is learning to work in a way that honors God.  Not only doing things God’s way, but also becoming a generous person who provides for the needs of others.

The next issue in our training is Speech Patterns. (v. 29-30)  The way we speak reveals the true attitudes of our hearts.  Spiritual Transformation involves training in specific, strategic areas of not only the external aspects of our lives, but also, the internal issues of our hearts.

The highest level of spiritual training is Private Attitudes that overflow into relationships. (v. 31-32)  Deeply rooted attitudes like anger, malice, and bitterness can be transformed into forgiveness, kindness, and compassion as we enter spiritual training rather than seeking to try harder and harder to be kind and forgiving to those who have offended us.

When training for a marathon, it helps to have a trainer with a training plan.  You don’t do it all at once.  The Holy Spirit is the trainer for our transformation. He uses the plans in God’s word and the experiences of those who have gone before to help us become all that God has made us to be in Christ.