Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly

admitted it.

If we have completed Steps 1 through 9, we have no doubt experienced a definite amount of Spiritual growth. However, we must continue to grow. God is for us and His Spirit lives in us; but the enemy, the corrupt world that we live in, and our sin nature are against us. We must continue to grow or we will fall back. Scripture calls us to make every effort to continue to grow.

2 Peter 1:3-9 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the Divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Step 10 suggests that we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. This should continue for our lifetime. We must continue to watch for evidence of our sin nature (or fruits of our flesh.) When these crop up, we confess our sin immediately, ask God’s forgiveness and ask Him what corrective measures should be taken. If possible, we discuss our shortcomings with someone, preferably the person with whom we shared our Fifth Step, and we make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.

Philippians 2:12-13 – Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will and purposes into all our activities. It is God’s will for us to be filled with the Spirit and bearing good fruit.

1 John 3:24 – Those who obey his commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.

Galatians 5:25 – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Although inventories are alike in principle, the time we will take in self-examination does distinguish one type of inventory from another. There is a spot check inventory, taken at any time of the day when the Spirit or our conscience convicts us, or we find ourselves getting tangled up in self. There is one that we can take at the end of the day, when we review the events of the past 24 hours. Here we cast up a balance sheet, acknowledging things well done when we were in submission to the Spirit, and confessing the times when our flesh was in charge. Then there are the times when we go in for a thorough housecleaning (Step 4) and make a careful review of our progress since the last time. No matter how we decide to do it, the most important thing is that we continue to take inventory.

II Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test.

For the rest of this study, we will look at some common manifestations of our flesh (on the left), the opposing work of the Spirit (on the right), and related scriptures.

Selfish or inconsiderate Interested in others

Philippians 2:3-8 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Self-seeking God-seeking

Romans 2:6-8 – God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Proud, self-important Humble, submitted to God

James 4:6-8 – But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Self-reliant or self-directed Relying on God, seeking His will

Jeremiah 17:5&7 – This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 7 But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”

Self-pitying Self-forgetting

Hebrews 12:2-3 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Self-condemning Forgiven through Christ

Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Frightened Confidence in God

Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Anxious or worried Peace, resting in God

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Doubting Faithfulness

James 5:5-8 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Envious Grateful, thankful

James 3:14-16 – But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Dishonesty Honesty

Colossians 3:9-10 – Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Ephesians 4:28 – He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Greed Giving or sharing

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Luke 12:15 – Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Gluttonous Moderation

Titus 2:11-13 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

Impatient, Intolerant Patient and forgiving

Ephesians 4:1-2 – As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Resentful, bitterness Forgiving, kind and compassionate

Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Hateful Love

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Committing harmful acts Doing good deeds

Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Slanderous or prone to gossip Building others up

Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Laziness Spiritual fervor

Ephesians 5:15-17 – Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Romans 12:11 – Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Lust Self-control

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 – It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit.

Angry Peace and gentleness

James 1:19-21 – My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Colossians 3:15 – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Ungrateful Overflowing with thankfulness

Colossians 2:6 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Depressed Joyful and thankful always

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Judging others Merciful

Luke 6:37 – "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Complaining Joyful and content

Philippians 2:14-16 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—

Fighting, and arguing Kindness, gentleness

2 Timothy 2:23-24 – Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

As we continue to take personal inventory, we will continue to learn more and more about ourselves. As we continue to confess our sin and ask God to take our shortcomings away, they will become less and less. As we continue to discuss them with another human being, we will continue to expose our fruitless deeds and have someone who will hold us accountable in the future. As we continue to make amends when necessary, our relationships with the people in this world will continue to get better and better. If we continue to take Step 10 as it is suggested, we will continue to grow.

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