Spirit filling is necessary in order to experience the full extent of the ministry of the Spirit to a believer.  In other words, it is necessary to grow in spiritual life. ...The opposite of being controlled by the Spirit is being controlled by the flesh, or carnality.  Carnality and spirituality are basically matters of control, although each kind of controlled life will, of course, exhibit distinct characteristics.  But it is the control - not the characteristics - which makes one either carnal or spiritual (Charles C. Ryrie, 1965- Moody Press)

"Many imagine, that when they have believed in Christ, the work in them is complete: and if they were then to die, it is true that they would be complete; because it is said of all believers, "Ye are complete in Christ, who is the Head of all principality and power." But no man in this world is so complete, but that he still needs to be urged forward, by warnings and exhortations, and promises and examples."

In her book, "Who switched off my brain?", Dr. Caroline Leaf asks the question : Are you making toxic choices over healthy choices ? Toxic choices... can linger in our minds and our lives, causing us to experience emotions, like regret, doubt, and unforgiveness. 

An imitator is a person who copies the behavior or actions of another. You have to know the actions of the one you are imitating.

Paul shifts from this theology of the unity and diversity of the mystical body of Christ to spell out behavioral patterns that he expects to see in the church and in the lives of the saints.  

The Apostle Paul passes from the relation to the whole to the relation to the individual.  In the oneness of the body, etc., there is room for diversity, and no one is overlooked; each has his own position. (Driver, Plummer, and Briggs; The International Critical Commentary, (1991, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh), Pg. 110)

Matthew has created an inclusion that marks out a basic theme: the presence of the exalted Lord with his church establishes his as Immanuel, as God with us." 'Immanuel' means 'God with us', and finds its echo Jesus' promise at the very end of the Gospel: 'I am with you always' (Matthew 28:20).

Christianity is not a mere theory, which leaves men at liberty in relation to their practice: it is a religion which requires its votaries to have their whole souls brought into subjection to it, and cast, as it were, into its very mold: and those who affect not a conformity to its doctrines, will deny the doctrines themselves; having no alternative, but to set aside the requirements, or to condemn themselves for their disobedience to them. (Simeon, C. (1833)).

The ethical objective of the Christian as presented by the author of Ephesians is to develop a pattern of life, which is appropriate to one who has become a child of God (5:2).  This involves laying aside the old self and putting on the new (4:17-24) and walking no longer in the darkness under the control of the enemy (2:6-14; cf. 2:2), but walking in the light. (Arnold, 1989)

Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.  It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step. (Joni Erickson Tada)