Self-Control Series

September 12, 2020

We began this series with Love. Love is the seed of all our fruit: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. Self-Control is the glue that holds it all together. Self-Control comes from a Greek word that literally means to be a “MASTER OF SELF”.

Self-control is best illustrated by an Olympic athlete who gets up early every morning, practices their sport, eats only certain things and foregoes other pleasures in life – all for the chance at a Gold Medal – Examples:

Michael Phelps – 4 Olympics / 28 medals (23 gold) = Most decorated Olympian in history.

• He practiced 5-6 hours a day, 6 days a week, swimming nearly 50 miles every week.

• He lifted weights 3 days a week + push-ups and pull-ups.

• He ate as much as 12,000 calories a day.

• “I think everything is possible as long as you put your mind, work and time into it.” = Self-Control

Simone Biles – 1 Olympics / 5 medals (4 gold) + 25 world champion medals = Most decorated gymnast in history.

• She trains 6 hours a day, 6 days a week.

• She also swims, runs and rides a bike.

• She has a very strict diet.

• “Make the goal about being better than you were yesterday rather than trying to be better than someone else was yesterday. Your greatest challenge is – more often than not – getting yourself to move, getting yourself to act, getting yourself to change, getting yourself to be focused and disciplined…. Our biggest barrier is ourselves.” = Self-Control

An athlete’s motivation to practice Self-Control is to become the best in their sport – so they pursue it with singular focus.

Notice Paul’s words:

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So, I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.

We are to pursue Self-Control with the same fierceness, passion, drive and singular focus as an athlete training for the Olympics because the prize we seek is of far greater value. We are not fighting for a gold metal --- we are fighting for our eternal lives --- we are fighting against something that is deeply rooted within us = SELF.

Self wants something and it wants it now. Self is personal instantaneous gratification. Self is driven by fleshly desire. Self is proud, arrogant, confident, satisfied, indulgent and will not die without a fight. Paul tells us that we must actively and fiercely fight against SELF until it is dead:

• Romans 8:5-14 - Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so…… 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-- but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

• Philippians 2:12 - 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….

• 1 Timothy 6:11-12 - But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The most painful and vicious battles we will every fight will not come from the outside – they will be fought against SELF.