Growth by Addition
Self-Control
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
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.
As we have been discussing the past few weeks, we are called to grow in our spiritual maturity in increasing measure. We have discovered together that we are never done in the process of growth; that we are to add to our faith in Christ.
From our new faith we are inspired to live a life of goodness.
From Goodness we seek to further our knowledge of God so that it will be made complete.
In our Knowledge of God, we find the motivation for Self-Control.
1. The Motivation for…
Let’s be honest, Self-Control is scary isn’t it? When we hear the words “self-control” most of automatically go, “Well, I guess I have at least one flaw! Self-control is tough!” Look at the Definition:
self-con·trol n
the ability to control your own behavior, especially in terms of reactions and impulses
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Self-control covers a multitude of “reactions and impulses” doesn’t it? I would go as far to say, the amount of importance you place on this stage of spiritual growth determines what kind of person you are. “Am I controlled by my impulses, or am I controlled by God?”
When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others. - John Newton. (sermoncentral.com)
Isn’t that the truth? When we are growing in our knowledge of God, we recognize our need for God to continue that work in us; and we then become motivated towards Self-Control.
A. Motivated to Order
When I think of control, I think of order. When we place God as #1 in our hearts and lives, we begin to allow him to restore order in our lives.
Let’s take a step backward, because I feel it’s necessary to make this disclaimer here: If you have not surrendered your life to Christ first, you cannot expect God to help you control your impulses of sin!
In other words, you can’t skip the level of “Faith”. These other levels we’ve discussed (goodness, knowledge of God) will reinforce and strengthen your faith, but if we don’t have this basic level first, none of the rest of this will mean anything.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
So now that we’ve established the need for Christ’s salvation, we must allow him to take control of our lives. You may have received His forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean you’ve made Him Lord.
You can walk into any Children’s Church class and see if the kids have allowed the teacher to enact order! If the leader is timid in anyway, those kids will run wild. But if they’re firm, yet loving, they will have the kids moving in an orderly way towards a purpose of learning more about their young faith!
If we are not willing to allow God to restore order to impulses and reactions, then we are out of control, and our lives will show it.
B. Motivated to Look Inward
Allowing God’s Order, means taking the step of looking inward. Motivation to grow in Self-Control is a big step because it means placing the blame back on us.
I heard a saying once, “If you could kick the person responsible for most of your troubles, you wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week!”
It’s not circumstance, or any other person—It is myself! The consequences of my sin are self-inflicted.
What are some areas that we leave uncontrolled? (Ask for examples)
We know where we fall short when we are out of control don’t we?
Does anyone remember learning to ride a bike for the first time? For me it was lesson in learning to apply the brakes. I actually picked up on the balance part pretty quick, but I had a hard time figuring out the breaks! I would be going so fast, but couldn’t figure out how to stop. So I would either run into something at high speeds, or bail and let the bike run into something.
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
There were short periods of time when I was in control on the bike, wasn’t there? But I wasn’t in complete control, and I had the scratches and bruises to prove it. If we fail to look inward, our guard is down and we are susceptible to sin!
2. The Marks of…
(special thanks to Jeffery Anselmi for “The Marks of the Self-Controlled Life)
I want to use a passage in 1 Corinthians 9 to illustrate the marks (or signs) of someone living a self-controlled life:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
A. Purpose
vs. 24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
I love the illustration of an athlete here. All of the training, conditioning, practicing, blood, sweat, tears; all of it is for one purpose! To excel, and to win.
One mark of the person living the life of self-control is purpose. We know that everything we endure (trials, temptation, lack of motivation) are all for a purpose! And this prize that we will win is far greater than anything on earth.
A self-controlled life will still have struggles with sin, but it will find peace in the purpose it continues in! Our purpose will become our anchor!
B. Discipline
The Second Mark is that of Discipline
vs. 25-26
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
Self-control is going to take some strict discipline.
- It’s going to mean giving up some painful aspects of life.
- It’s going to mean changing your habits
- It’s going to mean putting effort into healthy and fruitful practices
During his term as President of the U.S., Lyndon Johnson was somewhat overweight. One day his wife challenged him with this blunt assertion: “You can’t run the country if you can’t run yourself.” Respecting Mrs. Johnson’s wise observation, the President lost 23 pounds.
Unknown. (Sermon Central)
What a principal of truth! Remember the whole point of spiritual growth—To avoid being ineffective and unproductive for God’s Work! God can’t use the life that is out of control.
Discipline yourself. Make the time to invest in what is going to edify God, and add to your faith. Cut out the things that do not.
C. Submission
The self-controlled life submits to something greater than itself.
vs. 27
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
We have purpose and discipline, but these cannot come without submitting to a higher power. It means following the rules. God’s laid out his commands in His word. We discussed the importance of not being ignorant to His Truth. Now we find in self-control our submission to His Truth.
“The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do, in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.”
Tom Landry. (sermoncentral.com)
Isn’t that the same for believers? Our sin nature just wants us to what “we” want. But as we already know, that will never get us to achieve what God dreams for us to be.
I would ask a very blunt question, “If I repent of the sin inside me, but do nothing about it, have I truly repented?”
Understand that the first step to overcoming any stronghold in your life is allowing Jesus to be Lord over ALL of your life. You’ve got to give it all to him now. Submit to God’s Truth, not because you are weak, but because He is Stronger!
3. Persist!
There is an enemy that is always looking to cause us to fall. The process of allowing God to keep us self-controlled will never cease!
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
9So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
A. Flee from temptation
1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
This may seem like common sense, but it’s often times the hardest step because it requires the greatest change, and sometimes that change is painful.
- Avoiding places of temptation (Bar, Groups)
- Avoiding People who can pull you back into sin (Avoid the Bad Influences!)
- Avoiding Situations of potential risk (movies, being alone, etc.)
Do not underestimate your ability to fall back into sin! The bible does not tell us to try and deal with sin, but to run from it! Flee!
B. Accept Accountability
This is the proverbial “Get Help” step. Seek out the advice and help of someone you know you will take seriously. This isn’t like going to a confessional.
Accountability is not meant to merely admit where you screwed up. It’s meant to encourage and share ways you can continue to overcome.
I heard a story of a man who took this so seriously that if his friends ever saw him with any kind of alcohol, they had permission to punch him in the nose! Now that’s serious accountability because eventually literal pain will win out over a temporary fix!
C. Get Creative
A punch in the face is a good reminder of what not to do, and sometimes it takes getting creative to be above temptation
How badly do we want to overcome and maintain victory in our sin? It might take extreme measures!
2 Corinthians 7:1
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.
Remember, we’re running a race. Don’t give up. The self-controlled life is the one that realizes the prize is waiting at the end.
-Prayer
Go Further! - Personal Study Questions
1. Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Within this verse we see the “Marks of the Self-Controlled Life”. They are listed below. On an individual level, what does each Mark mean to you? How can you increase in these areas of Self-Control?
A. Purpose
B. Discipline
C. Submission
