Self Control

Self Control

Pre: Self control is an awesome thing to behold. Perhaps this is because so few of us have obtained it. We respect those who demonstrate it.

Intro: Little boy selling a push lawnmower. Baptist preacher come

along and wanted to buy it and asked did it run. "Yes sir", said

the boy. The preacher pulled and pulled on the rope and said,

"Son, this thing won’t start." The boy said, "That’s ‘cause you

‘gotta’ cuss it." The preacher said, "Son, I’m a Baptist preacher,

and I haven’t cussed in 18 years." Boy said, "Keep pulling; it’ll

come back to you."

The Problem is that some times old habits "Come Back to You".

It Takes Self Control to keep it from coming back

Text: 22 But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. 25 We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit. 26 We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other.

I. WHAT IS SELF-CONTROL?

The closest Hebrew word is TUSHIYYA, which is translated, "discretion."

Prov. 3:21-23 "My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble."

The Greek word is EGKRATES, which means "self-restrained, disciplined, as an athlete in training."

Truths about a SELF-CONTROLED LIFE:

1. Has positive goals

2. Involves discipline

3. Includes every part of a person: body, mind,

emotions and will

4. Requires exercise

5. Means total submission to the coach and his

training rules

By these five principles, we can check our own "self-control

level:"

-1. Do we have spiritual goals and godly priorities, and are we planning to achieve these goals and objectives one step at a time?

-2. Do we discipline ourselves to do the things we know God wants us to do and not to do the things God has forbidden?

-3. Do we seek to control every part of our lives? Our bodies? Our minds and imaginations? Our emotions? Our wills?

-4. Do we keep up with our daily spiritual exercises - reading

God’s words, praying, witnessing, praising and worshiping God,

fellow shipping with other believers, etc.?

-5. Do we daily submit to the control of Christ and His Spirit following the rules He has laid out for us in His rule book, the Bible?

SELF-CONTROL is "Living a well-disciplined life - under the controlling influence of God the Spirit."

II. HOW IS SELF-CONTROL EXPRESSED?

A. Control of our bodies:

Moderation is the key - avoiding extremes, living a well-balanced physical life. This would include: eating, drinking, exercise, work, etc.

B. Control of Our Tongues:

James 3:7, 8 "Every kind of beast has been tamed by man, but

the tongue can no man control, it is an uncontrolled evil."

There are four main "sins of speech"

1. LYING

Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, putting away lying, ’Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another."

2. FOUL LANGUAGE

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is

good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the

hearers"

3. INSULTING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE

Proverbs 16:32

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who

rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

4. SLANDER (gossip, character assassination, etc.)

Prov. 10:18

"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads

slander is a fool."

The discipline of the tongue can be accomplished by following

three Biblical principles:

1. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."

2. SPEAK ONLY THE TRUTH

Psalm 15:1&2 "LORD, who shall dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;"

3. SPEAK THE TRUTH, ONLY IN LOVE

Ephesians 4:15

"but, speaking the truth in love, [you] may grow up in all things

into Him who is the head--Christ--"

C. Control of our Sexuality

How?

-1. Follow God’s standards

-2. Accept sex as a "gift of God" in marriage only

-3. Understand that control must begin in our thoughts and

imaginations

There are actually only six places in the NT where the word,

temperance or self-control is used. Let’s take time to look at

each:

-1. Acts 24:25 "Now as he [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ’Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’"