"Taming The Beast Of Uncontrollable Self”

INTRODUCTION:

Of all the things we have to govern in this life, self is often our greatest challenge! Self-control is listed last as the capstone in the nine fruits of the HolySpirit, since it takes a lot of self-control to exercise the other eight virtues! It takes a lot of self-control just to “bridle” one’s tongue (James 1:26; James 3:2). Maybe Paul was thinking of love and self-control as the two great bookbinder for the set of the fruits.

To think of self-control apart from the enabling strength of God is to think impractically. Self-control without the strength of God is like taking a trip without a road map, a guide or a compass. God's Word helps define what it is.

Our Text for today is; 1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! NLT

v.25 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. AMP

26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.NLT

In Acts 24: 25 self-control follows "righteousness" which represents God's claims. Self-control is our response to God's claims.

In II Peter 1: 6 self-control follows "knowledge." Thus, self-control involves putting into practice what is learned of God.

A loss of self-control involves using a good thing in a bad way. For example normal hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sex are good in God's sight. When your appetite takes control and you lose self-control, it becomes the sin of gluttony. When thirst causes an alcoholic beverage to be consumed, it is wrong. When fatigue consequently becomes laziness, it is wrong. When the normal sex drive goes into over drive causing a loss of self-control and adultery results, it is wrong.

Illustration:

The Lion, The Lion Tamer, The Whip and The Chair

The classic image of a lion tamer is one of the entertainer holding a whip and a chair. The whip gets all of the attention, but it’s mostly for show. In reality, it’s the chair that does the important work.

When a lion tamer holds a chair in front of the lion’s face, the lion tries to focus on all four legs of the chair at the same time. With its focus divided, the lion becomes confused and is unsure about what to do next. It's not that the lion is afraid of the chair -- it's that the lion is confused by the chair. Cats are single-minded, and the points of the chair's four legs bobbing around confuse the lion enough that it loses its train of thought. Casually put, the chair distracts the lion from wanting to claw the lion tamer's face off. When faced with so many options, the lion chooses to freeze and wait instead of attacking the man holding the chair.

Life isn't a dress rehearsal. Whether you know it or not, you're already in the ring. We all are. Use that Chair! Aim it at the Beast! Paralyze him with the feet of that stool. Be prepared to tame that beast.... we have the Chair. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9NLT).

Just lift up the chair to that beast roaming about in our lives, roaring and defeating us most of the time....

It doesn't have to be the usual way of sin confess, sin confess! Falling and rising. Yes, we are just and righteous because of Him. And we are more than conqueror to God who loves us. We are the friend of the Master, and we are created to be like Jesus. Let’s master the beast and tame him.

TODAY, let me give you the secrets in the 4 legs of a Chair in Taming the Beast of Uncontrollable Self:

I- FATHER

This should be the first of all the four legs of a chair of the Tamer, If we want to tame the Beast of UnControllable self. We must establish first our relationship with Jesus to bring us into a relationship with God.

This Relationship or Righteousness, we have attained from believing in Jesus, because He alone knows our strength and our weaknesses. He wants to help us with both. John 1:12 clearly ushers us in that relationship. Through Jesus, God became our Father. Not all people are children of God, only those who had accepted Jesus and believed in His Name. A Righteousness not our own but a Righteousness through Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Therefore, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we became right with God, Self-Control comes from within our spirit and must be governed by the Holy Spirit. Spirit to Spirit.