Christian Graces – Self-Control
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
TITLE: Self-Control
SUBJECT: Christian Graces
PROPOSITION: In order to have self-control in our lives we must realize 1) What is out of control – our desires, 2) Who is in control – God, 3) How we have self-control – Jesus and the spirit, and 4) Why we need self-control – to fulfill God’s purposes.
OBJECTIVE: God wants us to practice self-control in our lives so that we will not be dominated by our own sinful desires and so that we will fulfill His great purposes for our lives.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 2 Peter 1:5-9
2. About the Text:
1) The next Christian virtue is temperance, self-control, or moderation.
2) Self-control is the management of our desires by the spirit so as to fulfill God’s purposes.
3) We grow up desiring to control others instead of self.
4) Controlling others appears a lot easier to us.
5) We don’t have to take ownership of our lives.
6) This is the blame game.
7) It ultimately ends with being out of control of one’s life because everything is always everyone else’s fault, not our own.
8) Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
9) Spiritual people know that self is what must be controlled, not others.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: In order to have self-control in our lives, we must realize . . .
I. What is out of control – our own desires.
1. We must confess, “It is my life that is out of control.”
2. James 1:14-15
3. Galatians 5:19-21 – Works of the Flesh
4. Jesus said our sins come from our heart – Mark 7:21-23
5. A life that is dominated by fleshly desires is a life that is out of control.
II. Who is in control – God.
1. We must confess, “God is in control.”
2. All things were created to serve God’s purposes – Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
3. Consider King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28ff.
4. Today, God controls through the gospel – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
5. Will we let Him take control of our lives?
III. How God has given us self-control – Jesus and the spirit.
1. Romans 8:13 – “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
2. Romans 13:14 – “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
3. Galatians 5:16-18
4. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
IV. Why we need self-control – to fulfill God’s purposes.
1. Mankind has a purpose! – Matthew 22:37-40.
2. Jesus came to bring the abundant life (John 10:10).
3. The sooner we get in line with God’s purposes, the better off we will be.
CONCLUSION:
1. “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).
2. “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Cor.9:25).
3. In order to have self-control in our lives we must realize . . .
1) What is out of control – our own desires.
2) Who is in control – God.
3) How God has given us self-control – Jesus and the spirit.
4) Why we need self-control – to fulfill God’s purposes.
4. Invitation