Self-control
Self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit and is essential for every Christian to learn in order to make it to heaven because without self-control you cannot overcome the works of the flesh. To help us understand what self-control is let begin by looking at several definitions.
Webster defines it this way, “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses”
From the Greek Thayer defines it this way, “the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites” Finally Macknight adds this thought, “Where this virtue subsists, temptation can have little influence”.
From these definitions it should be very clear that we must posses this virtue in order to overcome the works of the flesh and make our way to heaven. So, this morning we are gong to be examining this topic of self-control and what we need to do in order to obtain it.
First of all the word self-control is only used a few times in the Bible and is not used at all in KJV. The KJV usually uses the word “temperance” instead which carries the same meaning. Lets look at some of these verses.
2 Peter 1:5 But also
for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, 6 to knowledge
self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
Peter is letting us
know that self-control is something that we are to be adding to our faith.
Galatians 5:22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law.
There
is no law against these things with self-control being one of them.
Acts 24: 25
Now as he 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."
Here
Paul was confronting Felix about the will of God and self-control which is our
response to God’s instructions and the judgment which will be based on our
self-control in how we followed Gods commands. Based up on these verses we can
now define Biblical self-control as controlling yourself based upon the perfect
will of God. It’s a whole lot easier to define self-control than to put into
practice. Notice what Paul says about it.
1 Corinthians
Many Paul eludes to
Christianity as being a battle and he loves to use the athlete as an example.
Notice he said those who are competing for the prize are temperate in all things. This means they are exercising
self-control in their life. They have to discipline themselves everyday to go
out and practice and put forth their best effort so they can run the race to
the best of their ability. Without exercising self-control it would be easy for
them to sit back and take it easy and be unprepared to win their prize. Well,
the same thing is true when it comes to
Christianity. We must discipline ourselves everyday by exercising self-control
so that we don’t indulge ourselves in
sin. We to must but our best foot forward and work daily to add to our faith
self-control and I can promise you this is not an easy task but is very important that have self-control.
Proverbs 25:28 Whoever
has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down,
without walls.
In other words you are
defenseless without self-control.
Proverbs
Those who do have
self-control have more strength than a person who has the power to take over a
city.
The Bible doesn’t just
mention self-control it also shows it in action and also the results of not
having self-control.
Our first example comes
from the sin of adultery.
Tell background of Joseph
Genesis 39:6 Now
Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's
wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But he refused and said to his
master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in
the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 "There is no one
greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and
sin against God?" 10 So
it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie
with her or to be with her. 11
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his
work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his
garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand,
and fled and ran outside. 13
And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled
outside,
Joseph exercised
self-control etc…
2nd example comes from David and
Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11:1 It
happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle,
that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they
destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at
Unlike Joseph David didn’t exercise self-control and
he had pay the consequences both physically and mentally.
Our next 2 examples has
to do with the use of tongue
Our first example is Job.
Job 1: 13
Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking
wine in their oldest brother's house; 14
and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the
donkeys feeding beside them, 15
"when the Sabeans raided them and took them away -- indeed they
have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped
to tell you!" 16 While
he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God
fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and
said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them
away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have
escaped to tell you!" 18
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons
and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's
house, 19 "and suddenly
a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the
house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped
to tell you!" 20 Then
Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and
worshiped. 21 And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The
LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the
LORD." 22 In all this
Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Even though the devil hit
Job hard Job exercised self-control of his tongue by not cursing God and we
know in the end God blessed Job with more than he had the first time.
Our next example comes
from Moses who for the most part was very good at exercising self-control that
is until he was provoked by the children of
Psalm 106:32 They
angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses
on account of them; 33
Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his
lips.
Moses was suppose to
speak to the rock but because of is anger he lost control of himself. He did 2
things wrong first of all he struck the rock instead of speaking to it and
second of all he did not give God the glory for the water. Notice tells Moses
in,
Numbers 20: Then
the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to
hallow Me in the eyes of the children of
Now that we have examined
several examples that show the importance of maintaining self-control in our
lives let us now take a look a few of the things that we need exercise
Self-control in our own
lives.
First of we need to
exercise self-control over our emotions like anger. Self-control will keep up
from acting upon on anger. For instance
if a person is provoking you and getting in your face without self-control you
probably punch that person in the face but self-control will make it to where
you keep your composure and you walk away. You see there is nothing wrong with
becoming angry unless you act in a sinful way because of your anger. Notice the
Bible teaches us this.
Ephesians
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him
slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
This last verse is saying that if you have the understanding the importance
of exercising self-control you will be slow to anger in the first place. This
leads us right into our next point which we must exercise self-control of our
tongue.
James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let
every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
James gives some great advice in many places about
having self-control over the tongue. Notice James is basically telling us to
prepare yourself to learn to listen first, don’t jump to conclusions and after
you have had time process what has been said then take time to think about your
response so you can speak in kind way. I would also say this if you find
yourself in situation where you feel like you are about to lose it don’t
continue your conversation and say something you may regret simply walk away
and say nothing. While this may seem rude some people I can promise you that
they will get over your silence a lot faster then whatever you were about to
say out of anger. James also says this,
James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is
religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this
one's religion is useless.
An uncontrolled tongue can render your religion
useless and make it to where you no longer have a positive influence on those
around you. Out of all the things that we need to exercise self-control over I
personally believe that that tongue is
the hardest one for ever single Christian. James gives great detail about the
tongue in James 3
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little
member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire
kindles! 6 And the tongue is
a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on
fire by hell. 7 For every
kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has
been tamed by mankind. 8 But
no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. 9 With it we bless
our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the
similitude of God. 10 Out of
the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought
not to be so.
We must
also exercise self-control when it comes to the opposite sex
We need to follow after Joseph’s example and run
as fast as we can away from situations that would cause us to sin before God.
This best way to do this is to avoid this is not putting yourself in situations
that you know will tempt or give you an opportunity to commit a sexual sin.
Jesus tells us this,
Matthew 5:27 " You have heard that it was
said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 "But I say to you that
whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with
her in his heart.
There is
also a need for us to exercise self-control when it comes to our physical
appetite.
This means we that we should not over indulge
ourselves in those things that are
allowable.
Proverbs 25:16 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you
need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.
It possible abuse anything and many people in
Titus
You see the Cretans would eat and eat some more
until they puked and then they would eat
some more.
Now we have examined several things that we need
to exercise control over in our lives and now I would like to offer several
suggestion on how to exercise self-control.
1. We need remember that when we were baptized
into Christ that our old man died and we are now a new creature and because of
this we can get help from God.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin. 16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
If you want help with self-control pray to God to
help you and he will.
2. We also need to keep in mind that self-control
doesn’t happen over night that is why Peter told we must continue to add to our
faith self-control. This means that we will make mistakes as Christians but
what God wants from us it to continue to get better at exercising self-control
in our life.
3. We need to try and spend our time around those
who can influence and encourage us to exercise self-control instead of hanging
around those who tempt us to lose it.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will
be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
4. One of the greatest helps for us to maintain
self-control is by reading and studying Gods word.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He
rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
You see everything we need to know on how to
exercise self-control can be found in god’s word.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
Finally focus on keeping your thoughts on
righteousness.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
2 Corinthians 10:5 bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ,