SELF-CONTROL

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. This past week I have been studying about a characteristic that one writer says, "is one of the qualities that enables us to go to Heaven".
    2. The dictionary defines this inner strength as "restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions or desires".
    3. It is what we commonly call "SELF-CONTROL"
    4. In our study today, I want to look at biblical examples of Self-Control, a few areas that we should exhibit self-control, and some ways that can help us maintain self-control.
  2. Actually the word "self-control" itself is not used in the KJV of the Bible, but I realize, as I am sure you do, that the Bible teaches self-control in many ways.
    1. Temperance is the word use in the KJV to describe this quality of self-control.
      1. Temperance is a quality the Peter says must be added to our faith in 2 Peter 1:6 (Christian graces).

        2. 5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

        6: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

        7: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

      2. In Gal. 5:23 Temperance is listed as a Fruit of the Spirit and there is no law against it.

        3. 22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

        23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

      3. Acts 24:25 Paul before Felix and reasoned of righteousness, (God will) temperance, (our response to God’s instructions) and Judgement (God’s response to our following his instructions) to come.

      25: And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
    2. This is also expressed in the NT of having self-control or of being temperate.
      1. Paul illustrates this conduct using the athletes of the day. Good athletes have self-control. They must discipline themselves to train and to practice before running the race. 1 Cor. 9:25 he says that those that strive for mastery or completeness are temperate or have self-control.

        2. 25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

      2. Temperance is a quality that should be possessed by elders. Titus 1:8

      8: But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
    3. This quality is spoken of many times in the Proverbs.
      1. Proverbs calls a person without self-control defenseless, like the city of Jericho with no walls. But the man that is temperate has more strength than one who takes a city.
      2. Ref. Prov. 25:28 and Prov. 16:32

    Prov. 25:28: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

    Prov 16:32: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
  3. The Bible doesn’t just mention this idea of Self-Control. It shows it in action and also the consciences of those who failed to display it.
    1. Sin of Adultery
      1. Tell story of Joseph in the house with Potiphar’s wife and her asking him to commit adultery. Joseph says "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Read Gen. 39:10

        2. 10: And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
      2. David and Bath-sheba; Desires of the flesh 2 Sam. 11
    2. Tongue
      1. Moses had exercised self-control while leading the children of Israel. Until when provoked by the nation he lost his control and did not give God the glory when he spoke to the Rock. Num. 20:3, 10 Psalms 106:32-33

        2. Num. 20:3: And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

        Prov. 106:32: They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

        33: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

      2. Remember what is said of Job, when Satan was trying to get Job to curse God. Satan destroys his land and flocks and children. Job 1:22 "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." And also in Job 2:10, after losing his health and his wife turning from him the scriptures say, "In all this did not Job sin with his lips".
  4. I think we can see the importance of it at all stages of our lives. This is a characteristic we need whether we are young or old, male or female.
  5. Seeing the need for self-control, what are some areas in our life that we should be temperate?
    1. Must have control over our emotions, such as anger.
      1. It is self-control that determines whether we let our anger take control of us. Self-control will keep your clinched fists in your pockets even when the agitator is only half your size.
      2. There are times when we can be angry yet not sin. Eph. 4:26 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"
      3. Prov. 19:11 11: The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
    3. Which leads us to another area that we must take control of and that is our Tongue
      1. Have you ever thought about why you have two ears and only one mouth? Or have you ever thought about the fact that we can shut our mouths but are ears are always open? Do you recall what is said in James 1:19

        2. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"

      2. Nascar Simulator: The best car is worthless without control
      3. The book of James is stocked with passages that tell us about ruling our tongue. James 1:26

      "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
    4. Must have rule over sexual appetite
      1. Recall example of David and Joseph.
      2. Matt. 5:27-28

      27: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

      28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
    5. Must have rule over physical appetite
      1. Not over indulging in things allowable Prov 25:16
      2. Be not like to Cretians in Titus 1:12
  6. I want to suggest three things that will help us in our quest to maintain self-control.
    1. Surround yourself with Good Companions
      1. Prov 13:20: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
      2. Companions influence our thinking,
    2. Read and Study Good Words
      1. Prov. 30:5: "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."
      2. 2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
    3. Think Good Thoughts -
      1. Prov. 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…"
      2. Take control of your thoughts. 2 Cor 10:5
        "…and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
      3. How? Meditate on the word of God. 1 Tim. 4:15
        "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."
  7. Conclusion
    1. Self-Control is a trait that affects us in every aspect of our lives.
    2. We must be like the apostle Paul, we must strive to maintain control on a daily basis during all stages of our lives.
      1. 1 Cor 9:27

        2. 27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

      2. He did that as he was in pursuit of Heaven.
        Phil 3:13-14

      13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

      14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

    3. Which example are we following?
      1. Will we be like Felix in Acts 24:25
      2. Or Like the Bereans in Acts 17

"… in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12: Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.