THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT
PROGRAM AIR DATE: 11-7-2021
LESSON TITLE: SELF-CONTROL
WELCOME
IN WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE SONG OF MOSES, WE HEAR THESE WORDS. "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG, "AND HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION. "HE IS MY GOD, AND I WILL PRAISE HIM, MY FATHER'S GOD. "AND I WILL EXALT HIM." THE LORD OUR GOD TRULY IS OUR GOD AND THE ONE AND ONLY GOD OF ALL, FURTHERMORE, WE MUST PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM FOR HE HAS OFFERED US HIS GRACE AND SALVATION THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THEREFORE, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS THIS DAY TO ONCE AGAIN ASSEMBLE BEFORE OUR CREATOR AND TO WORSHIP AND PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME. NOW WE EACH FOCUS OUR THOUGHTS ON GOD AT THIS TIME, AS WE GIVE OUR FULL ATTENTION TO HIM, AND AS WE REMEMBER ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. AS WE BEGIN OUR DEVOTION TO GOD THIS MORNING, WILL YOU BEGIN WITH ME BY TALKING TO OUR FATHER IN PRAYER. BOW WITH ME, PLEASE.
PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE. THE GREAT BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY TO KNOW YOU, BUT TO KNOW YOUR WILL AND TO FIND OUR WAY TO SALVATION THROUGH ITS OBEDIENCE. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS, AND WE KNOW ONLY THROUGH HIM, DO WE HAVE LIFE NOW AND LIFE FOREVERMORE. AND FATHER, WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER, GIVE US THAT PROMISED REWARD OF A MANSION IN HEAVEN THAT WE MIGHT LIVE WITH YOU ETERNALLY AND IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY AMEN.
LET'S BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH OUR SONGS OF PRAISE THIS DAY, AS WE CONSIDER OUR FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING. IN THIS SONG, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE CLEAR PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN THE BIBLE TO DO GOD'S WILL AND TO OBEY HIM. SO WON'T YOU DO YOUR PART AT THIS TIME AND JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION, AS WE SING TOGETHER, "DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
AS A PARENT MYSELF, I FINALLY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN. AND CERTAINLY I KNOW THAT THEY ARE A BLESSING FROM GOD. AND AS A FATHER OVER A HOME, IT IS A PRIVILEGE IN THIS LIFE TO HAVE LOVED ONES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO KNOWING THAT THEY ARE TRULY A BLESSING FROM GOD. AND ALSO NOT ONLY A BLESSING FROM GOD, BUT A PRIVILEGE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THOSE THAT WE GROW OLD WITH. THERE IS A VERSE IN PROVERBS 17:6, IT REMINDS US OF JUST HOW WONDERFUL CHILDREN ARE TO US IN THIS LIFE. THERE WE READ "CHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE A CROWN OF OLD MAN "AND THE GLORY OF A CHILD IS THEIR FATHER." NOTICE HOW THIS VERSE REMINDS US OF JUST HOW PRECIOUS CHILDREN ARE, BUT NOT ONLY CHILDREN, BUT ALSO GRANDCHILDREN. IN FACT, OUR CHILDREN ARE TO BE OUR CROWN AND GLORY IN LIFE. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM AND SMILE AND REJOICE AND KNOW THAT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE PLAYED A GREAT PART IN OUR LIFE, AS WELL AS THAT WE HAVE PLAYED A GREAT PART IN THEIR LIFE TO HELP THEM BE WHO THEY ARE. IN FACT, IN THE SAME VERSE, WE SEE THAT THE GLORY OF CHILDREN IS THEIR FATHER. WOW, WHAT AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY. HERE WE LEARNED THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF EACH PERSON IN A FAMILY, FULFILLING RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS, ACCORDING TO GOD'S PERFECT WILL. AND THEREFORE, IF WE ALL DO WHAT GOD WANTS AND GIVE IT OUR BEST, WE BECOME GREAT BLESSINGS, A GLORY AND AN HONOR TO ALL THOSE IN THE FAMILY, AND ULTIMATELY AN HONOR TO GOD. THE FATHER, AS WE HAVE READ IS A GLORY, THEREFORE TO THE MOTHER AND THE MOTHER TO THE CHILDREN, AND THEREFORE ALSO THE CHILDREN TO THE PARENTS AND THE PARENTS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE CHILDREN ARE ALSO A GLORY IN THE SENSE THAT THEY REPRESENT THE WORK THAT WE DO ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. OH, HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO SEE A FAMILY OF GOD THAT IS FUNCTIONING ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDS AND ULTIMATELY BRINGING GREAT HONOR AND LOVE BEFORE HIM IN THIS WORLD. ARE WE OBEDIENT IN SUCH THINGS? I HOPE WE ARE TODAY. FINALLY CONSIDER THE COMPARISON GIVEN OF THE PHYSICAL FAMILY AND THE CHURCH FAMILY, JUST AS THE PHYSICAL FAMILY BRINGS HONOR TO ONE ANOTHER, AND ULTIMATELY TO GOD, THE CHURCH FAMILY DOES THE SAME. JESUS IS HEAD AND THEREFORE BRINGS GLORY TO THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH BRINGS GLORY TO HIM AS THE HEAD. AND WE ALSO READ OF SUCH TRUTHS IN EPHESIANS 5:27. THERE THE BIBLE SAYS "THAT HE RATHER MIGHT PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF, "A GLORIOUS CHURCH, "NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, "BUT THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH." THE BIBLE IS CLEAR BRETHREN, THAT WE ARE TO BE THOSE WHO STRIVE IN THIS LIFE TO FULFILL OUR OPPORTUNITY, TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE. AND SO WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION, ARE WE GOING TO BE WILLING TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS, TO STAND CLEARLY BEFORE HIM AND THE WORLD, AND TO BE KNOWN AS THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL, TO HIS CAUSE? WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE ABLE TO OBEY GOD, AND TO LIFT HIM UP THROUGH AN OBEDIENCE TO HIS PERFECT WILL. ARE YOU DOING THAT TODAY? AND THEREFORE, KNOWING THAT GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU IN ALL THINGS.
WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER WITH US THIS DAY. ONE THAT IT CERTAINLY IS NO STRANGER TO MOST OF YOU. AND WE WELCOME BROTHER BRENT GREEN WITH US TO THE PROGRAM. THIS DAY, WE WILL BE STUDYING TOGETHER IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR SERIES ON THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, AND OUR SPECIFIC LESSON THIS DAY IS IN RELATIONSHIP TO SELF CONTROL. SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING. AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, BROTHER BRENT WILL BE LEADING US IN THIS MAIN STUDY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. BUT FOR NOW, LET'S JOIN TOGETHER IN THE SECOND SONG OF THE DAY, THE NAME OF THE HYMN, "HIDE ME ROCK OF AGES."
LESSON
BY BRENT GREEN
WHAT A GREAT JOY IT IS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE PAGES OF GOD'S WORD AND STUDY FROM IT. WE'LL START WITH, AGAIN, THE WORDS WE FIND IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS, GALATIANS 5:16, HERE IT SAYS, "WALK IN THE SPIRIT "AND YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH." AND THEN JUST A LITTLE WHILE LATER IN THE SAME CHAPTER, IT SAYS IN VERSE 25, "IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, "LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT." THE IDEA OF WALKING IS YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR EVERYDAY WALK, WHAT YOU TO DO, WHAT YOU SAY, HOW YOU GO ABOUT AND CONDUCT YOURSELF THROUGHOUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ALSO THE IDEA OF WALK THERE IN THE SECOND VERSE HAS TO DO WITH WALKING IN AN ORDERLY WAY, ALMOST LIKE A MILITARY MARCH. SO WHAT IS OUR LIFESTYLE AND HOW ARE WE MARCHING? IS IT ACCORDING TO GOD'S DIRECTIVES AS CHRISTIANS? WELL, IF WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AND WALKING EVERY DAY AS WE SHOULD BE IN THE SPIRIT, WE'RE GONNA BE WALKING ACCORDING TO THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. AND THAT BRINGS US AGAIN TO THESE VERSES THAT WE FIND HERE THAT WOULD AGAIN TEACH US WHAT THAT FOR THE SPIRIT IS. THERE IN GALATIANS 5:22 IT SAYS, "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, "PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, "GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL. "AGAINST SUCH, THERE IS NO LAW. SO IS OUR DAILY LIFESTYLE, ACCORDING TO THIS FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? ARE WE BEARING THIS FRUIT EVERY DAY AS WE WALK IN THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THAT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. IF SO, WE ARE WALKING IN OUR LIFESTYLE ACCORDING TO GOD'S DIRECTIVE. WE ARE LIVING EACH DAY AS WE SHOULD, WALKING ACCORDINGLY, THAT IS ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS. AS WE THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS, WE COME TO THIS LAST PIECE THAT IS WALKING IN THE SPIRIT ACCORDING TO THAT FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL. NOW, WHAT IS SELF-CONTROL. PROBABLY IF WE TURN THE WORDS AROUND, WE HAVE A VERY SIMPLE DEFINITION. IT IS THEREFORE THE CONTROLLING OF SELF. WELL, LET'S CONSIDER THAT A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY AS WE CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS TO CONTROL SELF. THE IDEA HERE, ACCORDING TO THAYER, IS A VIRTUE OF ONE WHO MASTERS HIS DESIRES AND PASSIONS, ESPECIALLY HIS CENTRAL APPETITES. SO IT'S A MASTERING OF DESIRES OR PASSIONS. WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PASSIONS AND DESIRES IN LIFE, AND SOME OF THOSE AREN'T WRONG IN AND OF THEMSELVES, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO LEARN TO CONTROL THOSE PASSIONS AND DESIRES. MAYBE YOU HAVE A DESIRE FOR A CERTAIN FOOD, MAYBE ICE CREAM. WELL, CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH EATING ICE CREAM OCCASIONALLY, BUT CAN YOU EAT IT THREE TIMES A DAY AND STILL BE HEALTHY? PROBABLY NOT. AND SO WE HAVE TO CONTROL OURSELVES AND ONLY EAT THAT FOOD OCCASIONALLY, AS IT IS CERTAINLY DURING DESSERT THEY'D EAT ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE AND SPRINKLES AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS WE MIGHT PUT ON IT. WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA ALSO THERE CONTROLLING OR MASTERING PASSIONS. WELL, MAYBE YOU HAVE A GREAT PASSION FOR SPORTS. WELL, COULD YOU WATCH OR PLAY SPORTS ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY. WELL CERTAINLY THERE'LL BE MANY OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO. SO YOU HAVE TO CONTROL THOSE PASSIONS THAT YOU HAVE. WELL GET NOTHING WRONG WITH EATING DESSERT OR WATCHING OR PLAYING SPORTS, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTROLLING OF THOSE PASSIONS AND DESIRES AND KEEPING THEM IN A PROPER CHECK. I THINK THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE VERSE, EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT WOULD SPEAK TO SUCH.
THERE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE BOOK OF PROVERBS, PROVERBS 25:16, HERE IT SAYS, "HAVE YOU FOUND HONEY? "EAT ONLY AS MUCH AS YOU NEED "LEST YOU BE FILLED WITH IT AND VOMIT?" WELL, THAT'S NOT A VERY APPEALING IDEA TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, PROBABLY NOT IN SOME ASPECTS, BUT THE IDEA OF FINDING HONEY, FINDING SOMETHING SWEET AND INDULGING YOURSELF BEYOND WHAT YOUR BODY CAN HANDLE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP IT DOWN. WELL, THAT'S KIND OF A DISGUSTING IDEA, BUT IT BRINGS US BACK TO THE IDEA OF SELF-CONTROL. EVEN IN REALMS OF SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS EATING TOO MUCH, WE'VE GOTTA CONTROL OURSELVES. BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH SOMETHING BEYOND JUST THE IDEA OF THOSE PHYSICAL APPETITES OR DESIRES, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTROL OURSELVES, EVEN AS WE WOULD RELATE TO OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES AND NOT LETTING OURSELVES GET OUT OF CONTROL AND ENGAGE IN THINGS THAT WE SHOULDN'T ENGAGE IN, BUT MAKING SURE WE CONTROL OUR MIND AND OUR BODIES AND USE OUR LIVES EVERYDAY, PROPERLY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. WE GO ON AND THIS DEFINING PART, THE IDEA THERE AND STRONG SAYS, FOR SELF CONTROL, THE WORD TEMPERANCE. WELL SOME TRANSLATIONS EVEN USE THAT WORD HERE IN THIS PASSAGE IN GALATIANS 5. ONCE AGAIN, THE IDEA OF MASTERING, CONTROLLING, CURBING AND RESTRAINING ONESELF. WELL, WE KNOW WHAT CURBS DO ON A ROADWAY, ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DRIVE UP AND OVER A CURB, GENERALLY SPEAKING THE CURBS OF THE ROAD, DIRECT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND KEEP CARS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IN THE RIGHT WAY. WELL, CERTAINLY EVEN IN A SIMILAR WAY IN OUR LIVES SELF-CONTROL WOULD KEEP US IN THE PROPER PATHWAY, HOLDING US IN A PROPER ROADWAY THERE, TO KEEP US NOT RUNNING OFF THE ROAD, BUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE GOING. SO ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE THOSE IDEAS PRESENTED THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND HAVE THAT AS WE HAVE IT AS A PART OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES. AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE SELF CONTROL, AS WE'VE DEFINED IT, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT BE THE PREMIER EXAMPLE OF SUCH IN THE SCRIPTURES. LET'S LOOK AT THAT EXAMPLE OF JESUS, THAT WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MATTHEW 26. AS ALWAYS, WE WOULD LOOK TO JESUS TO BE THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE IN ALL ASPECTS. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE HIM AS SUCH HERE. I WANT YOU THINKING ABOUT THE WORDS THAT WE FIND AS JESUS PRAYS HERE IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. MATTHEW 26:39 SAYS, "HE WENT A LITTLE FARTHER "AND FELL ON HIS FACE AND PRAYED SAYING, "'OH MY FATHER, IF IS POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME. "'NEVERTHELESS, NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL.'" AND THEN JUST A FEW VERSES LATER, THE SAME IDEA REPEATED ONCE AGAIN, VERSE 42 SAYS, "A SECOND TIME, HE WENT AWAY AND PRAYED SAYING, "'OH MY FATHER, IF THIS CUP CANNOT PASS AWAY FROM ME, "'UNLESS I DRINK IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.'" JESUS KNEW THAT DEATH WAS APPROACHING. HE KNEW THAT THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING TO THIS EARTH AND LIVING IN THE FLESH, JOHN 1 WAS ABOUT TO BE FULFILLED, THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO BE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB WHO WOULD DIE ON THE CROSS FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND. AND THEN HE OFFERS THAT PRAYER. AND EVEN THAT PRAYER, YOU SEE JESUS SUBMITTING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. THAT HUMAN PULL, THAT HUMAN ASPECT, IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS DEATH, AS PART OF THE CINNAMON OF THAT PRAYER, AND YET HE COMES BACK THE IDEA, "GOD, YOUR WILL BE DONE." ISN'T THAT REALLY AN EXPRESSION OF SELF-CONTROL? WHEN JESUS SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE ACCORDING TO MY WILL, BUT ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER, I WILL DO WHAT I WAS SENT HERE TO DO. I WILL LIVE ACCORDING TO THAT STANDARD, I WILL FULFILL MY PURPOSE IN COMING TO THIS EARTH AND LIVING IN THE FLESH. GOD, YOUR WILL BE DONE. AS YOU CONTINUE IN THIS SAME SCENE IN MATTHEW 26, AS YOU MOVE THROUGH, YOU COME TO THE OCCASION HERE WHERE THEY'VE COME TO THE GARDEN NOW TO TAKE HIM. IN VERSE 51, PETER DRAWS HIS SWORD AND CUTS OFF THE EAR THE HIGH PRIEST. WHAT DOES JESUS SAY TO PETER IN VERSE 52 AND FOLLOWING? "PUT YOUR SWORD IN IT'S PLACE "FOR ALL WHO TAKE THE SWORD WILL PERISH BY THE SWORD. "OR DO YOU NOT THINK THAT I CANNOT NOW PRAY TO MY FATHER, "AND HE WILL PROVIDE ME WITH MORE THAN 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS? "HOW THEN COULD THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED, "THAT IT MUST HAPPEN THUS?" JESUS SAYS TO PETER, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, PETER CONTROL YOURSELF, "PUT YOUR SWORD BACK IN IT'S PLACE. "MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, "IT'S NOT A PHYSICAL KINGDOM." JESUS DID NOT COME HERE TO ESTABLISH SUCH, "PETER CONTROL YOURSELF." AND JESUS EVEN EXPRESSES WHAT WAS AT HIS DISPOSAL, IF HE WOULD SIMPLY CALL TO THE FATHER, THE FATHER WOULD PROVIDE HIM WITH LEGIONS OF ANGELS. 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS WOULD BE 72,000 ANGELS. DID ANYTHING STAND BETWEEN JESUS AND THOSE THAT WERE COMING TO TAKE HIM. IF HE DESIRED, HE COULD HAVE CALLED FOR THE ANGELS, AND NONE OF THIS HAD TO TAKE PLACE. JESUS COULD HAVE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY THE MOB, HE'D TAKEN AWAY OUT OF THE WAY THOSE WHO CAME TO TAKE HIM TO LEAD HIM AWAY TO THE CROSS. JESUS HAD AT HIS DISPOSAL, THE POWER OF 12 LEGIONS OF ANGELS, AND YET HE DIDN'T CALL FOR THEM. YOU THINK ABOUT THE SELF-CONTROL THAT HE DEMONSTRATED HERE IN THE GARDEN. TEACHING PETER TO SHOW SELF-CONTROL, TEACHING HIS OTHER DISCIPLES TO SHOW SELF CONTROL WHEN THEY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE STANDARD. JUST A FEW VERSES LATER IN VERSE 56, ALL HIS DISCIPLES FLED, BUT HE DIDN'T GET ANGRY WITH THEM AT THAT MOMENT, HE DIDN'T LASH OUT AND SHOW THEM SOME SORT OF ANGRY SPIRIT, NO, HE KEPT HIMSELF IN CHECK. HE SHOWED SELF-CONTROL TOWARDS HIS DISCIPLES TOWARDS PETER, EVEN TOWARDS JUDAS WHO BETRAYED HIM. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? HOW WOULD YOU HAVE RESPONDED IF ONE OF YOUR OWN DISCIPLES HAD COME TO BETRAY YOU AND GIVEN YOU THAT KISS OF BETRAYAL? WOULD YOU HAVE LASHED OUT IN ANGER? WOULD YOU HAVE SHOWED HATRED TOWARDS HIM? JESUS DIDN'T DO THAT. JESUS SHOWED SELF-CONTROL TOWARDS PETER, HIS DISCIPLES TOWARDS JUDAS, EVEN TOWARDS THE MOB WHO WOULD COME TO LEAD HIM AWAY, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD AT HIS DISPOSAL, ONCE AGAIN, LEGIONS OF ANGELS.
WE SEE IN JESUS, THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF SELF-CONTROL. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, WITH THAT EXAMPLE, THINK ABOUT THE WORDS OF PAUL, IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 PAUL THERE SAYS, "IMITATE ME AS I IMITATE CHRIST." SO MANY ASPECTS AND APPLICATION, WE CAN THINK ABOUT CONCERNING THE LIFE OF CHRIST. THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF ALL TIME SHOWED US HERE IN MATTHEW 26, HOW TO SHOW SELF-CONTROL, HOW TO MASTER SELF, HOW TO CONTROL DESIRES AND RESTRAIN YOURSELF, EVEN IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. JESUS SHOWED US THAT. AND PAUL SAID, IMITATE CHRIST. JUST A COUPLE CHAPTERS BACK FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 11, WE FIND THE WORDS THERE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 9, OF ENCOURAGEMENT, AGAIN, CONCERNING THIS IDEA OF SELF CONTROL SPECIFICALLY. 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9:25, PAUL POSES AN ILLUSTRATION THAT OF A RUNNER AND ALSO ANOTHER ONE OF A FIGHTER. AND HE SAYS IN VERSE 25, "EVERYONE WHO COMPETES FOR THE PRIZE "IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS." THAT WERE TEMPERATE, THE IDEA OF EXERCISING SELF-CONTROL. "THE ONE WHO COMPETES EXERCISES SELF-CONTROL IN ALL THINGS. "NOW THEY DO HAVE TO ATTAIN A PERISHABLE CROWN, "BUT WE, FOR AN IMPERISHABLE CROWN. ATHLETES, CAN'T JUST EAT WHATEVER THEY WANT, THEY CAN'T JUST DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEY EAT A SPECIFIC DIET, THEY HAVE TO EXERCISE EVERY DAY. AND WHY DO THEY EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL IN ALL THINGS? BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEKING A CROWN, A PRIZE FOR VICTORY OF RUNNING AND GETTING FIRST PLACE OR FIGHTING AND BEING THE CHAMPION. THEY EXHIBIT SELF CONTROL TO DO SUCH. BUT AS CHRISTIANS, WE'RE NOT WALKING IN THE SPIRIT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY THE FRUIT OF SPIRIT OF SELF-CONTROL, FOR A PHYSICAL PRIZE FOR A FIRST PLACE MEDAL, WE'RE DOING IT TO OBTAIN AN IMPERISHABLE CROWN, ONE THAT WILL NEVER FADE AWAY. SO PAUL GOES ON AND HE SAYS, IN VERSE 27, "I DISCIPLINE MY BODY AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION, "LEST WHEN I HAVE PREACHED TO OTHERS, II MYSELF SHOULD BECOME DISQUALIFIED." LITERALLY HE SAID, "I LEAD MY BODY ABOUT AS A SLAVE. "MY MIND TELLS MY BODY WHAT TO DO, I'M IN CONTROL." IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE THAT IF PASSION DRIVES, LET REASON HOLD THE REINS. CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING PASSIONATE, NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING DESIRES. GOD MADE US TO HAVE SUCH, BUT TO USE AND CHANNEL THOSE IN A PROPER WAY, MEANS WE HAVE TO USE OUR MINDS TO DO THAT. PAUL SAYS, "I USE MY MIND TO TELL MY BODY WHAT TO DO," NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, THAT IS SELF-CONTROL. NOT JUST FOR THE ATHLETE, NOT JUST FOR THE FIGHTER, BUT FOR US AS CHRISTIANS AS WE RUN THIS RACE, TO BE THOSE WHO CONTROL OURSELVES AS WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND BEAR THAT FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL. PETER WOULD SAY IN 1 PETER 2:1 THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TO ADD TO OUR FAITH. THAT IS SELF SELF-CONTROL. THERE AS PAUL PREACHED TO FELIX IN ACTS 24:25, "HE REASONED ABOUT JUDGMENT AND SELF CONTROL." EVEN TO A LEADER, FELIX, YOU NEED TO LEARN TO CONTROL YOURSELF. SAME AS ALL SO REQUIRED OF ELDERS IN TITUS 1:8, OR EVEN OF OLDER MEN IN TITUS 2:2. DO WE HAVE SELF-CONTROL AS WE UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION, AS WE SEE THAT GREAT EXAMPLE OF JESUS, AS WE SEE SEVERAL PASSAGES THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE US AND CHALLENGES TO DEMONSTRATE SUCH? ARE WE BEARING THAT FRUIT EVERY DAY IN OUR LIVES? MAKE SURE AS YOU WALK IN THE SPIRIT EVERY DAY, YOU WALK IN THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. IN DOING SO, YOU WALK HAVING SELF-CONTROL EVERY SINGLE DAY IN YOUR LIFE.
CLOSING COMMENTS
MAY I CAN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS DAY. I DO HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND A BLESSING TO US ALL. AND REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY LORD'S DAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS TIME BEFORE THE VERY THRONE OF GOD.
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HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO KNOW THAT WE CAN FIND TRUE HELP AND PEACE AND COMFORT IN THE LORD. THEREFORE, WE ARE ABLE TO CONTROL OURSELVES, AND OUR WORDS, AND OUR ACTIONS, IN ALL OF OUR LIVES. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS GUIDANCE IN OUR DAILY LIVES, THAT WE MIGHT TRULY BE ABLE TO SERVE HIM AS A LOVING AND CARING FATHER.