Self-Control
Galatians 5
Self Control
Self-control - refers to our ability to control or restrain ourselves from all kinds of feelings, impulses, and desires, which includes the desire for physical, emotional and material comfort.
“Self-control is simply that important, impressive, and nearly impossible practice of learning to maintain control of the beast of one’s own sinful passions”
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Proverbs 25:28
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Why is self-control so important?
Where do we fail to practice self- control?
Self-control involves both our actions and the emotions and desires behind those actions.
To push against the constant pull of these worldly desires in order to please our Lord is extremely difficult and requires moment by moment awareness.
That is why Paul discusses his own inner conflict and struggle with sin in his letter to the Romans, “What I want to do I do not do…the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing…it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15-20)
God using his messengers to direct us to exercise self-control implies two truths:
1. Self-control is needed in my life and yours. There is something in us that needs to be controlled or restrained. We must bridle the beast.
(James 3)
2.The potential in us or through us for accessing or drawing from a power source to restrain it.
Galatians 5
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Therefore, you don’t just will yourself into self control.
It comes from the inside of a person who is following the direction of the Holy Spirit or being “spirit led”
This is an issue of the heart.
Choosing…. Practicing….
Spirit or Flesh
Why is it hard for me to choose it?
Pause…