Get ahold of yourself
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Me and the broken bowl
lack of self-control
28 A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Remember that these are all qualities that are not natural to us:
We have to work on them, as God has given us the gift to do so
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
These qualities are from the Spirit so that we may be in line with God’s law, not under it
Paul now concludes with “self-control”
Concludes with “against such things there is no law.”
Self Control is clearly prescribes in Scripture for one to be righteous
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
For Instance:
For Instance:
Paul and Felix (Acts 24)
Paul delivered to Felix with a letter from Claudius Lysias (23:26)
Paul was sent to stand for the charges against him as a Roman Citizen.
Ananias, High Priest and some elders confront him (24:1)
charged for stirring up riots (5)
Profaning the temple (6)
Paul’s defense (10-20)
No riot, no crowd, just worshipping in the temple
On trial for his belief
Felix puts the trial off an sends Paul to Jail with visitors
Felix and wife Drusilla visit Paul
Paul’s response was about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment (25)
He sent Paul away again because he did not receive a bribe (26)
Paul remained in prison
This illustrates:
Our response is to include self-control even in adversity
Paul’s message of the gospel is accompanied with righteousness and self-control
Xians have the ability to control self which coincides with our faith
God is in control, he has established the governments above us
But we have to be different even morally different, not like the world
This example out in CA with Grace Community Church and Pastor John MacArthur’s church not being allowed to worship is a real situation, like Paul’s imprisonment
Elder’s of a Church (1 Tim 3:13)
Qualifications of an elder (presbyter)
First quality established is “above approach”
characteristic that marks a leader of the church
closely related to righteous
Ways this plays out (2)
One wife (committed to God’s established order for marriage)
Sober-minded (clearly thinking)
Self- Controlled (control of passions and desires)
(3) respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money
all aspects that take self-control
A lack of self- control disqualifies a leader in the church of Jesus Christ
It shows the importance of Self-control within the church
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
The purpose is that God expects this to be done with its leaders to set a good example and to model for the sheep what is expected within the church.
Men will not follow hypocrites, for very long.
We should se the seriousness of this quality and its expectation for us as believers.
A runner in a race (1 Co 9:24-27)
Paul’s point is that we are like runners in a race
Only those who finish the race receive the prize
(25) What does an athlete do to finish this race?
exercises Self- Control
The illustration breaks down in the actual prize - perishable versus imperishable
(27) self- control is a discipline of the body
It is a discipline that combines faith and practice
James 3 tells us to “tame the tongue”
bits and horses - control over our actual bodies
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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.
We are runners in a race, disciplining ourselves, practicing self-control
And, we are to be transformed from what we once were to a disciple of Jesus, practicing self-control
Conclusion
Conclusion
We are to practice this because it is the proof that we are Christians
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
But, we are to be different:
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
That we may be disciplined enough to finish the race
We are to rely on the grace of God and his son Jesus when we do not
against such things there is no law.
Jesus did not come so that we might escape the law, but that we might rely on him to persevere against it
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The point is that we rely on Jesus to help us live as we should, running this race, with self- control
And, that when we fail we rest in his grace, through repentance and faith, knowing that He alone provides salvation
Understanding this allows us to go out and try to be self-controlled, and to rest in him for strength to do so. As well as to rest in him when we fail.
This and all of these fruits help us to live more righteous lives with Jesus. Without him we have no hope to do so. With him, we have the ability to practice. Let us “get ahold of ourselves” and live a life that pleases our Master, Jesus the Christ. Amen