In 2 Peter 1:5-8, Peter gives us a framework for maturing in Christ. He commands us to add to our faith. I have been using this framework for a series of lessons at Monticello on Wednesday nights. Tonight, we covered self-control.
What is self-control? Let's skip the "control of self" answer, and dig a little deeper. It covers discipline, and the resistance of temptation (including avoiding the cookie aisle). Self-control is the restraint of one's emotions, impulses, and desires. It is mastery of one's self.
When we come to faith in Christ we are no longer our own. Jesus speaks of it in terms of losing and saving our lives. In Mark 8:35 he says, "For whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." Paul tells us, "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God? Your are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20, HCSB).
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses the metaphor of a race to explain the self-controlled life. Here are some principles to guide us.
1. We need to set our mind to it. We are all in the race, and all the runners run.
2. We need to establish our priorities. As runners, we run the race to win.
3. We need to focus on what is gained. When athletes train, they give up a lot. But they do it to gain a prize. Paul says they run for a prize that fades, but we run for an eternal crown.
4. We need to work hard. We aren't called to run in circles in the faith, but to move with discipline. We are to master our bodies and souls, so that we can bring glory to God.
5. We need to fear failure. Paul said that he ran in a way that would keep himself from being disqualified. He didn't want to get to the end and see that it was all for nothing.
Self-control grows as we grow in our knowledge of Christ and the gospel. It grows as we exercise goodness and faith. We are commanded to exercise control over our emotions, impulses, and desires. We should instead be driven by the glory of Christ.
Showing posts with label Self-control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self-control. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
On Alert!
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering" (1 Pet. 5:8-9, NIV).
Peter knew what it was like to caught in the lion's trap. During the last supper, Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat. He wouldn't listen. He thought he was invincible. You can read about it in Luke 22:24-46.
Someone defined self-control as man's ability to look at reality with a clear mind. Peter calls his readers to be self-controlled and alert. He points them to the reality. We are being hunted by a prowling lion who will devour us if he catches us. Peter reminds urges us to resist the enemy.
Peter uses several terms to describe our enemy. He calls him "your enemy." He isn't just Jesus' enemy, he is our enemy, as well. He is our enemy or adversary. He is one who wants to take us to court and strip us of all good. He is the devil, a slanderer and accuser. Our enemy is on the hunt, he's hungry, and violent.
How should we respond? We need to resist him. How do we resist him? We do it by standing firm in our faith. Peter, most probably, is referring the truths of Christianity, but he may also mean our personal profession of faith. Why do we resist him? We do it because our "brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering." He could be calling us to serve as an example for other believers, calling us to encourage other believers with our faithfulness, or calling us to remember our unity with Christ.
Peter wants us to be ready when the devil attacks. Where he once fell, he wants us to stand. If we are to succeed, we must be on alert!
Peter knew what it was like to caught in the lion's trap. During the last supper, Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat. He wouldn't listen. He thought he was invincible. You can read about it in Luke 22:24-46.
Someone defined self-control as man's ability to look at reality with a clear mind. Peter calls his readers to be self-controlled and alert. He points them to the reality. We are being hunted by a prowling lion who will devour us if he catches us. Peter reminds urges us to resist the enemy.
Peter uses several terms to describe our enemy. He calls him "your enemy." He isn't just Jesus' enemy, he is our enemy, as well. He is our enemy or adversary. He is one who wants to take us to court and strip us of all good. He is the devil, a slanderer and accuser. Our enemy is on the hunt, he's hungry, and violent.
How should we respond? We need to resist him. How do we resist him? We do it by standing firm in our faith. Peter, most probably, is referring the truths of Christianity, but he may also mean our personal profession of faith. Why do we resist him? We do it because our "brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering." He could be calling us to serve as an example for other believers, calling us to encourage other believers with our faithfulness, or calling us to remember our unity with Christ.
Peter wants us to be ready when the devil attacks. Where he once fell, he wants us to stand. If we are to succeed, we must be on alert!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Defending Walls
In the ancient world walls were the best defense against invasion. If a city planned wisely and their walls were strong, they could hold off an enemy indefinitely. However, once the wall was breached the outcome was determined by those who had greater strength, better weapons, and more skill. Without a wall, a city was wide open to attack. There was nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide.
Thus, the analogy is drawn. A man without self-control is defenseless. He is wide open for attack. People that lack self-control are easily manipulated. They are like lambs to the slaughter.
The Scripture uses various images for the forces of darkness--lions, wolves, locusts, hordes, etc. Each image is meant to flesh out the dangers posed by demonic forces. These forces pose a real threat to our lives. They hunt. They seek to devour.
If we are not able to keep watch, they will maul us with their malevolence. Catching us off guard, they will pounce. Solomon's warning strikes home. Without self-control we are defenseless against them. There is nothing we can do.
Self-control is not a natural reality. Although, some individuals are able to control themselves to a much higher degree than others, none of us is always in complete control. Paul tells us that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Which means that genuine self-control is a supernatural reality. God must work it in us.
The good news is that through Christ Jesus, we are indwelt by the Spirit and self-control is part of our new nature. A believer may grieve the Spirit during the process of growing in self-control, or he may quench the Spirit, but if the Spirit is present self-control will follow. By the Spirit's power, we should begin to see more and more of our attitudes, thoughts, and actions coming under the Spirit's sanctifying presence.
If you are overcome by anger, or given to laziness, or prone to exaggeration, etc., then you need to realize your defenses are down. The enemy is on the march. He is rapidly approaching, if he hasn't already set siege to your life. By the grace of God, erect the walls of self-control around your life, and find in him your hiding place.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Practicing What I Preach
I try to live out the truths I teach, although sometimes I don't always succeed as much as I would like. All of you will be glad to know that I have had opportunity to practice what I preached on Sunday morning. Proverbs 25:28 states, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Almost as soon as I had finished preaching God began applying this truth to my life: if my appetites, desires, passions and attitudes control me I am left defenseless and open to attack.
Delia and I ate lunch with the Hispanic church where there is always wonderful food. After we got home from church Sunday night, I tried to get on the internet several times. However, the program would open up, the modem would screech and squeal, but the internet eluded me. When I tried to log on Monday, I got the same response. Every tip and trick I tried failed. Every supposed solutions failed as well. Computers are great when they operate properly, but when they malfunction they often have the ability to not only remind us of the Fall, but of our own sinful nature. Does complaining to a "stupid" computer make it (or us) any smarter? No. Will buying a new one or switch providers really make a difference? Maybe, but the larger problem will still be present.
We are fallen people who live in a fallen world. Our frustration is often a symptom of unfulfilled expectations. We expect the computer to obey us and to do what it is commanded. We expect our will to go unhindered. We want things on our time line, we want to be in control. But, the reality is that we are not in control. So we have to adjust our attitudes and thoughts accordingly. We have to operate on God's time table, do what he has commanded, and trust his unseen hand in all things. And that is the root of self-control.
Whether it is Guatemalan rice and scrumptious chicken that tempts us to eat more than we should, or a computer that refuses to cooperate with our plans, we are called to control ourselves. And more importantly, we are called to be controlled by God. The good news is that God has given us everything we need for godliness through Jesus Christ. John states, "My dear children I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1).
This verse helps us to bridge the teaching from Sunday (morning and evening), and Wednesday night. Sunday morning God's Word compelled us to be self-controlled, Sunday evening we saw that God commanded us be of the same mind as Christ, who humble himself and obediently died on the the cross. Having trusted the promises of God, we do not have to grasp at them as if God would snatch them away. Have come to know the love of God we do not have to fear God removing it from us. The Christ who willing suffered humiliation to redeem man kind is the same exalted Christ who delights in saving all those who believe.
Just as John says we are not to sin. We are called, by the indwelling, life-giving Holy Spirit, to walk in humble obedience to God. Yet, when we fail to do so, God does not abandon us. Christ who died for us speaks in our defense. The perseverance of the saints rests not in their ability, but in God's will. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is founded on two important truths: God's sovereignty and his faithfulness. Most of us learned these truths early in life through the simple yet theologically rich children's songs: "Jesus Loves Me" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."
Friends continue to pray for me. Pray for Monticello that we will conform to the image of Christ, that God will give us a driving passion for his glory, and that he will do a might work in and through his people. Have a great day! Hope to see you Wednesday night.
Delia and I ate lunch with the Hispanic church where there is always wonderful food. After we got home from church Sunday night, I tried to get on the internet several times. However, the program would open up, the modem would screech and squeal, but the internet eluded me. When I tried to log on Monday, I got the same response. Every tip and trick I tried failed. Every supposed solutions failed as well. Computers are great when they operate properly, but when they malfunction they often have the ability to not only remind us of the Fall, but of our own sinful nature. Does complaining to a "stupid" computer make it (or us) any smarter? No. Will buying a new one or switch providers really make a difference? Maybe, but the larger problem will still be present.
We are fallen people who live in a fallen world. Our frustration is often a symptom of unfulfilled expectations. We expect the computer to obey us and to do what it is commanded. We expect our will to go unhindered. We want things on our time line, we want to be in control. But, the reality is that we are not in control. So we have to adjust our attitudes and thoughts accordingly. We have to operate on God's time table, do what he has commanded, and trust his unseen hand in all things. And that is the root of self-control.
Whether it is Guatemalan rice and scrumptious chicken that tempts us to eat more than we should, or a computer that refuses to cooperate with our plans, we are called to control ourselves. And more importantly, we are called to be controlled by God. The good news is that God has given us everything we need for godliness through Jesus Christ. John states, "My dear children I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1).
This verse helps us to bridge the teaching from Sunday (morning and evening), and Wednesday night. Sunday morning God's Word compelled us to be self-controlled, Sunday evening we saw that God commanded us be of the same mind as Christ, who humble himself and obediently died on the the cross. Having trusted the promises of God, we do not have to grasp at them as if God would snatch them away. Have come to know the love of God we do not have to fear God removing it from us. The Christ who willing suffered humiliation to redeem man kind is the same exalted Christ who delights in saving all those who believe.
Just as John says we are not to sin. We are called, by the indwelling, life-giving Holy Spirit, to walk in humble obedience to God. Yet, when we fail to do so, God does not abandon us. Christ who died for us speaks in our defense. The perseverance of the saints rests not in their ability, but in God's will. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is founded on two important truths: God's sovereignty and his faithfulness. Most of us learned these truths early in life through the simple yet theologically rich children's songs: "Jesus Loves Me" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."
Friends continue to pray for me. Pray for Monticello that we will conform to the image of Christ, that God will give us a driving passion for his glory, and that he will do a might work in and through his people. Have a great day! Hope to see you Wednesday night.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tips for Mortifying Sin
The Puritans and other used to speak of mortifying sin, that is putting to death our sin nature. John MacArthur points to eight scriptural principles in The Vanishing Conscience.
1) Abstain from fleshly lusts. (1Pet 2:11; 1Cor 6:8; Eph 4:28) The best way to kill sin is to stop sinning. As Yoda told Luke, "Do. Or do not. There is not try."
2) Make no provision for the flesh. (Rom 13:4) This may include avoiding the junk food isle at the store, setting the alarm for earlier in the day, going for a walk, reading Scripture daily. Where ever we struggle with sin we have to stop making excuses and start making plans to overcome.
3) Fix your heart on Christ. (1John 3:23) We must realize that Jesus is our great reward.
4) Meditate on God's Word. (Ps. 119:5, 11; 1:2; Josh 1:8; John 17:17; Col 3:16; Eph 6:17) Many people today think that meditation is the clearing the mind of all thoughts. However, biblical meditation is the filling of the mind with God's Word. Chewing the words over and over in order to better understand and apply them to our lives.
5) Pray without ceasing. (Luke 22:40; Matt 26:41) We need to be in a continual prayerful attitude.
6) Watch and Pray. (Ps. 19:12; 1 John 1:9; Heb 4:16) We are called to be vigilant.
7) Exercise self-Control. (Gal 5:23; 1 Cor 9:25-27; Luke 21:34; 2 Pet 1:3-11) By God's grace and with His help, we must strive to overcome our passions, desires, and self.
8) Be filled with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18;Rom 8:13; Phil 2:13-13; Gal 5:16) The Spirit dwells inside every believer, but we often grieve him and quench his work. To be filled with the Spirit is to walk in obedience to his leadership.
1) Abstain from fleshly lusts. (1Pet 2:11; 1Cor 6:8; Eph 4:28) The best way to kill sin is to stop sinning. As Yoda told Luke, "Do. Or do not. There is not try."
2) Make no provision for the flesh. (Rom 13:4) This may include avoiding the junk food isle at the store, setting the alarm for earlier in the day, going for a walk, reading Scripture daily. Where ever we struggle with sin we have to stop making excuses and start making plans to overcome.
3) Fix your heart on Christ. (1John 3:23) We must realize that Jesus is our great reward.
4) Meditate on God's Word. (Ps. 119:5, 11; 1:2; Josh 1:8; John 17:17; Col 3:16; Eph 6:17) Many people today think that meditation is the clearing the mind of all thoughts. However, biblical meditation is the filling of the mind with God's Word. Chewing the words over and over in order to better understand and apply them to our lives.
5) Pray without ceasing. (Luke 22:40; Matt 26:41) We need to be in a continual prayerful attitude.
6) Watch and Pray. (Ps. 19:12; 1 John 1:9; Heb 4:16) We are called to be vigilant.
7) Exercise self-Control. (Gal 5:23; 1 Cor 9:25-27; Luke 21:34; 2 Pet 1:3-11) By God's grace and with His help, we must strive to overcome our passions, desires, and self.
8) Be filled with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18;Rom 8:13; Phil 2:13-13; Gal 5:16) The Spirit dwells inside every believer, but we often grieve him and quench his work. To be filled with the Spirit is to walk in obedience to his leadership.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Something to Ponder
In the sermon preview post yesterday I asked: "How do we balance the biblical call to practice self-discipline with the biblical teaching that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit?". I came across a helpful quote from pastor and theologian John MacArthur. He said, "We cannot abandon our own responsibility and passively wait for God to mortify sin on our behalf. The Spirit-filled life is an active, vigorous, working endeavor, where we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). When we obey, we discover it is actually God who is at work in us "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (v. 13). In other words, God molds our wills to obey and then gives us the energy to work according to whatever pleases Him. That is the Spirit-filled life" (MacArthur, The Vanishing Conscience, 162).
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