Sermon Tone Analysis

Add To Your Faith Self-Control (Temperance) Part 2

Scripture Lesson: II Peter 1:5-7 II Peter 1:5-7,

Romans 12:2 Definition:

The Biblical term for self control is temperance.

The Greek word for temperance is egkrateia from egkrates, which means “restraining and controlling oneself.”

Self-control is the inward strength to bring all physical appetites under the control of the Holy Spirit.

1.

The Vital Importance Of Self Control.

Church Leaders Must Have Self-Control Titus 1:7-8,

Three Ways Leaders Can Cultivate Self-Control:

1. Be Mindful.

Do not give into Emotional Impulses.

2. Get Enough Sleep.

3. Create Rituals and Routines “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”

2. The Opposite Of SelfControl.

The Biblical antonym of self control means “to be powerless, incontinent, unable to withstand or resist the desires and passions of human appetite.”

(Romans 7:15, 19, 24).

Self- control is choosing to do what is right when I feel like doing wrong.

How Did Paul Develop Self control?

Three Steps:

1.Joining God’s Family There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

(Romans 8:14).

2. Obeying the Holy Spirit For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. .

.. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So, then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:3–4, 7–8).

“The Christians who neglects the Holy Spirit is like a lamp that is not plugged in.”

3. Listening to God’s Spirit Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

(Romans 8:12–13).

Colossians 3:5:

I Corinthians 9:27:

Self-control is responding to sin in the same way a dead man does.

Temperance is Yielding to the Right Authority ( Rom 6:11-18 )

1. What do we normally give-in to?

Habits, lusts, pressures – we yield to what we are used to giving in to

2. As a Christian, there is a need for “reckoning” – adding things up, and weighing them out to see which is better – 2 Peter 1

3. Reckon some things to be Dung… and some things to be Priceless Become Unresponsive (Dead) to Live for the thrill of… Sin – what you know to be wrong World –

anything that is not of Christ (like Drink, Drugs, Sex before marriage)

Flesh – self-serving interests

Lusts – pleasure first Bad habits – what you do naturally like Laziness Bitterness and habitual anger God (Creator of this universe)

Righteousness Grace Heaven ( Col 3 ) Soul-Winning Family Pleasing God – “Well done…” Making a difference (i.e., Doctor) Saving our generation

4. Principles:

a.

There are TWO KINGS who seek to rule your life

1) One is Satan – disguised as SELF and rebellion

2) The other is Jesus – meek and lowly

b.

You are a servant of one or the other – no middle ground

C.

You are the servant to that which you obey

5.

No Christian is to be under the dominion of any sin – no sin should have any controlling influence over your life – period (Rom 6:14)

The moment you got saved, you became the servant of righteousness King! – stay there, and serve THAT

KEEP UNDER literally means “to beat black and blue, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots, like a boxer who buffets his body, to handle it roughly, to discipline by hardships.”

How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? . . .

likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:2,11

The Discipline of Fasting Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watching, in fasting.

II Corinthians 6:3–5

The Power That Produces Self-Control Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

Then you will not be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.

And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. .

.. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol.

(Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23).

As God takes control of our lives, self-control will be the natural result.

Tips On How To Demonstrate Self-Control:

At Home

▪ Refuse to allow other family members to provoke you to anger.

▪ Never discipline in anger.

▪ Look for ways to serve other family members rather than yourself.

▪ Purpose never to raise your voice in anger in the home.

At Work/School

▪ Purpose ahead of time that you will stand alone for what is right and refuse to compromise.

▪ Refuse to participate in harmful habits.

▪ Choose to walk away from questionable activities.

▪ Don’t allow anger to destroy the effectiveness of your witness.

At Church

▪ Reject gossip about church leaders and other church members.

▪ Never react in anger to those who disagree with you.

▪ Follow the principles in Matthew 18:15-20 to restore someone who has a fault.

Balance in the Christian Life (1Cor 9:24-27)

A. Most of us are imbalanced in major areas of our lives (Hosea 7:8) – undisciplined – unable to know when enough is enough, or to say no to something we know we should not do

1.

Like a pancake, that has been cooking a while, and not been turned

2. So we too are burnt on one side, and raw on the other - imbalanced

3. We become no good to anyone

B. But a Christian is supposed to be a unique kind of a person – a truly balanced person – “fulfilled”

1.

To the world, we look very extreme (Church on Sundays, no discos, no pub-crawling, no smoking, no porn, dedicated time reading our Bibles every day, praying about everything) - to the world, we look boring

2. But what we do, and what we believe from the Bible actually puts balance into our lives, and fulfils our lives like no disco or drug ever could

C. The Real Prize (1Cor 9:24; Phil 3:13,14; Heb 12:1,2)

1.

An Eternal Prize – lasts forever – not like the things we accumulate in this life (rusts, falls apart, breaks down)

2. A priceless prize – up to five crowns can be earned

3. Worth everything you may have to go through

D. Striving for the Mastery (1Cor 9:25)

1.

Of a Skill (piano playing) – not just play it, but master it!

2. Of a Sport (Soccer kicking)

3. Of a Subject (Maths, Science, Drawing)

4. Today’s world is only interested in mastering SIN – getting good at lying, and stealing, and cheating, and fornicating!

5.

The Christian has a greater desire – that is for the mastery of SELF

E. God wants us Temperate in all areas of our life – all areas

1.

Our Time (Eph 5:15,16)