Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus: Self-Control
Being the Hands and Feet of Jeuss • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What do I believe God wants them to know? That we are to have self-control
Why? It leads to godliness and goodness
What do I believe God wants them to do? Practice self-control
Why? It leads to godliness and goodness
ME/WE
Have you ever had a time in your life when you said something and you were like where did that come from or go off on someone and you were like what in the world did I just do?
Maybe for some of us it is not what comes out of our mouth but what we put into our mouth....I am not necarrliey referring to illegial things but it is hard for you, if you are like me, to say no to sweets and you cannot just have one right!?! Who does that?
I shouldn’t eat this because I feel like garbage later BUT IT IS SO GOOD
Or maybe you did that thing again…you know that thing that you have been trying to stop doing but haven’t stop doing yet.
Maybe you can related to the Apostle Paul when he says in Romans 7:14-24
What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
17–20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
21–23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
How do I stop doing the things I don’t want to do?
Just will it....how many of us know that doesn’t work
Just read about it….I read a lot books on my internet addiction but that moved me ahead an inch closer but didn’t change me but got me more frustrated!
Change the lines…change God’s law and standard....if you love someone body then you can relations with that person, not marriage.
What I need and what you need is self-control....yeah I know....and self-control does not happened by WILL POWER ALONE.
The last gift....we will cover the other gifts after Easter
The first way that we get it....it is not in any particular order
It really changed my life years ago…you want victory over ___ it is going to happen not the way you think…by just trying over come it and focusing on it....It is actually going to come when you focus on God.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
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.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Do you see what God’s Word says?
Do you want to know how to have freedom? Do you want to know to have self-control?
What does it say? Just stop it. Try really hard
NO, what does it say?
Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...
Why? The Spirit is over here and flesh and the world are over there
Stragties are good, will power is good…but at the end to the day if you are NOT walking by the Spirit you are fighting a losing battle
It is like going to the gym to work out and get in shape and lose weight but not watching what you eat…it really won’t matter how much you work out if you if you don’t watch what you eat....the old saying goes you cannot out work a bad diet
The same is true with self-control....you can try with all your will power and put up stragties and read books.
This truth struck me in a very eye opening way years ago when I was a young man trying to get victory in my life.
-I was trying and trying fighting
And I was reading a Christian book the author writes....too many people try to get victory over sin just by will power and self-control…that is not the way the scriptures tell us to do it....the scriptures tell us we get self-control by walking with the Spirit and He laid out this verse
Then he began to say when you struggle WALK with God. Worship God. Pray.
Then after we start walking there is something we need to do? Something we need to walk with…What’s that?
2. WE PUT ON THE ARMOR....I SHOULD SAY WE WALK WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD
WHY?
ONE OF THINGS WE NEED TO REALIZE IS THAT WHILE WE WALK WE HAVE THREE ENEMIES THAT WANT TO TAKE US OUT…guess who doesn’t like it?
THE WORLD
OUR FLESH
THE ENEMNY
Have we not experienced this before?
Maybe we had a good walk with JESUS
Someone is coming to provoke you, they are sending unwanted and unnecessary DARTS at you
ENEMY starts shooting darts at you…called that in Matt 4
Flesh starts saying come one you have not satisfied your secret sin
World coming in the form or a friend starting to gossip…did you here what Pete did
If you don’t come often they try shame next.....don’t be a loser…you are no fun....oh your so holy I know your past
RIDICULING YOU
SAYING HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT YOU
MAKING FUN OF YOU
TEARING YOU DOWN
THE REALITY IS WE SHOULD EXPECT TO BE ATTACKED WHILE WE ARE ON THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN
WE ARE TO BE WARRIORS WITH ARMOR
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
WHEN SOMEONE TEMPTS YOU TO LOSE IT....SELF-CONTROL
BELT: I KNOW WHO I AM IN CHRIST I AM FORGIVEN SAITN
BREAT PLATE: Prov 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
SHIELD of FAITH: God is going to provide for me need
HELMET of Salvation: Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
SHOES of PEACE: fight for peace
SWORD of the SPIRIT
Someone is coming to provoke you, they are sending unwanted and unnecessary
We Jesus uses the SWORD of the SPIRIT
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
MEET THIS LEGITMATE NEED....DON’T PRACTICE SELF CONTROL
GOD’s word says WALK, PUT on the ARMOR,
3. RUN
that’s weak!
I am going to stand and fight…sometimes yes…sometimes no!
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
we see this with Joseph when Potiphers wife wants Joseph....hey Joseph
HOW CAN I DO THIS sin against God?
Sometimes you need to run from the situation
Run from the person
Run from the computer
Run from the drink
GOOD NEWS IS
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
4. WE NEED THE CHURCH
TO PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL I AM GOING TO NEED YOU AND YOU ARE GOING TO NEED ME
WE NOT GET COMPLETE FREEDOM ON OUR OWN…I NEED THE CHURCH…YOU NEED THE
YOUR RELATIONSHIPOW WITH GOD IS NOT JUST YOU AND GOD
IN FACT MOST OF THE YOUS IN THE BIBLE ARE YOU ALL
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We are to be each others biggest fans!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
We are not the SHAME CLUB but the PRAISE CHOIR
share your testimony
It gives power
I used be angry
I used to be an alchololic
THEY GOT VICTORY....I CAN GET VICTORY
Part
The sins we often commit over and over are the ones we confess to God and not often to man....PRIDE says you can do it yourself....HUMILITY SAYS I NEED HELP
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
There is healing in confession
COMMMUNION
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.