"Getting Control Of Your Life"

Proverbs 25:28

What is temperance?

Temperance is the virtue of controlling excess. You do too much,,,,Spending Eating Drinking Talking

It can be expressed through characteristics like modesty, got to have the biggest or the best humility, preferring others before yourself , and self-regulation. putting you on a schedule.

Temperance can help people enjoy things in moderation, like a piece of cake. 

sub point# In ancient times city walls protected people from their enemies, Self control is the wall THAT PROTECTS US FROM TEMPTATIONS of the evil one.

Proverbs 25:28 states like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control essentially meaning someone without self-discipline is as vulnerable and exposed as a city with no protective walls, leaving them open to negative influences and pour decisions just as an undefended city would be open to enemy tag; it emphasizes the importance of personal restraint and discipline in one’s life.

Key points about this verse:

POINT# Lack Of Self-control-Is a weakness:

The injury of a broken -down City highlights the severity of lacking self-control, signify a lack of defense against temptations and negative emotions.

a. Few things reveal a lack of temperance like losing our tempers. someone has described losing our tempers as temporary insanity becaise we often say and do insane things when we are angry.

b. Anger is a decision to lose control

Temperance speaks who or what has control of you.

POINT# The choice between two masters.)

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

No one can serve two masters: Having two masters is not like working two jobs. Jesus had the master and slave relationship in mind, and no slave could serve two masters.

i. Jesus states that serving two masters is a simple impossibility. If you think that you are successfully serving two masters, you are deceived. It can’t be done. God constantly reminded them that to worship Baal was to forsake the Lord God. To be loyal to the one is to despise the other.

As ancient Israel struggled with idolatry, they thought they could worship the Lord God and Baal. Gii. “In the natural sphere it is impossible for a slave to serve two masters, for each claims him as his property, and the slave must respond to one or other of the claims with entire devotion, either from love or from interest.” (Bruce)

iii. It can be simply said: Don’t serve your money. Let your money serve the Lord and it will serve you.

You cannot serve God and mammon

: There are different opinions regarding the origin of the term 

mammon

. Some think it was the name of a pagan god. Others think the name comes “From the Hebrew 

aman

, to 

trust ,confide: because men are apt to trust in riches.” (Clarke) Whatever its origin, the meaning is clear: mammon

 is materialism, or “wealth personified.” (Bruce)

ii. Certainly, Jesus is talking about the heart here. Many people would say they love God, but their service of money shows that in fact they do not. How can we tell who or what we are serving? One way is by remembering this principle: you will sacrifice for your God. If you will sacrifice for the sake of money, but will not sacrifice for the sake of Jesus, don’t deceive yourself: money is your God.

iii. We must remember that we don’t have to be rich to serve mammon (money and material things); the poor can be just as greedy and covetous as the rich can be.

 (3-6) Does Paul minister according to the flesh?

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

 (3-6) Does Paul minister according to the flesh?

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Pulling down strongholds: Strongholds in this context are wrong thoughts and perceptions, contradicting the true knowledge of God and the nature of God. These strongholds are expressed in arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

i. This reliance on carnal methods and the habit of carnal thinking is a true stronghold. It stubbornly sets down deep roots in the heart and mind, and it colors all of our actions and thinking. It is hard to let go of the thinking that values the things and ways of this world, but God’s power really can break down these strongholds.

ii. In Paul’s native land of Cilicia, some fifty years before he was born, Roman armies destroyed many rocky fortresses to defeat the pirates who had taken refuge in those strongholds. Perhaps Paul saw the ruins and thought of the battle needed to conquer those fortresses.

iii. Redpath writes of a practical way to battle with spiritual weapons and break down a stronghold: “When the thought comes and the person is reported to have said what he has said, and the unkindness has been passed over to us, and the criticism has been made, whereas carnality would say, ‘Counterattack!’ spirituality recognizes that nothing that any person could ever say about any one is really one hundredth part as bad as the truth if he only knew it. Therefore, we have no reason to counterattack, but one good reason to submit and to forget.”

iv. Praise God, strongholds can be pulled down! Clarke recounts with wonder one stronghold pulled down in history: “In like manner the doctrines of the reformation, mighty through God, pulled down – demolished and brought into captivity, the whole papal system; and instead of obedience to the pope, the pretended vicar of God upon the earth, obedience to Christ, as the sole almighty Head of the Church, was established, particularly in Great Britain, where it continues to prevail. Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!” (Adam Clarke)

d. Arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God: Carnal and worldly ways of thinking and doing are arguments against the mind and methods of God. They want to debate God, saying they have a better way. They exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. They think of themselves as smarter, more sophisticated, more effective, more powerful than God’s ways. Carnal, worldly minds think they know more than God does!

i. We must remind ourselves that Paul speaks to carnal, worldly thinking among Christians. He isn’t talking about the world here but the Corinthian Christians. They were the ones with the strongholds in their minds and hearts. They made the arguments against God’s mind and methods. They held on to every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We miss it entirely if we think the love of manipulation, the image of success, smooth words, the perception of power, lording over authority, and human schemes and programs are just problems among unbelievers. Paul dealt with this heart and mind in the church.

ii. “For nothing is more opposed to the spiritual wisdom of God than the wisdom of the flesh, and nothing more opposed to His grace than man’s natural ability.” (Calvin)

Proverbs 29:22 "An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression". 

This verse warns that people who act in anger without restraint risk a sudden and tragic fate. It also suggests that uncontrolled tempers can cause trouble in any situation. 

For example, a hot-tempered church member might cause strife in business meetings and conversations. A hot-tempered dictator might also fan hostility with other nations and their own citizens. 

The Importance Of personal Boundaries:

just as a city wall protects its inhabitants self-control Acts as a personal boundary that prevents one from being easily swayed by outside pressures.

This verse encourages individuals to actively manage their emotions, impulses, and actions, exercising restraint with necessary to make wise choices.

Some interpretations link this verse to the concept of the Holy Spirit”s fruit, particularly self-control which is necessary for living a godly life.

Impact On Relationships:

A person lacking self-control can negatively impact their relationships due to uncontrolled outburst or poor decision making.

In ancient times, city walls protected people from their enemies. Self-control is the wall that protects us from the temptations of the evil one. We must control our emotions, passions, and appetites in four areas.