Self Control WK 1

2 Peter 1:3–11 NIV

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This verse doesn’t seem to be laser focused on the idea of self-control - it’s just an item in a list. But paul outlines two possibilities - a life of ‘nearsighted blindness’ and a life of ‘increasing measures of godliness’.

Spiritual immaturity is defined by temptation

Galatians 5:17 NIV

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

‘I can do whatever I want’ is the rallying cry of the spiritually immature.

Paul says, because of that battle, we can’t automatically do what we want.

Spiritual maturity is defined by discipline

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 NIV

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Faith isn’t a competition where we have to beat someone to succeed.

But it is very similar to the idea of an athlete going into training.

This idea of discpline - it’s ultimately self control. It is controlling the bad things that come OUT of us, and the good things that go INTO us.

As an athlete, that means, tempering bad desires. And adopting good behaviours.

How can we develop self control?

Two areas:

Avoid temptation in thought

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This involves addressing those foreign ideas that come in (be self-centered! It’s your money and your time,nobody has the right to ask anything of you! You’re paying, so you should get what you want!).

The world is always going to have an opinion on every topic imaginable. And no matter how good something is, someone’s always against it.

Furthermore, the world is going to be deadset against a lot of priorities that God has.

In following Jesus - we need to reject these. Because God’s priorities are different than ours - and everyone elses.

But it also involves disciplining those negative and unhealthy ideas that come OUT.

Our flesh works against the spirit, so we can’t do what WE want.

I love this image of, ‘take captive every thought’. That means - before it gets out, lock it down. And ask a few questions.

The biggest one is - does this thought obey Christ? or something else?

We have this false sense of spirituality, where we think we just kick up our feet and then God does everything. But THIS - this is a very active component of maturity.

You won’t find a christian who is mature who doesn’t practice self-control and self-discipline.

Avoid temptation in deed

Mark 9:43–44 NIV

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

I believe Jesus is completely serious here. We just need to understand one thing - it’s not our hands that cause us to sin.Our hands are neutral.

Jesus is teaching a principle here. We need to have such a radical avoidance of sin that we’d rather lose our hands than our salvation.

Fortunately, that won’t be necessary. But some times, the choices we’re faced with - we’d rather lose our hands. ELECTRONICS? BAD MEDIA? NEGATIVE HABITS? SECRET LIFESTYLE CHOICES?

The world is full of temptations - and we need to live radical lives to avoid them.

Now, I want to sidebar here. Jesus’ goal wasn’t for us to simply cut off all access to the world. We have a mission.

The bible calls it, ‘in the world but not of the world’. We’re out there - but we’re living radically so that the stuff out there doesn’t get in us.

If you have anything in your life that is causing you to sin - cut it off. Is it your smart phone? Go back to a dumb phone. A core relationship is leading you astray? Introduce barriers and ask yourself how essential it is. You have a bad habit? Kick it - and get help from others to keep it kicked.

This sounds like a lot of work - monitor our thoughts, and filter our actions.

The Spirit can help you - no matter what

We started the verse off with this:

2 Peter 1:3 NIV

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

His power has given us everything. AND - he called us because of His glory and goodness.

The two most essential aspects of this - God calling us, and God empowering us - have NOTHING to do with how good we are.

That’s good news. Because it means, you can start today.

And if you’ve been on this trail, and wandered off it - God can restart you today.