Self Control-Week 2

Paul starts off Titus 2 by giving advice to a bunch of people. And that advice basically boils down to, ‘control yourselves, do good, and be a good example’.

Then paul says this:

Titus 2:11–14 NIV

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

God’s Grace Leads us to Self-Control

Most of the time, we feel like being told we need to do something is akin to legalism. ‘If it’s grace, then we don’t have to work for it’. But that’s supposing a wrong order - our action BEFORE God’s salvation.

This is going the other way around. First off, God gave us salvation - entirely on His grace.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

But in this grace, in this salvation, he’s teaching us things. Like how to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and wordly passions.

We talked about that last week - avoid temptation in thought, and in deed.

Understand self control as God’s gift, not his standard of judgment

Because remember - it’s a fruit of the spirit. It’s on the same list as love, and patience, and peace.

Paul says, through salvation, God teaches us self control.

A lack of self control definitely has consequences.

But the point isn’t that God won’t deal with us unless we get it right. The point is, God is trying to lead us away from self-destruction towards the gift of life.

We need to submit to this kind of process, and learn from Jesus, because there’s something really important we need to understand:

Self control isn’t optional because maturity is necessary

1 Corinthians 14:20 NIV

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

Paul says this in the middle of a conversation about worship, and tongues. And the believers at the church were refusing to move towards understanding, and maturity, and right conduct.

And paul says - knock it off. Stop being like children.

This children motif shows up again in other places. Ephesians 4:14 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

Paul paints this picture of immaturity being about instability

there’s this reality about being saved. When you’re first saved - you’re real green.

But from that point, you’re supposed to grow. You’re supposed to get more and more mature, learn more and more.

If you stay at a certain point developmentally in the flesh, they call that a developmental disorder.

In the Spirit,

Lack of maturity means a lack of attention and a lack of obedience

In the spiritual world, our ‘mentor’ is the Spirit. HE is the one teaching us. And maturity doesn’t start primarily with knowledge, or accumulated experience, or increased academic learning. It starts with listening to the Spirit.

I have met people who seemed wise beyond their years as new christians. and i have met people who still seemed like infants spiritually, who had been at this for years.

We can come up with all the excuses in the world, but at the end of the day - if the spirit himself is trying to teach us how to be more mature, and we’re not doing it - there’s one simple reason.

We don’t want to.

Because it’s definitely not the teacher. And it’s definitely not the process.

Sometimes we miss it because we don’t take the time to pay attention.

Sometimes we miss it because we don’t put in the effort to obey what we DO know.

I know this may sound a bit boring, I can admit. But here’s the thing - when we serve God. We want to see amazing things.

And it can be a bit discouraging, a bit draining, to NOT see that kind of stuff we expect. God pushes self-control, but we’d really love to see someone get raised from the dead. He pushes patience, but it’d be awesome if manna just rained from the sky.

But there’s something we really don’t understand about the spiritual world, and God’s priorities for us.

Self control is a powerful spiritual activity

Proverbs 16:32 NIV

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Solomon was writing this during a culture that VALUED warriors and those who could capture cities.

And he says - it’s better to be patient than a warrior, and it’s better to be able to conquer yourself than an entire city.

And this doesn’t make a lot of sense to us! Surely God needs those people who could conquer cities. Who were powerful warriors.

God would rather have the person who is patient and self controlled.

If you want to be powerful for God - practice self control. if you want to show people the power of the spirit in your life - practice self control.

I’m convinced that, among a multitude of other reasons, a big reason for God to prioritize self control is simply this:

God wants a relationship with you

John 14:23 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Self control may not seem like the power to raise the dead, or heal the sick, or bring sight to the blind.

But it keeps us from wandering off, from being unproductive, from getting caught on something deceptive or evil.

And that’s very important to God. Because he loves us, and wants to be with us.

There may be times he wants to heal, and he may not.

but every time, God wants to come into your life, make his home there, and live your days with you.