Self-Control

Story about food

Proverbs 25:28

A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

What happened to a city with broken down walls in Solomon’s day?

Couldn’t defend themselves against an enemy

Susceptible to being overtaken

Lacked a sense of security

Walls help protect & defend

Walls help keep out what needs to stay out

Walls help set boundaries

What do we have to fear? What do we have to worry about? What do we have to protect ourselves from? Why do we need walls in our lives?

Let’s play $25,000 pyramid…

A 50% off sale; Fresh baked brownies; 2 week vacation at your favorite spot; Kids no longer complaining; Watching golf on TV

Things that are irresistible...

Well, I don’t know that any of these things will hurt us too bad (maybe the 50% off & to much of the brownies)! But the Bible speaks of “cravings” that we have that certainly have the potential to harm us in significant ways.

Mentally

Physically

Spiritual

I’m not saying that we all should live in a monastery

Do I want this or do I need this?

I can’t answer the question for you. Here’s the questions we must ask… Is it something we want or something we need? Are you controlling the want, or is the want controlling you?

Is this honoring God or is this honoring self?

Prov 25:28 - A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

So here’s my question… How are the walls in your life?

What does someone with good self-control look like? Well I don’t know what they look like, but here’s what they live like...

Maybe a better question is “How much “Self” is in self-control?”

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that it is the work of the HS to produce in us self-control.

2 Peter 1:5–9 (NIV)

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

8For 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.

9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

The more you know about Jesus / The more of him that you apply your life / The more you will become like him.

Prayer - “Spirit, Do you work and build a hedge of protection around us. Create and sustain a wall around us to keep us protected from the fire darts of the enemy.