Self Control, Fruit of the Spirit
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Sacred Self-Control
Controlled by The Spirit
Spirit-Control
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Read Matthew 4:1-11
Intro about Self Control
Illustration, Hook
During the fourteenth century Raynald III, was a duke in what is now Belgium.
As the result of a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward successfully revolted against him.
When Edward captured Raynald he built a room around him featuring windows and a door and promised him that the day he left the room his title and property would be returned to him.
The problem with this arrangement was that Raynald was massively overweight and could not fit through the small door in the room.
Raynald needed to lose weight before he could leave the room.
Edward knew that his older brother could not control his appetite and sent him delicious food every day.
As you may imagine, Raynald grew fatter during this time.
Anytime someone accused Duke Edward of treating Raynald cruelly he said: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Transition - Lack of self control can be a prison. It can keep us from going forward in our job, in our relationships, in our health, and in our relationship with Jesus.
1.What is Biblical Self Control?
The ability to
Contained, constrained, limit, restrained, sets aside an immediate and lesser pleasure for the greater and eternal pleasure of knowing Jesus.
It is really easy to have a false understanding of self control.
Example - As children when we cried too much we were told to be quiet and control our tears.
As children we were over active, we were told to control ourself.
-One of our deacons was so over active as a child that his mother had a switch in every room
-When we over ate at dinner or had too much candy we were told to have self control.
When you hear the term self control you naturally think that you’ve got to pull yourself together.
We falsely think that - Self Control is something we do on our own.
As a Christ Follower, Biblical Self Control, is something completely different that pulling ourself together in our own strength. In fact = it’s not that.
Biblical Self Control is a fruit that come from the filling and empowering of God’s Spirit.
Biblical Self Control is empowered by God’s Spirit.
Self Control happens when God’s power works in and through you to help you focus your passions on pleasing Christ.
Biblical Self Control is not your own ability to grit your teeth and control your desires.
Biblical Self Control is not - Self discipline, it is not having a strong will.
Biblical self control is - depending on the Spirit of God to work through you.
He, God’s Spirit, is the power that makes changes in your life.
2.Why is self control sacred?
-My passions make a poor master.
-God directed (God controlled) passions are a delight.
-God directed passions place your desires in the right place.
-Many times we think of self control we get the idea that God does not want me to enjoy life or find pleasure in life. The opposite is true.
God does not want your life to be wrecked by unconstrained passions: fear, worry, doubt, insecurity, coveting, lust, outbursts of anger ...
Instead he wants your eyes to look at His beauty and be filled with wonder.
He wants you eyes to read his truth and stand on Him as a rock.
He wants your hands to touch your spouse or your grandchildren and be encouraged with the touch of family.
He wants your ears to hear music that lifts your soul him and your heart to delight in a God who loves you.
God is not trying to hold you back from pleasure. He is protecting you so you can experience the greatest pleasures.
Everything sin touches it kills. Much of the sin we struggle wit comes from our passions not being constrained by God’s Spirit.
Living a without self control is like frying bacon naked.
-You know you are going to get popped and burned. You just don’t know when or where.
3.Why is Self Control Important?
Self Control give you ability to head toward the goal.
Lack of Self Control causes distractions and disaster.
Illustration - In a ball game one of the most distracting things is when your opponent talks trash.
-Your opponent gets you focused off of the play, off of the ends zone, the ball, your block,
-Your opponent draws your attention to him. The game becomes about the trash talker. You lose site of your team and scoring.
Self control keeps you centered on the gaol.
What is the goal? Knowing Jesus and making Him known.
Transition - In our passage today Jesus faced the biggest liar and trash talker of all time. Satan himself. And Satan would test Jesus’ self control
4.Jesus and Self Control
Matthew 4:1-11
John 4:34
A. vs. 1, Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness. - This was God’s plan
B. 40 Days of Fasting - Fasting and Praying as he entered into formal ministry & prepared to face Satan.
-Jesus great self control has a granite foundation of prayer.
C. Jesus was physically week. He hadn’t eaten in 40 days. He would be psychologically week as well. Vulnerable. The strength and boldness of His flesh would be compromised.
-but Jesus had a trump card.
D. The Spirit of God filled Jesus. Yes, Jesus was God. He also had the power of the 3rd person of the Trinity lifting Him.
E. Not only was God’s plan for Jesus to be in the wilderness fasting and praying, preparing spiritually for 3 years of ministry.
F. It was also God’s plan for Satan to visit Jesus and tempt him.
G. Jesus was ready, He had fasted and prayed. He was fully in line with His Father.
1st Temptation - Temptation of desire.
-Jesus needed food.
-He was literally starving.
-Satan wanted Jesus to break the fast that the Father had Jesus on.
-Turn this stone in to bread.
-Illustration, have you ever been famished and gone to a restaurant where they give you the basket of hot yeast rolls with honey butter? Jesus could easily have made that for himself.
-Jesus knew God’s will for himself and showed self control.
-Jesus was filled with the Spririt of God and God’s Word.
-Read verse 4.
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
-Jesus desired to do God’s Will more than fill His physical desire.
-When, you have an unwholesome physical desire do you desire God’s Spiritual desire for you more than your physical desire?
-Jesus perfectly obeyed and had self control.
2nd Temptation - Temptation of Doubt in God’s Plan - temptation to take control.
-Satan brings him to the pinnacle of the Temple and tells Jesus to prove he is the son of God by jumping off and letting the Angels catch Him.
-If Jesus did this he would be seen by many.
-They would see that he was the Messiah.
-They would anoint Him Israel’s King right then.
-He could immediately reign.
-No need to suffer from the Cross
-No need for all the hard work.
-Jesus showed self control.
-Jesus perfectly trusted His Father’s plan and did not take control himself.
-He responded with the Word of God’s and the power of God’s Spirit.
-Read verse 7.
-When the pressure in life gets difficult, are you tempted to doubt God’s plan, and make your won plan? Go your own way?
-Jesus perfectly obeyed and had self control.
3rd Temptation Idolatry
-Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain.
-Satan said, Bow down and worship me and you can have the world.
-Jesus responds from Deuteronomy
-Read verse 10.
Jesus (who is considered the 2nd Adam) passed the test that the 1st Adam could not pass.
Jesus chose the will of His Father
-Jesus showed perfect self control.
-He responded with the Word of God through the Power of God’s Spirit.
-What is the temptation to idolatry in your life?
How will you respond to it with God’s Word and the Power of God’s Spirit?
Jesus is the perfect example of Self Control.
Illustration - transition
When a horse is broken and a bridle is placed in its mouth.
That horse goes from a wild animal to an animal that is very valuable and useful.
When you are under the control of God - exercising self control you become useful to God’s Kingdom. You become a useful minister for Christ.
So, How do I grow in self control?
5. 3 ways to grow in self-control
1. Be filled with God’s Spirit.
-Every day ask for God to fill you with Himself and help you rid your self of sin.
-At salvation you were baptised into God’s Spirit.
-There is one baptism of God’s Spirit (at salvation), but there are many fillings.
-It is God’s will for you to be full of His Spirit to overflowing.
-Ask HIM!
2. Get God’s Word in.
God’s Word is alive and powerful.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God’s Word transforms you!
Jesus could respond to Satan and exercise self control because He knew God’s Word.
Get in God’s Word everyday at the same time.
Play God’s Word on your phone as you drive.
I like devotional books and I think you should use them, but the Bible doesn’t say my devotional book is alive and sharper than a 2 edged sword. His Word is.
-Read your devotional book. More importantly read your Bible.
3. Accountability from other Christ Followers (Church)
Jesus didn’t have something that you have today. You have the church. You have others believers to encourage you and hold you accountable with self control.
-Will you go to a spiritually mature friend that you trust and ask them. Will you weekly hold me accountable and ask me how things are going with: anger, what I say, lust, having a daily time with Jesus.
Gospel - the self control of Christ
Samuel Stokes, an American missionary, walked through the Punjab, carrying only a water-bottle and blanket, trusting wholly to native hospitality.
In one village he was given a particularly hostile reception. The headmen of the village sat in chairs in a circle, smoking, leaving him the whole evening sitting on the floor.
When he asked if he might nurse their sick and teach them, they hurled horrible insults at him; but he made no reply.
Then they gave him stale crusts in a filthy bowl. He thanked them courteously, and ate.
For two days this lasted.
On the third day, the headman laid his turban at Stokes' feet as a token of respect.
He explained that they had heard that Jesus' disciples were commanded to love their enemies, and had decided to put him to the test.
The result had amazed them.
Now they brought him their choicest food, and were eager to hear about Jesus.
This missionary was willing to be mistreated if it meant the salvation of others.
This Missionary showed self control so that others would be saved.
Their is a greater missionary that showed perfect self control.
His name is Jesus.
Listen to what this Old Testament Prophecy written 700 years before Jesus birth, says about Jesus self control.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
Through Christ’s perfect self control He went to the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sins.
The missionary and Jesus both showed exceptional self control because they wanted what God the Father wanted.
In what area of your life has God called you to step into greater self control?