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Growing Spiritually

Growing Spiritually. Lesson 12: Self-control. Last Week: “A Gentle Approach”. Gentleness is controlling how we react to other people. It means that we are mild, humble and self controlled towards others. Prov 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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Growing Spiritually

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  1. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12: Self-control

  2. Last Week: “A Gentle Approach” • Gentleness is controlling how we react to other people. • It means that we are mild, humble and self controlled towards others. • Prov 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. • Be understanding; be gracious, not judgmental; be tender; be teachable; don’t retaliate. • When you share your faith with others, respect them. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  3. Today’s Lesson: “Developing Self-control” • Just what does the Bible mean by “self-control”. • How to develop self control: • Identify your problem and admit to it. • Put your past behind you. • Challenge your feelings. • Believe you can change. • Avoid temptation. • Trust in God’s power. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  4. Why can’t I … • Many of our problems are caused by a lack of self-control. • Why can’t I ___________? • get more done; control my temper; break that habit; get out of debt; read my Bible more? • We are our own biggest problem! • Consider David’s life. Was he self-controlled? • Self-controlled: 1 Sam 24:1-15; 1 Sam 26:1-20. • Lacked self-control: 2 Sam 11:2-5; 2 Sam 11:6-25. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  5. Are your walls “broken down” • Prov 25:28 - Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control . NIV • We have all experienced the effect of a lack of self-control at some point in our lives. • Most of us probably sense that we lack self-control in at least one aspect of our lives right now. • The result may be that you feel: • Overwhelmed by circumstances and pressure. • Defenseless and vulnerable. • Scared, stressed or uncertain. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  6. 2 Peter 1:5-7 • 5 … make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. NIV Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  7. 1 Cor 9:24-27 • 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. NIV • What do you think Paul is talking about here? Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  8. 1 Cor 9:24-27 • Could it be knowledge, self-control and perseverance? • Practice self control so that you will not be “disqualified” from the race (vs 27) • Our lives require “self-control” • Self control requires “strict training” (vs 25) • We are to live our lives in such a way as to achieve an “eternal prize” (vs 25) • We know what is required to achieve the prize (vs 26) Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  9. “Self-controlled” translation • “self-controlled” is typically translated from 2 Greek words: • sophron (so'-frone); sophroneo (so-fron-eh'-o); sophronos (so-fron'-oce) • safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion). • 1 Tim 3:2,11; Titus 1:8; 2:2 • nephaleos (nay-fal'-eh-os); nephalios (nay-fal'-ee-os); • sober, i.e. (figuratively) circumspect. • 1 Tim 3:2,11; Titus 2:2 • 1 Tim 3:2 – Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, NIV • The most typical meaning and use is “self controlled; clear minded; temperate; discrete; circumspect” Circumspect – aware and heedful of circumstances; prudent. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  10. Titus 2:1-6 • 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  11. Titus 2 • Titus chapter 2 contains the use of these words repeatedly. • We are to teach “self-control”. • This is in accordance with sound doctrine. • We are to teach self-control to everyone: old and young alike. • The older are to teach the younger. • Why so much emphasis to teach “self-control”? Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  12. Developing self-control • So…how do we develop self-control? • There are many things that are important: • Identify your problem and admit to it. • Put your past behind you. • Challenge your feelings. • Believe you can change. • Avoid temptation. • Trust in God’s power. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  13. Admit your problem • James 1:14-15 – but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. NIV • Accept responsibility for your lack of self control. • Admit your problem. • We are lured by temptation because we want to do whatever that temptation is. • It is what we desire. • The only way to overcome that temptation is through the fruit of the Spirit we call self-control. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  14. Put your past behind you • Phil 3:13-14 – …Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. NIV • This passage says forget about the past. • No matter how many times you have failed, keep trying. • Forget about the past and try again. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  15. Challenge your feelings • Titus 2:12 – It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, NIV • “It” refers to God’s grace which teaches us to deny our worldly passions. • Talk back to your feelings. • The old phrase “just say No” is Biblical. • Don’t give your feelings so much authority. They are unreliable. • Rely on God’s grace to help you deny your selfish desires. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  16. Believe you can change • Phil 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength. NIV • It must be said again…the fruit of the Spirit begin with your thought life. • The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. • Mark 9:23 – “Everything is possible for him who believes.” NIV Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  17. Avoid temptation • Eph 4:27 – and do not give the devil a foothold. NIV • While this text is speaking about “anger”, the instruction is true for any temptation: avoid it. • Stay away from situations that weaken your self-control. • Plan in advance to avoid situations that tempt you. • If you cannot plan for it and all of a sudden you find yourself in a vulnerable circumstance, then flee! Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  18. Depend on God’s power • Gal 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. NIV • This verse does not say that you won’t have desires that are of the sinful nature. • Let the Spirit direct your life. • And you will not “gratify” those desires. • Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. NIV • It is God who gives you the desire to do right. • It is God who gives you the power to do what is right. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  19. Summary 1 Cor 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. • Many of our problems are caused by a lack of self-control. • The result may be that you feel: overwhelmed; defenseless; vulnerable; scared or uncertain. • Self-control is essential to leading effective and productive lives. • In order to develop self control, try the following: • Identify your problem and admit to it. • Put your past behind you. • Challenge your feelings. • Believe you can change. • Avoid temptation. • Trust in God’s power. Growing Spiritually Lesson 12 - Self Control

  20. Memory verse: Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

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