How to exercise Self Control:
1. Have an open life.Sin, like bacteria, multiplies in dark places.
It is good to be accountable to trustworthy people for those areas of your life where you tend to stray. Be accountable.
2. Flee from temptation. God’s word is plain about this.
1 Corinthians 6:18
"Flee from sexual immorality. Run for your life!”
Yes, sometimes self-control requires physically leaving the scene of temptation, or avoiding such spots to begin with.
Our moral freedom, like other mental powers, is strengthened by exercise. The practice of yielding to impulse results in enfeebling self-control.
3. Flee angerSometimes self control requires shutting a heated moment down, in order to return to the topic later with a plan. We need to treat other people as something of value. Such self-control helps find resolution without harming the other person, whom God loves.
4. Build up your own spirit.If your Bible is only for Sundays or for a quick rushed “have to do this” kind of look into the Book; then you are starving yourself spiritually. Malnourished people can never be strong and resilient and exercise self-control.
Psalm 119:11 “I have treasured your word in my Heart, so that I may not sin against you.”
If the Bible is not powerfully in your life, don’t expect the fruit of the Spirit to thrive in you.We also build our spirit and strengthen our self-control by speaking in tongues.
5. Serve
As we surrender our will and serve we start to practice self-control.
The Bible says that self control is a “fruit of the Spirit,” that is, a result of surrendering our character and behaviour to God’s Spirit to influence us. As we submit to Holy Spirit He empowers us to exercise self-control.
About Me
- New Generation
- New Zealand
- New Generation is the youth ministry of the Assemblies Of God in New Zealand. Braden and Andrea Matson are the facilitators and are working with Youth Pastors around the country to equip young people to reach a nation.
Showing posts with label Self-control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self-control. Show all posts
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Self-Control Part 3
Let’s look at some scenarios and questions concerning the presence of self-control in your life.
1.How are you as a finisher of responsible actions? When it is your turn to do the dishes for instance, and you look over at the overflowing countertop, do you go to it and complete the task in a reliable manner, or are you more likely to end up being a slothful couch potato for the evening, or to go do something fun, and simply fail to do your fair part?
2. Do you control your temper?
Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered man does foolish things”
3. When pornography pops up on the computer screen do you delete it every time, or do you tend to get drawn away by the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh?
4. Are you careful to not say negative things about people with whom you are upset, to third parties who are not involved in the situation?
5. When it is getting late, and you know that you need to be at your best at school or work early the next morning, do you shut off the TV, or put away the hobby and get the sleep God designed you to need, in order to be sharp.
6. When you need to finish your homework and also study for the quiz that’s coming at school tomorrow, do you shut of the video game and just do it, even though its no fun?
7. When you walk into the mall, and you have a pocket full of credit cards, what is likely to happen? Is your spending in control?
8. Is your eating in control? Do you take that extra biscuit?
There could be hundreds of scenarios suggested, and some of them are more drastic than these, but all self-control questions are important.
1.How are you as a finisher of responsible actions? When it is your turn to do the dishes for instance, and you look over at the overflowing countertop, do you go to it and complete the task in a reliable manner, or are you more likely to end up being a slothful couch potato for the evening, or to go do something fun, and simply fail to do your fair part?
2. Do you control your temper?
Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered man does foolish things”
3. When pornography pops up on the computer screen do you delete it every time, or do you tend to get drawn away by the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh?
4. Are you careful to not say negative things about people with whom you are upset, to third parties who are not involved in the situation?
5. When it is getting late, and you know that you need to be at your best at school or work early the next morning, do you shut off the TV, or put away the hobby and get the sleep God designed you to need, in order to be sharp.
6. When you need to finish your homework and also study for the quiz that’s coming at school tomorrow, do you shut of the video game and just do it, even though its no fun?
7. When you walk into the mall, and you have a pocket full of credit cards, what is likely to happen? Is your spending in control?
8. Is your eating in control? Do you take that extra biscuit?
There could be hundreds of scenarios suggested, and some of them are more drastic than these, but all self-control questions are important.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Self-Control Part 2
2 Timothy 3:2-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Why is self-control so important?
1 Cor 9:24-27
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.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training (self-control). They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 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.A self-controlled life demands focus. They have a heavenly prize.
There must be purpose in every step. No distraction… No detours.
Self-control is using our freedom for Gods purposes. Using our freedom to bring blessing and impact others.
In proportion as a man habitually yields to intemperance or some other vice, his freedom diminishes and he does in a true sense sink into slavery.
Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control
“I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.”
Pietro Aretino
“Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.”
Seneca
“The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Why is self-control so important?
1 Cor 9:24-27
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.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training (self-control). They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 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.A self-controlled life demands focus. They have a heavenly prize.
There must be purpose in every step. No distraction… No detours.
Self-control is using our freedom for Gods purposes. Using our freedom to bring blessing and impact others.
In proportion as a man habitually yields to intemperance or some other vice, his freedom diminishes and he does in a true sense sink into slavery.
Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control
“I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.”
Pietro Aretino
“Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.”
Seneca
“The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Self-Control Part 1
2 Peter 1:3-9
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 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 and escape 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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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 if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
The text tells Christians to diligently add to there faith several things. Why? So you can be fruitful and functional.
He wants us to be fruitful. Not fruity!
You and I already know too many dysfunctional Christians! There are people who will not come to Christ because they know too many dysfunctional Christians.
Too often the church is like muesli – lots of nuts, flakes and fruits!
Salvation is a free gift! However we then become involved in the process of sanctification. We grow in Christ and reach New levels of living. It begins with faith ends with love.
From faith will grow virtue or holy living. We want to please God; he is our number one motivation for all we do.Out of virtue we add knowledge. From knowledge we will grow in self-control.
DEFINITION: Self Control =Temperance is the KJV word from 2 Greek words. “en” = fixed position, in place and “kratos” = power or strength. “The strength to stay in place.”
Gal 5But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Fruit is cultivated. Cultivation requires our involvement.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 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 and escape 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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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 if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
The text tells Christians to diligently add to there faith several things. Why? So you can be fruitful and functional.
He wants us to be fruitful. Not fruity!
You and I already know too many dysfunctional Christians! There are people who will not come to Christ because they know too many dysfunctional Christians.
Too often the church is like muesli – lots of nuts, flakes and fruits!
Salvation is a free gift! However we then become involved in the process of sanctification. We grow in Christ and reach New levels of living. It begins with faith ends with love.
From faith will grow virtue or holy living. We want to please God; he is our number one motivation for all we do.Out of virtue we add knowledge. From knowledge we will grow in self-control.
DEFINITION: Self Control =Temperance is the KJV word from 2 Greek words. “en” = fixed position, in place and “kratos” = power or strength. “The strength to stay in place.”
Gal 5But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Fruit is cultivated. Cultivation requires our involvement.
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