TEXTS: Genesis 39:1-20; Titus 2:1-12; Matthew 4:1-11
AIM: To teach the children of God that to demonstrate self-control in every situation, God is there for us at all times to strengthen us in the power of the Holy Spirit, but we all have our parts to play as human-beings; and lack of self-control, even on things we consider little, may bring total destruction.
INTRODUCTION
Self-control is the ability to control oneself, in particular, one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult or pleasant situations.
Self-control is the ninth and last of the fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Though it is listed last, there can be no doubt about its importance to Christian living. Can a Christian be uncontrolled in his manner of life and still be a Christian? Hardly! Sons of God, as exemplified by Jesus Christ and the apostles, are models of lives controlled under the guiding hand of God without relinquishing their free moral agency.
The apostle John notes three powerful pulls that must be controlled: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16). These, he says, are not of the Father but of the world, therefore they are not part of the standard that we must strive to live according to. If we follow them, we will continue to be conformed to the world.
Our eyes make us the recipients of a multitude of impressions. Many of them can excite us to desire something evil, and if we are complacent, we can be trapped in a sin almost without thinking. That is precisely the problem! We must be thinking to control what we have power and responsibility over and turn from such things as if a hot poker were about to be jabbed into our eyes! When Joseph was about to be lured into sin, he ran, controlling his own part in that unfolding drama (Genesis 39:11-12).
The body and mind possess appetites and needs that can easily lead to sinful excesses if not controlled. They can lead any of us away in a hundred different directions from the supreme devotion to Him that He desires for our good. Note the senseless luxury of this present generation, the exaggerated care of the physical body, and the intemperance in eating and drinking, which are a curse and shame on America! Our culture has moulded us to seek ample provision for the flesh and material comforts far beyond our needs, drowning the spirit and producing needless anxieties. We have to learn to subordinate the drive to satisfy these insatiable appetites so they do not master us and lead us into sin.
Paul’s beseeching exhortation is that all activities done by means of brain, eye, tongue, hand and foot be consciously devoted to God and laid as a sacrifice upon His altar. These are costly offerings, and costly offerings often require control in their giving because we inherently desire to hang onto what is dear.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- Discuss briefly, the problem of the absence of self-control under the following headings and advise as appropriate. You can support your points with relevant Bible passages:
- Self control in money matter (1 Tim. 6:10)
- Self control in relation with opposite sex (1 Cor. 6:18)
- Self control in talking/argument (Prov. 10:19; 21:23; Matt. 12:36; James 1:19)
- Self control in acquisition of material things (Psalm 39:6; Matt. 6:19-21)
- Self-control with our spouses (Col. 3:19)
- Self-control with what you eat or drink ()
- In Genesis 39: 9-11, what do you think was the major thing that helped Joseph to control himself even at the peak of the temptation he found himself with his master’s wife compared with Samson in Judges 16:4ff?
- Explain the place of self-denier, self-discipline and self-gratification in self-control in relation to the temptation of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matt. 4:1-11.
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- What are those things that easily weaken a man/woman and lure him/her to stand in opposite direction to self-control?
- How do we build up ourselves to have self-control?
FOR REFLECTION
The term “self-control” is sort of a tricky phrase. It is “self”-control because no other person is doing it for us. But that doesn’t mean we are all on our own! God’s Holy Spirit that lives inside of each believer is the One who is really giving us the power to have self-control. When we believe in Jesus, we enter God’s kingdom and God’s Spirit comes to live in us. The fruit of God’s Spirit grows and grows in us as we remain with Jesus – as we talk to Him, listen to Him, and read His word. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control grow in us and show in us because of our relationship with Jesus.
Self-control is an attribute of our Creator that Jesus exemplified in His life and that Paul strongly exhorts us to exercise in ours. If we are to be made in our Father’s image, we will yield to God in this matter to glorify Him with our moderation in all things and rigid resistance to sin. Remember, true self-control is not about bringing ourselves under our own control but under the power of Christ. God’s Spirit helps us control our thoughts and actions.
MEMORY VERSES – Titus 2: 11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly”