SELFCONTROL Building Character Successful Character Building Total commitment

SELF-CONTROL Building Character

Successful Character Building • Total commitment to follow Christ • Dedication to develop yourself • Decision to put on Christ wisely and deliberately – from faith, not impulse or ignorance – Luke 9: 62; Eccl 5: 4; Prov 20: 25 – Not lukewarm, Rev 3: 14 -16 – Add self-control to your knowledge, 2 Pet 1: 6 2

SELF-CONTROL • The “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires” (Merriam-Webster) • Add self-control to knowledge of these things, Col 3: 12 -13 (Gal 5: 23) – Ex. Forgiveness (3: 13) • Control to do what is right (Lk 6: 46) • Control to abstain from sin, 1 Ths 5: 21 -22; 2 Tim 2: 22; 1 Pet 2: 11 -12 3

SELF-MASTERY • Self-control: “the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites” (Thayer, 167) • Self-control is fulfilling godly desires, intents and motives in what we do 4

Self-control is Required • Because we can be deceived – By sin, Heb 3: 12 -13 – By those who do not know God, 1 Cor 15: 33 -34 – Into thinking we will not reap what we sow, Gal 6: 7 -8 ØSelf-control is necessary in order to resist temptation! Jas 1: 14 -15 5

Self-control is Required • Because we can become weary, thinking the reward will never come, Gal 6: 9 – In contrast to the immediate (though temporary) pleasures of sin, Heb 11: 25 – Salvation closer daily, Rom 13: 11 ØSelf-control is necessary in order to keep doing what is right! Jas 4: 17 6

Self-control in all things 1 Cor 9: 24 -25 • Over your emotions, Eph 4: 26 – Slow to anger, not impulsive, Prov 14: 29; 29: 11 • Over your tongue, Jas 1: 19 -20 – Maturity, Jas 3: 2; Prov 17: 27 -28 (29: 20) ØGuard your tongue, Eph 4: 29; 5: 4 7

Self-control in all things 1 Cor 9: 24 -25 • For moral purity, Titus 2: 11 -12 – Sexual purity, 1 Ths 4: 3 -5 – Modest clothing, 1 Tim 2: 9 -10 – Alcohol and drugs, Gal 5: 21 – Modern dance, 1 Pet 4: 3; Titus 2: 12 – Gambling, 1 Tim 6: 9 -10 Ø Guard your name, influence and involvement, Eph 5: 6 -7 • Over your heart, Gal 5: 24 8

SELF-CONTROL • Measured by our ability to conform ourselves, with complete devotion, to the will of Christ, Col 3: 17 • Mastery of self in order to… ØDo what we must do, Col 3: 13, 23 ØAbstain from what we must not do, 1 Pet 2: 11 9