Putting On Christ – Self-Control

Solomon wrote, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

• Walls that surround a city are meant to protect it from invaders, that is the enemy.
• Remember the city of Nineveh “an exceedingly great city” (Jonah 3:3), with walls 40 to 98 feet high, 50 feet thick and over 7 miles around the city.

Defining self-control:

• The word [ἐγκράτεια] egkráteia, comes from “en, in the sphere of”, and “krátos, dominion, mastery”. That is you have mastered your inner self i.e., “self-control”
• Oxford Dictionary defines it this way. “the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.”
• Webster says, “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires”.
• For the believer “self-control” or “spirit-control” can only be accomplished by the power of God.
• As you heard in the scripture reading Peter commands us all to add self-control to our faith (2 Pet. 1:6).
• It is the Christian’s spiritual wall of defense against the sinful desires that wage war against the soul.

Think of yourself standing with a wall around you, outside there are all kinds of activities, some sinful, and some acceptable.

• It encompasses every life decision. Should I study my bible or, watch my favorite television show?
• Apply the fruit of the Spirit to the question and the answer will aways be study.
• That is not to imply that entertainment doesn’t have a place in our life, but if there is a choice to be made between the two, the right choice must always be according to the Spirit.
• “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

Self-control is running the race so as to receive an imperishable crown which requires discipline. Paul knew fully there was no room for hypocrisy (v.27). To Timothy Paul wrote, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5).

Self-control is not an option for the child of God-IT IS A MUST.