Self-Control

It's Going to Take More Than Faith – SELF CONTROL

Main Text: 2 Peter 1:5-7 (AMP)

LET'S REVIEW:

1. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

JAMES 2:17 (AMP) So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].

2. EXERCISE YOUR FAITH

2 PETER 1:5 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises], make every effort in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),

3. LOVE ACTIVATES FAITH

GALATIANS 5:6 (AMP) For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

4. WE SHOULD BE MORALLY PURE

2 PETER 1:5 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),

PSALM 119:9-16 (AMP) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts]. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Add Self-Control

2 PETER 1:5-7 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control

The Bible's Waiting Room

The Bible is filled with examples of people who had to wait for God's timing.

• Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for their promised son, Isaac, to be born.
• Moses had to wait 40 years before leading the nation of Israel out of Egyptian captivity.
• David had to wait about 15 years between being anointed by Samuel as Israel's next king and taking his rightful place on the throne.
• Even Jesus had to wait 30 years before God's appointed time to start His ministry.

In the season that you are waiting for the manifestation of what you're asking God for, you must not make critical mistakes in them or your mission settling for an imitation.

David's Test of Self-Control

Saul Tries to Kill David

1 SAMUEL 18:10-11 (MSG) The next day an ugly mood was sent by God to afflict Saul, who became quite beside himself, raving. David played his harp, as he usually did at such times. Saul had a spear in his hand. Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.

1 SAMUEL 18:17 (MSG) One day Saul said to David, "Here is Merab, my eldest daughter. I want to give her to you as your wife. Be brave and bold for my sake. Fight God's battles!" But all the time Saul was thinking, "The Philistines will kill him for me. I won't have to lift a hand against him."

1 SAMUEL 18:20-21 (NLT) In the meantime, Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. "Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!" Saul said to himself. But to David he said, "Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!"

1 SAMUEL 19:1 (AMP) Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

1 SAMUEL 19:9-10 (MSG) But then a black mood from God settled over Saul and took control of him. He was sitting at home, his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. Suddenly, Saul tried to skewer David with his spear, but David ducked. The spear stuck in the wall and David got away. It was night.

1 SAMUEL 19:11 (AMP) Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch for him, so that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

• Now David gets the opportunity for revenge

David Spares Saul - Twice

First Opportunity

1 SAMUEL 24:1-7 (AMP) When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the Wilderness of Engedi." Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. On the way he came to the sheepfolds where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave's innermost recesses. David's men said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will hand over your enemy to you, and you shall do to him as seems good to you.'" Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the hem (edge) of Saul's robe. Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the hem of Saul's robe. He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the Lord." So David strongly rebuked his men with these words and did not let them rise up against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave and went on his way.

Second Opportunity

1 SAMUEL 26:8-12 (AMP) Then Abishai said to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now then, please let me strike him with the spear driving it to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time." But David said to Abishai, "Do not kill him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed [king] and be guiltless (innocent)?" David also said, "As the Lord lives, most certainly the Lord will strike him [in His own time and way], or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be carried off [dead]. The Lord forbid that I would put out my hand against the Lord's anointed; but now take the spear that is by his head and the jug of water, and let us go." So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head, and they left, and no one saw or knew nor did anyone awaken, because they were all sound asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

Shimei Curses David

2 SAMUEL 16:5-13 (AMP) When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul's household and he was cursing continually as he came out. He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; yet all the people and all the warriors remained on his right and on his left. This is what Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you worthless and useless man! The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!"
Then Abishai [David's nephew], the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, "Why should this dead dog (despicable person) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head." But the king said, "What business is this of yours, O sons of Zeruiah? If Shimei is cursing because the Lord said to him, 'Curse David,' then who should say, 'Why have you done so?'" Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son [Absalom] who came from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more [reason] now [does] this Benjamite [have to curse me]? Let him alone and let him curse, for [it could be that] the Lord has told him [to do it]. Perhaps the Lord will look on the wrong done to me [by Shimei, if he is acting on his own]; and [in that case perhaps] the Lord will this day return good to me in place of his cursing." So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei went along on the hillside close beside David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.

WISDOM KEYS

WISDOM KEY #1 - WE WILL ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRUGGLE

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (AMP) No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

WISDOM KEY #2 - WE MUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24–27 (MSG) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

WISDOM KEY #3 - WE MUST FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN

JAMES 1:19-20 (AMP) Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].

WISDOM KEY #4 - WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NEED FOR SELF-CONTROL

PROVERBS 25:28 (MSG) A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

• Recognize that self-control is essential for protecting your spiritual and emotional well-being.

WISDOM KEY #5 - WE MUST RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

GALATIANS 5:22-23 (AMP) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

• Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you and produce this fruit.

Discussion Questions

1. The message emphasizes waiting for God's timing using examples like Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. What are you currently waiting for, and how is your self-control being tested during this season?
2. David had multiple opportunities to kill Saul but exercised self-control. When has exercising self-control felt like missing a golden opportunity?
3. First Samuel 24:5 says David's conscience bothered him for just cutting Saul's robe. How sensitive is your conscience when you're tempted to take revenge or act impulsively?
4. David told Abishai, "The Lord will strike him in His own time and way." What situation are you trying to control that you need to surrender to God's timing?
5. When Shimei cursed David, David said, "Perhaps the Lord will return good to me in place of his cursing." How do you typically respond when people mistreat or insult you?
6. First Corinthians 10:13 promises God will always provide a way out of temptation. What "way out" has God provided for you that you've been ignoring?
7. First Corinthians 9:24-27 compares self-control to an athlete's discipline. What spiritual "training regimen" do you need to develop to build stronger self-control?
8. Proverbs 25:28 says "a person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out." In what areas of your life have you left the doors and windows open to the enemy?
9. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we produce on our own. How are you relying on the Holy Spirit versus your own willpower to exercise self-control?
10. The message warns about "settling for an imitation" while waiting for God's promise. What imitation or counterfeit are you tempted to settle for instead of waiting for God's best?

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