Reshaping My Life Through Self-Control and Disciplined Living Series: ReSHAPING It All January 8, 2012 Rev. Michael V. Newman, Senior Pastor January 1, 2012... Imagine January 8, 2012... ReSHAPING My Life Through Self-Control and Disciplined Living January 15, 2012... ReSHAPING My View of Culture and Technology January 22, 2012... ReSHAPING My Financial World January 29, 2012... ReSHAPING My Home and Marriage February 5, 2012... ReSHAPING My Relationship with God February 12, 2012... ReSHAPING My Purpose for Life Galatians 5:22 25 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit s leading in every part of our lives. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and selfdiscipline. Proverbs 29:11 (NLT) 11 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. Proverbs 19:11 (NLT) 11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Ephesians 4:26 27 (NLT) 26 And don t sin by letting anger control you. Don t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Proverbs 21:20 (NLT) 20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. Proverbs 13:3 (NLT) 3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. James 1:26 (NLT) 26 If you claim to be religious but don t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. James 3:1 2 (NLT) 1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. Proverbs 5:15 23 (NLT) 15 Drink water from your own well share your love only with your wife. 16Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? 17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. 20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? 21 For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. 22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. 23He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Four Biblical Principles: 1) Self-Control and living a disciplined life are the life of every follower of Jesus. See Galatians 5:22-25 and 2 Timothy 1:7 Are you a person whose life is characterized by disciplined living and self-control? 2) The Bible encourages us to demonstrate self-control in that we deal with on a regular basis. Six Examples: a) (See Proverbs 29:11, 19:11, and Ephesians 4:26-27) b) (See Proverbs 21:20) c) (See Proverbs 23:29-35) d) (See Proverbs 13:3, James 1:26, James 3:1-2) e) (See Proverbs 5:15-23) f) (See Proverbs 23:4) Anything good can become bad for us if we fail to have self-control and allow it to begin to control our lives.
Proverbs 23:4 (NLT) 4 Don t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. Romans 14:20 23 (NLT) 20 Don t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. Galatians 5:16 17 (NLT) 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:22 25 (NLT) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit s leading in every part of our lives. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 (NLT) 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT) 33 Don t be fooled by those who say such things, for bad company corrupts good character. Romans 7:19 (NLT) 19 I want to do what is good, but I don t. I don t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Colossians 3:17 (NLT) 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. For more information about what it means to become a follower of Christ or what to do after you make a decision to follow Jesus, stop at Guest Central in the lobby following the service today or contact the church office at 717-762- 7147 to set up an appointment. You may also learn more about what it means to follow Christ and/or request materials and find additional information to help you on your spiritual journey on our website at www.otterbeinchurch.org 3) We need to guard against comparing the of our self-control with what others are saying and doing. See Romans 14:20-23 Also see 1 Corinthians 10, 1 Timothy 4:3-5, and Romans 14 for examples of what the Bible teaches about food A lack of self-control is often subjective. It is good for us to spend time reflecting on our lives and asking God to show us areas where we lack self-control and where we need to make some changes. 4) Living with self-control is more of a than it is an act of greater determination or personal discipline. See Galatians 5:16-17 and Galatians 5:22-25 Self-control is a byproduct of following the Spirit s leading in every part of our lives. 9 Practical Suggestions: 1) Admit you have a self-control problem. 2) Make sure you have chosen to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. 3) Choose daily to be controlled by God s Spirit and submit your life to following Jesus plan found in the Bible as you go through the day. 4) Renew your mind through Bible reading and prayer. Stinking thinking plays a huge role in our struggle with self-control. 5) Seek counsel and ask for support and encouragement from a few people who love you. (See Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) 6) Curtail bad influences as much as possible. (See 1 Corinthians 15:33) 7) Think process and long-term instead of event and short-term. 8) Don t give up when you struggle or don t seem to be making progress. (See Romans 7 especially verse 19) 9) Make sure you are doing what you are doing for the right reasons. (See Colossians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31) What area of your life do you need to work on to have greater self-control?
1) Self-control and living a disciplined life are qualities that should characterize the life of every follower of Jesus.
Are you a person whose life is characterized by disciplined living and self-control?
2) The Bible encourages us to demonstrate selfcontrol in many areas of life that we deal with on a regular basis.
a) Anger
b) Money
c) Alcohol
d) Tongue/Words
e) Sex/Lustful Desires
e) Ambition
Anything good can become bad for us if we fail to have self-control and allow it to begin to control our lives.
3) We need to guard against comparing the level and focus of our self-control with what others are saying and doing.
It is good for us to spend time reflecting on our lives and asking God to show us areas where we lack self-control and where we need to make some changes.
4) Living with self-control is more of a spiritual issue than it is an act of greater determination or personal discipline.
Self-control is a byproduct of following the Spirit s leading in every part of our lives.
1) Admit you have a self-control problem.
2) Make sure you have chosen to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
3) Choose daily to be controlled by God s Spirit and submit your life to following Jesus plan found in the Bible as you go through the day.
4) Renew you mind through Bible reading and prayer.
Stinking thinking plays a huge role in our struggle with self-control.
5) Seek counsel and ask for support and encouragement from a few people who love you.
6) Curtail bad influences as much as possible.
7) Think process and long-term instead of event and short-term.
8) Don t give up when you struggle or don t seem to be making progress.
9) Make sure you are doing what you are doing for the right reasons.
What area of your life do you need to work on to have greater self-control?