“SELF-CONTROL” (GAL. 5:22-23)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Before going to bed Wednesday night I turned on the TV.

2. As the picture came into focus, I was introduced to a close-up of the President.

3. The President was asking that Americans drink in moderation during the holiday.

4. He went on to say that if those who will be drinking will have a need to be on the road they

should designate a non-drinking driver in advance.

I. THE MESSAGE CONVEYED BY THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IS, IN MY JUDGMENT, A BIT ODD.

A. On one hand, the message being aired is one of moderation.

B. Some of the words in this commercial urge self-control.

C. We hear, “Do not drink too much.”

D. On the other hand, this same message implies a lack of moderation.

E. The fact that this public service announcement mentions designated driver points to a definite lack of moderation.

F. The world has some strange ideas about self-control.

G. Not only are many of the ideas strange, they sometimes are contradictory.

H. When it comes to alcohol, the world says:

(1) It’s okay to drink but don’t drink too much.

(2) Avoid becoming an alcoholic.

(3) Avoid drinking so much that you lose control.

(4) Drink in moderation.

I. A similar message is conveyed by those who use illegal drugs.

(1) Illegal drugs are okay for casual use but don’t become an addict.

(2) Use some self-control when taking illegal drugs.

J. We see this same idea in the area of theft. For some stealing is okay if restraint is used.

(1) It’s wrong to take a VCR but okay to take the screwdrivers used to repair it.

(2) Steal the towels from a hotel but leave the mattress and box springs.

K. A twisted form of self-control is applied to lying.

(1) Some believe that falsehood is okay as long as we control it.

(2) If lying becomes pathological, that’s a problem.

(3) If our lies are only from time to time, that’s okay.

L. We can hurt people with words but not with guns and knives.

M. As long as we control the urge to physically hurt people, some believe we can use our tongues to lash and slash people.

N. Some in the world will teach that intercourse among the unmarried is wrong but petting and sexual touching are okay. As long as sexual activity is controlled, it’s all right.

O. We live in a world that lacks self-control.

(1) We see or read of people who fail to control their anger.

(2) This failure leads to shootings, stabbings and beatings.

(3) We learn of those who fail to control a desire to have things.

(4) This failure leads some to steal.

(5) I am not saying that lack of self-control is the entire problem but it is certainly a big problem our world faces.

(6) Two days ago there was a huge story about our civil war parks.

(7) People are going to monuments made of granite and pouring out gallons of vegetable oil.

(8) This oil stains the granite.

(9) There may be many reasons why people are doing this.

(10) At least part of the problem is related to self-control.

(11) No matter what problems the vandals have, they lack the self-control to leave some

memorials alone.

P. All around the world people lack self-control.

(1) In Japan there was a man who checked into a hotel.

(2) He liked the floor lamp that was in his room.

(3) When he checked out he took it with him.

(4) Had this man possessed self-control he would have said, “I like this. I would like to have it. It’s not mine and it will stay.”

Q. This hotel guest was not the last one who lacked self-control. Closer to home (Miami Beach), a

couple checked into a hotel room.

(1) They must have liked a metal angel that was on the wall.

(2) They pried it off the wall and spackled the hole with toothpaste.

(3) Over 100 million dollars in property is stolen from motels and hotels each year.

(4) Paintings and TVs are stolen. Major pieces of furniture are stolen.

II. THE IDEA OF SELF-CONTROL IS TWISTED AND SOMETIMES NEGLECTED BY PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

A. Though we live in a time when some seem to be uncertain what self-control means, the Bible is

very clear on its meaning.

B. The final fruit of the Spirit is “temperance”. (KJV)

C. The ASV uses the word “self-control”.

D. The word that is translated self-control/temperance is illustrated in the Bible.

E. This same word is used in the LXX.

F. The place where this word is found is Gen. 43.

(1) Gen. 42 says that Jacob learned there was grain in Egypt.

(2) Jacob sent his sons into Egypt to buy food.

(3) The food that was bought lasted for a while.

(4) By the time of Gen. 43, the Egyptian grain was all gone – it was time for the sons to make another trip to Egypt.

(5) Joseph had warned his brothers who did not recognize him, “When you come again, bring your youngest brother.”

(6) On this second trip this was done.

(7) Let’s start reading with Gen. 43:26 and read through v. 30. READ.

G. Joseph had an emotional reaction to these events.

H. There was good news about his father; he was finally able to see Benjamin.

I. We could truthfully say that Joseph “lost it”.

(1) What is described seems to have caused a flood of emotion.

(2) Even today when people are sometimes overwhelmed they may say, “Excuse me.”

(3) People need to leave for a little while to collect their composure.

J. According to Gen. 43:30 Joseph quickly excused himself. Why?

K. He went to an area where he could cry.

L. Joseph lost control. He wanted to hide this from his brothers.

M. Now look at verse 31 – READ.

N. Joseph “refrained himself”.

O. “Refrained” is the same word that is used in Gal. 5:23.

P. Here is an outstanding example of self-control.

Q. Joseph “washed his face”.

R. It is implied that he stopped the tears. He got everything in order and then returned.

S. In the midst of an emotional situation Joseph collected himself and had self-control.

T. One translation (the RSV) reads “controlling himself”.

U. Let’s take the information in Gen. 43 and transport it to Gal. 5.

V. Paul says a fruit of the Spirit is self-control.

W. Self-control means we control our emotions and impulses.

X. Maybe we feel like lashing out at someone … self-control stops this.

Y. Maybe we want to punch somebody in the nose … self-control prevents us from doing so.

Z. Self-control keeps our behavior decent and orderly.

A. It keeps people calm, nice and peaceable.

B. If people as a whole practiced this single fruit of the Spirit our crime rate would instantly shrink.

C. We would have a renewed sense of decency and goodness in the world.

III. SELF-CONTROL IS NOT HARD TO UNDERSTAND BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTERESTED IN IT CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT.

A. The word we are looking at is also in Acts 24 – one of the few places where this word is found.

B. The last fruit of the Spirit is not found too many times in the Bible.

(1) In fact, it is only found 3 times in the NT:

(2) Acts 24, Gal. 5 and 1 Cor. 7.

(3) In the Corinthian letter self-control is related to sexual relations.

C. In Acts 24, Luke records part of a conversation.

D. Paul was attempting to convert an official by the name of Felix.

E. Paul seems to have emphasized three topics in Verse 25. READ.

F. Paul’s preaching tells me that self-control and righteousness go together.

G. A lack of self-control implies a lack of righteousness.

H. Furthermore, self-control and the judgment to come are related.

I. The implication is that self-control is good; it is commendable.

J. A lack of self-control will result in judgment.

K. When we look at the works of the flesh in Gal. 5, most of the works are things that reflect a lack of self-control.

L. At the end of the list Paul says, “They who practice such things …”

M. A lack of self-control will destroy people.

N. Felix, the man described in Acts 24, was a man of the world.

O. History tells us that he engaged in all forms of lustful conduct; that he married three different women.

P. The wife he was with during the meeting in Acts 24 was a woman he lured away from her husband.

Q. Felix was well known for his cruelty.

R. He used assassins to get his way.

S. One source says he considered himself to be licensed to commit any crime. (McClintock, Vol. III, p. 523)

T. With a man like this, just about any sermon topic would have been appropriate.

U. Paul believed that self-control needed to be discussed.

V. If Paul were living today he would surely deal with the same subject.

W. Self-control needs to be taught.

(1) It needs to be taught to our young people.

(2) Those who study the generations are making an observation.

(3) In a time of nearly “instant everything”, young people (generalization) want to turn 20 and have it all.

(4) Young people in the past have had this problem.

(5) The trend among young people is getting worse.

(6) Some want to marry early in life; they want to start out in a brand new house; they want two brand new cars in the garage; they want a house full of brand new gadgets; they expect a fully furnished house with everything new.

(7) The idea they might need to wait for some things; the concept of putting things off until they can be afforded (self-control) is mocked. Forget self-control; we want it now.

(8) This is a growing attitude.

X. Felix also had little interest in self-control – 24B - READ.

CONCLUSION:

1. Self-control is not always what we want to practice.

2. If we are Christians, the Bible says we have been bought with a price.

3. We are to glorify God in our bodies.

4. One of the ways we glorify God and please Him is through self-control.

5. Are you practicing the final fruit of the Spirit? or, is your life still dominated by the works of the

flesh?