We are continuing our series called Faith Supplements. We are going through the 7 spiritual ingredients listed out in 2 Peter 1 that help form a godly life. Whether it be vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc, supplements are so important. They help maintain and even increase our overall nutrition in areas we might be lacking. Supplements help provide a boost to our overall health.
Similarly, our spiritual health is
just as important. Like vitamins, there are spiritual supplements that we can
take everyday to help boost our faith, spiritual walk. In part one, we
discussed the responsibility we have to maintain our relationship with God.
- God has given us everything we need in order to build
a godly life
- Godly Life = to be pleased with God and to be pleasing
to God
- God gives us the desire and the ability to do what
pleases Him
- Everything we need to build a godly life is found in
His Word
- They are His great and precious promises given to us
- By which we have access to the divine nature
- And help us escape corruption from our evil desires
Virtue
- Peter says to make every effort = make the necessary
adjustments
- Supplement your faith = add to your faith
- Virtue = The courage to do the right thing in
every situation
- Culture and society do not determine the “right
thing.”
- The right thing is that which God has commanded in His
Word
- Only God establishes truth
- Virtue is doing the right thing, according to His
Word, even when nobody else is
- We all need convictions. Without convictions, we can
be talked into doing anything.
- We need godly convictions- they give us the courage to
do what is right in all situations
- Like Daniel, we must have godly convictions so that we too can have the courage to do what is right even when it gets difficult.
Knowledge
- On top of virtue, the Bible encourages us to add
knowledge
- Knowledge = Truth acquired from God’s Word
- Knowing what is right in God’s eyes
- The spiritual battle we are in is all about truth; God
wants to get truth into the hands of everyone. The devil wants to deceive as
many people from the truth as possible.
- When we know the truth, it sets us free. Therefore, we
need knowledge of the truth.
- Knowledge of the truth informs us of what truly
matters
The second supplement was knowledge, truth acquired from God’s Word. In other words, knowing what the right is in God’s eyes.
Today we are on the third supplement, self control.
2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV
“5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control”
Self-Control = The ability to do the right thing in the moment of temptation
We can have the desire to do what is right and know what the right thing is to do. However, without self-control, knowledge and virtue are worthless.
What is the point if we give into temptation every time?
Self-Control = Egkrateia = Mastery over desires; dominion within
The idea is having the ability to take a grip of oneself; to get a grip. It is the ability to control one’s self from within. This happens through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is the bi-product of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our life. This shows that self-control is more than just surface-level restraint. It is spiritual.
In other words, it is the ability to resist the devil when he throws fiery darts (spiritual attacks) our way. When the day of evil arrives, we must stand firm and resist the enemy. We do this through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our flesh (our fallen human
nature) is under the influence of sin.
- We were born into sin
- Our spirit has been saved (justification)
- Our soul/mind is still being saved (sanctification)
- Our flesh is under the influence
As God works in our lives, we grow in our ability to control our thoughts, words, and actions. Doing so enables us to make the right decision when the time comes.
Every day there is a battle for self-control in our life.
Is there any area of your life out
of control?
- Finances
- Relationships
- Attitudes
- Thoughts
- Language
- Habits
- Emotions
- Etc.
Desires that can control us:
- Acceptance
- Love
- Pleasure
- Wealth
- Achievement/ Performance
- Notoriety & Fame
- Comparison
- Etc.
When we are right with the Lord, we are content and happy with where we are. When we are not right with the Lord, there is a pull and stress between who you are and the person God has called you to be.
So how do we add self-control to our life?
1.
Live
by the Spirit
•
Romans
8:5 - "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds
on the things of the Spirit.”
•
Seek to obey God
•
Desire to please
God
2.
Think
before you act
•
Proverbs
13:16 - “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.”
•
Stop and think
about what you know to be right
3.
Ask
the Holy Spirit to help you
• Romans 8:26 - “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…”
4.
Choose
to do the right thing
•
2
Timothy 1:7 - “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.”
•
The Holy Spirit
gives you the ability to do the right thing when the time comes.
•
The right thing
is found in His Word
•
When we have the
desire to do what is right and we have the knowledge of what is right, all we
have to do is have the discipline to choose what is right.
• That is self-control
Takeaways:
1.
Invite
the Holy Spirit into your life every day
2.
Choose
to do the right thing in the moment of temptation
3.
Refuse
to give the devil ground in your life
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