1. Today’s Scripture Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:5-7

2. Real Christians Are SELF- CONTROLLED 1 Thessalonians 5:5-7

3. Our Least Favorite Virtue? Mostly that is because we realize that if we fail to control ourselves we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Though we may try to blame our circumstances on others, deep down we know that our own lack of self-control contributes to many of our failures.

4. Our Straight Road We are called to walk a strict path of virtue – surrounded on all sides by vice. How well we stay on the path will be determined by how well we understand our responsibility to control ourselves.

5. The Opposite of Self-Control Matthew 23:24-28 -- You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

6. Psalm 10:2-4 – In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. The passions of the wicked control themThe passions of the wicked control them

7. The Results of a lack of self-control Proverbs 23:20-21 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

8. The Wicked Lack Self-Control “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

9. We Are Spiritually Destitute Without ItProverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

10. Learning Self Control A Fruit of the Spirit Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. We receive it with the indwelling of the Spirit. It is learned through submission.

11. Part of Our Spiritual Renewal Ephesians 4:22-24 – “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

12. Our Armor 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

13. What are we trying to control? Our selves Our feelings Our emotions Our appetites Our drives Our ambitions Our lusts Our cravings Our unholy pursuits

14. Why? If we don’t control these urges, they will control us! What would you do with an unexpected windfall? Yes – Grace is like that!

15. Persevering in Self-Control 2 Peter 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Self-control is an ever-increasing virtue

16. Steps for exercising lasting self control: Prayer Practice Perseverance

17. The Eternal Rewards of Self-Control 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

18. Make Every Effort… The only way we can fail to learn self-control is if we refuse to try. God is patient with us, but He does expect progress. God expects success. Excuses make us think self-control is unreachable, but the Spirit of God tells us otherwise. Real Christians are self-controlled.