Developing Self-Control: Recognize Your Weaknesses!

2 Tim. 2:22 >>

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Genesis 39:6-13 >>

6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

13 When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled,

[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON: I will ponder on the questions below and reflect on myself.

1. What made Joseph successfully flee from the temptation of sin was that he NEVER entertained the thought of the sin in his mind. He always put it away the second it tried to knock at the door of his mind.
2. Some ways I’ve become weak and given up on the temptations is when I delay in fleeing or casting out sinful thoughts in my mind.
3. According to Timothy 2:22, I must run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts and instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace, and also the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts! =D

Developing Self-Control (4): Don’t Give the Devil an Opportunity

Ephesians 4:26-27 >>

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

2 Samuel 11:1-4 >>

David and Bathsheba

1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.



1. Giving no opportunity to devil (Ephesians 4:27), means not to put ourselves in tempting situations or entertaining thoughts of things that we are not supposed to think about, because it all starts in the mind!


2. David fell by sleeping with someone else’s wife. He failed to have self control when he first stayed behind in Jerusalem (instead of fighting) and had nothing on his mind and saw a beautiful lady and actually sent her to come over! X____X Obviously not a wise thing to do…what did he expect to do?! Even before the actual sin happened, he was inviting it.

3. I can improve self-control in doing what I need to do rather than procrastinating. In order to not give the devil an opportunity I need to be wise with my time management and surrender it to the Lord. 

Developing Self Control: Don’t Get Tricked

Ecc. 10:4 >>

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.

Numbers 20:8-13 >>

8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.

—

1. When I meet with difficult or uncooperative people, I can get annoyed, lose my patience or get my emotions provoked. But I’m learning to face the issues directly instead of avoiding it, letting it build up and then overreacting. At the same time I try not to react right away because I want to be calm also.
2. Studying Moses’ story, the lesson I learned is that Moses let his emotions take control and condemned God’s people. God never instructed him and it wasn’t the most constructive thing to do either. The consequences were that God did not allow them to enter into the Promised Land.
3. So that I don’t make the mistake of reacting the wrong way like Moses, what I need to do is to STAY CALM and not run away (Ecclesiastes 10:4)!

Developing Self-Control: Guarding Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 >>
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 23:19 >>
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Genesis 4:1-7 >>
1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

—

1. Cain murdered Abel because he did not guard his heart. He did not give the best he had to God and saw that God gave favor to his brother who did. Instead of repenting and later giving God the best, Cain was jealous and killed his brother. “Sin (was) crouching at (his) door,” and he let it in.
2. The emotional problems that effect me the most in regards to matters of the heart and mind is probably pride and bitterness and dissatisfaction. I need to TALK IT OUT. Communication is key to prevent any misunderstandings and oust any flames of wrath.
3. When my heart is not at peace, I’m still able to have some self control but I’m much happier and I think more effective of a person when my heart IS at peace. I can make decisions better because my heart can be at peace and not confused.(Memorize Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”)

DEVELOPING SELF CONTROL (1): HAVE A PRAYERFUL LIFESTYLE

1 Peter 4:7 >>
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Lukas 22:39-46 >>

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

—

1. The benefits of learning to be self controlled and staying calm is that then I can pray so that I don’t fall into temptation.
2. Some conditions when I sometimes lose control is when I am far from God or when I just gave up with staying strong (not good!). Next time I need to just leave the scene.
3. Learning from Jesus’ own experience – how He was able to take charge of His own desires in the midst of all the pressures, [key verse: 42], next time I know to run to God and surrender everything to Him including my own self and desires.

Have Control Over Your Mouth

James 3:5-10 >>

5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,

8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Ephesians 4:29 >>

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 5:4 >>

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Colossians 3:16 >>

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

–

1. I have to control my tongue because it can do so much damage or so much good. If I don’t learn to control it, then it can have huge consequences and start a “wildfire.”
2. I can build other people with my words by encouraging them, saying things that are gentle and kind rather than rude and crude and rough.

Overcoming Lust

James 4:1-3 >>
Submit Yourselves to God

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Romans 13:13 >>
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Galatians 5:19, 5:24 >>
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Colossians 3:5 >>
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 4:19-24 >>
19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

–

1. What will happen if I do not overcome my lust? If I don’t overcome lust, then we will not get what we want because God knows our motives is to spend it on fleshly desires and pleasures. He knows our motives so we should make it good motives. [James 4:1-3]
2. Evaluate yourself: check your desires (lust) that have arisen recently. Check your motives and goals behind all those desires and filter out and select so that what’s left are only desires that please the Lord.

CONTROLLING YOUR EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Ecclesiastes 7:9, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Ephesians 4:26, James 1:19-20, Philippians 2:5

Ecclesiastes 7:9 >>

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

2 Corinthians 12:20 >>

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

Ephesians 4:26 >>

In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

James 1:19-20 >>

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Philippians 2:5 >>

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

1. Am I considered someone who walks being lead by emotion or the truth of God’s Word? What will happen if I live being lead by feelings and emotions? If I live being controlled by feelings and emotions, then that means I am not being lead by the truth of God’s Word. Allowing anger, for example, to control us “Does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (v.19).” It’s bad because it is fickle, and then we might be inconsistent and undependable because we are not reliable. And that’s not good!
2. What usually causes me to get angry is when I feel people being treated unfairly or unjustly.  The way that I let loose to give reign to anger is talk about it, usually with other people, which I need to be wise in who I share with and also my motivations, so it’s to build up and not to bring down. And also I should pray always and follow God’s guidance on where to go from there, whether or not He wants me actually do anything in the situation or perhaps just be patient and perhaps He wants me to just be still before Him and know that God is God!
3. To control my feelings and emotions, I need to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry [James1:19-20],” meaning don’t make assumptions and jump to quick judgements because it’s not our place to judge!!!

CONTROLLING YOUR MIND

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Mark 7:18-23, Luke 5:22, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8, Colossians3:2

Mark 7:18-23 >>

18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within;

Luke 5:22 >>

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

2 Corinthians 10:5 >>

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Philippians 4:8 >>

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Colossians3:2 >>

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

—

1. What happens when we fail to guard our mind? [ponder on Mark 7:18-23] When we fail to guard our mind,we defile ourselves, because “It is what comes from inside that defiles (us) (v.20).”
2. From the verses above, find the ways to control your mind! Some ways to control our mind is to destroy every rebellious or prideful thought that prevents us from knowing Christ. We need to consciously submit all our thoughts under the authority of Christ.
3. Memorize Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Controlling Your Body

Romans 13:14 >>
14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 >>
12″Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13″Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

—

1. According to today’s Word of God, we need to take care of our bodies by remembering that it is for God and not for sexual immorality. And for what we put in, everything may be permissable, but not everything is beneficial. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and need to honor God with our body.
2. Th daily lifestyle I have is okay. Sometimes I fall but then I get back up again. Sometimes I’ll eat junk food but most of the time I eat healthy food. I don’t wear clothes that are too revealing and try to get enough sleep although I should sleep earlier.
3. Memorize the verse, 1 Corinthians 6:20b: Therefore honor God with your body!