Empowered Living: Cultivating Self-Control Through the Spirit
Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate a significant moment in the lives of several individuals who have chosen to follow Jesus through baptism. This act symbolizes their commitment to Christ and their new life in Him. Baptism is a powerful declaration of faith, and it’s a joy to witness these transformations. If you have questions about baptism or are considering it yourself, we encourage you to reach out to our team for more information. After the service, we invite everyone to join us in the lobby for refreshments and fellowship, where you can congratulate those who were baptized today.
As we continue our series on living a "Fresh Life," we delve into the topic of self-control, a vital aspect of the fruitful life God designed for us. Many of us struggle with self-control in various areas, whether it’s our appetites, emotions, or behaviors. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, describes the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This list highlights the evidence of God's work in our lives, and today, we focus on self-control.
Self-control often seems out of place in this list because we typically view it as something we must achieve through our own efforts. However, true self-control is a result of the Spirit's work in us. To grow in self-control, we need to understand that it’s not just about our willpower. We are constantly influenced by external forces, such as cultural norms, family traditions, and even marketing strategies designed to exploit our weaknesses. Recognizing these influences helps us see that self-control is not solely about our efforts but about partnering with the Holy Spirit.
On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the early church, empowering the followers of Jesus to live transformed lives. This same Spirit is available to us today, offering the power and guidance we need to develop self-control and other fruits of the Spirit. We must ask ourselves if we are allowing the Spirit to work in our lives or if we are trying to live out our faith on our own.
To cultivate self-control, we need to adopt specific practices and choose the right partner. Practices such as fasting, silence, and solitude can help us gain mastery over our appetites and emotions. For instance, fasting can teach us to control our physical desires, while silence and solitude can help us manage our speech and thoughts. These practices require intentionality and consistency, much like the training of an athlete or the preparation of a performer.
Moreover, we need to focus on the "why" behind our pursuit of self-control. Instead of aiming for self-mastery, we should aim to reflect the character of our Creator. The Apostle Peter encourages us to add self-control to our faith, not as an end in itself, but as part of a broader goal of living a godly and effective life. When we align our desires with God's design for us, we experience true freedom—the freedom to live as we were created to live.
In conclusion, living a fresh, fruitful life requires us to partner with the Holy Spirit and adopt practices that foster self-control. By focusing on our divine purpose and allowing the Spirit to guide us, we can overcome the external influences that hinder our growth. Let us commit to living by the Spirit, growing in self-control, and reflecting God's image in our daily lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Baptism as a Declaration of Faith: Baptism is a powerful symbol of our commitment to Christ and our new life in Him. It’s an outward declaration of an inward transformation, signifying that we have put our trust in Jesus and are ready to follow Him. If you have questions about baptism, seek guidance and consider taking this important step in your faith journey. [13:23]
2. Self-Control as a Fruit of the Spirit: True self-control is not merely about our willpower but is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in us. We are influenced by external forces, and recognizing this helps us understand that self-control is about partnering with the Spirit. This partnership enables us to overcome the challenges we face in exercising self-control. [32:44]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the Holy Spirit's descent upon the early church, empowering believers to live transformed lives. This same Spirit is available to us today, offering the power and guidance we need to develop self-control and other fruits of the Spirit. We must ask ourselves if we are allowing the Spirit to work in our lives. [56:03]
4. Adopting Practices for Self-Control: To cultivate self-control, we need to adopt specific practices such as fasting, silence, and solitude. These practices help us gain mastery over our appetites and emotions. For example, fasting can teach us to control our physical desires, while silence and solitude can help us manage our speech and thoughts. [51:15]
5. Focusing on the Divine Purpose: Instead of aiming for self-mastery, we should aim to reflect the character of our Creator. Aligning our desires with God's design for us leads to true freedom—the freedom to live as we were created to live. This focus on our divine purpose helps us grow in self-control and live a godly and effective life. [42:02]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[13:23] - Baptism Celebration
[29:34] - Introduction to Self-Control
[32:44] - Self-Control as a Fruit of the Spirit
[36:06] - External Influences on Self-Control
[40:33] - Finding a Better "Why"
[51:15] - Adopting Practices for Self-Control
[56:03] - Role of the Holy Spirit
[57:11] - Closing Remarks and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
2. Titus 2:12 (NIV): "It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
3. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV): "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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, 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."
### Observation Questions
1. What does the act of baptism symbolize according to the sermon? [[13:23]]
2. List the fruits of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.
3. According to Titus 2:12, what does the Spirit teach us to say "No" to?
4. What practices were suggested in the sermon to help cultivate self-control? [[51:15]]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the role of the Holy Spirit in developing self-control? [[32:44]]
2. Why might self-control seem out of place in the list of the fruits of the Spirit, and how does the sermon address this? [[32:44]]
3. In 2 Peter 1:5-9, why is it important to add self-control to our faith, and what is the ultimate goal of possessing these qualities?
4. How do external influences affect our ability to exercise self-control, according to the sermon? [[36:06]]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you struggle with self-control? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you in these areas? [[32:44]]
2. The sermon mentioned practices like fasting, silence, and solitude to cultivate self-control. Which of these practices could you start incorporating into your life, and how? [[51:15]]
3. Think about a recent situation where you lacked self-control. How could focusing on your divine purpose and reflecting the character of your Creator have changed your response? [[42:02]]
4. The sermon suggests that true freedom is the ability to do what we were designed to do. How does this perspective change your understanding of freedom and self-control? [[45:15]]
5. Identify one external influence that negatively impacts your self-control. What steps can you take to minimize this influence in your daily life? [[36:06]]
6. How can you ensure that you are partnering with the Holy Spirit daily to grow in self-control and other fruits of the Spirit? [[53:58]]
7. The sermon encourages us to focus on the "why" behind our pursuit of self-control. What is your "why," and how can it motivate you to live a more godly and effective life? [[40:33]]
Devotional
Alright, let's begin.
### Step 1: Themes
1. Baptism as a Commitment to Christ
2. Self-Control Through the Holy Spirit
3. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
4. Practices to Cultivate Self-Control
5. Aligning Desires with God's Purpose
### Step 2: Descriptions
1. Baptism as a Commitment to Christ: Baptism is a profound declaration of faith, symbolizing an individual's commitment to Jesus Christ and their new life in Him. It represents an outward expression of an inward transformation, signifying that one has put their trust in Jesus and is ready to follow Him. This act of obedience is a public testimony of one's faith and a celebration of the new life that comes through Christ. If you have questions about baptism or are considering it yourself, seek guidance and consider taking this important step in your faith journey. [13:23]
2. Self-Control Through the Holy Spirit: True self-control is not merely about our willpower but is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in us. We are constantly influenced by external forces such as cultural norms, family traditions, and marketing strategies designed to exploit our weaknesses. Recognizing these influences helps us understand that self-control is about partnering with the Spirit. This partnership enables us to overcome the challenges we face in exercising self-control, making it a fruit of the Spirit rather than a product of our own efforts. [32:44]
3. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the Holy Spirit's descent upon the early church, empowering believers to live transformed lives. This same Spirit is available to us today, offering the power and guidance we need to develop self-control and other fruits of the Spirit. We must ask ourselves if we are allowing the Spirit to work in our lives or if we are trying to live out our faith on our own. The Holy Spirit's empowerment is crucial for living a life that reflects God's character and purpose. [56:03]
4. Practices to Cultivate Self-Control: To cultivate self-control, we need to adopt specific practices such as fasting, silence, and solitude. These practices help us gain mastery over our appetites and emotions. For example, fasting can teach us to control our physical desires, while silence and solitude can help us manage our speech and thoughts. These practices require intentionality and consistency, much like the training of an athlete or the preparation of a performer. By incorporating these disciplines into our lives, we can grow in self-control and reflect the character of our Creator. [51:15]
5. Aligning Desires with God's Purpose: Instead of aiming for self-mastery, we should aim to reflect the character of our Creator. Aligning our desires with God's design for us leads to true freedom—the freedom to live as we were created to live. This focus on our divine purpose helps us grow in self-control and live a godly and effective life. The Apostle Peter encourages us to add self-control to our faith, not as an end in itself, but as part of a broader goal of living a godly and effective life. [42:02]
### Step 3: Bible Passages
1. Baptism as a Commitment to Christ: "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16, ESV)
2. Self-Control Through the Holy Spirit: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)
3. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
4. Practices to Cultivate Self-Control: "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV)
5. Aligning Desires with God's Purpose: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, ESV)
### Step 4: Reflection Questions
1. Baptism as a Commitment to Christ: Have you considered the significance of baptism in your faith journey? What steps can you take today to learn more about this important act of obedience?
2. Self-Control Through the Holy Spirit: In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-control? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these challenges?
3. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life, or are you trying to live out your faith on your own? What changes can you make to rely more on the Spirit's guidance and power?
4. Practices to Cultivate Self-Control: Which specific practices such as fasting, silence, or solitude can you incorporate into your life to help you grow in self-control? How can you start implementing one of these practices this week?
5. Aligning Desires with God's Purpose: What desires in your life need to be aligned with God's design for you? How can focusing on your divine purpose help you experience true freedom and live a godly life?
### Step 5: 5-Day Devotional
Day 1: Baptism as a Commitment to Christ
Baptism is a profound declaration of faith, symbolizing an individual's commitment to Jesus Christ and their new life in Him. It represents an outward expression of an inward transformation, signifying that one has put their trust in Jesus and is ready to follow Him. This act of obedience is a public testimony of one's faith and a celebration of the new life that comes through Christ. If you have questions about baptism or are considering it yourself, seek guidance and consider taking this important step in your faith journey. [13:23]
"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16, ESV)
Reflection: Have you considered the significance of baptism in your faith journey? What steps can you take today to learn more about this important act of obedience?
Day 2: Self-Control Through the Holy Spirit
True self-control is not merely about our willpower but is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in us. We are constantly influenced by external forces such as cultural norms, family traditions, and marketing strategies designed to exploit our weaknesses. Recognizing these influences helps us understand that self-control is about partnering with the Spirit. This partnership enables us to overcome the challenges we face in exercising self-control, making it a fruit of the Spirit rather than a product of our own efforts. [32:44]
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-control? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these challenges?
Day 3: Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the Holy Spirit's descent upon the early church, empowering believers to live transformed lives. This same Spirit is available to us today, offering the power and guidance we need to develop self-control and other fruits of the Spirit. We must ask ourselves if we are allowing the Spirit to work in our lives or if we are trying to live out our faith on our own. The Holy Spirit's empowerment is crucial for living a life that reflects God's character and purpose. [56:03]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life, or are you trying to live out your faith on your own? What changes can you make to rely more on the Spirit's guidance and power?
Day 4: Practices to Cultivate Self-Control
To cultivate self-control, we need to adopt specific practices such as fasting, silence, and solitude. These practices help us gain mastery over our appetites and emotions. For example, fasting can teach us to control our physical desires, while silence and solitude can help us manage our speech and thoughts. These practices require intentionality and consistency, much like the training of an athlete or the preparation of a performer. By incorporating these disciplines into our lives, we can grow in self-control and reflect the character of our Creator. [51:15]
"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV)
Reflection: Which specific practices such as fasting, silence, or solitude can you incorporate into your life to help you grow in self-control? How can you start implementing one of these practices this week?
Day 5: Aligning Desires with God's Purpose
Instead of aiming for self-mastery, we should aim to reflect the character of our Creator. Aligning our desires with God's design for us leads to true freedom—the freedom to live as we were created to live. This focus on our divine purpose helps us grow in self-control and live a godly and effective life. The Apostle Peter encourages us to add self-control to our faith, not as an end in itself, but as part of a broader goal of living a godly and effective life. [42:02]
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: What desires in your life need to be aligned with God's design for you? How can focusing on your divine purpose help you experience true freedom and live a godly life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you're struggling with appetites, fill in the blank, whatever that happens to be, consider the practice of fasting. Is that the only reason people can fast? No. But that's a powerful way to begin to say, wait a minute, am I in control of my appetites or are they in control of me? And so maybe you take a day or a half a day and you say, I'm going to say no to the appetites that have been running my life because I think there's a better way to live." [51:15]
2. "Freedom, we're told this message, freedom is the ability to do whatever you want. I want to suggest that freedom is actually the ability to do what you were designed to do. Let me say that again. Rather than understanding freedom as the ability to do whatever you want, freedom is actually the ability to do what you were designed to do, to be effective and productive as an image bearer, right? We only flourish when we're living out our purpose and our design." [45:15]
3. "Think about it like this. Maybe you've seen people who exercise great control. Consider, for example, a professional athlete who's in the middle of a game, and the situation develops, and they react and respond in ways that are really remarkable. But you understand that didn't happen by accident. That happened by years and years of regular, consistent, often challenging practice." [48:38]
4. "Will the decision I'm about to do, the emotion that I'm about to wrestle with, will this actually help me? Be effective and productive as an image bearer of the master creator. That question can reshape and reform how we approach those challenging situations, whether it's what we're going to do with our body or our mouth or our minds or whatever." [45:15]
5. "So, Peter, the apostle Peter, writes this in 2 Peter 1 5-9. He says, for this reason, and the reason he's talking about it is actually saying like, hey, God has given you all the power that you need to live the kind of life you were created for. And then he follows it up with this. For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness knowledge and to knowledge self-control. There it is again, self-control. Perseverance, perseverance, godliness, to godliness, mutual affection, to mutual affection, love." [42:02]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Make the Holy Spirit your partner. Begin each day by just opening your heart and your mind and perhaps even your hands and say, Spirit of God, I need your power. I need your power and your wisdom today. Would you help me live the kind of flourishing life? Would you help grow the fruit of your work in my life, including self-control?" [53:58]
2. "Today, in many churches around the world, they're celebrating Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is literally a term that means 50 days after Jesus' resurrection, right? So here we are, seven weeks after Easter, after Resurrection Sunday, when we recognize that was the day in the history of the church when the Spirit of God came and began to work in and through the followers of Jesus. It started in the upper room, and it has not stopped in this day." [55:03]
3. "The passage that we've been examining in Galatians 5, talking about fruit of the Spirit, in itself says self-control is something that is going to be influenced by outside of us, by the Spirit of God. So think about this. Maybe you know someone who has tremendous self-control and restraint and mastery over their impulses and their behavior and their emotions. Maybe you know somebody like that. Here's the deal. That didn't happen. They didn't happen by themselves." [37:36]
4. "Growing the fruit of self-control begins with getting the self out of self-control and acknowledging there's more going on than just you or just me. Beyond that, I want to talk about the why. Because it's possible to think about self-control as this great ultimate virtue, almost like the ancient Stoics would say, like the goal of life is mastery of self and my emotions and actions and all this stuff. And we could laser focus on being the master of controlling ourselves. But I think there's a better way even in that." [38:58]
5. "If you think it's all just about you, yourself, exercising more restraint, you're missing part of the picture. As with almost every other arena of life, you are subjected to outside forces. Forces that are often contrary to what you desire for yourself. In other words, if you think your lack of self-control is just a matter of needing more willpower, you've been fooled. It's a myth, right? There's some truth to it, but it's not the whole truth." [34:17]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?