Finding Joy and Strength Through Self-Control in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Building Spiritual Connections Through Community Engagement

Description: Engaging in church activities and community programs is essential for spiritual growth and connection. These activities provide opportunities to serve, learn, and build relationships that support our faith journey. By participating in these communal efforts, we not only grow closer to God but also to each other, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support. This engagement helps us to see the body of Christ in action, encouraging us to live out our faith in tangible ways. [10:39]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Think about a church activity or community program you have been hesitant to join. What steps can you take this week to get involved and build deeper connections with your church family?

Day 2: The Power of Self-Control

Description: Self-control is the ability to regulate our emotions and impulses to prevent undesired outcomes. It is crucial in managing our reactions to temptation and suffering, helping us avoid behaviors that lead to greater pain and spiritual wounds. By practicing self-control, we can navigate life's challenges with grace and wisdom, making choices that align with God's will for our lives. This discipline not only protects us from immediate harm but also fosters long-term spiritual growth and maturity. [41:52]

Proverbs 25:28 (ESV): "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with self-control. What practical steps can you take today to strengthen your self-discipline in this area?

Day 3: Recognizing and Addressing Triggers of Self-Indulgence

Description: Self-indulgence often stems from a desire to escape suffering and pain. Identifying the triggers that lead to self-indulgent behaviors is the first step in addressing them. This involves recognizing the underlying issues and seeking healthier ways to cope. By understanding what prompts us to seek immediate relief through harmful behaviors, we can develop strategies to manage our emotions and find more constructive outlets for our struggles. This awareness is key to breaking the cycle of self-indulgence and moving towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. [45:54]

James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you turned to self-indulgence to cope with stress or pain. What was the trigger, and how can you address it in a healthier way next time?

Day 4: Choosing Eternal Blessings Over Short-Term Pleasures

Description: The Bible teaches us to reject short-term pleasures for the sake of eternal blessings. True self-control involves seeking the joy and satisfaction that come from a deep relationship with Christ, which far outweighs any temporary relief from worldly pleasures. By focusing on the eternal rewards promised by God, we can find the strength to resist fleeting temptations and make choices that honor Him. This perspective shift helps us to prioritize our spiritual well-being over immediate gratification, leading to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. [57:02]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Consider a recent decision where you chose short-term pleasure over long-term spiritual growth. How can you refocus your priorities to seek eternal blessings in similar situations moving forward?

Day 5: Experiencing the Joy of Knowing Christ

Description: The joy of knowing Christ is a powerful antidote to temptation and self-indulgence. This joy is available to us now and can help us overcome the struggles and suffering we face. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of this joy and the all-satisfying power of Christ’s sacrifice. By cultivating a deep and personal relationship with Jesus, we can experience a profound sense of peace and fulfillment that transcends our earthly challenges. This joy not only sustains us in difficult times but also empowers us to live out our faith with confidence and hope. [01:02:43]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt the joy of knowing Christ. How can you cultivate this joy in your daily life to help you resist temptation and find true peace?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound concept of self-control through the lens of Proverbs 23:29-35. We began by discussing the importance of engaging in church activities and community programs, emphasizing how these can help us grow spiritually and connect with others. We then transitioned into a prayerful reflection, asking God to guide us and reveal areas in our lives where we need His intervention.

The core of our discussion centered on self-control, illustrated through a personal story about dealing with scabies. This story served as a metaphor for how we often seek immediate relief from our problems, only to find that our solutions can sometimes make things worse. We examined how self-control is crucial in managing our emotions and impulses, preventing us from succumbing to behaviors that lead to greater suffering.

We delved into the biblical perspective on self-indulgence, particularly focusing on the example of the alcoholic in Proverbs. This passage highlights the irony of seeking solace in alcohol, which only exacerbates the underlying issues of woe, sorrow, and spiritual wounds. We discussed how self-indulgence is often a response to human suffering and how it manifests in various forms, from anger and gossip to addiction and compulsive behaviors.

The sermon emphasized the need to identify the triggers that lead to self-indulgence and to seek healthier ways to cope with our struggles. We explored the idea that true self-control is not just about avoiding negative consequences but about seeking eternal blessings and joy in Christ. Paul’s analogy of the athlete in 1 Corinthians 9:25 was used to illustrate the discipline required to achieve spiritual self-control, which ultimately leads to an imperishable crown.

We concluded by reflecting on the joy and satisfaction that come from a deep relationship with Christ. This joy is not just a future promise but a present reality that can help us overcome temptation and find true peace. We were reminded that the Lord’s Supper is a powerful symbol of this joy and satisfaction, inviting us to partake in Christ’s all-satisfying power.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Control**: Self-control is the ability to regulate our emotions and impulses to prevent undesired outcomes. It is crucial in managing our reactions to temptation and suffering, helping us avoid behaviors that lead to greater pain and spiritual wounds. [41:52]
3. Identifying Triggers and Self-Indulgence: Self-indulgence often stems from a desire to escape suffering and pain. Identifying the triggers that lead to self-indulgent behaviors is the first step in addressing them. This involves recognizing the underlying issues and seeking healthier ways to cope.

4. Eternal Blessings Over Short-Term Pleasures: The Bible teaches us to reject short-term pleasures for the sake of eternal blessings. True self-control involves seeking the joy and satisfaction that come from a deep relationship with Christ, which far outweighs any temporary relief from worldly pleasures.

5. Experiencing Christ’s Joy: The joy of knowing Christ is a powerful antidote to temptation and self-indulgence. This joy is available to us now and can help us overcome the struggles and suffering we face. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of this joy and the all-satisfying power of Christ’s sacrifice.

### [41:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:39] - Importance of Community Engagement
[11:52] - Opening Prayer
[38:47] - Seeking God’s Guidance
[39:52] - Introduction to Self-Control
[41:52] - The Concept of Self-Control
[42:56] - Self-Indulgence vs. Self-Control
[45:54] - Identifying Triggers
[46:45] - Anger and Addiction
[48:37] - The Irony of Self-Indulgence
[49:47] - Evaluating Our Relationship with Alcohol
[50:52] - Self-Indulgent Behaviors
[52:48] - Identifying the Root Causes
[57:02] - Eternal Blessings Over Short-Term Pleasures
[62:43] - Experiencing Christ’s Joy
[68:25] - Invitation to Know Christ
[69:42] - The Lord’s Supper

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the consequences described in Proverbs 23:29-35 for those who indulge in alcohol?
How does Paul describe the discipline of an athlete in 1 Corinthians 9:25?
According to Ephesians 5:16-21, what is the alternative to being drunk with wine?

Interpretation Questions

In Proverbs 23:29-35, why does the author use the example of an alcoholic to discuss self-indulgence? How does this relate to the broader theme of self-control? [44:52]
How does Paul’s analogy of the athlete in 1 Corinthians 9:25 help us understand the importance of self-control in our spiritual lives? [57:02]
What does it mean to be "filled by the Spirit" as opposed to indulging in worldly pleasures, according to Ephesians 5:16-21? How does this filling help us in our daily struggles? [01:02:43]

Application Questions

Reflect on your participation in church activities and community programs. How have these engagements helped you grow spiritually and connect with others? What steps can you take to become more involved? [10:39]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with self-control. What triggers lead you to self-indulgent behaviors, and how can you address these triggers in a healthier way? [45:54]
Think about a time when you sought short-term pleasure to escape suffering. How did this affect you in the long run? What eternal blessings can you seek instead to find true joy and satisfaction? [57:02]
How can you incorporate the discipline of an athlete into your spiritual life? What specific practices can you adopt to strengthen your self-control and focus on your relationship with Christ? [57:51]
Reflect on the joy and satisfaction that come from a deep relationship with Christ. How can you cultivate this joy in your daily life to overcome temptation and find true peace? [01:02:43]
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Christ’s all-satisfying power. How can you prepare your heart to partake in this sacrament meaningfully, and how does it help you experience Christ’s joy? [01:09:42]
Consider the ways you might be using worldly pleasures to cover up deep issues in your soul. What steps can you take to address these issues directly with God and find healing in His presence? [50:52]

Sermon Clips

1. "Self-control is the ability to regulate your emotions and impulses so that you can prevent an undesired result that's actually worse than the thing itself that you're feeling at the time that makes you want to act out. Control is what's behind our desire to not lash out in our speech, to not be bitter or angry with other people. Self-control is what's at the heart of adultery and sexual sin that we talked about a few weeks ago." [41:52] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Self-indulgence is scratching the itch. It's giving in to repeated compulsive behavior over and over again, and what the Bible says about self-indulgence is that it's not just scratching the itch, it's scratching the itch. It's that self-indulgence is our response to human suffering." [43:54] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The alcoholic drinks because they have woe, because they have suffering, because they have deep wounds in their heart, and they think that this is the one place that they can go to fix the problem, and yet it only gets worse." [44:52] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You need to realize that the issue of indulgence, as the Bible deals with it, the issue of self-control isn't just about the consequences. It's about self-indulgence, right? It's not a guilt trip about, hey, watch how much you drink because you would hate to get in an accident or get a DUI or completely ruin your marriage and just completely destroy every relationship in your life that's good and healthy." [50:52] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Identify the things that you use to cover up sin and suffering in your life, those deep wounds and feelings in your soul that you don't tell really anybody about. What do you use to treat those and to soothe those and to find some relief? What do you use to scratch that itch? But more importantly than that, identify what the itch is below it. Identify the triggers that's causing it." [52:48] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The Bible says we should reject short-term pleasure for an eternal blessing. Look at how Paul says it. 1 Corinthians 3. 1 Corinthians 9. 25. He says this. Now everyone who competes, this is using, by the way, the analogy of an athlete, the one who would compete not in the Olympics as we know it, but like the original Greek Olympics, exercises self-control in everything." [57:02] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "There can be no question that the benefits of following Christ and living with Christ forever are far greater than the pleasure of our sin. And there can be no pleasure that his complete satisfaction and his joy in ruling over the universe and in being completely content in everything is better than any joy we experience in the world." [58:49] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Paul says if you want to know the anecdote to the different areas of self-indulgence that we all have, whether or not we consider ourselves addicts, whether or not we consider ourselves living destructive lives, Paul says we've all got those areas and you need to fill your life with Christ's joy." [01:03:46] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You can have the perfect, ideal morning in your life, and at noon something happens, and it's over for the day. Your world can just fall apart. In a second, and Paul says if you're not packing every second of your life in with Christ's joy, if you're not practicing the discipline of finding your satisfaction in knowing him in the moment that temptation comes, in the moment where sin and suffering and the weight of brokenness and darkness in our world are just absolutely overwhelming, you won't have a place to go." [01:04:50] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "For some of you, this means that you're a Christian, and there is so little of Christ's joy in your life, and you need to re-find it. You need to rediscover it. You need to get to a place where you remember that that is Christ's will for your life, that you would know his joy." [01:07:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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