INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• The process of watching your child, grandchild, or even your spouse is something that is exciting. We tend to take a lot of pictures of our children so that we can remember how cute they USED to be.
• Growth is exciting, unless it is our waistline.
• We have been exploring the question, WHO A I BECOMING, and more accurately, who am I becoming in Christ.
• When one gives their life to Christ, their life, over time, will be transformed into the image of Jesus!
• Our spiritual growth should be exciting to us and those who are around us. It is a great thing to watch someone mature and grow right before your eyes.
• Today we will examine a key component to growth, the component of self-control.
• Along with being a vital aspect of being successful in our endeavors in life, self-control is an absolutely necessary part of one’s growth in Christ.
• Think about those who are successful in athletes, academics, or business. They must possess more than God-given talent; they must develop a level of self-control that helps them to make the most of their talents.
• Let’s take a look at the issue of self-control together this morning.
• I want to begin with looking at Titus 2:11 and part of verse 12.
• SLIDE #2
• Titus 2:11–12 (HCSB) — 11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. God’s grace calls one to learn self-control. 11-12a
• Before we dig in here, we need to understand the context from which Paul writes verse 11-13.
• In chapter 2, Paul offers up practical instruction for living out one’s faith to older men, younger men, older women, and younger women.
• Verse 11 begins with the little word FOR. Paul lays out the theological foundation for the ethical demands he has given earlier in chapter 2.
• One important point we need to understand as we strive to live for Jesus is the fact that the grace of God has appeared WITH salvation.
• The grace of God appearing refers to Jesus.
• WE need to understand the word GRACE refers to God’s favor and tender compassion for the people He created that leads Him to provide for humans a way of escape from the guilt and penalty of sin.
• Put simply, Grace is all that God thinks and does to save men.
• We always need to be cognizant of the fact we are saved be grace so that we do not become judgmental toward others who are not yet saved.
• Now I want us to focus on the first word in verse 12. INSTRUCTING.
• We are told that the GRACE OF GOD INSTRUCTS us to do some things.
• God’s grace, bringing salvation to people, instructs us to not tolerate sin in our lives and it instructs us to embrace some other things.
• Salvation is not only a change in position (lost to saved), but it is also a change in attitude, appetite, ambition, and actions.
• Without God’s grace to show us the way to live, people would still be walking in darkness!
• Verse 12 tells us that God’s grace should lead us to live in a sensible way. Many translations say that we are to live a SELF-CONTROLLED life. That is what living in a sensible way means.
• The verb tense of the word INSTRUCTING denotes continuous action.
• To live with self-control denotes that one has learned to master their own desires who is in control of one’s self.
• The word emphasizes one’s relationship with one’s self.
• So this leads us to the next issue concerning self-control, it strikes at the heart of the definition.
• Let’s look at verse 12 again.
• SLIDE #4
• Titus 2:12 (HCSB) instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
• SLIDE #5
II. Self-control requires one to learn what to say yes or no to in life. 12
• The instruction of grace offers both positive and negative choices. One who has a grasp of the concept of self-control understands that self-control is not just about saying no to things but it is also saying yes to the correct opportunities each day.
• Paul starts us off with the things we need to reject.
• He states that grace instructs us to DENY certain things.
• Here is something we need to apprehend in life.
• Denying is a prerequisite for developing the positive traits we desire.
• We need to deny godlessness and worldly lusts BEFORE we can live in a righteous, godly way.
• Think of the Olympic athlete for a second. Before they can experience the joy of the gold, they have to say no to a lot of things that others would choose to indulge.
• To be able to achieve in life, we have to learn what to say no to and what to yes.
• In College, one must say no to many things in order to be able to make the grades needed to be successful.
• For the Christian, the ability to deny what we are called to deny is much more that simply saying NO, nor is it simply and issue of NOT SINNING. It includes a change of attitude, an attitude that is not angry about saying no to what needs to be said no to in life.
• WEIGHT LOSS and the internal anger. I would refrain from eating, but I WAS ANGRY about. LEARNED TO CHANGE MY ATTITUDE SO I DID NOT FEEL CHEATED OUT OF WHAT I WANTED!
• What I wanted changed!
• We are called to deny godlessness, which is living opposite of the way God would desire us to live.
• We are called to deny worldly lusts. This is an inordinate desire for the things which belong to the world, such as personal pleasure, power, and possession.
• SLIDE #6
• 1 John 2:15 (HCSB) Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
• In a nutshell, the world cannot come before your pursuit of God!
• WE have to say yes to living for God. We have to develop the self-control to be able to live our lives in such a way that we are giving God what is due to Him.
• Living a righteous life concerns our conduct others. We are to treat others with fairness, justice, integrity and love!
• Living a godly life includes an awareness that we live in the presence of an eternal God that we will answer to one day!
• So how do we do that?
• SLIDE #7
• Titus 2:12–13 (HCSB) — instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• SLIDE #8
III. The art of learning self-control. 12b-13
• We need to learn the art of self-control so we can live a life in this present age that prepares us for the next age!
• Notice that verse 13 tells us that we are to live for Jesus during this present age as we await the return of the Lord!
• If you are struggling what wanting to know God’s will for your life, living for Him is a start.
• Now, how do we learn self-control? I want to offer 6 areas of focus that will help one learn the art of self-control.
• SLIDE #9
• James 4:7 (HCSB) Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
• SLIDE #10
A. Learn to develop a reliance on God. James 4:7 (2 Peter 1:3)
• James tells us that we are to submit to God. 2 Peter reminds us that God given us everything required life and godliness.
• When you are facing the fork in the road, take the path to God.
• Remember who you serve, remember who sent His Son to die on the cross for you!
• Another area of focus is…
• SLIDE #11
B. Learn how to resist. James 4:7
• James tells us that we are to submit to God, then if we resist the Devil the Devil will flee!
• Have you had the moments when you knew you should resist, but you did not. The bag of cookies was calling your name. All you had to do was resist!
• If you will stand up to Satan, you will win, he will RUN!
• 1 Peter 5:8 offering another area of focus.
• SLIDE #12
• 1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB) Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
• SLIDE #13
C. Learn to be alert to the dangers around you. 1 Peter 5:8
• We must always be alert to the lurking dangers. Most of us would look both ways before we cross a busy street; however, would we look both ways on a deserted country road?
• Maybe not because we think there is no danger of getting hit.
• We must always be cognizant of the opponent we face. When you underestimate your opponent, you will lose.
• I saw some many marriages fail into ruin because someone in the marriage saw no harm in developing a close relationship with a co-worker who was in a troubles marriage.
• The next three areas of focus come us from 2 Timothy 2:22
• SLIDE #14
• 2 Timothy 2:22 (HCSB) Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• SLIDE #15
D. Learn when to flee. 2 Timothy 2:22
• There are times to stand firm and there are times to run!
• Paul tells us to flee youthful passions. There are sometimes when the smart move is to run.
• When you are faced with sexual temptation from someone, don’t stand, RUN!
• There are some situations where the smart thing to do is to get away as fast as you can!
• If you are going to run, what next?
• SLIDE #16
E. Learn what to pursue. 2 Timothy 2:22
• Instead of being obsessed with the pursuit of youthful passions, discipline yourself to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
• If you want to rid your life of a great deal of drama, pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.
• Want to shut a group down who is tearing into someone, say positive stuff about the one they are tearing down!
• SLIDE #17
F. Learn how to choose your friends wisely. 2 Timothy 2:22
• Paul encourages Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• Look for people who are pursuing the same things you are so that the journey is much easier!
• SLIDE #18
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 (HCSB) Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:14 reminds us not to unequally yoked to unbelievers. Why, because in a partnership, in a marriage, the Christian and non-Christian are heading down different paths in life.
• Who you spend a great deal of time with, who you connect with in life will affect your ability to live for Jesus, either positively or negatively.
CONCLUSION
• A life lived without self-control is a life that will eventually self-destruct.
• Success in life and faith are determined in large part by the level of one’s self-discipline.
• When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Jesus modeled faith, reliance on God, and self-control.
• One who is being transformed into the image of Jesus will learn the art of self-control!
