Encore - 994 - Applying Biblical Self-Control - 2 Peter 1:6

Welcome to the Follower of One podcast. I'm Mike Henry Sr., and today, we're continuing our conversation through 2 Peter chapter 1 in this progression of character traits or things that we should pursue as followers of Jesus Christ. And today we're in 2 Peter 1:6. "And in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness." Self-control is the core reason why I chose to study this passage, and to make a series of podcast episodes, or devotionals, on this topic. Self-control is what I need to focus on as a human being and as a Christ-follower.   We spoke earlier about how we were to supply moral excellence in our faith. Moral excellence, I believe, is this pursuit of trying to get where we are living according to the best that Jesus has for us. We take the knowledge that we have of Him in our first set of faith, in the first faith that He gives us, and we apply our lives to that knowledge. We act according to what we believe. Self-control comes after knowledge. So knowledge follows moral excellence, and then self-control follows knowledge.    Now this is a different command. This is about managing ourselves. Managing ourselves toward what's best from God, and toward what's best for others. Self-control is this ability to keep my body tamed; to keep my mind and my spirit and my energy within the control of myself, and also submitted to the Lord. I can overeat or I can lose my temper, and where I lose self-control, I'm not a God-honoring person. I'm not all aligned. There's another reference to self-control in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 24 and 25. It says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things." This self-control is subordinating my own desires to my long-term goals. This is where I have the biggest problem. I give myself a pass. I claim that I don't want to eat sweets, but then in the evenings, I decide I want to have some sweets. I give myself a pass. I give myself a "bye." Do we give ourselves a "bye" in and around our friends and in, and around those people that we are with? Self-control is one of these characteristics that we have to bring to the Lord. He gives us the faith, and then we bring these other attributes, and self-control is a key piece in this puzzle. Today, I want to challenge us. Where do we need to exercise some self-control? The Holy Spirit will tell you where you need to do this. Just ask Him. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to exercise self-control. And while you're praying, you can pray for me, because I need to exercise self-control too. Ask the Holy Spirit to help me exercise self-control; to do the things necessary to achieve the goals that I want to achieve. Just like in this passage in 1 Corinthians 9, I exercise self-control so that I can achieve the goals that I have. My rational mind has these goals. The Holy Spirit gives us a passion and a desire to accomplish certain things. Do we want to allow our own lack of self-control to take us out and to disqualify us?  Today, I'd like to challenge you, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to use more self-control, and ask Him to give you the strength and the energy to add that to the knowledge and the moral excellence that you brought to your faith already. Ask Him to allow you to add self-control to the knowledge and the moral excellence that you've already added to your faith. Let's keep this process going so that we can glorify God daily in our workplace. Thank you for being a marketplace minister and thank you for making a difference in the lives of the people that you interact with every day. Your self-control matters. All of our effort in this area matters. And so, let's continue to add these features to ourselves and to our faith so that we can glorify God in our workplace. Thanks again for being a minister in your marketplace. And also we're getting ready to have another Marketplace Mission Trip. Go check that out at https://FollowerOfOne.org. Thanks very much.