I want to open up today with a story that illustrates the difference between self-discipline and the fruit of the Spirit, Self-Control.
Two men walking through the airport and notice a magazine rack of porno in gift shop. Both men are Christians and they both feel the urge to look at those magazines. One man doesn’t go look at the magazines because he is exercising self-discipline; the other doesn’t go look because he is exercising self-control. In both cases they walk past the temptation. The self-disciplined guy says, “This is something I should not do, so I won’t do it. The Self-control guy says, “Even though part of me wants to see this I won’t because I know it would grieve God, and I love Him so I won’t.
Two men walking through the airport and notice a magazine rack of porno in gift shop. Both men are Christians and they both feel the urge to look at those magazines. One man doesn’t go look at the magazines because he is exercising self-discipline; the other doesn’t go look because he is exercising self-control. In both cases they walk past the temptation. The self-disciplined guy says, “This is something I should not do, so I won’t do it. The Self-control guy says, “Even though part of me wants to see this I won’t because I know it would grieve God, and I love Him so I won’t.
Here is another way to say what I shared in the illustration above:
I don’t feel like reading the Bible, but out of duty I do it anyway. This does not deal with the root of my struggle. I need to find out, why reading the Word of God is like duty, rather than desire. Self Control says my aim is to please God. So, I must find out why I don’t feel like reading the Word of God, because that pleases God. I will run out of discipline because it is after a goal. When a goal can't be reached most quit striving.
I have listed below some indicators (fruits) of self-control. Some areas of self-control give us more problems than others. The tongue, anger, spending money and sex are four areas that many struggle with having self-control. The real problem (the root) is we love ourself and want to please self, more than we want to please God. So, the main problem is not self-control it is our lack of love for our Creator and Savior.
I don’t feel like reading the Bible, but out of duty I do it anyway. This does not deal with the root of my struggle. I need to find out, why reading the Word of God is like duty, rather than desire. Self Control says my aim is to please God. So, I must find out why I don’t feel like reading the Word of God, because that pleases God. I will run out of discipline because it is after a goal. When a goal can't be reached most quit striving.
I have listed below some indicators (fruits) of self-control. Some areas of self-control give us more problems than others. The tongue, anger, spending money and sex are four areas that many struggle with having self-control. The real problem (the root) is we love ourself and want to please self, more than we want to please God. So, the main problem is not self-control it is our lack of love for our Creator and Savior.
Let's look at Anger today and then we will continue to look at the other areas that give most of us problems in the area of self-control. There are
3 types anger and we will look at each one.
1. Sudden anger can be controlled:
Are you quick tempered? Known for a temper? Will Rogers said, “People who fly into a rage seldom make a good landing!”
Proverbs 14:17 “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.” = God calls this person a fool. Slow down! James 1:19-20.
Anger causes physiological changes in body that are harmful to your health: Heart faster, blood pressure, mouth dry, trembling. I personally notice when I have been angry for a time or lost my temper that many times a day or two later I become sick! It weakens immune system.
2. Sinful anger must be condemned. What is sinful anger?
1. Anger w/o a cause. Matthew 5:22
2. When you hate someone, we are hating what God loves. We are to love people and hate sin.
3. You desire revenge. Rom. 12:19 tells us vengeance is mine
4. You will not forgive someone.
Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man defers his anger.” A man of discretion analyzes “Why am I angry?” What is it that makes me so angry?
3. Stubborn anger is to be conquered. Eph. 4:26 “Be ye angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.” Some people live with anger for 10 or more years. This is stubborn anger.
The devil will take any place you give him in your soul and grow a stronghold in your mind, will, or emotions.
Note the order how anger will get out of control:
First: Bitterness – someone offends you. If you don’t pull up roots of bitterness it defiles your soul (Hebrews 12:15). We must learn to forgive without expecting any apology or the devil will trap us.
Second: Bitterness turns to wrath. The Greek word means “to burn” or smolder. You continue to dwell on the offense or hurt, so in essence we are hot under the collar.
Third: Wrath turns to anger on the outside and is manifested in our face, and our voice, as well as our body language.
Fourth: Anger turns to clamor which is loud speech. Illustration: You are having an argument with your husband. The husband says, “You don’t have to shout.” You say, “I’M NOT SHOUTING!”(In an obvious shouting tone!)
Fifth: Clamor is to speak evil and say cruel things you don’t mean. At this point the Tea kettle is spewing steam everywhere and that can not be taken back. like steam the words are already released into the ear.
Sixth: Evil speaking turns to malice with an intent, desire to hurt, kill, murder.
3 types anger and we will look at each one.
1. Sudden anger can be controlled:
Are you quick tempered? Known for a temper? Will Rogers said, “People who fly into a rage seldom make a good landing!”
Proverbs 14:17 “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.” = God calls this person a fool. Slow down! James 1:19-20.
Anger causes physiological changes in body that are harmful to your health: Heart faster, blood pressure, mouth dry, trembling. I personally notice when I have been angry for a time or lost my temper that many times a day or two later I become sick! It weakens immune system.
2. Sinful anger must be condemned. What is sinful anger?
1. Anger w/o a cause. Matthew 5:22
2. When you hate someone, we are hating what God loves. We are to love people and hate sin.
3. You desire revenge. Rom. 12:19 tells us vengeance is mine
4. You will not forgive someone.
Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man defers his anger.” A man of discretion analyzes “Why am I angry?” What is it that makes me so angry?
3. Stubborn anger is to be conquered. Eph. 4:26 “Be ye angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.” Some people live with anger for 10 or more years. This is stubborn anger.
The devil will take any place you give him in your soul and grow a stronghold in your mind, will, or emotions.
Note the order how anger will get out of control:
First: Bitterness – someone offends you. If you don’t pull up roots of bitterness it defiles your soul (Hebrews 12:15). We must learn to forgive without expecting any apology or the devil will trap us.
Second: Bitterness turns to wrath. The Greek word means “to burn” or smolder. You continue to dwell on the offense or hurt, so in essence we are hot under the collar.
Third: Wrath turns to anger on the outside and is manifested in our face, and our voice, as well as our body language.
Fourth: Anger turns to clamor which is loud speech. Illustration: You are having an argument with your husband. The husband says, “You don’t have to shout.” You say, “I’M NOT SHOUTING!”(In an obvious shouting tone!)
Fifth: Clamor is to speak evil and say cruel things you don’t mean. At this point the Tea kettle is spewing steam everywhere and that can not be taken back. like steam the words are already released into the ear.
Sixth: Evil speaking turns to malice with an intent, desire to hurt, kill, murder.
ACTION STEP: How do I get self-control over my anger?
1. Recognize it. “I have a problem.” Accept responsibility and stop blaming everyone else for making you angry. No one can make you angry. You and I chose to be angry.
2. Repent of it to the Lord and ask forgiveness from God and other. “Show fruit of repentance” What is your plan to overcome getting angry? Try harder? No! If you repent you will establish a plan of attack, get help, do some soul searching.
3. Renounce it remember according to scripture you gave the devil a place in your life. Confess it as sin and ask God to take back the ground you surrendered to the devil. Tell the devil you refuse to allow him to use you to hurt others or yourself.
4. Rely on Holy Spirit. You will have to pray more through out your day asking for help in your weakness. Pray for the Lord to show you the source of the real root that manifests anger in you. Trauma as a child? Rejection? Abandonment? What hurt gets opened in you, that triggers anger? Allow God to heal that area. The Holy Spirit will help you. Just ask.
1. Recognize it. “I have a problem.” Accept responsibility and stop blaming everyone else for making you angry. No one can make you angry. You and I chose to be angry.
2. Repent of it to the Lord and ask forgiveness from God and other. “Show fruit of repentance” What is your plan to overcome getting angry? Try harder? No! If you repent you will establish a plan of attack, get help, do some soul searching.
3. Renounce it remember according to scripture you gave the devil a place in your life. Confess it as sin and ask God to take back the ground you surrendered to the devil. Tell the devil you refuse to allow him to use you to hurt others or yourself.
4. Rely on Holy Spirit. You will have to pray more through out your day asking for help in your weakness. Pray for the Lord to show you the source of the real root that manifests anger in you. Trauma as a child? Rejection? Abandonment? What hurt gets opened in you, that triggers anger? Allow God to heal that area. The Holy Spirit will help you. Just ask.
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