Message Notes
Introduction:
Titus 2:2: Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Titus 2:6: Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
1. Why it’s necessary.
Genesis 2:16-17: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:6: So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
2 Timothy 3:3: without self-control
Proverbs 25:28: A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
2. How it’s possible.
Titus 2:11-14: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control….
2 Timothy 1:7: for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
3. What it requires.
Genesis 3:6: She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Drew Dyck – “Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-control from the Bible and Brain Science”: “Information alone isn’t enough to bring about change…. Place God at the center of your life. Flee temptation. If you can’t flee it, stand and fight. Eliminate distractions. Set sanctified goals. Grow your willpower. Break bad habits and replace them with healthy ones. Wage holy war on your sin. And above all, stay connected to God. As you do, you will see the fierce fruit of self-control begin to flourish.”
