SELF-CONTROL

By

Shelby G. Floyd

In his second letter the apostle Peter wrote, “Add to your faith…self-control” (2 Peter 1:6).  Every Christian therefore is to learn self-control.  Self control or temperance is “to control the mind and body with all of the lusts.” Satan is a wily foe and seeks to destroy our souls through the three avenues of temptation — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). Self-control is of God because it is the fruit of the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our society today is being bombarded with every motivation possible for the people to fulfill any and all illicit sexual desires.  Just as some members of the church at Corinth were caught up in the immorality rampant in the ancient Greek society, so are some religious people today caught up in the old immorality displayed in the long-ago (Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1-3; 2 Cor. 7:1-5, 8-9). It is important therefore that we learn to exercise self-control. Continue reading “SELF-CONTROL”

SELF CONTROL IS SELF DISCIPLINE

By

Shelby G. Floyd

The word disciple derives from the word discipline.  A true disciple is a disciplined disciple.  Just wearing the name disciple does not really make us a disciple.  Jesus made many disciples, but according to the book of John, later in his ministry “many of his disciples left and followed him no more.”

It takes self-discipline or self-control to accomplish anything that is worthwhile.  A young person learns self-control when learning to drive an automobile and receive a driver’s license.

In like manner throughout life we all must learn to have self-control or self-discipline in order to be successful in our endeavors. The Wisdom of Solomon is useful at this point:

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.                                                  (Proverbs 16:32 ESV)

Let us notice two kinds of self-control or discipline. Continue reading “SELF CONTROL IS SELF DISCIPLINE”

HAVE SELF-CONTROL

By

Shelby G. Floyd

 

In his second letter the apostle Peter wrote, “Add to your faith… self-control” (2 Peter 1:6). Every Christian therefore is to learn self-control. Self-control or temperance is “to control the mind and body with all of the lusts.” Continue reading “HAVE SELF-CONTROL”