Tag: Self-control

SELF-CONTROL

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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

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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” →

THEWISDOM FROM ABOVE

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(James 1:5; 3:13-18)
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Shelby G. Floyd

Credit: Google Images

Previously we have studied about the wisdom that “is not from above.” In James 3:13-18, two different kinds of wisdom were contrasted—the wisdom from above and the wisdom from below. James is fond of asking questions and making contrasts. In James 1: 5 he asked, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God?” If we need wisdom we are to go to God in prayer and the word of God. That is where it is to be found. Pray and then do everything you can through the means that God has given you to acquire wisdom.

In James 3: 13 he asked, “Is there any among you who has wisdom and understanding, let him show it by his good deeds done in humility and meekness of wisdom?” Continue reading “THEWISDOM FROM ABOVE” →

TEST THE SPIRITS

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Shelby G. Floyd

The author of the letter to the church at Ephesus is Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-3). This letter is a part of the Revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an Angel, and the Angel signified it to John, John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches (Revelation 1:1-2). A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read (aloud), hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:3). John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven Golden candlesticks; and in the midst of those Golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the Son of Man, and he had in his right hand seven stars (Revelation 1:9-19). Continue reading “TEST THE SPIRITS” →

SOWING AND REAPING

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Shelby G. Floyd

Wheat ears in the hands. Harvest concept

In the beginning, when the Almighty created the heavens and the earth, he established a rule or principle of life which is absolute, and which still holds true to this day; it is the law of sowing and reaping. God ordained that each species of the fauna and flora would always reproduce after their kind. For instance, in connection with the grass and herbs of the field, God said,

“Let the earth bring forth grass, The herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:11-12).

Continue reading “SOWING AND REAPING” →

NOT ASHAMED CHRISTIANS

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Shelby G. Floyd

not-ashamed

The church that Jesus promised to build started in Jerusalem. The gospel was to be preached first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria. Finally it was to be taken to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). Later we have the record of Cornelius the Gentile being converted (Acts 10:1-48). From there the disciples preached in Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus and Antioch in Syria (Acts 11:19).

When the church in Jerusalem heard about the wonderful results, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. He did a great work, but realized he needed some help. So he went to Tarsus in Celica and brought Paul back to the church at Antioch. The hand of God was with the disciples in Antioch in Syria.

FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH

According to Acts 11:26, Barnabas and Saul assembled themselves with the church for a year. These two men also taught a great many people. “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Who called them Christians? The same people who assembled with the church for a year and taught much people, were the ones who called the disciples Christians first in Antioch.

THE NAME CHRISTIAN IS NEW NAME OF ISAIAH

The name Christian is of divine origin. God gave this name through the inspired apostle Paul and Barnabas. It is the new name promised by Isaiah the prophet:

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:1-4).

CHRISTIAN = OF OR BELONGING TO CHRIST

The word Christian means one who is of or belongs to the Lord. Whenever the suffix “ian” is added to a noun in connotes “of or belonging to.” For example an American is one who is of or belonging to America! Therefore a “Christian” is one who is “of or belonging” to Christ. It is a name that we should wear proudly.

Christian people today are being persecuted and put to death in many parts of the world. This also happened shortly after the first century in the Pagan Roman Empire. In many ways the nations today are becoming paganist and hostile to Christians. But the apostle Peter addressed the suffering people of God in the first century:

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:16 NKJV).

Let us all glorify our God as a “Christian!”

Copyright © 2016 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

heartland-church-assembly

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142

BOAST IN THE LORD

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Shelby G. Floyd

boast-in-the-lord

It is the nature of some people to boast—about their education, their possessions, their status in life, ad nauseam: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2). This is a good way for others to turn the other way when they see such a one coming toward them. Continue reading “BOAST IN THE LORD” →

GO FORWARD IN FAITH

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Shelby G. Floyd

forward-in-faith

As we focus on the future, God’s people must go forward with a strong faith that God will bless our efforts when we trust in him.

During the darkest hours of the Second World War, when the future of Great Britain was hanging in the balance, Winston Churchill rallied the people of Great Britain and the world when he said, “let us go forward together.”

Many centuries before when God’s people came out of Egypt to escape their bondage, while they were being pursued from behind by the Egyptian army and with the mountains on each side of them, and the Red Sea before them, the Lord admonished Moses to command the children of Israel to go forward: “and the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15).

Many congregations are spiritually asleep and not actively pursuing the work of the church. A congregation cannot go forward when it is like the church at Laodicea. They were lukewarm and the Lord said he was ready to spew them out of his mouth. They were like a warm cup of coffee that is neither hot nor cold and therefore nauseating to drink. To the church at Laodicea Jesus Christ wrote these words:

“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:14-16).

The message then to all of God’s people is to wake up out of our spiritual sleep and become active in serving the Lord. That’s the reason Paul wrote to the church Ephesus and said, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:13-14).

Almighty God has been good to all of us. He has blessed us by placing us in the most prosperous country in the world. He has blessed us with great material wealth and therefore we need to remember Solomon’s Council to his son in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 3:1, 9-10
My son…Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
NIV

Let us all go FORWARD IN FAITH!

Copyright © 2016 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby Preaching

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana

MEMORIAL DAY

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Shelby G. Floyd

Memorial Day

“Hilltops of Glory” is a beautiful song that we have just sung in a great way. We are truly blessed with good song leaders and singing because everybody joins in and sings out with some volume. That is not the case in some places today.

DECORATION DAY – MEMORIAL DAY

I was trying to think of what would be a good topic to preach on during the Memorial Day holiday. And so after some reflection I thought to myself, why not just preach on “Memorial Day.” It is wonderful to hear all of the patriotic music the past few days? It is great to see the marching bands and the marching soldiers with all of their patriotic flags. That is refreshing because it demonstrates a lot of our citizens still love our country and everything that it has stood for down through these centuries. We all appreciate the sacrifices that have been made that we might be free. Therefore we are able to enjoy all the blessings that God has showered down upon us for over 200 years.

And sometimes people do not really think about the meaning of Memorial Day. Sometimes we get so involved in family outings, going to the race and other events, and we don’t think much about the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf. But those things are also good. It is wonderful that we can combine love of family and love of country and be together and enjoy each other’s company. Continue reading “MEMORIAL DAY” →

THE SCHOOL OF LIFE

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Shelby G. Floyd

psalm143-10

This is the time of the year when young people begin to think about going back to school. Let us capitalize on this thought and apply it to the Christian life.

From the beginning to the end the Christian life is like a school. In the great commission Jesus commanded his people to go out and “make disciples” of all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). “Make disciples” is from (matheteuo-μαθητευω) and means “to make a disciple; to teach, instruct” (J. H. Thayer, p.386). Therefore, we are to be teachers and pupils under the master-teacher Jesus Christ.

The secret of learning in this school as in all schools is to teach much, ask much, remember much and do much!

The School of Life perhaps is best summarized by the statement of David,

Psalms 143:10
Teach me to do Your will,
For you are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness
NKJV

Continue reading “THE SCHOOL OF LIFE” →