LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART-22)

HOLY SPIRIT (Part 22)

Self-control 
– Greek word for “self-control” is “egkrateia”
  (which means – continence; temperance; self-control);
  in essence it means “restraining passions and appetites”.
  Note:
      “akrasia” is the opposite
      (it means – to enjoy in excess; self-indulgence).

– (Acts 24:22-27)
  Question:
  What was the basic message Paul gave to Felix?
      – (verse 24)
        Paul spoke to him about faith in Jesus Christ.
  Question:
  What three elements did he focus on?
      1. Righteousness.
      2. Self-control
      3. The judgment to come.
  Question:
  How did Felix react?
      – He didn’t want to hear anymore.
      Note:
          According to historians,
          Felix was a man of lust, pride, greed, and selfish ambition.
          Question:
          When he listened to Paul,
          what do you think bothered him the most?
              – More than likely it was “self-control”.

– (1 Corinthians 6:12)
  Paul alludes to the lack of self-control.
  Note:
      “Self” makes the choice over the issue of “control”.
  Note:
      The Greek word for “mastered” is “exousia”
      (which means – to be ruled by,
      or be under the power of; to be in bondage to).
      Paul chose not to be under the control
      or power of anything outside of the will of God
      (he chose what would control his “self”).
  Note:
      Christ has given us the victory over
      our flesh, our world, and our accuser.
      In the life of the believer, these three
      can only rule where and when they are invited.
      Self-control is an issue of mastery,
      of authority, and of boundaries.

– (Proverbs 25:28)
  Look at how the scriptures describe those without self-control.
  Note:
      Walls were crucial in ancient architecture.
      A city was only as secure as the walls surrounding it.
      A city’s walls were its fortification.
      God doesn’t break down our wall of protection, we do.
  Note:
      The Hebrew word for “walls” is “chowmah”
      (it means a wall of protection).

– (Deuteronomy 1:22-28)
  This gives us an idea of how walls were viewed.

– (1 Kings 3:1)
  Solomon knew the importance of walls.
  Note:
      When we do not exercise self-control,
      we lose our protection and become vulnerable.
      We might say, “I’m not breaking down any of my protective walls”
      but when we allow our independence to express itself through
      the satisfaction of our selfish desires, that’s exactly what we are doing.

  Example of actions and attitudes
  which break down our wall of protection.
      Let’s say someone has a habit of something unrighteous
      (it could be an addition to drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, etc.
      but it could also be something like gossip, uncontrolled,
      foul language (which Jesus would never use), rudeness,
      cheating on taxes, lying, etc.).
      Now, let’s assume someone tells them it is wrong (or the Holy
      Spirit convicts them it is wrong), and their response is something
      like, “That’s just who I am, other people need to get over it!”.
      That is an arrogant, selfish, and independent attitude
      which causes our wall of protection to start crumbling.

– (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
  Our body is a temple; it houses the Holy Spirit.
  Note:
      As with all temples, it needs a fortified protective wall.
      That wall is self-control – it protects us, and
      it invites the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

– Self-control gives us freedom to:
      – Love.                                        – Experience joy.
      – Know peace.                            – Respond with patience.
      – Have disposition of kindess.    – Act out of goodness.
      – Step out in faithfulness.           – Be gentle.

– (Ezekiel 26:7-14; Ezekiel 38:11)
  Look at what happens when the walls of protection are gone.
  Question:
  How could that description relate to us?

– (Nehemiah 2:1-20)
  A story that contains some ideas
  for self-control (which leads to the rebuilding our lives):
      – (verse 12)
        “a few men”
        (recruit one or two accountability partners).
        Note:
            They must be someone who can be trusted.

      – (verse 13)
        “examining”
        (perform an honest self-examination to
        identify areas where we lack self-control).

      – (verse 17)
        “disgrace”
        (admit to ourselves where we have experienced internal
        (or external) disgrace as a result of a lack of self-control).

      – (verse 18)
        “come, let us rebuild”
        (begin immediately to cooperate with God
        in overcoming our areas of captivity).

      – (verse 20)
        “the God of heaven will give us success”
        (give it to God, then keep giving it to Him until we overcome).

Two examples:
    (1) a life of self-indulgence,
    (2) a life of self-control.

– A life of self-indulgence:
      – (Judges 13:1-25)
        Before his conception, God
        ordained Samson’s dedication to Him as a lifelong Nazarite.

      – (Numbers 6:1-20)
        Special actions were required
        of anyone who took the Nazarite vow.
        Note:
            (Acts 18:18)
            Paul had taken the Nazarite vow
            for the length of time he ministered in Corinth.
            Question:
            Why?
                – He knew about the open perversion
                  and sensuality practiced in that city;
                  he wanted to minister in needy places of the
                  world without being personally defiled by
                  the sin of the world (his uncut hair was an
                  outward expression of total devotion).
            Note:
                  The Nazarite vow was a vow of self-control,
                  of restraint, and of extreme personal discipline.
                  This was the vow God ordained for Samson
                  for the length of his life.
                  Note:
                      It is the vow every Christian should make.

      – (Judges 14:1-20)
        From the first description of his life,
        Samson appeared to break the vow
        by being involved in self-indulgence:
            – He touched a dead animal.
            – He disrespected his parents by purposely causing
              them to unknowingly break Jewish law by
              eating from the carcass of a dead animal.
              Note:
                  (Exodus 20:12)
                  Reminds us of the dangers of
                  disrespecting God-given authority (short life).
          – Not only did Samson break vows,
            but he made jokes about it.
            Note:
                The message to us may be to avoid telling
                “off color” or disrespectful jokes
                (which of course, requires self-control).

      – (Judges 16:1-31)
        Samson’s weakness for women
        ultimately resulted in a ‘fatal attraction’.
        His enjoyment of practical jokes
        and pleasures of the flesh resulted in his death.
        Note:
            Samson was a man whose entire existence was
            supposed to be the epitome of devotion and restraint;
            however, he lived almost his entire life out of control
            (in fact, he was more effective in his death than in his life).

      – What we can learn from Samson:
            – Self-indulgence robs us of our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
              Note:
                  Samson appeared to be completely unaware
                  that the Holy Spirit’s presence was missing in his life.
          – Self-indulgence robs us of our strength.
          – Self-indulgence is insatiable
            (lives caught up in passions of the flesh are never satisfied).
          – Self-indulgence is a never-ending cycle.