WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.879 indwelling us by the Spirit of God at the moment of our conversion, 00:00:04.780 --> 00:00:09.019 uniting us to Christ and guaranteeing the inheritance to come. 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:12.280 We are so grateful, God, that you will hold us fast. 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:18.120 Thank you, God, that you are an unchanging God in the midst of changing times. 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:26.339 Thank you, God, that you speak timeless truths into a timely situation. 00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:30.000 God, we need to hear from you today. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.320 And so, God, would you speak? 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:37.359 Speak through your word today. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:42.460 Address us, a people who lack self-control. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.000 Help us to be self-controlled. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:51.539 God, we turn to you now and say, speak, O Lord. 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:53.460 We are listening. 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:56.600 It's in the name of Jesus we pray. 00:00:57.859 --> 00:00:58.179 Amen. 00:01:00.299 --> 00:01:06.840 Recently, I was looking at photographs of Aleppo, Syria. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:12.159 And Aleppo was the city where a civil war took place in Syria. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:17.859 And what made these photos so powerful is that they were before and after pictures. 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:27.200 Pictures of lovely homes, marketplaces, parks, before and then after this civil war. 00:01:28.260 --> 00:01:30.719 It was, the city was razed. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:33.039 It's a pile of rubble. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:44.900 And what these pictures do is they help us to see something that Proverbs 25, 28 pictures as well. 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:49.580 And so, would you turn to your Bibles right now to Proverbs 25, 28. 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:51.480 And we read this. 00:01:54.100 --> 00:01:59.700 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:02:00.360 --> 00:02:02.560 A raised pile of rubble. 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:12.080 Someone who's not exercising self-control is exposed, vulnerable, and as good as plundered. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.420 It's quite a picture. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:15.700 It's quite a comparison. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:21.720 Someone who does not have impulse control is exposed. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:27.520 It's a situation of danger. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:30.560 There's another war at work within us. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:37.140 It's a civil war inside of us between our passions and our appetites, even our thoughts. 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:47.059 Unchecked, unrestrained passions, thoughts, appetites within us will ruin us. 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:51.419 We'll be like Aleppo's. 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:59.979 So, this morning, in light of Proverbs 25, 28, in this obvious danger of not having self-control, 00:03:00.299 --> 00:03:05.839 I am going to call all of us on the authority of God's Word to be self-controlled. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:07.319 But I got to be honest with you. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:15.079 This call to self-control is actually a call to treasure Christ. 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:22.400 What I'm going to lay out for you, because God's Word lays out for you, is biblical self-control 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:26.720 is a Christ-treasuring impulse control. 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:29.120 That's what biblical self-control is. 00:03:31.040 --> 00:03:38.939 And so, this morning, I'm going to call you to self-control by calling you to treasuring Christ. 00:03:38.939 --> 00:03:41.579 And on your bulletins, there are five statements. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:42.919 We fill in the blanks. 00:03:43.579 --> 00:03:46.599 And I'm going to walk you through those statements as we go along. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.639 But let me ask you this morning, are you feeling ruined? 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.280 Are you feeling defeated, devastated, ashamed? 00:03:56.099 --> 00:04:04.419 The same that some unchecked, out-of-control passion or desire ruling your being and causing ruin? 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:13.839 Well, this call to self-control this morning, to treasure Christ, he has grace for that. 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:17.899 He turns ruin into rejoicing. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.019 He turns defeat into victory. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.599 Destruction into spring bloom. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:28.419 And shame into gratitude. 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.779 So let me begin with this first statement by saying this. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:36.120 We all need self-control. 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:37.480 All of us. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:40.160 Everyone here needs self-control. 00:04:40.340 --> 00:04:43.300 We need to grow in our impulse control. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:48.700 And our ability to say no, to unchecked desires, to say yes to Jesus. 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:53.340 And so, impulse control shows up in a variety of different ways. 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:58.980 So, for example, there are your passions, your loves. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:02.060 Anger is a passion. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:02.180 Anger is a passion. 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:17.360 And unchecked anger will, if that rules you, it will wreak ruin in your life, and in a family, even in a church, even in a country. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:24.639 So, we all need self-control because many of us are anger, and our anger gets the better of us. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:27.920 But it's just not with our impulsive passions. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.720 It's with our appetites. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.800 Many of us have unrestrained appetites when it comes to food. 00:05:37.580 --> 00:05:44.900 You look to food for comfort and deliverance, refuge, for accumulating money. 00:05:45.840 --> 00:05:50.040 You have an appetite for sexual lust that you can't fill. 00:05:50.260 --> 00:05:52.020 You have an appetite for sleep. 00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:53.240 You just can't get enough of it. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.300 You have an appetite for ease. 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:01.100 And on the flip side of that, an appetite for productivity and control. 00:06:01.660 --> 00:06:04.960 All of these can get blown out of portion and rule us. 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:09.980 We have appetites for the approval of man. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:16.040 We have appetites for entertainment because our biggest threat is boredom. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:21.260 We have appetites for speeding in our cars. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:29.900 Appetites to speak a choice morsel of gossip with our mouth that goes down deep. 00:06:30.260 --> 00:06:30.900 That's a proverb. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:38.280 We are people that can be ruled by our appetites. 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:42.220 And some of those appetites I just named to you, in and of themselves, they're good. 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:43.100 They're fine. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:52.340 It's when they go disproportional and that they rule us that it will wreak ruin in our lives. 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:56.740 And it's just not passions and appetites. 00:06:56.820 --> 00:06:57.760 It's even thoughts. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:05.939 Maybe you can relate with some of these undiagnosed thoughts in your head. 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:11.000 They're falsehoods about God. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:14.420 Many of us think that God is distant. 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:16.920 That God is uncaring. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:21.480 That he's in a perpetual state of disappointment with us. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.639 And that's how we live. 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:27.039 But it's not true. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.759 That's not what God's word says. 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:34.219 That's how God says about his posture towards whom he has redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:39.159 But it's not just unchecked thoughts about God. 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:41.180 It's unchecked thoughts about ourselves. 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:51.300 Many of us who are watching right now, listening, you have this profound sense that you will never measure up. 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:54.960 Or you have this other sense that you're better than anybody else. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:55.879 You just won't say it. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:01.900 What's interesting about human beings is we're all this interesting mix of both. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:07.139 We have deep insecurities as well as these moments of overconfidence. 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:09.240 And they're just not true. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:18.379 And then we have unchallenged, undiagnosed thoughts about others. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.480 We see someone post something on Facebook that we don't like. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:25.660 We rush to judgment about that person. 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:28.319 We see that person now as an enemy. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:31.240 And now we want that person punished somehow. 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:33.379 Unchecked. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:36.000 And it moves really fast. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:41.939 We are people who need self-control. 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:48.259 These passions and appetites and thoughts, here's what happens. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:54.740 When they're unchecked and unrestrained, they will inform the way that you live your life. 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:57.860 They will form a way of being. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:01.960 And it forms character. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:09.939 And what the Bible is clear to say is that this is foolishness. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:13.320 Proverbs 4.23 says, 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:18.139 Guard your heart above all else, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:21.139 We must guard our hearts. 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.860 Exercise self-control. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:38.860 More often than not, these unchecked, unrestrained, undiagnosed, unchallenged passions, appetites, and thoughts, 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.360 they'll lead to ruin. 00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:49.100 Personally, in our relationships, in a church, in a country. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:55.120 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:57.139 It's a picture of folly. 00:09:58.019 --> 00:09:59.440 It's a picture of ruin. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.560 So let me ask you a question by show of hands. 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:04.420 Who needs self-control? 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:06.399 Everybody. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:06.659 Everybody. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:11.740 So here's how we're going to start applying this. 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:19.980 Right now, with where you're sitting, would you please answer this question to yourself? 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:23.039 What is one specific area? 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:25.639 Maybe it's a passion, anger. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.420 Maybe it's an appetite, greed. 00:10:29.300 --> 00:10:31.480 Maybe it's a thought about God. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:42.060 What is one specific area that is regularly ruling your heart and reaping some kind of ruin in your life? 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:46.639 Identify that one particular area right now. 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.180 And if you've got a pen, write it down. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:50.840 Put it down. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.980 And now, as we've done this, I'm just going to pause the sermon. 00:10:57.420 --> 00:10:58.879 And now let's pray together. 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:05.800 God in heaven, we are a people in desperate need of self-control. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:12.779 And God, we're trusting that you are in this process right now of identifying specific areas of our life. 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:17.879 That you want to pour your grace of self-control onto and change us, transform us. 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:23.740 So now, God, with this thing in front of us that we've identified, we ask, God, would you help us now? 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:26.480 Would you help us to think your thoughts about this? 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.860 Would you help us to grow in this? 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.439 Would you help us to treasure Christ in light of this? 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.340 We need your help. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.279 And Lord Jesus, we look to you. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.200 It's in your name we pray. 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:35.580 Amen. 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:35.740 Amen. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:43.259 Now, the proverb says, a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:43.560 Right? 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:45.520 Well, the opposite is true. 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:55.240 A man with self-control, a woman with self-control, is like a city defended because of fortified walls. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:12:06.120 And God has a fortifying grace for all of us, brothers and sisters, to strengthen us in this area of self-control. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:09.820 And so now we've talked about the need for self-control. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:13.480 Now I want to get at the heart of self-control. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:17.620 Number two, what's at the heart of self-control? 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.740 And it's in one word. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:23.120 At the heart of self-control is worship. 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:27.659 Worship is at the heart of self-control. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.899 What rules your heart controls your life. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:37.120 There was a time when the computing world was divided into two camps. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:41.820 There was Apple and there was PC. 00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:47.640 You're running a Mac operating system or you're running a Windows operating system. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:53.180 And an operating system, as I've told you before, is what governs the applications of a computer. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:13:00.780 Now, when it comes to human beings, there are basically two human operating systems of the heart. 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:08.780 And these operating systems, these two different operating systems, they both run an application called self-control. 00:13:08.780 --> 00:13:11.020 But they're very different versions of self-control. 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:23.620 So, the first kind of human operating system is called the godless operating system of the flesh. 00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:28.120 And it's running a worldly version of self-control. 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:31.760 And here's what is characteristic of this version. 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:39.020 At the heart of this worldly version of self-control is a worship of oneself. 00:13:39.800 --> 00:13:40.720 It's all about me. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:42.960 It's self-dependent. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.840 It's self-defined. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.360 What I think I need most. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.960 Self-directed. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:51.480 I'm going to pick the words that I want to hear in order to go get it. 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.480 And self-delighting. 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:55.259 It's about my indulgence. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:02.440 And this is the fatal flaw of this particular operating system. 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.740 It's idolatrous. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.340 Self is at the heart of it. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:13.940 Contrasting to this is the godward operating system of faith. 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:19.360 At the heart of this operating system is a fear of the Lord. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:23.040 Is of recognizing that our God, he is the creator. 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:24.420 And he's the ruler. 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:25.820 And he's the savior. 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:27.420 And he's the judge. 00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:35.599 And as we watch the unfolding of scripture, what we see in the New Testament is Jesus is the creator. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:38.019 Jesus is the ruler of all. 00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:39.519 All things have been put under his feet. 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:41.979 Jesus is the savior of all. 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:44.120 And Jesus is the judge of all. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:53.720 And so at the heart of this godward operating system is a faith in the living God. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:59.320 A fear of the Lord or a treasuring of Jesus Christ. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:03.420 And what we see of this operating system, it's god-dependent. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.879 I'm not going to change on my own strength. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.159 It's god by his spirit changing me. 00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.740 It's god-defined. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:11.539 His word defines what I need. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.600 It's god-directed. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:15.279 His word directs me in the way I should go. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:17.720 And it's god-delighting above all else. 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:21.500 Whether I eat or whether you drink, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.180 It's all about God. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:29.259 And what this is described, it's called a fountain of life. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:36.100 If you would open up your Bibles, turn to now Proverbs 14, 27. 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:41.899 We have a distinction between operating systems. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.879 Listen to this. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:49.460 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:55.040 That one may turn away from the snares of death. 00:15:56.700 --> 00:16:00.740 A godless operating system of the flesh is fatal. 00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:01.900 It leads to death. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:07.920 But a godward operating system of faith, where fear of the Lord, treasuring Jesus, is ruling your heart, 00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:10.019 it will turn you from that. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.340 It's a source of life. 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:17.440 Now here's why this matters. 00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:22.160 It's all about worship. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:29.139 Every morning you wake up, and you wake up into a default operating system, 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.980 and it's not godward. 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:33.120 It's typically godless. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:43.100 You wake up kind of bent on the flesh, self-dependent, self-defined, self-directed, self-indulging. 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:51.960 And what Jesus is clear to say is that you must deny all these selves in order for you to take up your cross 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.560 and follow him and treasure him. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:17:04.579 What this is is just the run-of-the-mill daily repentance and faith of following Jesus Christ. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.799 It's all about discipleship. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.819 God-dependent. 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.659 God-defined. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.279 God-directed. 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.720 God-delighting. 00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:17.879 At the heart of self-control is worship. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.500 Who you treasure most. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.500 God-dependent. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:27.779 So every day, multiple times a day, you are faced with a decision. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.940 Who you're going to treasure. 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:40.079 And out of that treasuring, you will exercise some version of self-control, impulse control. 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:47.220 And the two choices you have are yourself and the risen Christ. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:51.539 A worldly self-control or a biblical self-control. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.900 So let me ask you a question now. 00:17:56.140 --> 00:18:00.200 You've already identified something that you need to grow in self-control, right? 00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:02.259 Let me ask you this. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:15.140 What do you think will happen if you begin to treasure Jesus more in light of that passion or appetite or thought? 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.700 What will happen? 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.880 Change is a-coming. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.500 That's what's going to happen. 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:28.220 The call to self-control is first and foremost a call to worship. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:31.200 A call to worship the one true God. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.840 A call to fear him above all else. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.539 A call to treasure Jesus like nothing else. 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.940 And now that's where I want to bring you to three. 00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:42.580 How to grow in self-control. 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:44.620 A biblical self-control. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:46.899 There's two parts to this. 00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:50.279 How to grow biblical self-control part one. 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.739 That's three. 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:52.839 How to grow in self-control part two. 00:18:52.959 --> 00:18:54.399 That's the fourth point. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.419 So bear with me in this third point. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:19:01.740 How do we grow in biblical self-control? 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:05.500 Well, let's make sure we're working on the right definition of self-control. 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:10.539 Biblical self-control is a Christ-treasuring impulse control. 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:12.920 I love Jesus. 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:12.960 I love Jesus. 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.440 Delight in him so much. 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:16.500 My affections for him. 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:18.059 My delight in him. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.039 My want to bring glory to him. 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:24.839 It exceeds any other passion, appetite, or thought in my life. 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:27.199 It's a battle of delights. 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.899 It's a battle of pleasures. 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:31.199 It's a battle of treasures. 00:19:32.939 --> 00:19:38.759 And so what this means is self-control always starts with treasuring Jesus. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:42.000 It always begins with Jesus. 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:47.740 Nowhere in your Bible is self-control raised and then immediately goes from self-control 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:51.539 to saying, okay, now here is your diet plan. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:55.259 Or here is your financial stewardship plan. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.940 Or here is your time management plan. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:00.799 Or here is your exercise regimen. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:07.899 What your Bible will always do when it comes to self-control, it links governing your affections 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.899 to theology. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.879 It's theology. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:16.659 What you believe about God lived out in your decisions that reign in your passions. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.619 The question that you need to be asking this morning is this. 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:30.019 Am I treasuring Jesus in the way he deserves? 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.779 That's the question. 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:39.579 Am I seeing and savoring Jesus for the glory and wonder that he is? 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:43.799 And I think all of us would say, oh, we have room to grow. 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.419 That's the place to start so. 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:49.779 So maybe you're wondering, well, how do I do that? 00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:53.419 Well, you need to go to the ones of your Bible. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.659 The ones. 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.559 Here's what I mean. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.899 John chapter 1, 1 through 18. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:01.580 Colossians chapter 1, 15 through 20. 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:04.019 Hebrews chapter 1, 3 through 4. 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:06.820 Revelation chapter 1, 12 through 18. 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:09.740 Joshua chapter 1, 5 through 9. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:13.720 And you want to link that to Jude chapter 1, verse 5. 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:15.900 That will blow your socks off about Jesus. 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:25.800 All of these passages portray Jesus as a big Jesus, as a wonder, as a glory. 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:28.920 Especially the one in Revelation chapter 1. 00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:32.700 Jesus is a risen, radiant, and reigning Christ. 00:21:33.280 --> 00:21:35.120 He will take your breath away. 00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:39.620 So the question is, how big is your Jesus? 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:45.779 And is it in keeping with what the scriptures have revealed about Jesus? 00:21:46.739 --> 00:21:48.159 That's the place to start. 00:21:48.959 --> 00:21:54.259 In Titus chapter 2, if you want to turn there quickly, the apostle Paul raises the issue of self-control. 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:59.059 And he does it by first pointing to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.599 He says, for the grace of God. 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:03.259 This is chapter 2, verse 11 through 13. 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:08.279 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.400 That's a reference to Jesus. 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:14.940 And then it goes on to say, this grace training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:19.180 And to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:24.400 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:30.539 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession. 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.960 Who are zealous for good works. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.059 There's a lot there. 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.460 But what it's clear is this. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:38.559 Our self-control is lived out in light of who Jesus is. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.380 In light of his first coming. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:44.799 In which he lived a perfect life of self-control. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:47.620 Jesus, who is fully God and fully man. 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:50.579 Never once sinned in his passions. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:53.340 Never once sinned in his appetites. 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:58.039 Never once had an unbiblical thought about himself, God, or others. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:00.900 Everything was unmarked, pleasing to God. 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:05.200 And this perfect man of self-control. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:11.480 He died on the cross for all of us who blow it regularly when it comes to our lack of self-control. 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:18.480 He died to radically change ruinous people into rejoicing worshipers. 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.560 That's why he came. 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:25.440 And not only did he come, he's going to come again. 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:29.759 And when he comes back, this blessed hope of ours, do you know what he's going to do? 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:34.279 He's going to completely eradicate our sinful nature. 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:39.579 I think there's going to be some kind of need for self-control and glory. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.200 I don't know what for. 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:46.480 But it's not to restrain our sin because it won't be there. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:49.700 It's all about Jesus. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.360 About his first coming and his second coming. 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:58.279 In this present age we live in between, we are to live out self-control in light of who he is. 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.759 How to grow in self-control? 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:06.000 Starts with worshiping Jesus. 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.519 Big Jesus. 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.559 Go to the ones. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:16.639 But what we also see in Titus chapter 2, 11 through 13, and I'm going to just be really brief, is what I call the Christian two-step. 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:22.480 The Christian two-step is a renouncing and an embracing. 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:26.000 It is a putting off and a putting on. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.259 We see it in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3. 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:31.179 And it's here in Titus chapter 2 as well. 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.839 We read this. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:43.959 For this grace is a period bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce, put off passions, evil desires, worldly passions, 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:47.480 and to live self-controlled, upright lives in this present age. 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:57.939 What this grace of God in treasuring Jesus does for us is it helps us to say no to sinful desires for Jesus 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:05.340 and to say yes to God's plan for our lives for Jesus, to Jesus, to obey him. 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:10.620 We are making multiple decisions every day. 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:16.620 And what's governing our heart is being played out in those decisions we make. 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:22.080 And so what we must do is treasure Jesus above all else. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:27.919 Now, here are a couple questions. 00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:32.319 What does that look like for you? 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:40.919 What does it look like for you to begin treasuring Jesus every day? 00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:44.799 I would encourage you to go to the ones. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:50.399 John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1, Revelation 1, Joshua 1, Jude 1, 5. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:53.320 Get these big pictures of Jesus. 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:57.160 That will stir your heart towards him. 00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:58.820 Pray. 00:25:59.100 --> 00:26:05.860 Ask the Father to pour out the Holy Spirit whose defined purpose is to glorify Jesus. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:14.759 Ask God to pour out his Spirit on you to see and savor and delight in and treasure Jesus for who he is. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.700 Start your day that way. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:20.319 In worship of our Savior. 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:23.519 Now, the second question is more specific. 00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:32.759 This passion that you've identified, this appetite, this thought that rules you and brings ruin to your life. 00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:37.600 What does it look like when you treasure Jesus? 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:40.019 What does it look like for you to say no to that? 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.980 What must you do? 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.400 Do you need to speak it out loud? 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.640 No, I'm not going to speed right now. 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:49.720 No, I'm not going to look lustfully at this person. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:55.680 No, I'm not going to entertain this thought or that feeling or that passion. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:00.380 And what does it look like to say yes to Jesus? 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:07.280 To do the Christian two-step of renouncing, of denial, of putting something to death, 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:12.119 and saying yes to the Spirit of God at work in you. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:18.160 Now, if you've identified something and you're at a loss, like I have no idea what to do, 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:21.259 I'd love to talk to you about this after the service and pray with you. 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:28.779 But I just want to say right now, a call to self-control is a call to treasure Christ first and foremost above all else. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:32.920 That will help you to say no and to say yes. 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:41.339 The fourth point, how to grow in biblical self-control. 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:44.539 I am going to be brief and amazing on this point. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:51.119 Because based on what you've heard me say so far, you may draw the conclusion that, 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:54.079 hey, growing in self-control is just a me and Jesus thing. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.480 And you know what? 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.740 You're right to a certain degree. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:02.559 No one but you can decide to live for Jesus day in and day out. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.319 I can't make that decision for you. 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:08.119 Your spouse, your mom, your dad, they can't make that decision for you. 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:11.500 You must make that decision yourself day in and day out. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.599 But you're not alone. 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.859 Proverbs 13, 20. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.000 If you want to turn there in your Bible. 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:21.099 I love this verse. 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:24.859 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise. 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:31.440 But the companion of fools will suffer harm, ruin, devastation. 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:34.720 Like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:45.500 What you want to do is saddle up next to other brothers and sisters who are looking to treasure Jesus 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:49.299 and live out a biblical self-control. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:56.539 And when you surround yourself with those who fear God that way, you're going to grow as well. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:00.880 You're going to get called up to living for Jesus by those around you. 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:08.200 It is a wonderful, godly momentum that's generated when you run and walk with people through life 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:11.840 who have the same aim to treasure Jesus above all else. 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:14.320 Think of it as team discipleship. 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:16.480 Following Jesus. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.960 Treasuring Jesus together. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:22.539 That's why we do life groups. 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:34.100 So the question is, are you in close association with others who are calling you to follow Jesus with them? 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.559 Are you being provoked? 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:42.319 Are there people speaking into your life who are correcting and rebuking you and saying, 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:47.139 don't, don't, don't swerve from treasuring Jesus or they're comforting you? 00:29:50.939 --> 00:29:56.859 The call to self-control is a call to treasure Christ above all else 00:29:56.859 --> 00:30:03.919 and to do that with others of like-hearted passion for Christ. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:08.700 Five, the wise produce of self-control. 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:15.960 What happens when people exercise biblical self-control? 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.380 What will happen? 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:20.240 Proverbs 25, 28. 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:23.860 Remember, a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.200 The opposite is true. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:31.779 A man or woman with self-control, those who treasure Jesus and are saying no and saying yes for the glory of Jesus, 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:38.139 that person is like a city defended with fortified walls. 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.680 Here's the effect. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:49.180 When we step out in faith, treasuring Jesus, calling on the Holy Spirit to empower us, 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:55.819 God in his grace will transform anger into gentleness. 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.879 He's got a power to do that. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:06.540 He will transform lust into fidelity, devotion. 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:10.120 He will transform greed into generosity. 00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:17.820 He will transform fear and anxiety into a persevering faith in the midst of hardship. 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:22.840 It is what the Holy Spirit has indwelt us and is seeking to produce in us 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:26.099 because self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:35.259 But we must make the effort to deny ourselves daily to follow Jesus. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:43.299 So what will happen as we seek together, individually and as a church, 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:46.619 biblical self-control by treasuring Jesus? 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:49.440 Transformation will happen. 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:54.519 We'll be changed into the likeness of Jesus together. 00:31:54.519 --> 00:32:01.879 And instead of sin, ruling hearts resulting in all sorts of ruin, 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:08.759 God's grace poured out will redeem, will transform. 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:15.559 We will experience God's blessing and there will be profound unity within our church. 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:22.480 Proverbs 3.13 talk about the blessed man who finds wisdom. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:32.159 What we're describing is this treasuring Jesus and saying no and saying yes out of that treasure. 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.059 That's wisdom. 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:39.859 That's crafting a life that fears the Lord, that treasures Jesus. 00:32:39.859 --> 00:33:09.839 That's the one that fears the Lord, that treasures the Lord, that treasures the Lord, 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:13.980 imagine that, what God can do in you. 00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:16.859 It's a wonderful thought. 00:33:17.939 --> 00:33:20.000 And God is able to do that. 00:33:21.879 --> 00:33:26.259 The call to self-control is a call to treasure Christ. 00:33:27.679 --> 00:33:34.159 I started off this sermon by talking about Aleppo. 00:33:35.199 --> 00:33:37.599 It's a city in ruin right now. 00:33:38.179 --> 00:33:39.220 It's just a bunch of rubble. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:46.179 And it's a picture of what a lack of self-control does to people. 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:48.879 It leaves us in ruin. 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:55.039 But this grace that we've been talking about, this kindness of God, 00:33:55.279 --> 00:34:00.679 this gift of self-control offered to us by the Spirit of God, 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.899 He is wanting to produce this in us. 00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:15.380 Could you imagine the before and after picture of a church that has been radically changed by treasuring Jesus together? 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.640 Father, we will stand out. 00:34:17.640 --> 00:34:21.640 We will be light. 00:34:21.640 --> 00:34:23.340 We will be salt. 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:32.300 We will generate from the Spirit of God in us a unity and a momentum unto godliness. 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:40.160 I'm convinced that the more self-control we experience as an outworking of the Spirit, 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:47.000 the more joy we will experience as a church, the more happiness in our great God. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:50.760 It doesn't come without hardship and pain. 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.719 There are decisions to be made. 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:56.619 Self-control requires self-denial. 00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:59.259 But it's all for Jesus. 00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:04.000 This morning I've sought to call you to self-control. 00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:09.299 But I've really sought to call you to treasure Jesus above all else. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.699 Let's do this together. 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:14.179 For the glory of His name. 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:15.920 Let's pray. 00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.559 God in heaven, 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:22.199 My words are so weak. 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.980 But Your word 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:29.139 is Your power. 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.779 God, would You take 00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:33.340 what has been spoken 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:35.779 and would You press us now 00:35:35.779 --> 00:35:37.199 into our hearts. 00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.960 Spirit of the living God, 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:41.940 would You fall afresh upon us? 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:44.199 Would You bring about conviction, 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:46.920 not guilt and condemnation, 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:49.179 but exposure, 00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:52.179 areas where You, our Holy Father, 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:54.199 are wanting to change us for our good 00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:55.599 that we would share in Your holiness. 00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:00.320 God, I pray that You would do a work 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:03.079 in which You make us holy. 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:05.759 And with that holiness 00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:08.159 comes a happiness 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:11.360 as we share in the harvest 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:13.099 that You're looking to reap in us. 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:17.880 God, would You now receive our singing 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:20.739 in response to what You have spoken. 00:36:21.839 --> 00:36:23.259 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:24.559 Amen. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:24.699 Amen. 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.339 Amen. 00:36:26.419 --> 00:36:27.419 Amen.