River Church NOLA
Sunday Nov 10 2024 Self Control
  • This Is Amazing Grace
  • The Only Name (Yours Will Be)
  • Evidence
  • Make Room
  • Intro
    We are in week #9 in the study of the Fruit of the Spirit. We are doing this because of the time we are in. Things are so toxic and it’s a great opportunity for us to live out these characteristics so others can see.
    I believe it’s so important for people to see Jesus living in us and these fruit will show that he is real. How will people know the Lord unless they see us living for the Lord. How we live actually points people to Jesus.
    Fruit also shows how healthy the tree is. This list of fruit lets us know how we are doing spiritually. If none of these fruit look like us, then we can’t say that our Christianity is working. The Bible says that they will know them by their fruit.
    Another thing is that, God wants these things for us. I hope you never rest on what you have… God is the God of more. Never stop growing. Never stop pursuing your faith… God want su sto to great things in our lives.
    Here is our text.
    Galatians 5:22–23 NLT
    22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
    ​
    This verse is also saying that you cannot make someone do these. These come from the transformation that occurs when we have a real relationship with Jesus.
    Self Control - is the same as the KJV word… Temperance. Someone who doesn’t have self control is miserable.
    Proverbs 25:28 NLT
    28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
    I want you to think about what areas of your life that are out of control.

    Self Control : The virtue of one who masters their desires and passions especially their sensual appetites.

    We all have passions and desires and sometimes they get outside of the will of God. The word actually leans toward sensual pleasures.
    All of these are important. Some people are out of control in their thought life… temper… attitude… emotions… spending and finances… weight.
    The Bible doesn’t want you to be out of control. You don’t want to be out of control. Right after you do what you knew you shouldn’t do, you feel miserable.
    Don’t feel too bad because even Paul struggled.
    Romans 7:15–24 NLT
    15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
    When you know you are doing something wrong, it shows that you have a standard on the inside of me… a conscience. The ones I worry about are the ones who do wrong and have no sense that they are doing wrong.
    Alway make sure that you keep your values and character in line with what God says is right and wrong, not what the culture says is right and wrong nor what your feelings say are right and wrong. Love God’s law… You can love God and the WOG, but still struggle. This other power makes me a slave…
    Oh what a miserable person I am… I am dedicated this message to all of us who feel this way…
    If you think about it, we are all in this cycle to a degree…

    When I try to do right but fail, I feel hopelessness and shame.

    There are two emotions that we experience when we do something wrong. One comes from God and the other comes from the devil. This is the role of the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin. So when you feel bad about it, that’s actually not bad. But when you beat yourself up and think that you are a bad person and can’t change… that’s not from God.
    One is called conviction and one is called condemnation.
    Jesus did not come into the world to condemn you … to fuss at you… to point his finger at you… He came to save you and forgive you. He didn’t come to make you feel sorry, he came to bring you a solution.
    If you let God in, you don’t get this next one…
    If you don’t allow God into your life,

    It becomes a part of my a part of my identity.

    I come from a long line of drunks… My dad had a temper, so I have a temper…
    The weakness of 12 step is that they identify who you are with your addiction. I am … and I am an alcoholic. Thats’ not who you are. You are a child of God who struggled with alcohol. There is a difference.
    Too many people get caught up identifying with what they struggle with.
    Then when others notice it, they respond… They may say something like, You did that again… you can’t talk to your wife that way…

    When I’m challenged to change, it becomes a threat.

    Then we become defensive in our feelings. You may think that you cannot control your feelings, but you can. We don’t live by our feelings, we live by our choices. Choices lead and our feelings will follow. God is changing us into his image.
    Too many people say, that’s jus the way I am… I was born that way…
    ​

    I begin to lose my life.

    You feel like you are losing something and you are. Remember these fruit are for you. They are not to make God happy, they are to make you happy.
    Romans 7:24 NLT
    24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
    Look a the next line.
    Romans 7:25 NLT
    25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
    You do not have to continue to act that way… the answer is Jesus. Look at the next verse.
    Romans 8:1–4 NLT
    1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
    You can be free.
    The Law can’t do it. It was external, not internal.
    God writes the law inside us. Jesus satisfied the law.

    Self Control is the fruit of God’s power in me that helps me do what I want to do and not do what I know you shouldn’t do, so I can have the life I want in the future

    Real self control is written inside of us by the power of God.
    If you will allow God to take you on a journey, you don’t have to have a life that’s full of anger, lust, spending, worry… God can temper us. As we allow god to work in our lives, we can enjoy self control and all these others.
    Now we are going to look at what we can do that will help us to practice these.

    1. Repent

    You have to tell God, I was wrong.
    Repent means change your mind so you can change your direction. The first thing that you have to do to change directions is to change your mind.
    Our culture says that when you have a feeling it’s right because its your feeling… it’s your truth. No… truth is truth. Truth comes from God not my feelings.
    The Bible says let God be right and every man be a liar.
    Romans 3:4 (NIV84)
    Let God be true, and every man a liar.
    When you come to this place, you don’t have to get it right, you just have to tell him that he is right. Getting it right will happen, but even when you don’t understand, you say God you are right. don’t fall into the like of the world that says this is my truth… God’s word is truth.
    I don’t trust my feelings, I trust God. When you become a Christian, you become a new person. When you do this,
    Acts 3:19–20 NLT
    19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
    The second you submit to the Lord, you feel this.
    we have to repent, but there is more. If all you do is say, I know I need to change and your try to change under your own power it won’t work.
    I just want go to a bar… so I won’t drink…
    I will put a filter on my internet so I won’t look at porn…
    But is you still want to do it and don’t you will still live this miserable life of struggle.

    2. Fall in love with Jesus.

    The best defense is a healthy offense. You can tell yourself all day… don’t do this… stop… or you can fall in love with Jesus.
    Fall in love with your wife and you won’t be tempted to look at other women…
    Love the feeling of being healthy and you will not want to eat unhealthy…
    The more you fall in love with Jesus, the more you want to do this. This is the essence of the Gospel.
    John 14:15 NLT
    15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
    Most people read this like… If you love me prove it… that’s not what it says.
    It says if you love me, you will do what I command.
    What side of the comma to you live on. Are you on the obey side trying, or are you on the love side with God. Christianity is easy when you are in love.
    Titus 2:11–12 NIV84
    11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
    Grace… teaches me…
    When you realize how much Jesus loves me it teaches me to say no.

    Grace: When what I ought to do becomes what I want to do

    The last thing I want you to do is to go home and try to do all these. What I want you to do is to fall in love with Jesus.
    So we never call what we are doing right if God says it’s wrong, I am going to fall in love with Jesus and it’s going to teach me to say no.

    3. Commit to the daily lifestyle of a disciple.

    For us to live these fruit, we have to commit to the lifestyle of a disciple. I hope that this message makes you want to, but then it’s up to you to walk it out.
    We have to wake up tomorrow and say, God you’re right and I am wrong, I am so in love with you today that I want to do what you want me to… then Tuesday… you do it all over again.
    God help me today! We do this every day. If not, you will be back to Romans 7.
    Here is the verse that tells us to live the lifestyle of a disciple.
    Galatians 5:16 NIV
    16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
    We just have to figure out our daily walk. Walk in the Greek is…

    Peripateo: a continuous regular action, a habitual way of life.

    How can I stop whatever I have struggled with? I walk it out daily.
    2 Peter 1:3–8 NIV
    3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    If you really want to change… God you are right I am wrong and it teaches me to say no… but now I am committing to a lifestyle.
    We want you to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, make a difference.

    Know God. Make my relationship with God public. Spend time with God every day. Weekly worship in church.

    Blue zones. Study of places on earth where people live to be over 100. If you attend a faith service every week it will extend your life 14 years or more. Data backs it up… Why? Because when you know God, you begin to change.

    Find Freedom. Get in a small group. Be honest and transparent. Invite the Holy Spirit to do His work.

    Discover Purpose Discover my gifts and passions. Join a team. Continually grow.

    Make a Difference Serve God by serving others. Give generously. Share your faith.

    Listen… when you start sharing what God is doing in your life, you will change because now others are watching you.

    4.Guard against going back to your old way of living.

    Now you have to change something. Maybe you do put a filter on your internet. Stay away from places. Have an accountability partner.
    Now if you hear this, but you are in a relationship with someone who doesn’t know Jesus, leave it.
    2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV
    1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
    Purify yourself… God did his work, now we need to do our work.
    Help us to grow.
    Let healthy conviction take place… you are right and we love you and we want to live like a disciple and we will make decisions to live a life of discipleship.
    Prayer
    God I repent. I am changing my mind, I am changing my direction. Jesus come in to my life because you are God and I put my faith in you.

      • Galatians 5:22–23NLT

      • Proverbs 25:28NLT

      • Romans 7:15–24NLT

      • Romans 7:24NLT

      • Romans 7:25NLT

      • Romans 8:1–4NLT

      • Acts 3:19–20NLT

      • John 14:15NLT

      • Titus 2:11–12NLT

      • Galatians 5:16NLT

      • 2 Peter 1:3–8NLT

      • 2 Corinthians 7:1NLT

River Church NOLA
robert@riverchurchnola.com
504-578-8317
https://riverchurchnola.com
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