The Fierce Fruit of Self-Control

As the Hebrews were promised the land, but had to take it by force, one town at a time, so we are promised the gift of self-control, yet we also must take it by force.

The very concept of "self-control" implies a battle between a divided self. It implies that our "self" produces desires we should not satisfy but instead "control." We should "deny ourselves" and "take up our cross daily," Jesus says, and follow him (Luke 9:23). Daily our "self" produces desires that should be "denied" or "controlled."

That path that leads to heaven is narrow and strewn with suicidal temptations to abandon the way. Therefore Jesus says, "Strive to enter through the narrow door" (Luke 13:24). The Greek word for "strive" is agonizesthe, in which you correctly hear the English word "agonize."
We get a taste of what is involved from Matthew 5:29, "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you." This is the fierceness of self-control. This is what is behind the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:12, "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." Are you laying hold on the kingdom fiercely?

Paul says that Christians exercise self-control like the Greek athletes, only our goal is eternal, not temporal. "Everyone who competes in the games (agonizomenos) exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Corinthians 9:25). So he says, "I pommel my body and subdue it" (1 Corinthians 9:27). Self-control is saying no to sinful desires, even when it hurts.

But the Christian way of self-control is NOT "Just say no!" The problem is with the word "just." You don't just say no. You say no in a certain way: You say no by faith in the superior power and pleasure of Christ. It is just as ruthless. And may be just as painful. But the difference between worldly self-control and godly self-control is crucial. Who will get the glory for victory? That's the issue. Will we get the glory? Or will Christ get the glory? If we exercise self-control by faith in Christ's superior power and pleasure, Christ will get the glory.

Fundamental to the Christian view of self-control is that it is a gift. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . self-control" (Galatians 5:22). How do we "strive" against the our fatal desires? Paul answers: "I labor, striving (agonizomenos) according to His power, which mightily works within me" (Colossians 1:29). He "agonizes" by the power of Christ not his own. Similarly he tells us, "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live" (Romans 8:13). "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). We must be fierce! Yes. But not by our might. "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31).

And how does the Spirit produce this fruit of self-control in us? By instructing us in the superior preciousness of grace, and enabling us to see and savor (that is, "trust") all that God is for us in Jesus. "The grace of God has appeared . . . instructing us to deny . . . worldly desires . . . in the present age" (Titus 2:11). When we really see and believe what God is for us by grace through Jesus Christ, the power of wrong desires is broken. Therefore the fight for self-control is a fight of faith. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (1 Timothy 6:12).


Your comrade in the fierce fight for self-control,
Pastor John

What Battle?

Some years ago a traditional church dropped "Onward Christian Soldiers" from their song index because it made reference to war. That's understandable for people who have never been born again. War is the last thing on their minds. They are "peacemakers" meeting in a building which they think is the "church." They are not born of the Sprit, so they live in a natural world. They are spiritually insensitive because they are spiritually dead. The world may think there is peace between man and God, but the Bible makes it clear that unregenerate man is an enemy of God in his mind through wicked works, that anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God (see Colossians 1:21, Romans 5:10, Romans 8:7, James 4:4). Many within the Church have lost sight of this important truth, something evident by their passive lifestyle. We have become like the Dead Sea. It is dead because it has water flowing into it, but no outlet. The water has become so salty, a human being can't sink into it. Nothing lives in it, no one can penetrate it . . . just like the contemporary Church. If the average church made as much noise about God on Monday, as it makes to God on Sunday, we would certainly see revival.

Useless though it seems, the Dead Sea contains very valuable minerals, which are waiting to be harvested. So does the modern Church. It is a field which is white unto harvest, both for souls and for laborers.

Perhaps much of the Church needs to consider dropping "Onward Christian Soldiers" and replacing it with something more appropriate:

Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight With the Cross of Jesus nearly out of sight.Christ our rightful master, stands against the foe

But forward into battle, we are loathe to go.Like a might tortoise moves the Church of God Brothers we are treading where we've always trod. We are much divided, many bodies we Having many doctrines, not much charity. Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain. Gates of Hell should never 'gainst the Church prevail We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail. Sit here then ye people, join our useless throng Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King With our modern thinking, we don't do a thing. 

(Anonymous)

Are we hot for God? Can we say that we have witnessed to more than 12 people in the last 12 months? Do we have the testimony "to live means opportunities for Christ?" Is there a zeal to witness burning in our bones? It doesn't matter how much we pray, tithe, and sacrifice. Sure, those things are basics of the Christian faith, but if we are not sharing that faith we are not fulfilling our commission. We are like survivors of the Titanic singing songs as we polish brass in the lifeboat, when there is room for many who are drowning around us. There is nothing wrong with polishing brass . . . but not while people are drowning around us. We are commissioned soldiers. True Christianity is not a pleasure-cruiser on its way to Heaven, but a battleship stationed at the very gates of Hell.

Why Guarding Your Heart Is So Important

Why is guarding your heart so important?  Is saving your heart for your future spouse the only motivation for guarding it?  Until a few weeks ago I thought so, but I was wrong.  I had the privledge of hearing  David and Priscilla Waller speak on their spiritual journey, including their recent courtship and marriage,  (I highly recommend you take the time to visit their website and read their testimonies, they are truly inspiring!) some of the thoughts that they shared on purity, preparation and courtship really impacted me, and I would like to share some of them with you, as well as a few of my own.  I'm not feeling very eloquent this evening, so please bear with me as I try to make my point as simply as possible :)

The motivation for guarding our hearts isn't just so we can give our entire heart to our future spouse - don't get me wrong, that is certainly an important motivation as well, but it isn't the only one.   Why else do we guard our heart?  So we can use it completely to love and serve God, with no distractions.   You were given your single years for a reason,

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin.  The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit: not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

1 Corinthians 7:34-35

(emphasis added)

We were given our single years to serve and love the Lord without any distractions, when our hearts and thoughts are distracted with guys, we can't use them for the purpose God designed them for.  Imagine the freedom that comes with being commited entirely to serving God, with no other distractions - it's incredible.

 

 There are many things to guard your heart from, not just guys.  Keep on watch against other wrong thoughts, such as bitterness, covetousness, envy and pride. Guard your heart with all diligence from anything that distracts you from loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  

 

Does that mean that when you get married, then you won't be able to love God as much?  Not at all!  God wants you to marry someone that is so in love with Him, that that love overflows so he can love you as well.  All the time you spend drawing close to God in your single years, will really just draw you closer to each other.

 

     And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:30

Joshua 22:5

My Saddle & "Life Verse"

Big Sandy, 2012

Our family was so blessed to be able to attend the ATI regional conference in Big Sandy, TX. this year.   To say that the conference was "good" would be a major understatement!  It was incredible, lifechanging, inspiring, encouraging, and convicting.  I could not recommend this highly enough!  

I personally learned so much that I am still trying to "download" it all, but over the past week I have had time to review my notes, and continue to pray about it.  I feel like the thing that stood out most clearly to me was a message Dr. Gothard gave in one of the student sessions (Sorry blog readers, I managed to miss the title of the message in my note-taking, so I can't tell you what this one was called).   One of the things he talked about was how we should embrace our life purpose with a passion.   But what is our life purpose?  Our life purpose is to lead people to Christ, and to make disciples.   That puts life in perspective, doesn't it?  This is what is going to count for eternity - not how big your house was, what kind of car you drove, the hours and hours you stayed up studying for that Algebra test, etc.   

For me, this was really a challenge to step back and look at my priorities.  Are you spending your time on things that will count for eternity?  Or are you laying up your treasure on the earth?

Just something to think about.

Treasuring Christ

“Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.”

True Success