Let the Living water flow over my soul, let the Holy Spirit come and take control of every situation that troubles my heart all my care and burden unto thee I come. Jesus Jesus Jesus. Sing to Father, Father, Father, Father, sing holy Spirit, Spirit, Spirit, Spirit. Let who is like unto Thee O Lord! who is like unto Thee O Lord! Among the gods who is like Thee, You are glorious in holiness fearful in praising doing wonders alleluia!
Father in heaven O God! Thank You for Your presence all through the week. We are grateful to all you are doing in our lives and families, Thank You for gift of health and vitality blessed be thy Holy Name. Gracious are your works and blessings all around us, be thou be exalted now and forever and ever.
Beloved, our last PCL is here, faithful is our God who has been there helping us to overcome all evil desires and gain mastery over our emotion of self-control. Glory be to our God in the highest. We have dwelling on self- control as way of gaining dominion in your life. Hope You are gaining wisdom through the help of the Holy who is the teacher of every living soul.
We will considering what steps to exercise self-control. One of such a step is by obeying the Word of God, By following Lord’s rules in doing His work, take control of what we say, avoid talking too much. (Ps 119:9; 2Tim 2:5; Ps 14:13; Prov 10:19; Rom 13:14; 2Pet 1:6)
What can we do when we need help beyond our self-control? We take refuge in God (Ps 56:3-4; Ps 60:12; Ps 61:12).
Sometime you feel like you are the only one who faces temptations, what should You at such a moment. remember what the bible said in 1 Cor 10:13- Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience . . . When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. It helps to know others are facing the same temptations we are. It also helps to know that God wants to help us! Ask him.
Is there reward for self-control? We will look into that before the end of the month by God’s grace.
However, coming our way today is message that we are meant to use as a barometer to check how far we are doing in the school of self-control. So tighten your seat belt while we take a trip:
Conducting A Spiritual Audit
Six questions to keep your personal accounts in order:
- Am I content with who I am becoming? I must be sure my profession does not consume my person. It’s important that I be more than I do or have. When the time comes for me to leave my title and power, will I have anything to fill the vacuum? As I mature am I moving from power to wisdom; from the offensive to being sought out? “Throw off your old evil nature—the old you that was a partner in your evil ways—rotten through and through, full of lust and sham. Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 Living) (See Job 22:23; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11; 3:8, 9; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21)
- Do I have a quiet center to my life? For many of us our life motto seems to be, “When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout.” God’s Word, however, encourages us to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) There is an important difference between the fast track and the frantic track. By way of contrast, Jesus quietly “went about doing good.” He had a quiet center. A peace which evidenced the presence of God. Do I? (See Psalm 131:2; 23:2; Isaiah 30:15; 32:17)
- Is my prayer life improving? Do my decisions have prayer as an integral part, or do I make decisions out of my desires and then immerse them in a sanctimonious sauce I call prayer? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer… present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6a,c) (See 1 Kings. 3:5; 2 Chronicles. 7:14; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 6:6-9; 7:7, 8; 21:22; John 14:13, 14; 16:23, 24; James 5:16-18)
- Is my humility genuine? There is nothing so arrogant as false humility. Humility is not denying the power that I have, but admitting that the power comes through me, not from me. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) (See Psalm 37:11; 131:1; Proverbs 11:2; 27:2; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2b; Jeremiah 45:5; Micah 6:8; Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:5)
- Is obedience in small matters built into my reflexes? Do I try to bargain with God or rationalize with him? Obedience largely determines my relation with Christ. Good intentions count for little. “Obedience is the test of whether we really live ‘in God‘ or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ.” (1 John 2:5, 6 – Phillips Translation) (See Proverbs 19:16; 19:17; 1 John 5:3; Luke 6:46)
- Do I have joy? Joy is perfected in the full belief in the total sovereignty of God. Doubt dilutes joy. Does my joy extend into my suffering; understanding that my suffering is my maturation. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) (See Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 12:1-3; 61:10; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
Beloved as against what we are becoming through the help of the Holy Spirit, our society teaches us otherwise and this is what you see in place of gaining mastery over self-control:
Hey… If Ya Got It, Flaunt It! Right?
Let’s face it. We live in a society where the powerful, the beautiful, and the bright usually get the recognition, the accolades and the promotions. It is a pride-driven world of self that takes on at least five forms of expression:
- SELF-PROMOTION — In our effort to command center stage, we have become masters at crafting just the right image, and uncommonly adept at manipulating people and circumstances. Thus, we artfully name-drop, apply pressure at strategic moments, flatter, pout, and intimidate. The Scriptures, however, do not allow us the luxury: “Should you then seek great things for yourself ? Seek them not… ” (Jeremiah 45:5a) (See Genesis 13; Romans 12:16)
- SELF-PITY — As a people, we have nurtured a “victim mentality” by refusing to take responsibility for our lives: “No one appreciates me.” “No one understands me.” “I had a rough childhood.” “They took advantage of me.” By way of contrast, consider St. Paul’s response to his severe victimization: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed… As servants of God… [we are] known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9; 6:4b, 9,10) (See 1 Kings 19:10; Job 10:1)
- SELF-SUFFICIENCY — “Hey… with enough guts, brains and raw hard work I will make it happen!” While God affirms a can-do spirit, He despises self-sufficiency that is rooted in pride:
“In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” (Psalm 10:4) (See Genesis 6:5, 6; Psalm 138:8; Proverbs 3:34; 11:2; 16:18; Isaiah 2:11, 12, 17; 14:11-15; 65:2; Romans 1:21, 28; James 4:6)
- SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS — “There are a lot of people out there doing a lot worse stuff than I.” “I‘m doing the best I can.” “I lead a clean, moral life.” “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10, 11) (See Isaiah 64:6; Luke 18:9-12; Romans 3:10-17; 10:1-4; Philippians 3:9)
- SELF-WORSHIP — “Hey, if ya got it, flaunt it! Right? ‘Cause if you don‘t toot your own horn, who will?” “Herod… delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man‘ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:21b, 23) (See 2 Chronicles 26:16-21; Daniel 6:6-9; James 4:5, 6; 1 Peter 5:6)
The only hope – the only focus – the only option for the sincere follower of Christ is to climb up on the cross with him and die. And then allow his life, moment by moment to live through ours See Galatians 2:20. QUESTION: Today, are you willing once again to climb back up on that cross?
Beloved, a life of cross is the best life for every child of God who wants to make it to heaven afterall. By the grace of God we should be able to bring the message your way before November fold away.
Have a wonderful weekend while mediating on these things. See you next week by God’s grace.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
