Title: Temperance (Philippians 3:13-14)
Contents
*Introductory words
When people need something special, society trains them. However, the method of doing this special training is almost the same. First of all, it isolates them from everyday life and society. And put it in a well-structured organization and time frame. And then it's intensive training. The reason for doing this is for self-discipline and self-control.
Athletes train in camps ahead of some important competition. They train for long periods of time to achieve brief moments of glory. Compared to them, this race we Christians are running is incomparably important. Therefore, self-discipline and self-control are essential.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in the field all runners run away, but only one gets the prize? Run in the same way that you may gain. Everyone who competes for the victory is temperate in all things, for they want the corruptible crown, but we want the incorruptible. Therefore, I do not run as if nowhere, nor fight as if I was striking the air, so I beat my body to subjection, lest after I preach to others, I myself would be rejected.”
Moreover, if we want to enjoy true freedom in Christ, we need self-discipline and self-control. The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, 'A man is never free until he thoroughly rules himself.' When Jesus said, “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34), He spoke of the need for self-control training against sinful practices. Samson was chosen by God and called to be the greatest warrior in the world. However, because they have lost self-control, they become slaves to lust and greed and face a miserable end.
Some things are needed for self-discipline and self-control.
1. Acknowledging the problem.
We often try to ignore or deny our problems. They say, “No problem,” or “No problem.” Or try to avoid it through self-rationalization. “So do other people.”, “If I had been born in a better environment”, “For whom” and so on. It doesn't develop myself, it's not free, it just adds to my misery. So was Cain, and so was King Saul.
Acknowledge your problems. Then give it to God and ask for help. I see many Christians saying that they will do God's work after solving the problem. We are not capable of solving our own problems on our own. No, we wouldn't even need God if we could solve the problem ourselves.
In the parable of the prodigal son, the prodigal son, who had many problems in life, tried to find a way to live on his own, but could not find it. The final path he took was to return to his father's house. When the problem of the prodigal son was entrusted to his father, he not only restored his glory, but also gained freedom. What the prodigal son did in this process was simply to have the courage to go to his father and acknowledge himself.
All we have to do is acknowledge and surrender our problems to God. Pray specifically for your own problems. Don't try and make up excuses, just tell them what they are.
2. The past is to be forgotten.
It is about forgetting all that has passed, whether it be your dark memories or good things. Let's read the text again today. “Forgetting what is behind, I go toward the goal to catch what is ahead.” Yes. To dwell on the past, whether failure or success, is like driving a car and looking in the rearview mirror all the time. If I want to move forward safely, I have to forget what's past and head towards the sign in front of me.
When a child learns to walk, once he has fallen, he will never be able to walk if he just lies down. Your child will keep trying until he can walk. Many people are caught up in the past and live in that illusion. You are trying to avoid reality by saying, “It was a good time.” Rather, we have to forget the past and face reality.
The Lord never clings to our past. The Lord is full of thoughts about our future life.
John 8:10-12, “When Jesus got up and saw that there was no one but the woman, he said to her, ‘Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?’ He answered, ‘No, Lord.’ Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ And Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come as a sheep. that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
3. Challenge your feelings.
Sometimes we get too caught up in our emotions. Proverbs 26:13 describes a lazy person who is faithful to his feelings. “The lazy man has a lion in the way. They say there are lions in the streets.” There are people who have abandoned even their mission because of their emotions. Samson the judges and Jonah the prophets we saw earlier. Jonah disobeyed God's command to preach the gospel to Nineveh, the capital of the Philistines, out of his own emotions. Because the Philistines are enemies of their own people, they would rather perish than they did, so they disobeyed God's command to "declare repentance."
Gen 4:1-3, “Jonah hated it very much, and became angry, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “O Lord, did I not say that I would do this while I was in my country? Therefore I quickly fled to Tarshish, knowing that you are a God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and relents from bringing disaster. Now, O LORD, take my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
If he declares repentance to Nineveh and they repent, he cannot do God's will because a gracious God will forgive them. So I even asked him to kill me. How faithful are you to your feelings? Do you have your emotions blocking God's will, which demands change or asks for something? Challenge your own improvised or old-fashioned emotions. Instead of relying on your own wisdom, emotions, or human strength, you must control yourself with the will of God.
Proverbs 26:12, “Do you see those who are wise in their own eyes? A fool has better hope than him.” / 1 Corinthians 3:19-20, “The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, as it is written, It is written that the wise fall into their deceit. You know their thoughts as vain.” / Isaiah 2:22, “Do not lean on life. His breath is in his nostrils, and is it worth a number?” Isaiah 50:10, “Who among you fears the Lord and listens to the voice of his servant? Let him walk in darkness and have no light, let him put his trust in the name of the LORD and trust in his God.”
All of this is possible in Christ. Ask the Lord to take control of my feelings and my life right now. The Lord transforms and empowers you through planned training.