1) Definition: Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit.
2) Scripture:
Prov. 5; 10:14; 13:3; 17:27-28; 20:25; 23:1-3; 29:20;
Ac. 24:25; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Titus 1:8; Jas. 3:1-12 (underlined passages
are on the “tongue”) plus other passages listed in the Bible Study.
3) Underlying
Principle: God created man with certain good desires and gave man
responsibility for controlling them (not letting them control him; Gen. 1:28;
4:7).
4) Illustration:
2 Sam. 11:1-5. Self-control is such a
major issue that there is no shortage of stories in the Bible that illustrate both
the exercise and failure to exercise self-control. It is basic to the first sin in Eden. The temptation is of the “lust of the flesh”
(the fruit was good for food), “lust of the eyes” (the fruit was beautiful to
behold) and “the pride of life” (it will make you like God). The beginning of “the matter of Urijah the
Hittite” (remember, that is the title affixed to this event, 1 Ki. 15:5; it was
not the sin of David and Bathsheba; David sinned against God, Ps. 51:4, and
against Uriah) is powerful. We see how
David had a problem because he was idle, not going to war with the army as he
usually did. We see how an “accidental”
viewing of a naked woman became the opportunity for lust to consume David. But even then, David had to find out who she
was and then order his servants to bring her to him. There were several steps along the way where
David could have overruled his lusts, but he didn’t.
5) Bible
Study:
a) Who
must exercise self-control? (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
Of course, without looking, the answer is everyone. But in this passage Paul uses the
illustration of the “athlete,” both “runners” and “boxers.” What is important is that he applies this
illustration to Christians. The fact
that we have come to Christ in faith does not mean we do not need to live a
disciplined life. In Rome, runners would
abstain from unwholesome food, wine and sexual indulgence as they prepared for
a race. These were legal for the runner
but, in his view, would keep him from winning the race. As Christians the question for us is not
simply is something “legal” or “permitted;” the question is will it hinder me
from maximum usefulness to my Lord. Let
us close today with the “twin” verses from Paul on this subject:
1 Cor. 6:12: All things are
lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.
All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power
of any.
1 Cor. 10:23: All things are
lawful for me, but all things are not helpful; all things are lawful for me,
but not all things edify.
No comments:
Post a Comment