Pick Up Your Cross

Is Self-Control Negative? Week 2

When viewed carnally, self-control—especially when linked with self-denial and self-sacrifice—seems to be essentially negative. However, when confronted with a true understanding of what human nature produces, we can see that the fruits of self-control are entirely positive.

In I Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul strongly exhorts us to self-control:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul uses runners…

Have you ever lamented the fact that this world seems out of control? Partly because of rapid transportation and technology and communication, events seem to occur so rapidly that they tumble one upon another. In our minds we are carried furiously along in their current, unable to conclude one event before another one hammers away at us for attention. A number of years ago, when it seemed that this world's major powers were careening pell-mell toward a nuclear showdown, we frequently heard the cry, "Stop the world, I want to get off!" Today, major economic crises have overrun several major nations, and like gigantic tidal waves they seem to be sweeping toward the shores of Western nations, which seem powerless to control their inevitable advance.

Events are not really out of control because God is still on His throne. The apostle Paul teaches in Acts 17:26, "And He has…

And every man that strives for the mastery is TEMPERATE in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an INCORRUPTIBLE. 1 Cor. 9:25

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27

When we talk about subjection, we might be quick to look at it from self-discipline point of view where you deny yourself many things and put yourself under strict watch and standards, to the extent that if one is broken, you feel so so condemned. Well, I choose to say it doesn’t work like that all the time. To ‘subject’ also means ‘to put oneself under an higher authority’. I put my body under subjection….talks about putting your body under the leadership of the spirit. The order of hierarchy is…

1. 2 Cor. 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 2 Cor. 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

3 2 Cor. 10:8

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: