Series Emphasis: There’s freedom in living out our faith.

1) It’s okay not to have something. (vs. Exodus 16:13-30)  When God has what we lack, we are given a gift that draws us closer to Him.  When God has what we lack, we depend on Him.  That’s where our self-control must come into play.  Just because we don’t have something doesn’t mean we need to fill it.  We have to trust that in our lacking, God will give us what we need.  God was teaching His people this lesson with their daily allowance of food.  When we focus on the eternal over the urgent, we are okay when we don’t have something.  And being okay with not having something, is the beginning to having self-control.

“Self-control is the ability to pursue the important over the urgent, rather than to be always impulsive or uncontrolled.” – Tim Keller

2) Self-control isn’t about you. (vs. 1 Corinthians 9:19-27)  The question our culture asks is this: “What will make me most useful for me?”  The question every Christian should ask is this: “What will make me most useful for God?”  Having self-control is for God’s glory, God’s Kingdom, and God’s people.  Self-control by itself is self-centeredness. Self-control with the Holy Spirit is others-centeredness.

3) Self-control must be fed. (vs. 2 Timothy 1:5-12)  Scripture tells us not to quench the Spirit.  Instead, we are to fan the flames the gifts are given.  We miss out on the moving of the Holy Spirit – we miss out on the fruit of the Spirit –- when we don’t let the Holy Spirit move in us.  Self-control is Spirit-control.  Ask the Holy Spirit to move – to stir up your life – to give you power to carry out the gift you were given – to live out the fruit of the Spirit.

• Worship with the expectation of the fire being fed
• Read the Bible with the expectation of the fire being fed
• Share your faith with the expectation of the fire being fed
• Have self-control with the expectation the Holy Spirit will empower you

Feed the flames!  Self-control is not letting anything come between God and you.

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