Lacking Self Control

>> Happy Sunday. Today's verse from the book of Proverbs paints quite the picture. It's teaching a spot on. Proverbs 25:28 tells us, "Like a city breached without walls is one who lacks self-control.

Like a city breached without walls is one who lacks self-control." Isn't that a great description? In ancient times when a city's walls were breached, the enemy had access and things got real bad, real quick. The biblical story of Jericho comes to mind.

The movie The Kingdom of Heaven shows the walls of Jerusalem breached during the Crusades and when that happens, it's not good. Today we protect the walls of our houses with alarms and locks. Intruders are best kept out. When I read that this invasion is just like a person without self-control, I think of people I've known through the years.

One friend from college days who died too young comes to mind. He flirted with Jesus and I'm not sure if he ever became a believer. His finances were a mess, his marriage failed, his relationship with his children became strained, he lost his job, he squandered great talent, he he lost his reputation, he truly lacked self-control. He would buy things on impulse, he would gamble, he had an addictive personality and drugs and alcohol were a problem.

He He didn't make it much past 50. His walls were breached by many enemies. Like a city breached without walls is one who lacks self-control. In the Bible, I think of Samson.

You can read his story in the book of Judges, but God gifted him for special things and he, because of his lack of self-control, he did not live up to his potential. He died too young when there was so much more for him to do. I suppose we all have our battles. The problem is not a new one.

The first humans, Adam and Eve, had a self-control problem. As you know, they had one rule to follow, one act to avoid, one prohibition versus the rest of creation. And what did they do? They caved.

They ate. They sinned. Their lack of self-control brought sin into this world. Now, you may ask, "Why did God not just make them mind?

Why were they given a choice? Why did they have their own free will?" Well, think about it. What kind of love does that?

How fair would it be to our children if we never let them make decisions for themselves? That's not love, that's control. So, God loves us enough to give us free will. Adam and Eve were the first of many who lacked self-control.

And you may wonder, "What is the cure? What can we do?" The answer's in Galatians chapter 5, among other places, but places, but in this great section of scripture, we're told about living by the Holy Spirit of God. And when we do that, we bear the fruit of the Spirit.

They're found in verses 22 and 23 of Galatians 5. If God is in your life, this is what it says. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For the believer, true self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

On our own, we're in trouble. With God, all things, including self-control, are indeed possible. God will do his part, we must do ours. Prayer, the study of scripture, fellowship with other believers, keeping alert, asking God into our lives, the Holy Spirit to control.

All of these things are part of the Christian life. Years ago, the great motivational speaker Napoleon Hill said, "If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self." Long ago, John the Baptist put it this way in John 3:30. John said this about Jesus, "He must increase, I must decrease."

That is such great advice. As I'm now in my 67th year, I can look back and see the times that I messed up. And those were the times when I did not let God have his way. I did not decrease so Jesus could increase.

The best of times have been when I have allowed God to take control. True self-control is allowing God to help us become who were we were created to be. I believe he has a plan for each of us, and it's so sad to see the casualties in this life of those who have rebelled and failed. One friend comes to mind who gained self-control after he became a believer.

He cussed like a sailor. It was sad to hear him talk. He could not speak without cursing. And then he became a Christian.

And his whole language changed. I've seen people who were addicted to drugs and alcohol because of the power of Christ gain that self-control by the Holy Spirit and give those things up. Don't be like a city breached without walls. Have that self-control.

Allow God to have it in your life. Pray with me. Lord, thank you for those people that have been great examples. And together help us to be great examples for those that lack self-control.

Father, if we know somebody, if somebody comes to mind, let us make it a matter of prayer. Let us share the good news of Jesus Christ with them. Help us to change this world for your sake. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen. God bless. Thanks for being with me today.