30 March 2010

Self-Control - Dr. Timothy Keller

8th (and last) Sermon in the Series : The Real Signs of the Spirit

1Corinthians 9:23-27; 10:11-13

23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Spiritual Self-Control

• Passage discusses physical self control and discipline required to succeed in the Hellenic games.
• Do we practice self control by being rational and suppressing our emotions or do we achieve it by getting in touch with our emotions. (Spock vs Data syndrome)
• Our wants and desires are often in conflict---good family life and successful career-are these things really incompatible as Tim suggests?
• We have to follow a standard of judgement to make our choices--we want junk food, but we want to be thin.
• Self control is loving a supreme thing supremely so that everything else falls in place.
• Sharing the joy enhances it for us too.
• We should embody the gospel so others can see how the gospels work through our behavior/example.
• Jesus ran the perfect race of life, but received the crown of thorns so that we can receive the crown of life.
• Self control grows through
• 1) Knowledge of the Scripture
• 2) Community accountability (Hebrews 3:13) 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
• 3) And experiencing and failing the actual trials by trusting God to get us through the temptations.
• Hebrews 12:1-3 -1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.