1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian SELF CONTROL | Página 5

TUESDAY
Hebrews 12 v 7 – 13
One of the most positive aspects of the benefit of Self-Control is that SELF-CONTROL
CAN KEEP YOU OUT OF A LOT OF TROUBLE.
Way back in the Garden of Eden, we see the truth of this principle being lived out, i.e. as
a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, their lack of self-control and the eating
of the forbidden fruit, the world has since then been subject to a lot of trouble. Further
down in history we see the example of Abraham, where he had been promised by God a
son, but because of his lack of self-control, Ishmael was born and Abraham too found
himself in a lot of trouble. Samson, in the book of Judges, would epitomise a person of
potential, but as a result of his lustful lack of self-control, he never fulfilled all that God
had planned for him. The list goes on and on and the principles that apply to these
people of old, apply equally to us today. How many of us do not regret words that we
have spoken, and only after the words are out of our mouths do we wish that we could
take them back? How many of us, through actions that have been done as a result of a
lack of self-control, have not regretted these actions in the context of legal issues,
immorality and unethical behaviour?
I don’t want to be guilty of over-generalising, but wouldn’t you agree that the majority of
sin on our planet is simply the result of someone’s, or some nation’s, lack of self-control?
The opposite of this principle is also true, i.e. exercising self-control leads to blessing.
Joseph has to be one of the most self-controlled individuals that we read of in the Bible. I
don’t think anyone could deny the blessing that was evident in his life. No matter
whether Joseph was in prison with no obvious power at all, or being the prime minister
with allthe power in the world, he exercised incredible self-control. The blessing of God
in his life was seen in his consistent joy and peace, and his ability to weather the storms
of life with a consistent attitude led to much blessing in the lives of the people who he
found around him. Not only was he blessed of God as a result of his self-control, but he
proved, at every turn of life, to be a blessing to others as well. As a result of his godly
lifestyle and his ability to find Godin every situation, Joseph’s life stands head and
shoulders above so many others and we hold him up in high esteem as a man who
evidenced great self-control.
Prayer Thought: Won’t you recap on the story of Joseph, as we have been focusing on for
the last two months, and relive some of his moments of self-control. Recall, if you will, his
time as a slave and his period of time in a prison where, under very dubious and difficult
circumstances, he never got angry, never bad-mouthed anybody, never fell into gross sin,
and as a result, God raised him up to a very high position. As you pray, won’t you bring to