Message Title: Self-Control
Date: November 29, 2020

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"Why is it that our efforts to invite others to explore Jesus are often fraught with failure? ... The main reason is that we don't look like the Christ we proclaim. ... A Hindu professor in India, identifying one of his students as a Christian, once said, "If you Christians lived like Jesus, India would be flooding Christian churches tomorrow." --Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, Christopher J.H.Wright

Self-control: the counterfeit of it is willpower

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Defined: Sacrificial stewardship for the glory of God

What is most valuable in you to God that needs to be protected?

"Self-control is necessary because we are at war with our own sinful desires. What makes these sinful desires so dangerous is that they dwell within our own hearts. External temptations would not be nearly so dangerous were it not for the fact that they find this ally of desire right within our own breast." --Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness

Having self-control is God protecting you from the very things that will destroy you.

In what areas of your life do you need self-control?

How to Grow in Self-control
1. Take an honest internal audit

2. Trust that God can help you

3. Tether yourself to Christ-centered community

To express self-control, we need to lose control

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

BEYOND SUNDAY
The Essentials 9-week series will focus on what it means to reflect the character of Jesus. Each week we will wrestle with one of the essential characteristics of Jesus with the hope of it bearing fruit in our lives as we become more dependent on the Spirit to lead us. This week our focus is on the final fruit of the Spirit, which is Self-Control, along with what we have learned from this series.

1. This week's speaker and Lead Pastor, Gary Gaddini, helped explain the importance of self-control by using the illustration that “self-control is like a basket that holds all the other fruit.” What does that mean to you? He goes on to define self-control as sacrificial stewardship for the glory of God. This includes the sacrifice of laying down our rights, and stewardship in managing all our resources for God. What, then, is the counterfeit of self-control?

2. See Proverbs 25:28. From what you know about Old Testament history what purpose does a wall around a city serve? How is self-control like that wall? What is it inside you, or about you that needs protecting?

3. In his book, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, Christopher J. H. Wright states that “God is not tempted in any way by evil. So in that sense (self-control over evil desires) this is not a quality of God.” He goes on to say that “self-control is something that we need, not something God has to exercise.” This idea might seem controversial. Is God not exercising love and self-control today in keeping His promise not to destroy the earth again after the flood, as seen in Genesis 7? In Genesis 18 and 19 was God not holding back/exercising self-control in displaying His wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah? It’s OK to disagree here -- we get to exercise gentleness, kindness, and self-control while discussing this in our groups! Let’s put into practice what we’ve been learning.

4. Using your New Testament knowledge, make a list of the times Jesus exercised self-control while here on earth. Which one stands out to you and why? For extra credit give the Bible reference with your answer. Note: Self-control gives us the power to respond to situations (like Jesus did), and not just react or grit your teeth in holding back.

5. Gary made the statement in his message, “What if I told you that having self-control isn’t God keeping you from something good, but protecting you from the very things that will destroy you?” (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5). So in what area of your life do you need self-control? What action does Psalm 139: 23-24 encourage us to take? According to Galatians 5:22-23 who is the one producing the fruit?

6. Series takeaways: Thinking back to the previous messages in this series: The Essentials and the chapters in Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit by Christopher J.H. Wright, which of the nine fruits most resonates with you and why? What new insight did you learn in this series? What verses have you claimed that will help you stay connected to the super-power, the Holy Spirit?

Series Daily Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
---John Stott (1921-2011), evangelist and scholar

Actions & Resources
--Ask God to help you walk in the Spirit daily so you can bear fruit
--Ask God to help you hear from Him during our Advent Series: A Weary World Rejoices
--Participate in our Christmas Community Outreach Opportunities (see below)
--Join a House Church (see below)

For PCC's Fiscal Year:
June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021:

Giving Update
Goal: $4,072,377
Giving to Date: $1,476,062
Still Needed: $2,596,315