Conclusion
• We need to live a self controlled life because person without self control is like a city without walls; our self is by nature unruly; we are stewards of God.
• To control our self, we need to determine Godly priorities, live a Spirit controlled life,
• Be accountable to spiritually mature believers, say no to unimportant things, ask help from God and start delegating.
• If we can well manage our self, then we can also well manage our time.
• Example of our Lord Jesus Christ
The strategy for Self Control
Quadrant one has activities that are urgent and important. It is the crisis intervention quadrant. Stephan R. Covey says that if we don’t plan our activities well, eventually, everything will end up in this quadrant and we will always be fighting the fire.
Quadrant two has the activities that are not urgent but are important and is the prevention quadrant. He says if we plan and prioritize our activities, we will not waste time. This quadrant relates to our vision, purpose and relationship building and is the heart of personal management.
Quadrant three is urgent but not important. These activities are sudden interruption to the set agenda such as sudden meetings, reports, physical repairs and other pressing matters.
Quadrant four includes activities that are neither urgent nor important.
Some examples are watching television, social media and discussing irrelevant topics.
We need to organize, prioritize and become second quadrant people.
More on this next week.
Our body is created on the image of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are valuable in the sight of God. He has provided everything for our physical growth. Let us make a resolution to take care of this body by eating right, exercising regularly and take preventative and curative measures to keep it healthy.
Our body is created on the image of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are valuable in the sight of God. He has provided everything for our physical growth. Let us make a resolution to take care of this body by eating right, exercising regularly and take preventative and curative measures to keep it healthy.
Proverb 18:21 says “ The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
• One day we will stand before Jesus Christ and will give account of every careless word.
• Let us be a good stewards of our tongue.
We are all stewards of God’s resources. We need to use them to enhance and promote God’s Kingdom, so we can hear commendation by the master in the end. Joseph is a great example in OT or or faithful Steward in Genesis 41:41-42.
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put in on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.”
Eph 2:10 10 “For we are God’”s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do so.”
Meaning of stewardship is to manage God given resources for his glory and benefit of others. God is the owner of everything and every person. He has entrusted us money, time, talents, testimony, body, work and many other gifts. We need to be faithful and accountable to him in everything.
Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Our enemy is Satan and the fallen angels.
I believe, in order to fight with him effectively, it is important that, we must know who he is, how strong he is, how he works and what kinds of weapons he uses.
It is also important for us to know what are the weapons, which God has given to us to stand against him and his demons.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
In the garden of Eden, Adam was defeated by Satan because he failed to use the word of God to defend himself. But, Jesus Christ, defeated Satan in the wilderness of Judea with the power of God’s word. He has shown us the art of swordsmanship.
Let us defeat the enemy with the Sword of the Spirit.