Self Control

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." (Proverbs 25: 28 NIV)

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city..." is how the above verse is translated by the King James Version. To lack self control is to be incontinent or intemperate in spiritual matters; It is to have "no rule over one's own spirit." Lack of self control is one of the chief symptoms and effects of alienation from God and righteousness. Because of man's love for sin, he is unable to resist indulging in it and pleasing the "sinful flesh."

Sinners, to one degree or another, have no control over their affections and passions, being unable to restrain themselves. "They have no guard against them, no fence about them, to curb his sinful curious nature or to check pride and vanity, or to restrain wrath, anger and revenge, and to keep within due bounds his ambition and itch of vainglory" (John Gill). Thus they are appropriately compared to "a city broken down and without walls." A sinner without self control is defenseless and an easy prey.

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God...You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." (Romans 8: 6, 7, 9 NIV)

Those who have been saved have been given the grace and power they need to control the sinful flesh and they do regularly practice it. This is not to say that they never give in to sin, through lack of self control, but it does mean that they are generally in control, through the power and Spirit of God, and by the strength of the "divine nature" (II Peter 1: 4)

The preaching of self control is one that pervades the Bible, in both Testaments.

"As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." (Acts 24: 25 NIV)

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (I Peter 1: 13 NIV)

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (I Peter 5: 8 NIV)

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." (II Peter 1: 5-7 NIV)

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God." (I Thessalonians 4: 3-5 NIV)

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled...But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." (I Thessalonians 5: 6, 8 NIV)

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled." (Titus 2: 6 NIV)

"Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (I Corinthians 7: 5)

Spiritual incontinence is given as one of the leading signs of the final days.

"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..." (II Timothy 3: 2, 3)

Self control is something that requires power from on high. It requires grace. It requires a new heart and the presence of the Spirit of God in one's life.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5: 22, 23 NIV)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." (Titus 2: 11, 12 NIV)

The grace of God is the only thing that can teach the sinner self control, give him victory over his lusts, over temptation, over the sinful nature.
"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Proverbs 29: 11 NIV)

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." (I Peter 4: 7 NIV)

Friend, you know how powerful is sin and the sinful nature within you, do you not? Do you not see that only divine power can save you and give you power to overcome, make you spiritually continent rather than spiritually incontinent?