Topics considered include: Biblical Exhortations and Examples and Applications to Personal Discipline and Childrearing

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Temperance–enkrateia "in hand" "to have a grip on things"
To have control of your whole self

Do you have your bodily appetites in hand? Or do they have you in hand?
Do you have your emotions in hand? Or do they have you in hand?
Do you have your habits in hand? Or do they have you in hand?

Philippians 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.

Why is Paul weeping over these people who are enemies of the cross?

They claimed to be Christians.

Lacking self-control, they became enslaved to their baser appetites.

"Baser appetites" because "who mind earthly things" does not mean attending to good health, business, family and friends, but to lowly, beastly instinct.

Their glory, what they "achieve" and praise in themselves, is shameful.

They profess Christ as their God, but the serve their belly as their god.

2 Peter 2:12-22

Jude 16-23

Examples of Intemperance

Genesis 6 the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were good-looking (lust/sex)

Sarah–inordinate desire for children led her to insist that Abraham take Hagar to wife; laughing when the LORD promised a son through her body

Esau–sold his birthright for a pot of stew (hunger/food)

Judah–impregnated his daughter-in-law thinking she was a harlot (lust/sex)

Samson–fornication with Delilah (lust/sex)

Eli–indulged his sons (filial affection/indulgence) no discipline; (food)

Hophni and Phinehas–food and sex

Saul–anxiety/fear/paranoia murder; despair suicide attempt

David–adultery with Bathsheba (lust/sex)

Amnon–sick with lust, raped his sister Tamar

Absalom–boiled with anger until he murdered Amnon and unseated his father (anger/murder)

"You talk too much, homeboy! You never shut up!" Loose lips sink ships.

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Examples of Self-Control

Joseph–resisting sexual advances of Potiphar's wife; not avenging himself on brothers

Job–not despairing and cursing God; making a covenant with his eyes

David not taking Saul's life

Rechabites Jeremiah 35:1-11

Discipline Yourself for the Purpose of Godliness

1 Timothy 4:7

Spiritual Disciplines/Exercises (Bible Intake, Prayer Times, Fasting, Intentional Conversations)

The goal of temperance is not self-mastery. The goal is to be useful to God, an instrument of righteousness in His hand; holiness, not stoicism.

Train Your Children to Exercise Self-Control

High energy is not an excuse for disrespectful behavior and shirking duties
Interrupting adults when they are talking
Throwing a tantrum when they are impatient
Teach them not to use intemperate language
I'm gonna die!
I'm starving!
I hate you!
Gossip
Oversharing in the wrong company
Teach them not to complain/whine
Teach them to endure hardness
Teach them that they do not need to be constantly entertained

Proverbs 16:32

Men, get a grip on your anger, sexual energy, and appetite for food and alcohol.

Women, get a grip on your anger, fear/anxiety, and appetite for food and alcohol.

Children, get a grip on your anger and impatience.

Everyone, get a grip on your screen-time.

United to Christ You Can Get a Grip on Yourself

Romans 6:1-14

Recommended Resources:
Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child's Heart

R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man

Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

John Owen's writings on Sanctification and Mortification

Your hosts:
TE Josh Owen
TE Aaron Garriott
RE Gabe Williams

Produced by: RE Gabe Williams
Music by: RE James Powers
Logo design: RE Gabe Williams and TE Aaron Garriott

The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL.

If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Education Hour is at 10:00 AM.

www.Sprucecreekpca.org