“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature.

“For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are your and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8)

“You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control.” 

Faith without goodness is no faith at all. If faith in a good and gracious God does not lead to goodness then that faith is worthless.

But goodness is not just being and doing good for goodness’ sake. Goodness needs to be supported by right knowledge. It is knowing what God desires and what God’s will is that knowledge supports and buttresses goodness. It is a goodness that comes from knowing who God is.

But there’s a problem with knowledge on its own. Knowledge on its own often leads to arrogance. That’s why our knowledge must be accompanied by self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint.

Knowing how patient and loving God leads to how we use our knowledge in being patient and loving with those around us.

So, get in the word. Study God’s character so that we can know how we are to live with and love those around us. And as we understand how incredibly patient and loving God is with us, that knowledge will show in how we patiently love those around us.

When it comes to loving others, we are going to need boat loads of patience, grace, and a forgiving spirit because all of us are so stubbornly unlovable and ungrateful at times.

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature.

“For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are your and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8)

The word egkrateia – self-control occurs four times in the New Testament.

• In Galatians 5:22-23 in listing of the fruit of the Spirit
• In Acts 24:25 that we looked at yesterday
• And twice in our text above

The Greek word for self-control means mastery, self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint.

Self-control comes into play when everything in our fiber wants to do something and every counsel in scripture tells us not to. That’s when self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint matters.

Here’s the thing about self-control. The word itself in English gives the impression that it is the self that does the self-controlling. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The key to self-control does not lie in ourselves. We don’t have the power or the ability. That’s why we struggle so much. Left to ourselves, we are going to do what we think is right in our own eyes and what feels right to us.

The key to self-control is in surrendering. The key to self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint is in surrendering to the presence, rule, and guidance of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. When we surrender, that’s when we exercise self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint. And when we surrender, it is Christ and his power which enables us to exercise self-control.

Scriptures tell us, “For the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Christ is our strength. Christ is our hope. Christ is our power.

Practice surrender.

 

“Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.’ At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him” (Acts 24:24-26).

This is an account of one of the many times the Apostle Paul ran into trouble because of false and made up accusations of the Jews against him.

Paul was someone who had earned the stripes to speak about self-control. He had been falsely accused and wrongfully incarcerated multiple times.

The amount of this particular incarceration isn’t clear, but it was at least two years long. We are told in verse 27, “After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” 

I have no idea how Paul endured such treatment…for over two years!!!

Paul had mastered self-control, self-restraint, and self-mastery.

When I first visited South Africa in 1988, Nelson Mandela had been incarcerated at Robben Island for 26 years. He would spend a total of 27 years in prison before his release. What many didn’t know about Mr. Mandela was that he was a Christian. He was raised in the Methodist church by parents who were strong believers.

How does one survive such treatment without turning dark, angry, and hateful?

Both men knew a Savior who reminded them that there was more to life than what we experience here on earth. In fact, we were foreigners and aliens who are merely passing through. Knowing Christ and knowing that we were created for eternity gave these men the perspective they needed to interpret present sufferings in light of eternity.

Not only did these men survive, but came out of imprisonment more able to serve God and God’s people than before.

That is my prayer and expectation for our season of transition. I pray that when we are able to meet together in person again, we are more able to serve God and God’s people than before covid-19.

One of the key aspects of this growth? Self-control. I know I need to work on this.