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NECESSARY ADDITIONS-3

Text: 2 Peter 1:5-7

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

SELF CONTROL
Self control is the ability to control oneself, particularly one's emotions and desires, especially in difficult situations. 

A believer, just like any other person has emotions, feelings and desires. The distinguishing factor between the two is the ability of one to control his. 

Little wonder the verse opens up by admonishing us to give all diligence to this matter, because without diligence, it is easy to give in to  temptation. 

Ultimately, a Christian is controlled by the Holy Spirit, and not by his emotions.* Romans 8:14. However,  this is not "autoplay", you have your part to play. *The Holy Spirit is present in a Christian's life to lead him, but such Christian must also do his part to follow the leadings.

This is the reason Apostle Paul was practically begging us in Romans 12:1, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. 

That is,  it is the responsibility of every believer to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in controlling oneself. It is no longer self control if you are forced to do it. But self control is you putting yourself under. 

Jesus Christ told us categorically in Luke 9:23 that if anyone wants to come after Him, such should deny himself,  take up his cross daily and keep following Him. 

Friends, the order has not changed. To be counted among the disciples of Christ, you must: 

1. Say 'No' to your own self. That is,  you must deny yourself, you must master the art of controlling, curbing and restraining yourself. 

2. Carry your cross Daily: The complete Jewish bible says,  carry your execution-stake daily. That is, carry with yourself on a daily basis that instrument (cross) of death with which you will put to death the deeds of the flesh. This must be our everyday practice. 

3. Follow me: You must never forget that the person we are following is our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, you must constantly look up to Him as the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrew 12:2).

Therefore, to control yourself, you must be ready to follow the leadings of the Spirit,  follow His words and  set Jesus as your Perfect Example.   

Bible reading:

 2Peter 1:1-21, Ephesians. 1:15-23.

PRAYER FOCUS

1.) Father God, please help me to be diligent in adding self control to my faith.

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