The Way Of The Spirit VS. The Way Of The Flesh: Self-Control vs. Appetites

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.GALATIANS 5:113 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” GALATIANS 5:13-1424 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.GALATIANS 5:24-26 Egkrateia was widely praised by the Greeks long before the time of Paul. In fact, Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates considered it[self-control] to be the foundational human virtue. Xenophon, a follower of Socrates, summarized well his teachers’ views on the subject: Shall not every man hold self-control [egkrateia] to be the foundation of all virtue, and first lay this foundation firmly in his soul? For who without this can learn any good or practice it worthily?Philip KennesonBad news: self-control is hard.Good news: the opposite of self-control is not an out-of-control person, it’s out-of-control appetites. Appetites: a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need; a strong desire or liking for something“PEOPLE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THEIR APPETITES” - The WorldTHE WORLD’S VIEW OF APPETITEYOU ARE WHAT YOU DESIRE (IDENTITY)2. YOU WILL NEVER BE TRULY HAPPY UNTIL YOU SATISFY THAT DESIRE But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.2 Timothy 3:1-3Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.1 John 2:15-17 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.Ecclesiastes 3:11"The human heart has an eternal desire that will NEVER be met and satisfied with temporal things; it can only be met by a relationship with an eternal God.”“SEEKING TO FULFILL OUR OWN DESIRES OFTEN LEADS TO SLAVERY TO THEM.”Jon TysonOur physical, emotional, and spiritual appetites that we ALL HAVE will never be fully satisfied until we jump head-first into a relationship with God.Self-Control: sacrificial stewardship of yourself for the sake of othersThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,     lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God     and him only shall you serve.’”11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.Matthew 4:1-11WHAT KIND OF PERSON NEEDS SELF-CONTROL?EVERY KIND OF PERSON.We should consider the circumstances that preceded the temptation of Jesus: He was in an especially devout frame of mind before His temptation.1. He was engaged in an act of public obedience to His Father’s will before His temptation.2. He was in an exceedingly humble frame of mind before His temptation.3. He was blessed by a heavenly assurance of His Sonship before His temptation.4. He was filled with the Holy Spirit before His temptation.5. He was completely separated from the world before His temptation.Self-control is not something we grow out of; it’s something we grow into.B: BOREDH: HUNGRY A: ANGRY L: LONELYT: TIRED2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter cameMatthew 4:2-31. JESUS WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIMEThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Matthew 4:1In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the King’s house, that he saw from the roof a women bathing…2 Samuel 11:1-22. JESUS HAD AN APPETITE FOR THE WORD THAT WAS STRONGER 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Matthew 4:3-4 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]Romans 12:2“Self-control isn’t about striving to become who God has called us to be, it is about ordering our life a...