Episode 7
Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control Part 2
Welcome to the Eastwood Tulsa Podcast with Jeremy Rhodes and Pastor Gordon Small. Every week, we take our Sunday message, or maybe another topic altogether, and talk about it in a relaxed setting. And hopefully help you take the truths from Sunday, and bring them alive on Mondays—and every other day, too. So thanks for joining us!
Fan Question
The apostle Paul talked about a certain point in his ministry, he had a thorn in the flesh- something troublesome that caused a lot of problems. What was the thorn in the flesh?
Answer
Paul said he had an abundance of revelations. He said he was taken up to the third heaven. Because of that, he was maybe tempted to be proud. He said that the thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan to beat him up. It may have been something physical. Maybe his eye sight. He had an amanuensis to write his letters. Whatever the thorn in the flesh was, it was from Satan to humble him and to beat him up.
Historians describe Paul as being short in stature, bald, having a hook nose, and bad eyesight. He was known for being a great speaker, though he was a strong writer. Paul walked in the Spirit and exhibited self-control.
Running the Race
I Corinthians 9:19-27 – Paul’s lifestyle was to win people to Christ! It was a Gospel issue. He wouldn’t do anything to discredit the gospel. He didn’t want to do anything to distract from the gospel message.
Paul was a relational person. He would accommodate his lifestyle to try to reach out to them.
V24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
Everyone understands the imagery of a runner who must put their body in a discipled, self-controlled state.
V25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
How does this apply to us? How can we apply this in us when it comes to self-control?
I. Be Willing
V19 “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”
Paul became a servant of all to win more people. He did it willingly. An athlete is not forced to train. They choose to bring their body into subjection to win the prize. There’s an element to bring our body into subjection for the gospel. I’m not doing it to get better abs or healthy heart, although those are by-products. They are positive things. I do it to win people to Christ. Athletes love their sport with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I love the Lord with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. The motivation should be for the glory of God.
II. Adjust our Lifestyle
We adjust our lifestyle, culture, and routine in order to reach others for the gospel.
We’re in a race. This is a mentality that we lose because we are in the daily grind.
We are sitting on the sidelines watching. We want to do more but most people are not in the game. We complain a lot and then we lose because we are not disciplined enough.
Self-control requires change. Things against God, attitude, repentance and then change.
Submit to the spirit of God, be willing to walk in the Spirit, and all these things will grow in us and be evident for all to see.
Coming Attractions:
Life. Better Together. Small Groups begin September 16th.
Sunday schedule
Bible Study @ 9:15am
Worship @ 10:45am
Wednesday schedule
The Refuge – gym open at 4:30pm
XA Students – @ 6:30pm
eKids – @ 6:30pm
Adult Bible Study – @ 6:30pm
If you have a question, or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or if this podcast has been a help to you in some way, please write to us at [email protected], or in the comments section of this podcast. And finally, we invite you to join us live next Sunday at 10:45am in Tulsa, or at 11 am online. Once again, thanks for joining us for the Eastwood Tulsa Podcast.
