Sermons About Self-control
The Riches of Meekness (Matthew 5:5)
Sermon on the Mount the Lord is describing the inner character of genuine repentance; and the picture He paints is of one who stands in absolute contrast to the spirit and philosophy of the world. It makes no sense to an unregenerate world that has no “no fear of God before their eyes”. It goes against every natural (fallen) inclination of their heart and mind. The character displayed here is to the world the height of foolishness. Man always tends towards thess things that exalt man: self-confidence, self-assertiveness, self-will, self-love, self-glory. But the character of those in the kingdom, who are truly blessed of God, who are in a right relationship with Him turns all of the world’s thinking, under the influence of the evil one, upside down. The Kingdom of heaven is so foreign to man because they are so utterly and uncompromisingly God-centered; it begins and ends with the exaltation and glory of God and the right response of humility, brokenness, meekness, suffering. “If you and I are not, in this primary sense, problems and enigmas to the non-Christians around us, then this tells us a great deal about our profession of the Christian faith.” The character presented here is and unbroken chain; it is a unit; they are not qualities that a person picks and choses from, but flow in logical sequence. So, the first mark of those in the Kingdom is poverty of spirit is to have a self awareness of spiritual bankruptcy and destitution before a holy God - to say, “nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Your cross I cling.” It is to come to God claiming no merits, but bowing before Him as a spiritual beggar holding empty hands to receive His grace. To be truly poor in spirit, is not just intellectual knowledge but is one who mourns, grieves over sin; hates the sin that so robs God of glory and destroys men, but mostly mourns and grieves over the sin that remains in your own heart. Meekness is the character produced by the spiritual mourners. This is not second level Christianity, nor is it instructions on how to enter the kingdom, but is the mark of those who have have been born again, and truly responded to the command of repentance. Those who are truly in the Kingdom of Heaven. Genuine believers.
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All the Kings Men
Young men need to be 3 things that they are not, in order to lead the Church into the next generation.
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The Community of the Spirit
God is not only saving individuals; he is saving a people for himself through Jesus Christ and by the Spirit.
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James 3:1-12
1 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[b] 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.[c]
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