Like Royalty: Self-Control

Sermon in a Sentence: We all face temptations, self-control is what will help us overcome those temptations.

Summary:

• We all face temptations that allow us to stray from doing what is right

• Even though these temptations are said to be bad, we still do them
  • why?
  • because we get some kind of good feeling out of it
  • if it were unpleasant, we wouldn’t be tempted to do it
• With all these temptations, there is one thing that can help us: SELF CONTROL!
• According to Websters Dictionary:
  • Self-Control: the ability to control one's emotions and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses. As an executive function, self-control is a cognitive process that is necessary for regulating one's behavior in order to achieve goals
• According to Psychology Today:
  • Self-control separates us from our ancient ancestors and the rest of the animal kingdom, thanks to our large prefrontal cortex. It is the ability to subdue our impulses in order to achieve longer-term goals. Rather than responding to immediate impulses, we can plan, evaluate alternative actions, and, often enough, avoid doing things we'll later regret
• The key word in all of this is “self” 
• One of the most important things to remember in life, is that you are responsible for your own actions
  • as easy as it is to blame other people, ultimately it is up to you to decide what you do
  • that is why self control is so important
• If we can learn to master self control, we will save ourselves a lot of trouble and heartache in the future.
• The princess we are going to talk about today is Ariel
• We are going to talk about her in a little different light than we have in the past
  • unlike the other princesses, Ariel does not practice self-control
    • ultimately it costs her dearly
  • The Little Mermaid is the story of a Mermaid who longs to be a part of the human world
    • in Disney’s version, her infatuation with human objects gets her in trouble multiple times
    • She decides to go to a sunken ship to look for new treasures, and she ends up missing a party for her father
    • She then goes to the surface, which her father has forbidden of her to do
      • this fractures the relationship between the two of them
    • She ends up going to see the sea queen, Ursula and getting legs, but her voice is taken from her
    • because her father loves her so much, he decides to take her place
    • in the original version she does not marry the prince, but she ends up turning into sea foam
  • Ariels father had very specific instructions, to stay away from humans
    • and Ariel did not listen to him, but rather gave into her temptations of visiting the human world
      • ultimately this decision took her away from her family (even in the Disney version)
• When we do not practice self-control, we often end up hurting ourselves or others around us (often times both, even though we may not see it at the time)
• How does this fit in with scripture?
  • Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let himtdeny himself and utake up his cross vdaily and follow me
  • When we decide to follow God, we are saying that we are going to put God above everything, including our temptations

• So how do we practice self control?
  • 1. Avoid situations where you might fall into temptation
    • friends you spend time with/people influencing you
    • being alone
    • closing the bedroom door
  • 2. Make a list of things you need to control
  • Make a list of achievable goals 
  • Pray!
  
  
  • We are fortunate because we are not alone. 
  • God does not want us to fail. 
  • Our temptations are what keep us from him, so if anything he wants us to succeed. 
  • When we are able to practice self-control it results in us having better, more honest and healthier relationship. 
  • We cannot do it without a support system 
    • God is always there for us
    • But we also have our church community 
    • Find an accountability partner to check in with. 
  So what do we take-home from this?
  •  self control is not easy, but it is possible
  • find the people who can help support you, (not your parents or significant other!)