TAKE CONTROL

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The title of this lesson is:  “Take Control.”

 

B.   There are times in life when we feel that we have very little control over things, even though we deeply desire to have that control.

1.    You can’t control the price of gas at the pump.

2.    You can’t control your adult children.

3.    You can’t control a fellow employee.

4.    You can’t control the decisions made by our federal government.

5.    You can’t control another member of the body of Christ.

 

C.   If there are so many things over which we have little, if any, control, why have we chosen to preach on the subject:  “Take Control”?

 

D.   It is because there are some very important things that we can take control of that will enhance our lives if we do.

 

I.             TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUNDRY THOUGHTS

 

A.   Before we get out of bed, we often have many thoughts racing through our heads.

1.    I slept well.

2.    I did not sleep at all.

3.    I have a lot I need to do today.

4.    I hope school, work, or my day goes well.

5.    I hope grumpy is in a good mood.

 

B.   Thoughts are part of the command center of the human being (Prov. 23:7).

 

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

 

C.   Satan knows the importance of our thoughts.  Paul warns that Satan seeks to corrupt our minds (2 Cor. 11:3).

 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

D.   We have the ability to take control of our thoughts.

1.    Proverbs 4:23

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

2.    Proverbs 23:19

 

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

 

3.    Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

II.           TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SELECTED ATTITUDE

 

A.   Attitude:  our manner, disposition, or feeling we have toward things.

 

B.   We usually manifest one of two attitudes:  a good attitude or a bad attitude.

 

C.   NOTE:  The attitude we possess toward anything is a personal choice.

1.    Example: 

a.    Christmas often pushes me toward a negative attitude.

1)    Spending hundreds of dollars.

2)    Schedules that do not seem to harmonize.

3)    Selecting our gifts and telling others what we want.

4)    Speed by which it passes.

b.    I must really work on my attitude to enjoy the season. 

1)    Fellowship with the family

2)    Fun and food

3)    Focus on the abundance of blessings that I have been given by God.

2.    Paul knew attitude is a choice. 

a.    When he suffered hunger and thirst, he displayed contentment (Phil. 4:11-12).

b.    When his ministry was difficult, he rejoiced in the grace and mercy he received from his Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 1:14-15).

c.    When he was imprisoned, he rejoiced that the gospel was being spread (Phil. 1:12-14).

d.    When he was slighted or sinned against, he displayed a forgiving heart (2 Tim. 4:16).

e.    When he was facing death, he steadfastly believed that to die is gain (Phil. 1:21).

3.    When we get up each morning and chose our attitude, we would be wise to remember the position we have “in Christ.”  If we truly understand it, we can only rejoice (Phil. 4:4).

 

Rejoice in the Lord always:  and again I say, Rejoice.

 

III.         TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SCHEDULED EVENTS

 

A.   Our lives are the combination of thousands and thousands of seconds.

1.    Each one of us has 86,000 seconds to live each day.

2.    Each year, we have 31,390,000 seconds to use.

 

B.   We live in a society that provides us with things that cause us to waste our time:  TV (how much time is wasted just trying to find a show or movie worth watching?), computers, pad and tablets, FB, X, Instagram, TikTok.

 

C.   Psalm 90:12

 

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

D.   There is a commercial for AI training that states:  Quit looking at social media and do this instead.

 

E.   That’s a good suggestion for Christians.  Quit looking social media, and…

1.    Say a prayer.

2.    Read a chapter from the Bible.

3.    Memorize a verse

4.    Study a Bible character.

5.    Make a phone call to the sick or shut-ins.

6.    Talk to someone about the gospel of Christ.

 

IV.         TAKE CONTROL OF SAVING YOUR SOUL

 

A.   Everything needed for salvation, as far as the divine side is concerned, has been put in place.

1.    Jesus’ blood has been shed.

2.    Jesus has been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God.

3.    The church has been established.

4.    The Word of God has been fully revealed.

 

B.   If the church is doing her job of proclaiming the gospel, then the control rests solely upon the hearer.

1.    Peter to the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:40)

 

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

 

2.    The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36)

 

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

 

C.   The preacher or teacher can exhort the sinner to obey the gospel, but he is not able to force the individual. 

 

D.   The person who refuses to obey the gospel needs to ask himself:  “Why am I unwilling to take control of my salvation?”  or, “Why am I unwilling to allow Jesus to save me from my sins?”

 

V.           TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

A.   The individual who obeys the gospel is a babe in Christ. 

1.    Just as real babies need to grow, so new converts need to grow as well.

2.    The Christian life is not simply initial obedience and then a lifetime being saved with nothing else to do.

3.    When a person plants a garden, eventually a little seedling comes forth from the ground.

a.    The gardener is proud of the seedling, but he does not want it to remain a happy, little seedling from that point on.

b.    He wants the seedling to grow, to mature, and to produce fruit.

 

B.   The Christian is also supposed to grow, to mature, and to produce fruit.

1.    2 Peter 3:18

 

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

2.    Growth is not easy.

a.    The plant must be watered.

b.    The plant must be fertilized.

c.    The weeds need to be constantly removed from the site.

d.    The plant must be pruned.

e.    Sometimes the plant must be guided in its growth with wires or trellises.

3.    Growth is not a simple thing for the child of God. 

a.    It takes desire.

b.    It takes effort.

c.    It takes sacrifice.

d.    It takes focused attention.

e.    It takes a lot of pruning.

 

C.   All Christians need to remember that God wants us to bear much fruit in His service (John 15:8).

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

D.   If we fail to bear fruit, there is a consequence to be faced (John 15:2a).

 

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away…

 

VI.         TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SEPARATION FROM SIN

 

A.   When we become Christians, we slay the old man of sin (Rom. 6:6).

 

B.   However, Satan does not cease his attempts to bring us back into sin and condemnation (1 Peter 5:8).

 

C.   We must constantly do all we can do to separate ourselves from sin.

1.    We must put on Christ and not make provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14).

2.    We must keep under our bodies and bring them into subjection (1 Cor. 9:27).

3.    We must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1).

4.    We must walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal.5:16).

5.    We must put off the old man (Eph. 4:22) and put on the new man (Eph. 4:24).

6.    We must mortify our members which are upon the earth (Col. 3:5).

7.    We must flee youthful lusts (2 Tim.2:22).

8.    We must lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us (Heb. 12:1).

9.    We must resist Satan steadfastly in the faith (1 Pet. 5:9).

10. We must love the Father more than we love the world (1 John 2:15-17).

 

VII.       TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SECOND COMING PREPARATION

 

A.   Jesus is coming again.

1.    The angels promised it on mount Olivet (Acts 1:11).

 

…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

2.    Peter said it was sure in 2 Peter 3:10a.

 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…

 

3.    Jesus also promised to come again (Matt. 25:31).

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory.

 

B.   The Lord exhorts us to prepare for that day (Matt. 24:44).

 

Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

1.    Everyone in the audience knows the meaning of preparation.  We have been preparing for Christmas for several weeks now.

a.    We have made arrangements to be away if traveling.

b.    We have purchased food.

c.    We have purchased gifts.

d.    We have cleaned our homes for our guests.

e.    We have put up and put out all our decorations.

2.    QUESTION:  Are you preparing as much for the Lord’s return as you do for special days and events in your life?

3.    If not, we could find ourselves hearing the same words the five foolish virgins heard at the door of the bridegroom (Matt. 25:12).

 

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   When God created us, He did not make robots.

 

B.   He formed us as beings make in the likeness, image, and similitude of God.

 

C.   Each one of us has the ability to take control of our lives.

 

D.   1 Corinthians 9:25

 

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

 

1.    The Competitors

2.    The Control

3.    The Crown

4.    The Contrast