FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH, MAGODO
ACHIEVERS’ BIBLE STUDY MAY,
2016.
THEME: MANIFESTING THE
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TEXT: 1 Cor.
12:1-12; Heb. 2:4; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49
TOPIC: THE GREATESTs ACHIEVEMENT
TEXT: Prov. 16:32, Titus 2:11-14
INTRODUCTION
There is a
power at work within you. Eph. 3:20. You have more power than you
imagine you have. Apostle Paul looked at this power and said I can do all
things. Phil 4:13. We have always looked forward to conquering the world
but the greatest victory that will deliver the world to you is victory over
self. I keep my body under……1 Cor.
9:27, I press on……Phil 3:14, I have fought the good fight….2 Tim
4:7, Titus 2:11-14 (NIV).
MARSHMALLOW TEST
In the 1960s
Walter Mischel conducted what has become popularly known as marshmallow test: a
group of 4-year old children were given Marshmallow and he told them they could
eat it anytime they wanted but anyone who will watch his own without eating
until Mr. Mischel returns will get a second marshmallow. He left them for 15
minutes.
The children
tried so hard, fidgeted, they looked at the marshmallow and looked at the
clock. Some of them couldn’t stand it. They said yes and went in to eat it
right away. He rewarded those who waited as he promised.
Mischel
followed these children a few decades and observed that those who waited to
have a second marshmallow did better at school and in life. They were more
successful. The girls are less likely to get pregnant before marriage.
WILL POWER OR FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Will power
has always failed as in new year resolutions. It is a manifestation of the
fruit of the Holy Spirit that can carry us through. Titus 2:11-12 says for the
grace of God that bring SALVATION has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say
NO to ungodliness so we may say YES to godliness.
QUEST FOR POWER: PROV.
16:32
Most actions
are motivated by quest for power and fame. We demand recognition.
The power God
wants us to exercise more is the power over self and this is a fruit of the
Holy Spirit – self-control.
Success in
career, business or any field can be built over years and destroyed by a person
in a few minutes of loss of self-control.
POWER TO EXERCISE SELF CONTROL
We will look
at various approaches to self-control.
i.
a. stop, b. think c. ask what could happen d. am I prepared for it.
ii.
Knowing I can but deciding I won’t.
iii.
Ability to control impulses and delay gratification. It requires effort,
attention and energy.
iv.
Everyone must choose one of 2 pains. The pain of discipline and the pain
of regrets.
v.
Self-control is the ability to control one’s own
mind, body and emotions particularly when doing so will conflict with one’s own
base desires; this is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:22-23, Titus 2:11-12
HARNESSING SELF-CONTROL
We are
empowered to rule our world starting with a rule over self. I got this from UCB
Word For TodayMar 08, 2016“Here’s
a wonderful story that illustrates the point. A man purchased a newspaper at a
newsstand every day. He always greeted the vendor very courteously, but in
return received very gruff and discourteous service; the vendor would rudely
shove the newspaper in his face. The man, however, would politely smile and
wish him a nice day. This went on for several days until a friend asked, ‘Does
he always treat you this rudely?’ The man replied, ‘Unfortunately, he does.’
The questioner asked, ‘Are you always so polite and friendly to him?’ The man
replied, ‘Yes, I am.’ The questioner continued, ‘Why are you so nice to him
when he’s so rude to you?’ The man replied, ‘Because I don’t want him to decide
how I’m going to act.’
SELF
CONTROL AND FORGIVENESS
There is nobody that is not offended on
daily basis. It is my choice to forgive or to carry emotional baggage. An
understanding that I offend God on daily basis and yet I want to make heaven
and he says, if you do not forgive men their wrongs against you, your father in
heaven will not forgive you and we are going to the place where no baggage of
sin can enter. Matt 6:14-15, Rev 21:27,
Matt 18:3, Luke 11:4
‘’The weak can
never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong’’. Mahatma Ghandi
Forgiveness has
been defined as “the willingness when a party has engaged in a potentially
destructive act to inhibit impulses to react destructively and instead react
constructively”
We need to admit
our need for forgiveness Mark 1:5
SELF
CONTROL AND HOLINESS Titus 2:11-14
Fruit of the Holy Spirit is like a
fruit basket with all manner of fruits, if we look at it all, the one fruit we
do not want to quickly eat in our basket is self control. It is however the one
that determines whether we become holy and matured.
This is where lies all our errors. Can
you say NO when the crowd is saying yes?
Our Mothers’ Day minister said they will tell you, you are passing
through university and university is not passing through you.
SELF
CONTROL AND PROSPERITY Titus 2:11-12
We all want
to be rich. The challenge on the way is self control. God truly loves you and
desires that we all dwell in abundance. Can you delay gratification? Can you
put a little extra effort when others are quitting? Can you say NO to spending
all when there is so much to buy? Can you hold money and suffer as people have
learnt to call suffering?
Let us study the Joseph’s plan for prosperity.
Gen 41:33-36, 53-57
SELF
CONTROL AND HEALTH Titus 2:11-12
We all want
to be healthy. We know what the healthy foods are but they are not sweet. We
know the exercises we should do but they are not convenient.
CONCLUSION: You were
created for dominion. If you can conquer self, you will conquer poverty, sin,
inability to forgive and various other vices.
Bro Igede.
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