Lessons about Self-Control
Numbers 20:1-13
- Francois Fenelon
17th/18th Century Catholic Archbishop
I. Common Substitutes for Self-Control
Substitute 1 - Rebellion.
Numbers 20:2 – “There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.” (NLT)
Point: Anarchy does not honor God...nor does it prove power.
Substitute 2 - Compromise.
Numbers 20:8, 11 – God said to Moses, “Command the rock before their eyes to yield its water.” Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff.
Point: Half-truth is really no truth.
Substitute 3 - Rage.
Numbers 20:10 – “Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin.”
Point: God is rarely glorified in our uncontrolled anger.
Benjamin Franklin - “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.”
Substitute 4 - Faithlessness.
Numbers 20:12 – But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
Point: A lack of self-control has its consequences...for us and others.
II. Lessons about Self-Control
Lesson #1 – Self-control protects our spirits.
Frederick Buechner – “If you do not face up to the enemy in all his dark power, then the enemy will come up from behind some dark day and destroy you while you are facing the other way.”
Proverbs 25:28 – “A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.” (NLT)
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV)
Point: Self-control demonstrates our “Yes” to God’s purposes.
Lesson #2 – Self-control reduces faithlessness.
Quote: Someone once said, “If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.”
2 Peter 1:6 – “Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.” (NLT)
Point: Self-control is part of our contribution to a healthy, whole spiritual life.
John Eldredge - “This is where your strength is revealed and even increased – through exercise. Stand on what is true and do not let go. Period.”
Lesson #3 – In self-control, we experience the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 9:25 – “All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” (NLT)
Point: Self-control is part of the prize of salvation we receive from God.
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