Self-Control and Sobriety

I. Introduction
   A. 1 Peter 4:7
   B. A pair of important concepts: self-control and sobriety
   C. Virtues that everyone pays lip service to..
      1. After all, we all know that self-control and sobriety 
         is good
      2. No one can complain about moderation
   D. ...yet rarely practiced, and even rarely really advocated!
      1. Corporations do not want you to be controlled in your 
         money use!
      2. Quite a few industries are predicated on people being 
         intoxicated!
   E. Nevertheless, God desires us to exhibit these virtues
      1. In concert with the rest of the Christian virtues
      2. Integral parts-- allows for the others to function 
         properly
   F. Let us consider these in greater depth

II. Self-Control
   A. Self-control something that is well-known
      1. Being able to moderate one's behavior
      2. Something that people know is good…but rarely do!
   B. Something spoken of in the Scriptures often
      1. Galatians 5:23
      2. 2 Timothy 1:7
      3. 2 Peter 1:6
   C. Proverbs 25:28 quite illustrative in this regard
   D. Illustration: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
      1. The athlete practices self-control
      2. If the athlete did not, how would he succeed?
      3. If he did not control his desires, but ate whatever he 
         desired, drank whatever he desired, etc., would he win?
   E. Thus we see the need for self-control
      1. We must be focused on our purpose
      2. To take anything in excess would hinder our purpose and 
         mission
      3. Just as the athlete subjects everything he does to the 
         purpose of victory, so we must too!
     4. Galatians 2:20 applies
     5. If we are going to be excellent servants of God, we must 
        do nothing in excess, and have self-control in all things-- 
        focused on our one true purpose!

III. Sobriety
   A. Sobriety is somewhat understood, but rarely fully understood
      1. Understood in terms of alcohol and drugs: to be sober is to 
         be free from such things
      2. Seen in Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
   B. Sobriety goes beyond such, however
      1. Sobriety, in truth, is to be free of any intoxicant
      2. Alcohol and drugs are certainly intoxicants
      3. But so can a lot of things intoxicate: money, sex, fame, 
         sports, television, etc.
      4. Anything, in fact, can intoxicate, if allowed to do so
   C. God would have His people be free of all intoxicants!
      1. Elders and their wives - 1 Timothy 3:2, 11
      2. Judgment to be sober - Romans 12:3
      3. 2 Timothy 4:5
      4. Titus 2:2
      5. 1 Peter 1:13
    D. 1 Peter 5:8
      1. Need to be sober evident-- the Devil roams about!
      2. Just as the unwary prey becomes a feast for the lion, so 
         Christians who are not sober-minded but have their minds 
         set on other things become the Devil's feast!
   E. Hence Jesus' and Paul's constant exhortation to watchfulness 
      and diligence
      1. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
      2. Consider Matthew 24:42-51, 25:1-30
      3. If we are sober-minded on that Day, we have little to fear!
      4. If we are not, however, woe to us!

IV. Conclusion
   A. We have seen the value of self-control and sobriety
   B. Quite necessary for the Christian life
      1. If we do not moderate ourselves and keep ourselves free of 
         intoxicants, we might easily be led astray   
      2. Our quest for God's Kingdom is all-encompassing-- we must 
         focus our energies on it (Matthew 6:33)!
      3. Maintaining other virtues quite dependent on it!
   C. Let us be diligent in self-control and sobriety!
   D. Invitation/songbook