Self Control and Popcorn

I love popcorn. I can’t go to a good movie unless I have a big bag (or bucket) of popcorn to nibble on throughout the movie. Popcorn is a really interesting picture of self control. Inside the kernel, mixed with the proteins and nutrients, there is moisture (which can characterize our natural passions and weaknesses). Outside the kernel is the hull, holding in the seed contents (which can characterize our human desire to keep our passions and weaknesses under control). Whenever heat is applied (which can characterize external pressures and temptations that draw upon our desires and weaknesses), the moisture within the kernel heats up, wishing to expand. The hull does its best to hold in the expanding moisture vapors until it can do so no longer, resulting in a violent explosion – and a yummy piece of popcorn. Unfortunately, the popcorn picture of self-control is not so yummy. When the external pressures feed on our internal desires and weaknesses beyond our ability to control them, the result is just as violent as popcorn, but it very ugly and anything but yummy.

Self-control is an important defender of our Christian testimony. Consider how quickly your life and your testimony can be destroyed because of a lack of self-control. Unfortunately, we cannot maintain our self-control on our own merits. Unlike popcorn, which often leaves a few kernels un-popped, we all – in our own strength - eventually fail to contain our passions and weaknesses.

For this reason, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, if you read 2 Peter 1:5-7, you can see that it is also a fruit of knowledge - knowledge of God and of yourself. Plus, when you read elsewhere in scripture, you also find that self-control is a fruit of self-discipline and spiritual exercise. How can this be? It appears to be a contradiction, but really it is not. Self control is possible through a knowledge of God (and of ourselves), is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and is perfected through disciplined application within our lives.

In our pilgrimage from goodness to godliness, we all need to perfect self-control in our lives so that we may overcome the temptations that the enemy sets before us and so defend our Christian testimony.

To hear more about self control, click on the link below to listen to the sermon, Self Control: The Ultimate Self Defense.

Self-Control: The Ultimate Self Defense
http://www.box.net/shared/ydjnoj5a88