Psalms 37:1-9

Godly people knew how to wait.

Genesis 6:3 - Noah worked and waited for the flood to come.

Genesis 12:2-5 - Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac.

I Samuel 16:1 - David waited many years to take the throne after he was anointed.

Luke 2:25-32 - Simeon and Anna patiently waited to see Jesus come into the world.

Physical relations (“waiting until marriage”)

II Samuel 11 - David and Bathsheba

I Corinthians 7:1-5 - Physical relations are to stay inside marriage.

James 1:14-15 - Temptation and lust lead to sin.

Material possessions

I Timothy 6:6

Hebrews 11:24-26 - Moses looked past the pleasures in Egypt to the greater reward.

Philippians 3:17-20

Why must we have self-control in the following areas? (continued from last week)

Desires (Romans 6:12

God gave us permissible outlets for our desires. We must make sure we use only those to be free from sin.

Strategies for maintaining self-control

When possible, leave the situation (Genesis 39:12

Use righteous outlets (I Peter 5:7

Trust in God as the final judge (Romans 12:19

Jude 1:10-11

The way of:

Human opinion substituted for the way of the faith (Romans 10:17

Envy, hate, and intolerance toward those who adhere strictly to God’s Word

Willful contempt for divine authority (I John 3:12

Divine condemnation (Genesis 4:11

Eternal regret

It is a disastrous thing to walk in the way of Cain.

The way of Abel

Let us walk in the way of divine approval and eternal glory!

Galatians 4:4 - Jesus came when the time was right for Him to come.

The balanced truth about Jesus…

He complimented, but He also condemned.

Matthew 8:10 - Jesus compliments people for their faith.

John 2:13-17 - Jesus drives the moneychangers from the temple.

Matthew 23:13-33 - Jesus calls out the religious leaders of the day for their unfaithfulness.

He praised family life, but He also made severe regulations.

Matthew 15:3 - Jesus rebukes the traditions of the Pharisees.

If Jesus spoke out about marriage like this today, would he be popular?

Serving God must always come before family.

He offered salvation, but He also demanded obedience.

Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 7:21-27 - We can’t be acceptable to God with just lip service. We must obey!

He spoke of heaven, but also of hell.

Matthew 25:31-46 - Jesus describes the scene at judgment.

Matthew 5:22 - Jesus warns of punishment for those who do not obey.