Stop Worrying
“By your patience possess
your souls.” NKJV
“Stand firm, and you will
win life.” NIV
Part One: Win in the
Midst of Crisis
The Crisis Context
of Luke 21:19
“Stand firm, and
you will win life.”
“Stand firm and
you will win life.”
• The Greek word here for
“patience” (NIV- “standing firm”)
is ὑπομονῇ (hypomonē) which
means “patient endurance or
enduring under affliction.”
“Stand firm and
you will win life.”
• The Greek word here for “possess”
(NIV- “gain” or “win”) is κτήσασθε
(ktēsasthe) which means “to procure or
purchase.” The use of the middle
imperative means we are commanded
to take action and be responsible for
getting ourselves under control by
mastering our emotions and actions.
Part Two: Win by
Preventing Crisis
Win life by
mastering
emotions and
actions.
God wants you to
win life by
preventing crisis
in your life.
Gal. 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is
no law.
To be a “disciple”
includes a disciplined
life because God
wants you to be
successful
and “win life.”
Long term consequences of impulse
control and delayed gratification.
• 1. The children who waited for a
second marshmallow or pretzel
(showing self-control and delayed
gratification, fared much better in life.
Long term consequences of impulse
control and delayed gratification.
•
•
•
•
•
2. Higher SAT scores.
3. Lower BMI (Body Mass Index).
4. Lower rates of addiction.
5. Lower divorce rates.
6. More competent in life than those
who took instant gratification.
• 7. Higher level of satisfaction.
“self-control can
be learned at any
age.”
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/22/us/marshmallow-test/
The Bible has been
teaching the same
thing for
thousands of
years.
“Stand firm and
you will win life!”
Luke 21:19
I Corinthians
9:24-27
Paul’s Teaching About Self-Discipline
• If you want to “win life”
you must discipline and
master your life.
• Being a spiritual warrior.
Choose Your Destiny and Win Life by
Preventing Crisis- Master Your Life
• Forfeit “enjoyment” of a cigarette to have
good health and prevent lung cancer.
• Resist splurging at the mall to prevent
financial crisis.
• Quit drinking to prevent brain damage,
cancer and loss in almost every area.
• But some of you wonder how you can learn
to control your impulses and be a spiritual
warrior.
How to Develop Godly Self-Control
• Start with small habits you can be
successful in.
• Daily Devotions.
• Faithfulness to church.
• Being on time by being 5 minutes
early.
• Self-discipline habits at home like
making your bed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=jflUvxQLkgs
Admiral William H. "Bill" McCraven
If you make your bed every
morning you will have
accomplished the first task of the
day. It will give you a small sense
of pride, and it will encourage
you to do another task and
another and another. By the end
of the day, that one task
completed will have turned into
many tasks completed.
Admiral William H. "Bill" McCraven
Making your bed will also
reinforce the fact that little
things in life matter. If you can't
do the little things right, you will
never do the big things right.
Admiral William H. "Bill" McCraven
And, if by chance you have a
miserable day, you will come
home to a bed that is made —
that you made — and a made
bed gives you encouragement
that tomorrow will be better.
If you want to change the
world, start off by making your
bed.