"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" Matthew 16:24

Last week we looked into some Scriptures on how denying self (self denial/self control) is expressed. I would like to continue with 'let him deny himself' to see what Scripture further opens up to us concerning self-control.

Self-control is in the list of qualities to add to the Believer's faith as we see in 2 Peter l, "...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." Vs. 5-7 In Vs. 8 Peter tells of the results, "For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Likewise, in Vs. 9, he tells the consequence of not pursuing these qualifies, "For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."
(Read Vs. 3-11 and see that the origin of these qualities is divine grace.)

Involved in self-control is--
Ruling one's spirit:
"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32

Soberness:
"For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment..." Romans 12:3 The Amplified Bible

Control of the body:
Paul tells us what he does in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "But I discipline my body and being it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
By doing this, he sets an example. We, too, should do the same.

Scripture tells us of hindrances to self-control, here are a few-- Fleshly lusts:
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
1 Peter 2:11-12 (Here it is again, our lives are to be a testimony.)

The tongue:
David tells us in Psalm 39:1 (also see James 3:5-12 concerning the tongue), "I said, 'I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.'"

Sexual sins:
" For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust."
1Thessalonians 4:3-4

Scripture tells us to test ourselves,
"Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your own faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves..." 2 Corinthians 13:5 The Amplified Bible

"But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 The Amplified Bible

Of what means do we examine and test? Scripture says-- By God Himself:
"Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart." Psalm 26:2

By God's word:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

By Christ's example:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2

Our trust is in You Lord to complete in each one of us what You have started! Help us Holy Spirit to be ever yielded to Your leading and guiding!
Thank you Father for this life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen