www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Scattered and Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005
Learning the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:
Moderation
Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand.
Philippians 4:5
Moderation:
restrained passions
soberness of living
free from excess in home, dress, eating, passion, temper, plans of life, etc.

Very similar to the word temperance:
Temperance:

Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth (see Luke 15:13; Romans 13:13).  temperate in pleasure, temperate in speech, cool, calm, not marked with passion; not violent. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.
2.  Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.
By the way, Christian: There is no need to judge the brethren in these matters, though - remember, Romans 14:10:  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Modern bibles say "unselfish," "your considerateness," "gentle attitude," " forbearance," "gentleness," "yieldingness," "friendly manner," "mildness," etc.

Direct Application:
Be moderate in using the world - I Corinthians 7:31
Be moderate when you are deeply sorrowful - I Thessalonians 4:13
Be moderate when rejoicing in anything but the Lord - I Corinthians 7:29
Be moderate in personal habits - I Corinthians 9:25

Romans 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
chambering:  To be wanton; to indulge in lewd or immodest behavior.
wantonness:  Loose; unrestrained; running to excess.

Proverbs 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

More Scripture Verses on Temperance:

Galatians 5:22,23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

II Peter 1:5-7  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  Remember that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience Romans 5:3,4-- so right in the middle of all that growth enters temperance.

we are to add temperance to our knowledge
we are to add patience to temperance
remember, we see that tribulation worketh patience - so... it is not easy to live a temperate - moderate Christian life, eh but it is part of our growing and visual testimony to others!

I Corinthians 9:25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Titus 1:8: But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Titus 2:2: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Proverbs 11:1: A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Now remember, moderation does NOT mean 'less' than full effort, though.
I Timothy 4:15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
I Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Philippians 2:14: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Colossians 4:23,24  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Don't let those things that you try to do in balance, moderation and temperance try to control you to excess!
I Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
LET IT BE KNOWN UNTO ALL MEN!
With Charity:
I Corinthians 8:1: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
I Corinthians 13:1-4: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up...
I Corinthians 16:14: Let all your things be done with charity.

With Grace:
Eph:4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Col:4:6: Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Not with Boasting
2Tm:3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Jms:3:5: Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jms:4:16: But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

And yet not be ashamed, either...
Rom:1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom:5:5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom:9:33: As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom:10:11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Phil:1:20: According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
2Tm:1:8: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2Tm:1:12: For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2Tm:2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1Pt:3:16: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pt:4:16: Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Jn:2:28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

THE LORD IS AT HAND!
Interesting note in closing:
Note that those verses I quoted concerning being moderate in those specific areas all had the second coming of Christ in the context.
I Corinthians 7:31 was on the passing of the world system.
I Thessalonians 4:13 was on the rapture.
I Corinthians 7:29 was on the time being short
I Corinthians 9:25 was dealing with rewards of the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Moral?  Since the Lord is at the point of returning 'anytime,' we must make sure our conduct as a Christian is in moderation at all and any time.  Otherwise, whatever you are doing, 'will burn!'