FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
By Pastor George Cortez
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
By Pastor George Cortez
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
SELF CONTROL - We live in a world that is out of control, even in the USA which is the most Christian Country in the world – Individual responsibility is dead and self-control is a foreign term even to those in our Nation’s high office. - If a person undertakes to lead a nation, and he does not govern himself what value is he to the people or to the government if he cannot control his own appetites, passions and desires? - Although we may be influenced by a leader's lack of responsibility, God holds us individually responsible for our own actions. It is foundationally important and an integral part of Christianity that an individual be able to govern himself properly. In this Bible study on "the fruit of the Spirit" we analyze the final fruit, self-control.
What is self-control? - In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for self-control is enkrateia. Its root meaning is "power over oneself" or "self-mastery." Self-control, in its widest sense, is mastery over our passions. It is the virtue that holds our appetites in check, controlling our rational, will, or regulating our conduct without being swayed by sensuous desires. Moderation is a key element in self-control.
What common things show a lack of self-control? - Lust, greed, gluttony, alcoholism, conceit, sexual sins, gossiping, violent quarreling, false and reckless speech, these are just a few of the many sins that people allow and we see that the priority in their life is to go for another thrill and not have one iota of self-control, but when the defense mechanism of self-control is missing or neglected, people stumble into foolishness and disgrace.
Taking responsibility for ones own thoughts and actions and having self-control are synonymous, and is the virtue that makes a person so master of himself that he is fit to be servant of others.
What elements are involved in producing self-control? - Paul worked hard on self-discipline. As a minister he had to discipline his body and bring it into subjection, or his credibility and effectiveness would have been severely affected. He could discuss self-control with Felix partly because of his own self-mastery Acts 24:25. Jesus lived a life of self-control, mastering potentially lustful and destructive thoughts and actions. He had to overcome the human tendencies just as we do—resisting temptation and submitting to God's law.
What is the relationship of the Holy Spirit to self-control? - Self-control is the manifestation of God's work in man through the Holy Spirit. Paul elaborated in His teaching on self-control that Christian self-control results from the Holy Spirit's indwelling. It is the Spirit-controlled mind that is strengthened with power to control rebellious desires and to resist the allurements of tempting pleasures. Ephesians 3:16; & 5:18.
So Paul warns in I Corinthians 10:12 - Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
What is Sin? It is none other than out of control behavior. The heart of the problem is a problem with the heart. - Lack of self control points to a deeper issue within us when we give in to our desires, we have lost control of proper behavior, right thought and action, and have cast off all restraint and we go ahead and sin without thinking about the consequences of our actions that will affect us, our loved ones and our salvation.
A lack of self-control is the natural tendency for human beings, as we see in the example of the newly liberated nation of Israel. When left to herself, while Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, she quickly turned to idol worship and wild behavior. Exodus 32:25 tells us that Israel made herself a laughingstock to her enemies.
Because of this tendency, we are warned against losing self-control and are called to practice self-discipline. Paul states that lack of self-control will be common in the last days. - I Timothy 3:1-5.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Romans 13:11-13 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. - Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
It takes a new spirit, the Spirit of God, to be able to have that self-control that Jesus Christ exhibited. We see that He had self-control. That is part of our walk as well. We must have self-control. Walking as Christ walked means to carefully consider our thoughts and actions in every situation. – And since self-control leads to holiness it is crucial for Christ’s followers that self-discipline be a governing quality for every servant of God.
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
ACTION PLAN: - To achieve Godly self control against sin, we must practice this every second we are awake.
1. Capture your thoughts. – Hold your thoughts captive in your mind and don’t allow them to go anywhere.
2. Filter your thoughts. – Identify the wrong and evil thoughts and hold them captive for further action.
3. Delete all bad thoughts. – Rebuke the enemy who sent you the bad thoughts, using the name of Jesus and before they connect with your heart and become sinful actions - “Hit the Delete Button in your mind”.
4. Empty your Deleted Items. – Cleanse any lingering trace of bad thoughts with prayer and fasting.
