The last attribute of the fruit of the Spirit, but certainly not the least, is the quality of self-control. This is a BIG one!
Self-control
implies the restraining of oneself. What
are we supposed to keep ourselves from doing or saying? The Bible says we are to be in control of our
thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5). We are to guard our tongues (James 3:1-9). We are to avoid sinning in our
relationships with others by not murdering, coveting, engaging in adultery,
stealing, cheating, or quarreling and fighting (James 4:1-2).
Self-control
is to have power over oneself. This is
not possible until we surrender to Christ’s management on our lives. Self-control is a form of worship of
God. It’s living out His commandments by
doing what He wants us to do. Then God
will fully bless us.
Self-control
is about temperance, impulses, personal desires and passions. It calls for self-discipline life following
Christ’s example. It is a restraint
exercised over one’s behavior.
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." - Prov. 25:28
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper
that one who takes a city.” – Prov.
16:32.
The
world today is very self-centered and materialistic and many people have very
poor impulse control. They see something
they want and will do anything to get it. These people are very weak in
self-control. We humans are weak due to
our fallen sinful natures. This is why
God gave us these 9 attributes of His Holy Spirit. We need God’s self-control operating in our
lives.
If you
don’t have God’s self-control operating in you, you will never have victory
over a bad temper, an unforgiving spirit, being judgmental, and lusts of the
flesh. If you are willing to yield to
Him and allow Him to work in these attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit, you will grow in many
areas of your life you never thought possible.
Some
examples of the lack of self-control in the Bible:
Adam
and Eve ate the forbidden fruit - disobeyed God.
Cain
killed Able – did not control his envy and jealousy.
Esau
traded birthright for food – did not control his hunger.
Lot’s
wife turned to salt – did not control longings.
David’s
adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband – did not control sexual
appetites.
Peter’s
impulsive blow to soldier’s ear in Gethsemane – did not control his anger.
Some
examples of self-control in the Bible:
Joseph
ran from Potiphar’s wife and did not give into sexual temptation.
Jesus
resisted Satan’s temptation in the wilderness.
Jesus’
sinlessness.
This
specific quality of self-control is one of the major keys in being able to have
victory over lusts and desires of our flesh.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set
your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” - 1 Peter 1:13.
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be
alert and self-controlled.” – 1
Thess. 5:6.
Satan
is the ruler of the earth and he wants us to fail. He has designed ways of life that are
fast-paced. He makes many things
appealing to us like entertainment, fashions, movies, computers, and gadgets of
all kinds. Our lifestyles are constantly
busy. We live on the edge most of the
time. We never seem to have control of
our lives or our self-control.
When
possible, avoid temptation and you won’t have the pressure to sin and turn away
from God. Run from temptation. Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife when she
tempted him. Don’t keep bad
company. We greatly decrease temptation
by not associating with evil people. It
is impossible to avoid exposure to everything that is sinful. So we must be strong enough to control our
thoughts and actions and not give into temptations.
Where
in your life do you need self-control?
Do you
ask God to help you when you are tempted?
Someone
who has learned the meaning of self-control and practices it is someone who is
taking steps to be like Jesus.
Self-control in a Christian means instead of having our own way, we
choose God’s way. We look to Him and
obey His commands. We let the Holy
Spirit live and work God’s will through us.
This brings us closer to God.
Have
you learned self-control?
Do you
choose your way or God’s way?
This
last fruit of the Spirit is the most important of them all. It is hard in this day and age to be a
Christian of self-control. It is hard to
deny self and be self-sacrificing. Being
a true Christian is difficult, but can be done by trusting Christ. We won’t be perfect, but Jesus makes it clear
in Rev. 2 and 3 that overcomers (those who are steadfast and victorious over
sin) will go into the Kingdom of God.
God gives us His Spirit to help us achieve the fruit of the Spirit. His love will give us courage, strength, love
and self-control.
What
great lessons we have learned by studying the Fruit of the Spirit. I hope you will put these into practice. Next time I will be posting an overview of
the book of Revelation. You don’t want
to miss it! Hope to see you here.
_______________________________________
If you
have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share
this post with the buttons below.
You can also join this site by clicking on the blue button at the top left "Join this site" or you can "Subscribe by Email". If you follow by email, you will receive an email every time there is a new post.
