Self-Control
The Fruits of the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted
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Galatians 5:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
This month is the last month in the series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Next month, we will begin the series on the Armor of God. I am looking forward to that series because I think we will learn a lot of how we interact with the spiritual realm. Today, we are going to be looking at the subject of self-control.
28 A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.
In ancient times, the walls of the city were its main defense. If the city didn’t have walls, it was extremely vulnerable to outside invaders. The analogy of not having self-control to a city not having walls is a vivid picture. A person who doesn’t have self-control has little to no defense against the temptations to lose control and there are many things we are confronted with constantly which can cause us to lose control. Self-control is our wall of defense. We need to maintain our wall of self-control. We need to build up our wall of self-control. We need to inspect our wall of self-control for cracks.
How do you define self-control?
Self-control is probably best defined as the governing of one’s desires.
Self-control is probably best defined as the governing of one’s desires.
D.G. Kehl describes it as “the ability to avoid excesses, to stay within reasonable boaunds.” Another defined it as “the healthful regulation of our desires and appetites, preventing their excess.”
The reality is that we have a tendency to overindulge our various appetites and consequently need to restrain them.
Self-control is necessary because we are at war with our own nature.
Self-control is necessary because we are at war with our own nature.
14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,
Self-control enables us to obey the words of Jesus.
Self-control enables us to obey the words of Jesus.
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Self-control is the exercise of inner strength under the direction of sound judgment that enables us to do, think, and say the things that are pleasing to God.
Areas in which we need to exercise self-control - body, thoughts, and emotions.
Areas in which we need to exercise self-control - body, thoughts, and emotions.
Honor God with your body
Honor God with your body
We need to realize that God made everything for us to enjoy.
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
Notice, Paul says “all things”. God has provided us with everything for our enjoyment. God expects us to enjoy life. The problem is not with what God has provided for man to enjoy. The problem is with in man. We easily allow the things meant for our enjoyment to control us. We are corrupt. Paul warned about over-indulengence
12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
Self-control keeps things from becoming our masters. There are three main areas of physical temptation. This is a little uncomfortable to talk about, but it is necessary.
Three areas of physical temptation: Gluttony (food and drink), laziness, and sexual immorality.
Three areas of physical temptation: Gluttony (food and drink), laziness, and sexual immorality.
We have to recognize that most of us have a tendency to overindulge in food and drink. God has given us foods and drinks to enjoy, but in moderation. Remember, eating and drinking is to be done to the glory of God.
Gluttony
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Laziness is another area where we need to be self-controlled. We probably don’t like to think of ourselves as lazy people, but I do think many people have an issue with being undisciplined about how they use their time. For example, some have no problem getting up early and spending time with God, but struggle with physical exercise. Some are good with the physical exercise and work, but are overdoing it. Laziness is about being undisciplined in how you use your time.
Sexual self-control is another area under assault today. Immorality is a major concern in the Christian community. God’s standard for sexual self-control is absolute abstinence outside of the marriage relationship.
4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.
Sexual self-control extends to the thoughts. We need to guard against impure thoughts.
28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
We need to be self-controlled in our bodies.
If acts of immorality are a problem in the Christian community, the thoughts of immorality are a much greater problem.
If acts of immorality are a problem in the Christian community, the thoughts of immorality are a much greater problem.
Take captive every thought
Take captive every thought
5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
People seldom “fall” to temptation without having allowed those thoughts to occupy their thoughts and minds first. The thought life is the first line of defense in the battle of self-control. The gates to our thoughts is primarily our eyes and ears.
3 I will not let anything worthless guide me. I hate the practice of transgression; it will not cling to me.
What we see or read or hear largely determines what we think. We allow our minds to think about things we would not do in our actions. This includes areas like gossip, slander, and criticism.
What we see or read or hear largely determines what we think. We allow our minds to think about things we would not do in our actions. This includes areas like gossip, slander, and criticism.
We need to be self-controlled in our bodies.
We need to be self-controlled in our thoughts.
Curb our emotions
Curb our emotions
We need to be self-controlled in our emotions. Emotions like anger, rage, resentment, self-pity, and bitterness can get out of control very easily.
32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
Uncontrolled emotions are destructive.
The battle for self-control is different for each of us and it starts with being honest with ourselves.
3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
We must know our weakness. We must know what appetites need to be controlled in our lives. We must know where our time is not being used well. We must control our emotions. The more we say no to sinful desires, the more we will be able to say no.
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