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Galatians 5:22-23
Some people think that temperance should be first on the list of the fruit of the Spirit to which we must yield.
But Paul listed it last, under the direction of the Holy Spirit—not because it is the least of the fruits, but rather because it is the completion of them.
It takes temperance to put us into a position of being Spirit-led believers.
Temperance is essential to keep the passions in the mind, will and emotions suppressed, allowing the Holy Spirit to have rule in our lives.
Many problems in life are related to a lack of self-control.
But self-control is only possible when we are under the Spirit’s control!
Many people feel their lives are out of control.
They are overwhelmed by pressures and circumstances.
Christians would be wise to seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit in order to possess the strength needed to develop self-control.
Although the Bible here in the King James Version translates this word egkrateia (en-krä'-tā-ä) into temperance, it literally means self-control.
But because of the context of the passage, I wonder if the translators had difficulty translating as “self-control” because that is the very antithesis of what this whole passage is about!
How can you speak of the Fruit of the Spirit, and say that I am in control.
No truly SELF-Control is an oxymoron.
No there is nothing about me that will gain God’s approval and acceptance.
To succeed in the Christian life, I must stop trying to control myself, and let the Spirit control me.
So even though many translations translate this word as Self-control, and even though I will often talk about self-control throughout this sermon…
Remember that, Zechariah 4:6 tells us, it’s “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
I. Temperance Explained
Temperance has two facets:
A. Discretion
Discretion is: “knowing when to do the right thing at the right time.”
This quality helps us to practice integrity at a crucial moment of choice.
In Proverbs 3 the father is talkin got the son about wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
He tells him...
B. Discipline
Successful athletes make choices to practice when no one else does.
(Larry Bird – 1,000 free throws after each game.)
It takes discipline to raise children consistently
A Cambridge professor named Coleridge was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving little children any religious instruction whatsoever.
His theory was that the child’s mind should not be prejudiced in any direction, but when he came to years of discretion he should be permitted to choose his religious opinions for himself.
Coleridge said nothing; but after a while he asked his visitor if he would like to see his garden.
The man said he would, and Coleridge took him out in the garden, where only weeds were growing.
The man looked at Coleridge in surprise, and said, “Why this is not a garden!
There is nothing but weeds here!”
“Well, you see,” answered Coleridge, “I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way, I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself and to choose its own production.”
As the Apostle Paul charged Timothy, he explained that it takes temperance to keep a church in the right direction.
II.
Temperance Experienced
A. A Disciplined Physical Life
1.
The flesh fights the Spirit.
Yes, the flesh fights the Spirit, but ...
2. The flesh is defeated through Calvary
B. A Disciplined Thought Life
The word imaginations in Greek is logismous, meaning, “thoughts or fantasies against the truth of Christ or the revealed will of God.”
III.
Temperance Exemplified
How can we develop temperance going forward?
A. Admit Your Weakness
B. Forget Your Past
When children learn to walk, they fall many times.
No one ever says to a child learning to walk, “Well he’s just not meant to be a walker!”
C. Believe God Can Bring Change
Your beliefs control your behavior.
D. Become Accountable
E. Avoid Temptation
In our flesh, we like to take the path of least resistance.
On the TV show “Hee Haw,” Doc Campbell is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places.
The doc replies, “Well then, stay out of them places!”
When you flee temptation, be sure you don’t leave a forwarding address.
– Unknown
If you don’t want rotten apples, stay out of the devil’s orchard.
– Unknown
It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.
– Benjamin Franklin
We should avoid the places and friends that are likely to draw us into temptation.
The word communications means “companionship.”
In other words, bad company corrupts good character.
F. Depend on God’s Power
Walking in the Spirit consists of not only trying but also trusting!
Conlusion
The secret to self-control is Christ’s control.
By walking in the Spirit’s control, we can experience temperance and exemplify it to those around us.
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