Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 12: The Fruit of Self-Control
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
Monday 5:00PM Bible Study
Tuesday Women’s at Lori’s 5:00PM
Men’s on Friday at the church 8:00PM
WHERE WE ARE AT
† Maturing in Christ
† Understanding in Christ
† Love of God
This Series: God’s Spiritual Fruit
Previously:
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of Love
The Fruit of Joy Part I
The Fruit of Peace
The Fruit of Long Suffering (patience)
The Fruit of Kindness
The Fruit of Goodness
The Fruit of Meekness
TODAY’S SERMON: Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 12: The Fruit of Self-Control
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 5:16-25
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Spiritual Fruit of Self-Control
Introduction: Spiritual Self-Control
1. Spiritual Fruits: Characteristics which come from God’s Holy Spirit that dwells within every follower of Christ.
We have to decide as followers of Christ if we are going to produce God’s character in our lives (Spiritual Fruits), or our character (fruits of the flesh).
2. Self-Control: Moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression, Restraint in the use of or abstinence from…abstinence.
I. YOU CAN NOT DO IT ALONE
a. Fruit of the Flesh
i. Fruit of the Flesh: Galatians 5:19-21 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
ii. Our Righteousness: Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
b. Achieved through Holy Spirit’s Presence
i. Righteousness by Faith: Romans 1:16-17 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
ii. Those who lack self-control: Romans 1:18-22 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
iii. So God allows them to sin: Romans 1:24-25 24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
II. WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL?
a. Moderation {defined} - quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes, the trait of avoiding excesses.
i. Drunkenness, gluttony, lust, money (greed), work (no rest)…
b. Self-restraint
i. Can only be achieved through the Holy Spirit of God
ii. Must practice submission to the Lord
iii. Submission begins with trust, trust begins with faith, faith begins with the Word
Romans 10:16-18
16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"[a] 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."[b]
You have heard, you who chose to sin, have no excuse.
III. HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL SELF-CONTROL
a. Follow Christ
i. Read the Word continually, every chance you get
ii. Make time for God
iii. Pray without ceasing
iv. Talk to God
v. When temptation arises, ask God for self-control
b. Submit to the Lord
IN YOUR THOUGHTS
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
IN YOUR HEART
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Psalm 101:4
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
IN YOUR WORDS
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
IN YOUR DEEDS
Romans 2:12-13
12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
James 1:21-22
21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
c. Practice
i. Submission
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2 Timothy 2:22
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
CLOSING
You cannot do it alone!
Submit to the Lord in Heart, mind, body and soul
To resist the temptations in life and live as one who is self-controlled, you MUST
a. Follow Christ
ii. Read the Word continually, every chance you get
iii. Make time for God
iv. Pray without ceasing
v. Talk to God
vi. When temptation arises, ask God for self-control
