Fruit of the Spirit
Part 11 – Self-Control
Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Christ set us Free
2. Walking in the Spirit
3. Love
4. Joy
5. Peace
6. Patience
7. Kindness
8. Goodness
9. Faithfulness
10. Gentleness
11. Self-Control
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. October 1st, 2023
This week we will finish our series looking at the Fruits of the Spirit, covering some of the characteristics of God we can have in our lives when we submit to the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5 tells us the following;
· Christ set us free
· Therefore we must stand firm and not return to the yoke of slavery
o Bondage to our flesh and its sins
· Anyone returning to the flesh has V4 “fallen from Grace!”
o Paul speaks of the Grace of God received through Christ Jesus
o The Grace that set us free from the bondage to our flesh and sin (Titus 2:11-14)
· A little leaven (sin) makes the whole leaven (sinful)
· We are called to freedom, but do not turn freedom into an opportunity for the flesh
· If we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desire of the flesh
o The flesh and Spirit are at opposition to one another
o Jesus said you cannot serve two masters
o You can only serve God through the Spirit or Flesh through sin
· If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law
o The law only brings condemnation not salvation (Romans 4:13-17)
o If we live by our flesh, we will be judged by the Law
o If we live by the Spirit, we are free from the Law and condemnation
· The desires of the flesh are evident (plain to see and easy understand)
o Sexual immorality
o Impurity
o Sensuality (promiscuous)
o Idolatry
o Enmities (hate and hostility)
o Strife (fighting and conflict)
o Jealousy
o Outbursts of anger
o Selfish ambition
o Dissensions (opposition and disagreements)
o Factions (division and cliques)
o Envying
o Drunkenness
o Carousing (overindulgence in one's appetites excessively, gluttony/drunkenness)
Paul states in V21b “…things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul wants us to understand if we return to the yoke of our flesh and its desires, we “fall from grace,” which is the saving Grace of God through Christ Jesus we receive when we keep in step with the Spirit.
He defines the fruit of the flesh from the yoke of its bondage and desire which destroys our relationship with God completely, and cuts us off from the kingdom of God.
He then describes what walking in the Spirit looks like by talking about its fruit.
Love – seeking the highest good of others.
Joy – based on our hope in Jesus and not our circumstances.
Peace – contentment in all situations.
Patience – with others taking in to consideration their level of understanding about God. (their spiritual maturity)
Kindness – showing mercy to others, especially the lost.
Goodness – being generous and open hearted.
Faithfulness – being dependable, loyal and full of trust.
Gentleness – Humble, non-threatening
Today’s Topic: the Spiritual Fruit – SELF-CONTROL
Paul closes Galatians 5 with; “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.”
SCRIPTURE READING (Legacy Standard Bible)
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.”
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. SELF-CONTROL / SELF-DISCIPLINE
a. Biblically defined
i. It is the ability to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions. (Flesh)
ii. How would you like to control your thoughts, emotions and actions? You can!
b. How we obtain it
i. If you are a Christian, you already have it!
ii. It is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit
iii. As long as we resist the desires of the flesh and follow God’s Holy Spirit, submitting to it, it will produce the Fruit of Self-Control/Discipline in our lives
c. How we can lose it
i. There are many factors that can contribute to a loss of self-control.
1. For some people, it may be caused by stress, tiredness, or hunger.
2. Others may simply have never learned how to effectively manage their impulses and emotions.
ii. What can prevent the Spiritual Fruit of Self-Control / Discipline;
1. Returning to the yoke of slavery (falling from Grace V4)
2. Quenching the Holy Spirit by
a. Relying on anything other than the Holy Spirit
b. Diminish the person of the Holy Spirit
c. Suppress or legislate against the Holy Spirit
d. When we rebel against God
e. When we follow worldly/fleshly desires
II. SCRIPTURES ABOUT LIVING A SELF-CONTROLLED LIFE
a. Remember, it is a gift from God and His Holy Spirit!
i. We only need to submit to the Lord
ii. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
iii. 2 Peter 1:4b-7 “…He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
b. Allowing it to manifest in your life
i. Sometimes we may feel we have lost self-control/discipline
ii. People who struggle with self-control often have feelings of hopelessness and despair. It can lead to harmful behaviors like substance abuse, overeating, gambling, and even violence. It can also damage personal relationships and hinder career advancement.
c. Practice submitting to God’s Holy Spirit
i. It’s really about trust
ii. The Bible tells us that we can have self-control by trusting and depending on God (Proverbs 3:5-6), being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and walking in love (Galatians 5:13-14).
iii. When we practice self-control, we are living in obedience to God’s Word. This pleases God and brings about His blessing in our lives (Luke 11:28: James 1:25).
III. WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT CONTROLLING DESIRES OF THE FLESH
a. Self-Control / Discipline for Anger
i. Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not be eager in your spirit to be vexed (provoking anger/wrath), For vexation rests in the bosom of fools.”
ii. Proverbs 16:32 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.”
iii. Proverbs 29:11 “A fool lets out all of his spirit, But a wise man holds it back.”
iv. James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
b. Self-Control / Discipline for Sexual Desire
i. Flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
ii. Each man should have his own wife, not depriving one another, so Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
iii. Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22)
c. Self-Control / Discipline for Resisting Temptation
i. Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city that is broken into and without a wall Is a man without restraint over his spirit.”
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Too many people say, “God will not give you more than you can handle.”
This is both theologically false, and a misquote, cherry-picked verse, using part of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able…”
What it says is, when you are tempted beyond what you’re able, God will provide the way of escape…which you MUST TAKE, SO THAT you will be able to endure it.
Which is why there are so many verses saying “flee,” because you must escape, else you may give in to temptation. Take the Way Out God provides when you are tempted beyond what you can handle!
CONCLUSION
As Christians,
You already have Self-Control/ Discipline!
Practice trusting God (submitting to His Holy Spirit)
Live it in your life, it becomes easier over time
Self-Control / Discipline is like any other discipline…
Chemistry is the most difficult degree to obtain in the United States. The average GPA of college students is 2.77 with students studying an average of 18 hours per week.
Do you believe there is a correlation between study of a discipline and success of that discipline?
How many hours a week do you spend in the Word of God?
If you wish to be a strong Christian with a solid understanding of God’s Word, and the ability to live it in your life as we are called to do, you MUST be in the Word!
With today's technology, and access to bible tools, there is no reason you cannot read your bible daily, listen to biblical sermons, watch seminars about the bible, the Hebrew language, scripture, or even listening to topical preaching or teaching on subject matters.
Biblical and Hebrew Scholar Dr. Michael S. Heiser
Master of Philosophy and Scholar Chad Bird
Scholar of Philosophy Dr. William Lane Craig
Master of Apologetics Dr. Frank Turek
There are numerous great resources in books and online. Too many for you to NOT find something to help you grow.
Don’t settle as a C+ Christian…you were called to be much more than that.
Submission to the Holy Spirit is the Beginning of Spiritual Maturity
Filling your head with God’s Holy Word is the completion
Next week:
The Whole Armor of God Part 1: INTRODUCTION
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