The Fruit of the Spirit: “Self-Control”

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

So far we have looked at love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. We have two more characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit left, gentleness and self-control. Today we are examining… GENTLENESS.

Key truths to keep in mind as we study the Fruit of the Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit is the source of the Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “…the fruit OF THE SPIRIT……

It is not the fruit of the Christian, it is the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces it in us and His power also gives us the ability to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives

2. There is only one Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “But the FRUIT…”

It is a singular in the English and the Greek. It is a singular fruit with 9 distinct aspects: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control…”

We can’t pick and choose.

They all require the others. You can’t have one without the rest.

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 (NASB)

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and 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.

The Example Factor.

6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Escape Factor.

13 …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…

The Endurance Factor.

13 …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.