9-A-Day - Week 10 (Self Control)

And so, all summer long we have been talking about the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

And, also all summer long, we have been praying for all of these, each and every day.

And today we are reaching the ninth and final fruit that Paul lists here.

Self control.

With the word that Paul originally used, this is a word that means power and mastery over one’s own self.

To have strength and control, over yourself.

And this is a word that calls back to what Paul wrote before he wrote about the fruit of the Spirit.

We looked at these words at the beginning of the series, but right before Paul writes about these fruit of the Spirit, he first writes about the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19–21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

These things show a lack of self control.

An uncontrolled way of living.

If we remember the idea of the “prodigal son”, and if we remember that the word “prodigal” doesn’t mean lost, it means wasteful and reckless.

These works of the flesh are wasteful and reckless.

“I’ll do what feels right when it feels right.”

“I don’t care how it affect those around me.”

“I don’t even care how it affects me tomorrow.”

“I’m only concerned with what gives me immediate satisfaction right now.”

A prodigal way to live.

An uncontrolled way to live.

And so, as Paul is completing his list of the Fruit of the Spirit, as Paul is coming to an end of the 9 different things we need to ask God for (and trust God for) each and every day, Paul writes that self control itself is a gift from God.

Not living wastefully, not being reckless and out of control, that is something that God gives us (that He grows within us).

Self control is the exact opposite of the works of the flesh.

It’s denying immediate gratification now, because of the belief that something better is coming if we don’t give in to every desire, every feeling, every “that looks good, I think I’ll take that for myself no matter who it hurts”.

Now, at many points throughout this series, we’ve talked about how each of these characteristics show up in the character of God (before Jesus showed up on the scene).

God is loving.

God is kind.

God is gentle.

And so on and so forth.

But, it’s been suggested by some scholars, that when it comes to self control, this is an exception to this pattern.

Because self control is when we have mastery over the sinful desires that try and tempt us away from God.

But God does not have to keep any evil desires at bay. He doesn’t have any sinful desires.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

So, at least to a certain extent, this is not a quality of God (at least not as it would have been recognized from a Jewish perspective before Jesus arrived on the scene).

But, of course, we do know that Jesus faced temptation.

Hebrews 4:14–16 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus was tempted to take easier paths throughout His earthly ministry.

Tempted to take shortcuts.

Tempted to avoid the cross.

But Jesus denied those temptations.

Jesus remained in control over those temptations.

Jesus demonstrated perfect self control.

A few chapters before this, Paul wrote these famous words:

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

For followers of Jesus, we learn to control ourselves by allowing God to control us.

By allowing Jesus to live in us, and through us.

By allowing His Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct us.

And we don’t become puppets, where we have no control and God just takes us anywhere He wants.

But we want to stop resisting His control, to stop fighting against where He wants to take us, and to show self control by allowing God to take control.

Peter also writes about this idea, starting one of his letters with these shocking words.

2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

Notice the past tense here.

“Has given us”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually feel like I already have everything I need.

I’m usually praying for things that I need, not thanking God that I don’t need to ask for anything.

So what is Peter talking about here?

What is the “everything” that God has already given us?

Peter continues:

2 Peter 1:5–8 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice the similar language here.

Peter writes that the “everything” we need, the “everything” that God has already given us, is Jesus.

And, because Jesus empowers us with His Spirit, He helps us “grow”.

The fruit of His Spirit grows, bigger and bigger, stronger and stronger, multiplying fruit, each and every day.

And self control is something that we grow.

It’s something that God grows in us.

To be clear, self control does not mean that we are unfeeling.

It does not mean that we do not care, and do not get fired up.

Rather, it was understood that self control actually meant that you were passionate about things, you did care and feel strongly about things, but you were in control over those passions.

You were the master of your emotions and feelings.

As Paul writes in a different letter:

Ephesians 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Notice, Paul doesn’t write “Don’t get angry”

“Don’t feel feelings”

It’s “don’t let your anger control you”

Don’t let your emotions control you.

Rather, you be in control of your emotions.

In preparing for this morning, I came across a quote, that said “Power is nothing without control.”

In my other life as a personal trainer, I’ve met people who have good levels of strength and flexibility.

Their bodies are able to move.

But, it’s not enough to have the range of motion, you also need to have control.

If my body is able to move in certain ways, but I’m not in control when it happens, then the movement doesn’t do me any good, it can actually hurt me.

There’s a big difference between being able to yank something heavy, and have it move (and also have my back be out of place for weeks), there’s a big difference between that and being able to move something slower, in control (both lifting and lowering, under control).

Uncontrolled power is unsafe.

And I’m willing to bet that all of us have something that get us fired up.

Something that gets our passions burning.

Something that makes us feel very powerful feelings.

And that’s not a bad thing.

But, when we are not in control of how we act (how we speak, how we think towards others) when we are feeling fired up, then that is not only a bad thing.

It’s a sinful thing.

It’s a sign that we are not allowing God to fill us and overflow through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Because when we are not in control, it is unsafe.

It’s unsafe for those around us.

It’s unsafe for us ourselves.

Sin and temptation convince us that it’s what’s best for us, but then spirals very quickly out of control.

And so Paul includes self control as a fruit of the Spirit, because he understands that the only one who can help us not fall into this downward spiral, is God.

We can’t do it ourselves.

We can’t find the strength within us, or work hard enough to be strong enough.

We need God’s help.

We need the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, to live within us, and grow down deep inside of us, to transform us from the inside out.

And as God does that, we not only gain His power, but we gain His power under His control.

When we think of an example of what it means to show self control, one good example is that of Joseph (with the technicoloured dreamcoat).

Because Joseph is mistreated, sold into slavery, and cast aside by his family.

He must have felt angry.

He must have felt heartbroken.

He must have felt all sorts of powerful and strong emotions.

Yet, those emotions don’t control him.

When he faces the temptation of his master’s wife, he demonstrates self control.

Even moreso, when his brothers appear before him, and all of those old emotions (anger, betrayal, heartbreak, and more) start rising up within him, he still demonstrates self control.

Joseph chooses to make very specific, intentional decisions with what he does and how he treats his brothers (even before they realize it was him).

At no point does it appear that Joseph is being led by his emotions, that he is making emotional decisions without thinking them through and is completely out of control.

On the contrary, Joseph appears to be very in control (even when faced with some very difficult circumstances).

On the other hand, we can look to king David, as an example of what it means to lack self control.

When it was time for him to lead his troops out into battle, David shows a lack of self control by choosing to stay home and let his troops lead themselves.

And, it’s during this time, that he sees one of his most loyal soldier’s wives, and wants her for himself.

And so he takes her.

A clear example of what it means to lack self control.

Do whatever feels right to you in the moment, no matter who it hurts.

David shows what it looks like to let your emotions control you, rather than being in control of them.

Think about any scandal you are aware of.

Think about any family or relationship that has fallen apart.

Chances are, at some point or another, these situations were negatively impacted by a lack of self control.

And again, the solution to this isn’t to try harder.

Be better.

Do more.

No! The solution is to get closer to Jesus.

To pray, each and every day, for Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit.

So that He can do what we cannot, and grow self control within us.

And so Paul brings everything full circle.

When he began listing the fruit of the Spirit, he began with love.

A quality that directs our thoughts and actions outward towards others.

And now he ends with self control.

A quality that directs our thoughts and actions inward towards ourselves.

For our own good, for the good of others, and for the good of our relationships with everyone around us.

This final fruit pulls everything together.

Because, without self control, I cannot be loving.

Without self control, I will not be joyful.

Without self control, I have no peace.

Without self control, I am not patient.

Without self control, I will not be kind.

Without self control, I cannot be good.

Without self control, I am not faithful.

And without self control, noone will describe me as gentle.

They all go together.

They all grow together.

They all shrivel up and wither together.

And the best thing we can do, the most essential thing we can do, is to pray.

To trust God to grow them.

To rely on Him.

To lean on His strength.

To ask for His power.

And to know that this is what He wants for us.

All 9 of these.

Each and every day.

Every day.

He will not say “no” when we ask Him for these.

That doesn’t mean they will come easily.

That doesn’t mean it will be effortless.

Sometimes, in order for fruit to grow, things need to be pruned off.

Sometimes, in order for plants to be healthy, they need to face the wind and rain and stand firm.

They need to not waver, but allow their roots to grow down deep and hold them to their firm foundation.

But God promises us this fruit.

When we follow Him, when we are filled with Him, when we are refilled (each and every day) with Him, this will be the result.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Close in prayer