Self-control

Common English Bible Chapter 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other.

intro

Self-control: I will honest the first thing I think about when it comes to self control is this - it is Halloween week and I don’t care who you are, if you there is candy in the house, it is tempting to go and grab a few pieces, right. Especially when the pieces of candy are small, right?

this is the lack of self control, right?

Self-control defined:

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐγκράτεια

restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires, self-control

self-control is one of the few characteristics of a godly person that are not directly attributed to God’s character, although it is listed in Galatians 5:23 as a fruit of the Spirit (see HOLY SPIRIT), which shows that it comes from God. Lack of self-control is the natural tendency for fallen human beings,

at look at the text:

what do we say:

Common English Bible Chapter 1

7 God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.

use this verse and the context:

Paul writing to Timothy - his son in the faith,. He was reminding him the the most important things he needs to remember and be.

it is in relationship - trying to help him be all that he was called and meant to be.

if you are moving forward with God’s spirit it is not one that is in timidity...

* Riff on God’s spirit - you see how God’s spirit is always the driver, the one that does the heavy lifting. I want you to ask yourself - is my life driven by the Holy Spirit or something less. That is the essentially the whole point of this series.

God’s spirit… are you connected..are you growing and moving forward or is something less happening?

If you don’t have a fruit or it is not growing year after year, then something is not as it should be

Acts/driven by timidity or fear

Fear has been been an eternal motivator of people. Fear in a biblical sense is the opposite of love. The spirit does not create timid or fearful people.

People driven by spirit does not spark or create fear in others

it acts in power (remember last week)

there is real power - strength under control

acts in love (remember first week)

Love

the greatest of things

acts in self -controlled way - what does that look like?

it is restraint

It is not going along with the natural tendencies. - I want that candy, I will eat just 1, 2, 3....

it is the opposite of going along with the flesh.

take aways

start here: where do you need to exercise self control

God help me

Show me

check me with your spirit

closing

Table building - vs. wall building: