FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - SELF CONTROL

Self-control is the ability to manage one's impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals—is what separates humans from the rest of the creation.

Why is self-control so hard? Desires and wants tend to outweigh needs. Apple even has an app called Self Control you can download to help you avoid distracting websites; it actually blocks certain websites and mail servers for a preset length of time. But is that self-control, the final fruit of the spirit? Why is self-control a big deal anyways? Solomon warns us in Proverbs 25:28 that, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Paul concludes the Fruit of the Spirit with self-control and when we have the Fruit of the Spirit, there is no law. When we live a life of self-control against it there is no law. Lack of self-control requires law to bring people back into alignment with the law giver.

Let us Pray!

Fruit of the Spirit #9: Self-Control

“gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”(Gal. 5:23)

Our guiding question today is, “Am I rising to God’s call to do what is right in His sight or giving in to my feelings and selfish desires?”

I. CONTROL OF OUR TIME

A. Reviewing our time—Life is short so we must utilize our time wisely.

Colossians 4:5-6 – Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Ephesians 5:15–17 – Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

II. CONTROL OF OUR TEMPER

A. Patience and anger— As Christians we must have control over our tempers and tongues.

Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Titus 2:2 – Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

B. Pragmatic advice—It is never ok to quickly become anger and give into anger.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

1 Peter 4:7 – The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Matthew 5:22 – But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

2 John 1:8 – Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

D. Practical attention—Christians, if allowing the Holy Spirit to direct and guide their lives should be quick to hear but then slow to speak and slow to anger.

James 1:19-20 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

2 Peter 1:5-6 – For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

III. CONTROL OF TALENTS—Matthew 25:15–30

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

A. Reason for talent—v. 15. God expects us to invest and use our talents for His Kingdom

Romans 12:6 – Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

B. Rules with the talent—vv. 16–18. Invest use them and increase their value. The first was given five talents and increased to ten, the second was given two and increased increased to four, and the last one was given one talent and he hid it in the ground and did not use it at all

1 Peter 4:10 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Romans 12:4 – For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

C. Rewards for talents—vv. 19–23. God always rewards the faithfulness of his children.

Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

D. Rebuke for not using talent—vv. 24–30. If our talents are not used, we will have to give an account for wasting them, not using them.

Luke 12:48 – But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

IV. CONTROL OF THE TONGUE

A. Slandering tongue—A sharp tongue, divisive and mean can destroy others.