Today we close with - Self Control.
As we have been taking a look at the the fruit of the Spirit, I pray you are learning that it is the working of the Holy Spirit in us that brings about change in our heart, mind, spirit and in our over all character.
Philippians 2:13 says that "it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
If we are honest, we all know we struggle with self-control.
I know some who read this will say, "I love to care for others, or I am patient." It would be arrogant for me to say that only Christians can be moral, kind and loving.
So then why do we need the Holy Spirit and His fruit if I can be good on my own?
If left to ourselves with no God - than love is subjective, kindness is subjective, and self-control is only something that is felt and can be displayed or put into practice "if" we choose to use it.
If left to God, than love is objective and is grounded in something or Someone who is the substance of goodness and morality that is the standard and is unchanging.
What do I mean by this?
If God does not exist than moral goodness is based on whatever you are feeling in the moment or what culture may say at that time. At one time it was thought to be good and ok to do away with an entire people group of Jews.
If God does exist than morality and goodness comes from a Being - The God of Christianity, "maker of heaven and earth"- who is the source of those attributes, love, joy, peace, patience, etc. is not based on condition, culture, or feelings. They are based on a foundation of truth that there is a God who is source of morality and the Holy Spirit, who is a part of the Godhead, is the life source who enables us as followers of Jesus to live a life that pleases the Lord and empowers us to love with His love when it's hard, to treat others with His kindness when we don't feel like it, and help us to control our thoughts, words, actions and emotions since we are not naturally inclined to display self-control easily.
As anyone reading this knows, holding back strong emotions can be challenging if not impossible when faced with irritation, deep hurt, and anger. Often times when we are holding these emotions, we can feel justified, and can even be justified in feeling those emotions based on what things have occurred in your life. But how we handle those emotions will have a great impact on your life as well as those around you depending on what you do with them.
Emotions can be like a match - once struck it ignites and flares up instantly - and if applied can start a fire that can bring great destruction to everything and everyone in its reach and beyond.
Self-control is crucial in living not only a moral life, but a Christ honoring life.
Let's take a quick look at James 3 and the example of "Taming the Tongue."
"We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
Let's read that last part again... "the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
See how beautiful God's reasoning is for why we must turn to Him for help - His desire and ability to help grow in us His character of self-control is so wise and good. Self-control when applied, can bring peace.
When reading James we can see and feel the destructive impact that can come when our emotions, thoughts and words are not reined in and we are left to our own emotions and desires.
The Holy Spirit is the bit and reins that helps us navigate and rein in our emotions and sinful desires when tempted.
Self-control is not just about emotions and temper, self-control applies to many areas of our lives like being tempted as well.
Romans 7 tells us about a waging war happening within us -
"15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
We all have a sin nature that we are born with and no matter how "good and moral" we desire to be, we have to be honest with ourselves,
"...I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."
"Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me."
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Left to ourselves, no matter how hard we try, we can only muster up so much will and strength to control our emotions and resist temptation - it is clear that we all need the working of the Holy Spirit to first and foremost bring us unto salvation through and in Jesus Christ as we repent and put our faith in the finished work of Jesus' death and resurrection,.
Secondly, to allow Him to grow and mature in us His fruit that we might find true freedom in Jesus and love others as He loves us.