Self-Control

 

What is self-control?

Self-control is exactly what it sounds like: control over the self.

For Christians, however, self-control is not merely about temperament. It is about resisting the temptation to break God’s law (which includes losing our temper) and react to others without demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in our thoughts and actions.

The apostle Paul wrote about bringing “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Since thoughts lead to actions, this includes controlling ourselves completely, despite the pulls of temptations.

Romans 7:23 describes it in this way: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Paul is describing this pull of human nature that makes us think it is “natural” to sin.

We have to remember that the “natural” is part of this world, temporarily run by Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Therefore, as godly Christians, we recognize that self-control includes abstaining from the evils of the world.

Notice 1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

What is self-control as a fruit of the Spirit? It is the active effort we put forth to resist the temptation to go back to the ways of the world around us once we’ve been shown God’s spiritual way of life.What is self-control as a fruit of the Spirit? It is the active effort we put forth to resist the temptation to go back to the ways of the world around us once we’ve been shown God’s spiritual way of life. It is demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit instead of committing the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23).

Why does God want us to demonstrate self-control?

The reason God wants us to grow in self-control ties in with all the other fruit of the Spirit that are listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

We are in a battle. As we read in 1 John 2:16, “All that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

That is Satan’s idea for the world, as we see in John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

God’s idea for the world, on the other hand, includes having everyone demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

So where does self-control come in? Everywhere.

Fruit of the Spirit Bible study

Why is self-control last in the fruit of the Spirit? Perhaps it’s because self-control ties in with each of the fruit of the Spirit:

1. It takes self-control to show true godly love instead of lust and infatuation—to love others not as the world loves, but as Christ loved us. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2, emphasis added throughout).
2. It takes self-control to have godly joy when we are facing a difficult situation in life. “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
3. It takes self-control to get along with others and make peace instead of constantly getting into conflict. “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
4. It takes self-control to patiently bear with others rather than quickly condemning them. It’s very hard to “be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
5. It takes self-control to not automatically look out only for yourself but kindly look out for other people (Philippians 2:4).
6. It takes self-control to do good, to go through the narrow gate toward life rather than the evil, wide gate toward destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
7. It takes self-control to be faithful and not have our faith shattered by the mocking of scoffers (2 Peter 3:3-4).
8. It takes self-control to be a gentle servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:24), showing compassion and mercy with real love as God does with us.

Self-control examples to follow

In the articles on the other fruit of the Spirit, various biblical figures have been highlighted as examples to follow.

There are a number of good examples of self-control in the Bible as well, such as Joseph (Genesis 39:7-12), Jonadab the son of Rechab and his descendants (Jeremiah 35:6) and Paul (1 Corinthians 9:27).

But knowing that Jesus Christ is the perfect example to follow for all of the fruit of the Spirit, it is fitting to use Him as the example for the final one of the list: self-control.

Self-control of Jesus

The story of Jesus Christ is found mainly throughout the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) but is also illustrated throughout the entire Bible because He was the Creator who then came to earth in the flesh (John 1:1-4, 14).

We look to His experiences and actions as a human being and then try to model our lives after Him. Jesus Christ’s time as a human being defines self-control.

In order to pay the penalty for our sins, Jesus had to live a sinless life. This required constant self-control with the help of God. Even in the face of blatant temptation by the devil, who offered Him the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, Jesus Christ remained in control (Luke 4:1-13).

Jesus Christ also needed amazing self-control to allow God’s will to happen in the perfect way it had been planned. For example, Christ had to refrain from calling for legions of angels to save Him from torture and death (Matthew 26:53-54). Also, He had to refrain from disagreeing with God’s will (Matthew 26:39), looking to the spiritual rather than just the physical.

As with all the fruit of the Spirit, Jesus Christ is the only perfect example to follow in demonstrating self-control. Without His self-control, we would all still be under the death penalty for our sins.

Lack of self-control: An example to avoid

Where does the attitude that is the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit come from? Just as Jesus Christ is the perfect example of self-control and the other fruit of the Spirit, Satan the devil is the perfect example of loss of control and the other works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

The transformation of Lucifer the angel to Satan the devil (found in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19) is a cautionary tale of loss of self-control. When sinful, violent and prideful thoughts entered Lucifer’s mind, his reaction was to allow them to turn into a rebellious spirit.

Earlier we saw that the Bible refers to Satan as a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), so it is interesting to see what God said to Cain, the first human murderer, about control: “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:6-7).

Like Cain, who, after hearing those words, went out and killed his brother, Satan did not rule over (or control) the thoughts that led to his rebellion.

Revelation 12:9 says that Satan “deceives the whole world.” It’s safe to say he wants humans to love the world and its carnality, especially losing self-control—the thing that stops us from committing the works of the flesh and keeps us demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit.

Self-control questionnaire

1. Have I lost control to dangerous emotions or a damaging sin? How do I know?
2. Why do I have difficulties restraining myself from what I know isn’t good for me?
3. Do others describe me as calm and collected or erratic and uncontrolled? Why?
4. Is my first reaction to something a fruit of the Spirit or a loss of control? Why?

How to improve self-control

We’ve seen that the need to demonstrate self-control is critical. But how do we make the necessary changes and demonstrate more of it?

• Keep track, either in a journal or chart, of various reactions you experienced during the week and categorize them as either demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit with self-control or a work of the flesh with loss of control. Examine the causes and the thinking that led up to the reaction.
• When presented with a stressful situation, have a phrase or prayer ready in your mind to help you focus on staying in control and looking to the fruit of the Spirit instead of a natural, knee-jerk reaction. (For example, if someone tends to irritate you at work, think to yourself, “God wants me to rule over this”—before you lose control and insult them.)
• Pray daily for God to give you more of His Spirit, including the self-control to demonstrate that fruit and avoid temptation. The more we pray, study, meditate and fast to draw closer to God (the source of the Holy Spirit), the more we will have the control to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. Set goals to expand the quantity and quality of these tools in your life.

As mentioned in the first article in this series, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is how Christians show God’s character and gospel message in their thoughts and actions. We are to be walking billboards for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. May we all grow in demonstrating and living by the fruit of the Spirit!

Verses about self-control

There are a number of other Bible passages that also discuss the importance and benefits of self-control. Here are a few more verses about self-control:

• Acts 24:25: “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’” Though Paul was a prisoner, he in essence preached a sermon on self-control to the Roman governor, Felix.
• 1 Corinthians 9:25: “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [margin, exercises self-control] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” Paul compares the Christian life to an athletic contest; both require diligent training and self-control.
• 2 Timothy 3:3: “Unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.” Paul lists lack of self-control as one of the symptoms of the sick and perilous end-time society.
• Titus 1:7-8: “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled.” Paul includes self-control as a qualification for the ministry.
• 2 Peter 1:6: “To knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness.” Peter includes self-control midway through a list of attributes that a Christian must grow in.

• Self-Control Identified

  Biblical Definitions

  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

  It is God’s plan that, beginning with salvation, the believer will be led to a self-controlled life. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11–12). Self-control as the fruit of the Spirit is the self-denial of evil desires or pleasures. Self-control stands in contrast with the last two “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:21)—drunkenness and orgies—which refer to excessive indulgence in an activity.

  The original word translated “self-control” is enkrateia, which appears in its noun form in only three passages: Galatians 5:22, Acts 24:25, and 2 Peter 1:6. In Galatians 5:22 it is used to name the last of the ninefold fruit of the Spirit. In Acts 24:25 Paul employed the term as he talked to Felix about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” In 2 Peter 1:5–6 the word is used in the list of graces: “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control.”

  The basic idea of enkrateia is that of strength, power, or mastery over self. It is self-rule. This is what we should do: rule ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Self-control as the fruit of the Spirit is self-discipline.

  The verb form related to self-control is enkrateuomai, which is used in 1 Corinthians 9:25 to describe the strict training and discipline of athletes who are striving to win the prize. The analogies of the athlete and the soldier are often present in Paul’s writings. They both evidently speak of self-discipline, which is essential in sports and military activities. Paul encourages the Corinthians to “run in such a way as to get the prize” (v. 24). He goes on to say, “I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (vs. 26–27). Paul is not speaking here of inflicting his body with lashes from a rod,; he is speaking of keeping his body in subjection, controlling desires that are not pleasing to God.

  The athlete who works hard to train his body only when his coach is watching will never win the prize. The driver who obeys the traffic signal only when a policeman is nearby is not practicing self-control. The worker who slows down on the job when the foreman is absent is not self-disciplined. All of these demonstrate an outward appearance of conforming to the expectations of another without any real change taking place on the inside.

  The verb form enkrateuomai is also used in 1 Corinthians 7:9 in reference to the Christian’s mastery over sexual desires: “But if they [the unmarried] cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” In our last lesson we learned that praotes (gentleness) included the idea of self-control in the area of anger: being angry at the right times, and not being angry at the wrong times. Enkrateia refers more to control of more sensual passions than anger, such as mastery over sexual desires or moderation in eating and drinking. In other words, self-control is mastery over the desires of the self.

  Secular Definitions

  Plato called enkrateia “self-mastery”—a person’s mastery over his desires and his love of pleasure. He also said it is the opposite of over-indulgence in food and sex. One Bible scholar warns that carrying this too far leads to asceticism, which is the abstaining from meat, wine, and marriage. He suggests that asceticism is a departure from the New Testament standard of self-control. We will discuss this concept more later in the lesson.

  Aristotle describes the self-controlled person as one who has powerful passions but keeps them under control. He sees the person who lacks self-control as not deliberately choosing to do that which is wrong, but as having no strength to resist temptation.

  In secular Greek the term enkrateia is used to describe the virtue of an emperor who never allows his personal interests to influence his governing of the people.

  The Secret to Self-Control

  In Ephesians 5:18 the apostle Paul makes a contrast between getting drunk on wine and being filled with the Holy Spirit:

  “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Lack of self-control leads to excesses, to an emphasis on satisfying the sinful desires of the flesh. The best antidote is to be filled with the Spirit. The person who is filled with the Spirit is under the Spirit’s control, and he has help in gaining mastery over his weakness. The apostle Paul explains how this works:

  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace, because the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. (Romans 8:5–9)

  Can you see a similarity between Paul’s explanation and the words of Jesus in John 3:6, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit?” Without the help of the Holy Spirit our natural tendencies are to give in to our sinful desires. But when we are born of the Spirit, the new nature within us causes us to want what the Spirit wants for us. Even so, we find the need stressed by the apostle to keep being filled with the Spirit so that we put to death daily sinful desires and thus fulfill the Spirit’s desires.

  Self-Control Described

  A Balanced Life

  The principle of balance is one of the natural laws of the universe. God’s perfect control of nature is mentioned in the book of Job: “Stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised?” (Job 37:14–16).

  Balance is also the subject of Ecclesiastes 3:1–8. The author says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (v. 1). God desires that Christians have balanced lives. This includes spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional balance. For example, the apostle Paul wrote chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 1 Corinthians to stress the importance of balance in the church in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit, and to emphasize the need for the gifts to be balanced by love. In the Corinthian church there were abuses in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit. But in the church at Thessalonica there was too much control, which also caused imbalance. These believers were hindering the Spirit’s working and even despising the gifts of the Spirit, mainly the most cherished one—prophecy (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19–20). These two examples illustrate the need for balance in every area of our lives.

  All of the human powers God has given to us, such as the capacity to reason, to feel, and to exercise our will, have the possibility of being abused. That is why we need the Holy Spirit’s help to learn self-control so that there will be balance in our lives in the exercise of these powerful forces.

  A balanced life is a life of temperance or moderation. As we mentioned earlier, this does not mean asceticism, which is total abstention from such things as meat, wine, or marriage. In 1 Timothy 4:3–4 the apostle Paul warns Timothy not to listen to the teachings of hypocritical liars who teach asceticism:

  They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

  Certainly there are things from which the Christian must totally abstain. These are the acts of the sinful nature which we listed in Lesson 1 (see Galatians 5:19–21, Romans 1:29–31, Romans 3:12–18, and Mark 7:22–23). But God has created many good things for us to enjoy in moderation, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the limitations given in the Word of God. Look at what the Bible says about self-control in specific areas of our lives.

  1. Control of the tongue. Self-control begins with the tongue. James 3:2 tells us, “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” James goes on to describe how difficult it is for us to control our tongue.

  The person who truly desires to have the fruit of self-control must start by allowing the Holy Spirit to control his tongue. The tongue which is under the control of the Holy Spirit cannot at the same time praise its Lord and Father and curse people, who have been made in God’s likeness.

  2. Control of sexual desire. The physical union of a husband and wife is honorable and blessed of God. In 1 Corinthians 7 the apostle Paul gives instruction for the proper control of sexual desire within marriage. He goes on to say that if the unmarried and widows “cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (vv. 8–9). The word control is translated from enkrateuomai, the same verb used for self-control as the fruit of the Spirit. People willing to remain unmarried need the “enkrateuomai” of the Holy Spirit to control normal sexual desires. The importance of this control is made clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7:

  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

  3. Moderation in daily habits. In 1 Corinthians 6:12–20 the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of honoring God with your body. Not only is he speaking about sexual immorality in this passage, but also about any other practice which would dishonor your body and thus dishonor God. Paul writes, “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”— but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both” (vs. 12–13).

  Gluttony and drunkenness are sinful habits of self indulgence which we are warned against in Scripture: “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor” (Proverbs 23:20–21). How can we condemn someone for drunkenness when we eat excessive amounts of food and do harm to our bodies by overweight? Many of us need the help of the Holy Spirit to learn self-control or moderation in our eating habits.

  4. Moderation in the use of time. Probably the greatest example of self-indulgence in the Bible is the rich fool who said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). Jesus stressed the importance of using our time wisely in his discourse on watchfulness (Luke 12:35–48). A balanced life will give the right amount of time to work, to Bible study and prayer, to rest and leisure. The man who is so devoted to his work that he neglects his family has not learned the proper control of his time. The person who is lazy or who wastes his time in worthless activities does not have self-control. The apostle Paul exhorts us, “Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled” (1 Thessalonians 5:6–8).
  5. Self-control of the mind. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14). “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). These two Scripture verses tell us how to control our minds—don’t think about evil things, and do think about good things. Today there are many attractions that can take our minds off our responsibilities to God. What you read, watch, listen to, or expose yourself to will affect your mind. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to keep our thoughts on what pleases Him.

  A Holy Life

  More than anything else, God wants you to be holy! This is emphasized many times in Scripture:

  I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:45).

  Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us . . . to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days (Luke 1:68–69, 74–75).

  Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

  Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

  The Holy Spirit is the power who perfects holiness in us and makes Christ a living reality in our lives. He does this by producing in us the fruit of self-control. He shows that there can be no mixture between darkness and light (evil and good). He creates in us the desire to separate ourselves from the sinful world and to live in a way that is pleasing to God.

  We mentioned earlier in this lesson that self-control for a Christian is really Spirit-control. That is what the apostle Paul was talking about in Romans 8:8–10:

  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness [holiness].

  Thus, self-control as the fruit of the Spirit counteracts all the works of the sinful nature. Once you are saved and the Holy Spirit indwells your life, you are no longer under bondage to the sinful nature. However, throughout your earthly life you will need to exercise disciplined control over fleshly desires. The flesh (sinful nature) will do everything it can to regain control of your life. But as you surrender control to the Holy Spirit, He keeps the flesh from having power over you. This makes effective self-control possible.

  To be holy means to be Christlike. The characteristics which are called the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 are the characteristics of Christ which are produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we submit ourselves to His control. Self-control is the characteristic which makes it possible for us to separate ourselves from the world and unto God. It is the process by which holiness is perfected in us.

  Self-Control Illustrated

  The Example of Jesus

  The Bible tells us that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). This is a perfect example of self-control under the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at Luke’s account of the devil’s temptation of Jesus. We note these things in Luke 4:1–13:

  1. At the time Jesus was tempted, He was full of the Holy Spirit.
  2. The devil looked for an area of weakness in Jesus. Knowing that He had fasted for forty days, Satan knew that Jesus was hungry. So the temptation came with the suggestion of food.
  3. Jesus did not allow His mind to dwell on His desire for food, but He drew upon His knowledge of Scripture to ward off the temptation of His enemy.
  4. As the devil continued to tempt Him, Jesus responded by reminding the devil of what God’s Word instructed.
  5. After the devil had finished all this tempting, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

  You will note in this example that the man Jesus did not try to rely on His human powers of resistance to ward off the devil. He was full of the Holy Spirit, acting in the power of the Spirit. You will also note that He controlled His thoughts by keeping His mind on the Word of God. Nothing the devil could say or do to entice Him had any effect. Jesus had complete self control by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  The Requirement for Leaders

  One of the important requirements for leadership in the New Testament church was self-control, as revealed by these Scripture passages:

1. 1 Timothy 3:1–2—The overseer or bishop is to be temperate, self-controlled.
2. 1 Timothy 3:8—Deacons are not to indulge in much wine.
3. 1 Timothy 3:11—The deacon’s wife is to be temperate.
4. Titus 1:7–8—Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be. . . self-controlled, holy and disciplined.
5. Titus 2:2, 6—The older men must be taught to be temperate—the younger men should be encouraged to be temperate.
6. Titus 2:3–5—The older women must be self-controlled so they can teach the younger women to be self-controlled.

• I. Self-control and God

  First, we want to see what the Bible tells us about self-control and God. We have seen that with each of the fruit of the Spirit, we always begin with God because the fruit of the Spirit are rooted in his character. Remember, God is the root, and we bear the fruit. And so, what does the Bible tells us about self-control and God?

     A. God is sovereign and in control of all things
        – Ephesians 1:11; Philippians 3:20-21

  Well, first of all the Bible tells us that God is sovereign and in control of all things. God doesn’t actually need self-control the way we do because he is already in control. Ephesians 1:11 speaks of God as: “… him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11) Philippians 3 speaks of: “… the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

  So, just as God is a God of perfect love, joy, peace and all the rest of the fruit of the Spirit, God is also a God of perfect self-control. He is purposeful in all that he does, and he is never out of control. He is perfect in holiness and righteousness. He is perfectly consistent and holds true to himself in all things. God is completely sovereign over all his creation, and he is in control of all things.

     B. God’s wrath is his controlled and righteous anger against sin
        – Psalm 7:11; Romans 1:18, 2:5, 9:22

  Sometimes people wonder about God’s wrath and self-control. Does God’s wrath against sin mean that he is not in control of his anger? Absolutely not! God’s wrath is his controlled and righteous anger against sin.

  Psalm 7:11 says: “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.” (Psalm 7:11) Romans 1:18 says: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (Romans 1:18) God is a righteous judge who displays his wrath against sin every day. God’s wrath against sin is never impulsive, capricious or overblown but rather always perfectly controlled and in exact proportion to the sin.

  But God is also patient with us as sinners, and he does not pour out all his wrath at once. We read in Romans 2:5: “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5) Romans 9:22 says: “What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction?” (Romans 9:22) God is patient with sinners. He does not bring final judgment right away but gives us time to repent and turn away from our sins. God’s wrath is his controlled and righteous anger against sin.

     C. Jesus demonstrated perfect self-control in his life
        – Hebrews 4:15 (ex. desert; temple; garden; arrest; trial; cross)

  And then, as with all the fruit of the Spirit, we also want to look at Jesus and see how he demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit in his life. Remember the fruit of the Spirit is a picture of Jesus who perfectly reflects the character of God. And when we look at Jesus, we see that Jesus as the Son of God demonstrated perfect self-control in his life here on earth.

  We read in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, yet he was without sin. That means in all the trials and temptations of life, Jesus exercised perfect self-control.

  We see examples of Jesus’ self-control in resisting the temptations of Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11), in driving out the money changers from the temple (Matthew 21:12-13), in the Garden of Gethsemane when he chose God’s will over his own (Matthew 26:36-46), at his arrest when he could have called on legions of angels to rescue him but did not (Matthew 26:52-54), at his trial when he could have spoken in his own defense but chose to remain silent (Matthew 26:62-63), and on the cross when he chose to forgive those who were crucifying him (Luke 23:34). In everything that Jesus did, he demonstrated perfect self-control in his life.

  II. Self-control, temptation and desire

  So, we have seen what the Bible tells us about self-control and God. Next, we want to see what the Bible tells us about self-control, temptation and desire. We have already seen that self-control has to do with your desires. “I will grow in self-control as I allow the Spirit to subdue my desires.” Well, the Bible tells us that temptation has to do with your desires as well.

     A. Temptation attacks you through your old sinful desires
        – James 1:13-15

  In fact, that’s the whole way temptation works. Temptation attacks you through your old sinful desires. We read in James 1:13-15: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15) The whole reason temptation works is because of your old, sinful desires. God is not tempted by sin, nor does he tempt anyone else, because he does not have any sinful desires. If you didn’t have sinful desires, you wouldn’t be tempted either.

     B. The Holy Spirit gives you new and right desires
        – Galatians 5:16-18

  The good news is that when you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit gives you new and right desires. We read in Galatians 5:16-18: “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)

  When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you, and the Spirit gives you new and right desires. You are a new creation in Christ, and you have been given these new and right desires through the Spirit, but you still have to deal with your old sin nature. And so, there is this constant spiritual tug-of-war going on inside you between what the Spirit desires and what your old sinful nature desires. And without self-control, temptation wins every time.

     C. Part of self-control is setting your mind on what the Spirit desires
        – Romans 8:5-7

  A big part of self-control is simply setting your mind on what the Spirit desires rather than what your old sinful nature desires. We read in Romans 8:5-7: “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-7)

  Did you notice the repetition of the word “controlled” in those verses? Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God, while the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. When you set your mind on what the sinful nature desires, you lose every time. But when you set your mind on what the Spirit desires, you live in accordance with the Spirit. “I will grow in self-control as I allow the Spirit to subdue my desires.”

  III. Growing in self-control

  So, we have looked at self-control and God. We have looked at self-control and temptation. Finally, we want to see what the Bible tells us about growing in self-control. As Christians, how can we grow in this final fruit of the Spirit?

     A. Practice self-discipline
        – Proverbs 25:28; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Peter 1:5-6

  One way to grow in self-control is to practice self-discipline. Proverbs 25:28 says: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28) Without self-control, you are a sitting duck for the enemy and open to attack, and so you need to practice self-discipline regularly in your life.

  Self-discipline in one area of your life leads to discipline in other areas as well. The apostle Paul knew this, which is why he made it a priority to practice self-discipline in his life. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) If you want to develop self-control in your life, you need to go into strict training. Paul did not want to be disqualified, and so he practiced self-discipline regularly in all areas of his life.

  2 Peter 1:5-6 says: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control.” (2 Peter 1:5-6) All self-discipline in life is important, but maintaining the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible reading and regular church attendance are especially important when it comes to growing in self-control. That’s the first way you can grow in self-control – practice self-discipline.

     B. Beware of addictions
        – John 8:32; Galatians 5:1

  Another way to grow in self-control is to beware of addictions. People suffer addictions in so many areas of life, whether food, alcohol, drugs or sex. Jesus said in John 8:32 that when you hold to his teaching: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Galatians 5:1 reminds us: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

  The bottom line is that God wants you to be free. So, watch out for anything that can become an addiction or snare in your life. Hold fast to the truth of Christ, and the truth will set you free.

     C. Don’t give in to anger or fear
        – James 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 1:7

  A third way to grow in self-control is not to give in to anger or fear. James 1:19-20 says: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” (James 1:19-20) We talked about being slow to anger several weeks ago when we looked at the fruit of patience. Being slow to anger is also a part of the fruit of self-control. Just as God’s wrath is his controlled anger against sin, so we need to be in control of our tempers. God is slow to anger, and we should be slow to anger as well.

  We also need to be careful not to give in to fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
  It takes courage and self-control to keep going and do the right thing even in the face of fear.

     D. Ask God to develop the fruit of self-control in your life
        – Titus 2:11-12

  And then, finally, as with all the fruit of the Spirit, you need to ask God. God is the one who grows each of the fruit of the Spirit, so ask God to develop the fruit of self-control in your life. Self-control is a gift of God’s grace that he gives you in Jesus. Titus 2 tells us: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11-12) Ultimately, all the fruit of the Spirit are gifts of God’s grace, so ask God to develop the fruit of self-control in your life.

  CONCLUSION: And so, we come to the end of our series on the fruit of the Spirit. Over the last nine weeks we have looked carefully at each of the fruit of the Spirit and seen how they all relate to God, Jesus and ourselves.

  We have seen that the fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus that God grows in you. Together the fruit of the Spirit paint a beautiful picture or portrait of Christ. Jesus perfectly reflects the character of God, and God wants you to reflect the character of Jesus.

  The fruit of the Spirit begins with love and ends with self-control. Love comes first because it is the first fruit which contains all the others. Self-control is important, but it means nothing without love – love for God, love for Jesus, love for other people.

  “I will grow in self-control as I allow the Spirit to subdue my desires.” I pray that as a result of 

• today’s message you will have a new understanding of the importance of self-control in your life. I pray you will be encouraged knowing that\ self-control is available to you through God and the Holy Spirit. Remember, the key to self-control is giving God control. I pray that all of us will seek to grow more like Jesus in this area of self-control

• Spiritual Self-Control In The Bible

  Self-control, according to Galatians 5:23, is a product of having the Holy Spirit. Being a product or fruit of the Holy Spirit, means having the Holy Spirit is a prerequisite. Self-control comes from the indwelling and transformation by the Holy Spirit. Strong’s Concordance defines the word used in this bible verse, ἐγκράτεια, as “self-control – proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself.”
  
  Jesus is the expert on overcoming temptation. He never sinned, despite being tempted. And he is compassionate towards our struggles with temptation.

  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV).

  Not only does he care, but he has left us with help to overcome. As Jesus was leaving he told us, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26, NIV).

  Spiritual self-control cannot happen without the Holy Spirit. You need to depend on him and draw upon the power and strength you have been given in Christ through the Holy Spirit in order to practice self-control well. So really, as people of faith, we might do better to call it “With the help of the Holy-Spirit control.”

  But there’s another important aspect of self-control in the bible. We are told to choose self-control in the bible. It is both Holy Spirit empowered and by our own choice.

  “But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer” (I Peter 4:7).

  

  “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,” (2 Peter 1:5-6).

  So self-control is both something we make an effort for and receive. It is done in collaboration with the Holy Spirit – not by Him for us, nor by us without Him.

  Biblical self-control means choosing to give up trying to control things on our own, surrendering to God for help, and working alongside Him for real change.

  Why Self-Control Is Important

  If you lack self-control, you will be controlled by your whims. If you don’t choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and aim to make the right choices, you can’t become your best self.
  
  Jesus gave up his life so that you could be set free from sin and death. This freedom is meant to be used to glorify God. When you give up the life ruled by desires that come and go, you discover the better and more meaningful life God has for you.

  As Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).
  
  When you die to yourself or surrender to God’s way over your own way, you will find a more beautiful and fulfilling life on the other side.

  More Verses About Self-Control In The Bible

  Scripture also speaks to the many benefits of self-control. Below are more bible verses and key takeaways from scripture on self-control.

  Self-Control Protects You

  “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

  It Makes You More Attractive

  “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,” (I Timothy 2:9, ESV)

  Note the word here for self-control is σωφροσύνης. It means being sober-minded. Whereas the other word was more about your behavior and having mastery over your actions.

  Self-Control Benefits Your Testimony

  “Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober-minded.  In all things show yourself an example of good works” (Titus 2:6). This verse also uses the word for self-control, σωφρονέω, or sober-minded.
  

  What God Says About Self-Control And Overcoming Temptation

  1. Expect trials and temptations.

  Be prepared. Being a Christian doesn’t mean life is easy. While we are still in this world and in our earthly bodies we will be tempted, just as Jesus was.
  
  “Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you” (I Peter 4:12). This same word for trial, “peirasmon” in the original Greek is also translated as temptation, such as Jesus used in teaching us to pray, “Bring us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13).

  2. It’s a battle. It can be hard and frustrating.

  You don’t need to minimize the difficulty. It’s hard. Choosing right when faced with temptation is much easier said than done. 

  As Paul said, “For I delight in God’s law after the inward man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law” (Romans 7:22-25).

  3. You Have Power In Christ

  It might be hard, but you are strong enough in Christ. Jesus has won the battle, removed sin’s power, and empowered you to make the right choices.

  “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin” (Romans 6:6).

  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NIV).

  

  4. You never have to battle alone. The Holy Spirit will help you overcome temptation.

  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh,” (Galatians 5:16).

  God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13).  

  5. Prayer is your weapon.

  When you feel like you are struggling with self-control, pray to be rescued from temptation. In what’s known as the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, NIV).
  
  At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus encouraged the disciples who were struggling to be there for Jesus as he had asked them to, saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, NIV).

  Bible Verses on Self-Control

  To help you stay motivated, here are some printable bible verse scripture cards with verses from this post. Click on the image below to save and print it. Prefer a pdf? Download the Self-Control Scripture Cards PDF here.

  

  Teaching Self-Control

  In the beginning, our kids require us to step in and hold the boundaries. But our end goal as parents should be to move our children from being managed by us to being self-managed with the Holy Spirit. Children need instructions to help them learn how to master their impulses.

  If you want to succeed and help your kids to succeed, spend time mastering self-control and teaching your kids to do the same. Self-discipline doesn’t come easily or naturally. It must be learned. Mastery over anything is not accomplished overnight, but with careful and persistent effort. Self-control is a skill that can be taught and a muscle that can be grown, but it takes time and practice.

  And notice how contrary scripture is to the world’s ideas about self-control. The world tells you to punish – punish yourself and others until they “get it right.” That’s not spiritual self-control. It’s not coming from the Holy Spirit, but from fear.
  
  Lead your kids into spiritual self-control by teaching them it’s normal to be tempted. Empathize with them, understanding the difficulty, as Christ empathizes with you (Hebrews 4:15). Let them know it’s a battle and you struggle, too -just as Paul did. Teach them that through the Holy Spirit by prayer and choice, they can overcome.
  
  This teaches them about the Way, Christ. He is the way to self-control. If you teach them self-control without Christ they will have less success, and even worse, they may come to believe that their efforts, not his, will save them.

  Final Encouragements On Biblical Self-Control

  In Christ, you are called to live into the best life that God has always intended for you, and to honor Christ’s sacrifice by worshiping God with your choices. This isn’t just for God’s benefit, but yours.

• Tim. 2:9). That pretty much covers everyone!

  The calling to this fruit is important and is for our good. In Proverbs we learn, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (25:28). This is a picture of no safety, no protection. We need to be self-controlled and alert, because the devil, “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We need not fear, however, since the devil flees when we submit ourselves to God (James 4:7).

  We must also remember the benefits are not merely temporal, as Christians exercise self-control to obtain an imperishable crown which lasts forever (1 Cor. 9:25).

  THE POWER FOR SELF-CONTROL

  When unbelievers say they can’t control themselves, ultimately, they cannot – for they have no power to do so. But Paul reminds us that grace not only brings salvation but also trains us to live self-controlled live (2 Tim. 2:11). God has given Christians a spirit of self-control (2 Tim. 1:7). This means the ability to control oneself comes from the Spirit by which we now live and in which we now walk (Gal. 5:25).

  The Apostle Peter agrees, reminding us it is God’s divine power which has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, and he calls us to make every effort to live self-controlled lives (2 Pet. 1:3-6).

  SUMMARY

  Praise be to God we are not left alone in our temptations. God is faithful. He does not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure, and he also provides a way out (1 Cor. 10:13). With the help of the Spirit’s power working in us, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, let us reach out our hands and choose this fruit – the fruit of self-control.

• Do you have a firm control over your passions and appetites?  Do you succumb to your desires even when you know that something is unwise or wrong?  Two Greek words for self-control would be enkrateia and engrates.  The Authorized Version renders the Greek word as “temperance” but this is entirely lacking since this term is only limited to one form of self-control.[i][i]  Richards says that the Greek words mean “to have power over oneself” and thus “able to hold oneself in”[ii][ii]  What does Scripture say about this primary and important virtue?  Paul says that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, a virtue that the Holy Spirit works in our heart and life (Galatians 5:22-23).  Further, the Christian must “add” to his faith moral excellence, and to moral excellence knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and other virtues (2 Peter 1:5-6) for “if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8).  As we add such virtues to our life and increase in them, “the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied” to us (v. 11).

  When he was a prisoner in Caesarea, Paul spoke to Felix the governor about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come,” and this frightened the governor (Acts 24:25).  Felix was an unrighteous man, he had no self-control, and he was under God’s judgment.  The apostle also stated that the overseer (or elder) must have “self-control”—for surely this is a quality needed in a man who leads others (Titus 1:8).

  The Word of God warns against the lack of self-control.  Jesus charges the Pharisees with an inner heart corruption, for “inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25).  Self-indulgence is the very opposite of a careful self-control.  Paul admits that Satan may tempt even a Christian because of a lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:5).  He warns of the difficult times of the last days in which some would be lovers of self, lovers of money and “without self-control” (2 Timothy 3:1-3).  It is a characteristic of those without the Spirit active in their life.  The majority of people in our day are lacking in self-control, without self-disciple, and given to the satisfaction of their carnal appetites.

  • They eat what they want, even though it harms their body.
  • They drink what they want, even when it destroys their mind.
  • They take drugs when they want, even when it corrupts their thinking.
  • They cohabit with the person they want to satisfy their bodily appetites even when it destroys their body and soul.
  • They use their time in the way they want, even though their waste of time cannot be reclaimed.

  Related to self-control would be self-discipline which may be defined as “discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement.”[iii][iii]  When we have self-control, we will be able to exercise self-discipline, and self-discipline is a manifestation of self-control.  A primary discussion on this virtue is found in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  Note what he writes: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win” (v. 24).  We are in a race—the race of life—and this calls for earnest measures if we would win.  Paul continues, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (v. 25).  One who would compete in the Grecian games (whether the Olympic Games or the Isthmian Games) was required to discipline his body to prepare for the great race.  They would watch their diet, get sufficient sleep, do regular exercises, regularly bathe themselves, and other physical disciplines.

  Likewise, if we are disciplined Christians with self-control, we will carefully guard our life so that we will win an “imperishable” prize.  Paul continues, “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air” (v. 26).  We have our eyes on the goal and we will not be deterred in our quest.  Finally, the apostle says, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (v. 27).  Our life in Christ is a sober experience in which we must “discipline” our body and even consider our body as a “slave” that must obey the master’s orders.  “Proper self-control involves mastery of one’s own body.  Legitimate bodily appetites, if not controlled, easily become sin.  Gluttony, lust, and laziness are all examples of legitimate appetites out of control.  All of them destroy character and lead to worse sins.”[iv][iv]

  This is a perspective in life that is seldom seen in this sexually gratifying, bodily gratifying, and mind gratifying age.  Somehow, Paul’s sober, earnest, and disciplined view has been overlooked or avoided by professing Christians.  Ask yourself these questions: Do you guard your speech so that you don’t say what you should not say (Matthew 12:34-37; James 3:1-12; Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 21:23)?  Do you guard your eyes so that you don’t look at what would be sexually compromising (Matthew 5:27-30; Job 31:1)?  Do you guard your hands so that they might not indulge in wrongful activity of any kind (Matthew 5:29-30)?  Do you guard your mind and heart so that you only think of things that are pure and true (Philippians 4:8)?  Do you guard your appetite so that you will not consume what you know is harmful to your body and health (1 Corinthians 10:31)?  It is said that “self-control is transforming desires to please self into desires to please God.”[v][v]

  How can we develop this inner self-mastery that is so important for our life now and our life eternally?  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit so that He may produce self-control in our life (Galatians 5:22-23).  We must be willing to set our mind on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:6-8) and “put to death” the “deeds of the body” so that we might live (Romans 8:13).  We should take drastic, extreme measures to crucify our flesh (Matthew 5:29-30).  We should consider ourselves “dead to sin” but “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11) and present our “members as instruments of righteousness to God” (v. 13).  We must consider the “members” of our earthly body as “dead” to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, and every other deed of the flesh (Colossians 3:5; cf. Galatians 5:19-26).  Someone has said that “self-control is responding to sin in the same way a dead man does.”[vi][vi]

  The following questions may focus ourselves on whether we do have self-control: (1) Do you give more time to spiritual pursuits than to the pleasures of the world? (2) Do you bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? (3) Do you control your eating or indulge in foods you know are unhealthy? (4) Do you acknowledge your weakness so you can experience the power of Christ? (5) Do you literally cry out to God for deliverance from addictions? (6) Do you have a wise and Biblical program for fasting? (7) Have you asked your Heavenly Father to fill you with His Spirit? (8) Do you respond to each test of the Spirit by thanking God for His purposes and then look for benefits if you respond correctly? (9) Do you ever erupt in uncontrollable anger? (10) Do you remove provisions for indulgences so you will not fulfill them?  Paul wrote, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14).

  If people of the world can discipline themselves to run marathons, you can discipline yourself to fight against sin.  If people of the world can discipline themselves to lose weight, you can discipline yourself to eat nutritious food for your health.  If people of the world can discipline themselves to work long hours reading deep textbooks to excel in a university course to achieve the praise of men, you can discipline yourself to read, study, memorize and apply the truths of the Word of God. Let us have self-control for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord!

• Purpose, Secret, Rewards

1. Purpose: Self-control leads to freedom.

• “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (v.24)

• “For which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” (2 Timothy 2:9)

a. Freedom through controlling.

• “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

b. Freedom through concentrating.

• “Less is more.”

c. Freedom through creating boundary

2. Secret: Spiritual discernment is the key for self-control.

• “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:8-9)

3. Rewards: Abundance awaits through self-control. 

• “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

• “And knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:6-8)

One of the most powerful fruit of the Holy Spirit that is produced in the life of a Christian is self-control (Galatians 5:23). The Greek term that is used in the New Testament for self-control (Gk. enkrateia) literally means “in strength.” The Spirit-produced fruit of self-control refers to an inward restraint of appetites and passions resulting in a spiritual mastery that submits consistently to the greater cause of God’s commanded will over the sinful desires of man’s will.[1] When the Holy Spirit comes to indwell a Believer, the endless pursuit of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life begin to gradually pass away (1 John 2:15-17). In time, the follower of Jesus Christ becomes more and more dominated by a desire to discipline his body and mind for the purpose of being able to serve their Lord as faithfully as possible (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Those who desire to serve in local church leadership must exhibit lifestyles marked by self-control, and every Christian will progressively find themselves less ensnared by the temptation to indulge themselves with the sinful pleasures of the world (Titus 1:5-9). Moreover, the Believer will also begin to exercise self-control with their mind, developing a worldview that is distinctively Christ-centered and informed by the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).

As you meditate on this devotional throughout the week, evaluate the corpus of your life: have you seen evidence of exhibiting the fruit of self-control for yourself? How can you grow in your propensity of doing so moving forward? In what ways can you praise God for His faithfulness to further conform you into the likeness of Jesus Christ? May God richly bless you in your efforts to glorify Him with both your body and mind!

Weekly Passages For Meditation:

Monday- 2 Peter 1:5-7

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

Tuesday- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Wednesday- Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Thursday- James 3:1-7

3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

Friday- James 3:8-12

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

Saturday- Luke 4:1-13

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ 11 and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.