Fruitful Living

Self control

Session 9

Self – Control, a Greek word: enkrateia, which means:

 

These definitions imply Power, Strength and Mastery.

 

A tidal wave of temptations these days and at no time have we needed self – control more. A key issue is the speed of life. We are all too busy. Too busy to take time out to meditate on how to get control over our lives.

 

To be self-controlled means that your “self”: the selfish, self- centred, prideful "you" who resides in all of us - needs to be controlled.  Human nature can only be controlled by a force stronger than itself.

 

Self - control is not just a control of wrong desires and behaviours but it also means surrendering ourselves to Kingdom government; the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not just stopping doing bad things, but also starting to do good things. E.g.:

Ø      Turn the cold tap of criticism down and turn the hot tap of encouraging right up full.

Ø      Turn the cold tap of manipulating down and turn the hot tap of loving right up full.

 

“Exercise” is commonly found in front of self – control. It is a good term because it implies regular building up to make stronger so that it is easier to use or exercise next time. E.g.:

If we exercise our temper by constantly exploding with angry words and actions when things don't go our way - then our temper becomes stronger.

But when we choose to exercise self-control, especially when we don't feel like it, the fruit of self-control grows stronger. As a result, we develop discipline in that area, and the next time a similar situation arises, it is a little bit easier to do the right thing.

o        We have the power to choose, and each choice we make adds to each other choice and forms our character and our destiny.

o        We HAVE the fruit of the Spirit in us, but if we don't purposely choose to exercise the different aspects, all the other ungodly attitudes and actions will remain stronger.

o        Whatever we exercise becomes the strongest.

o        Make decisions to do what you know is right and that will allow the fruit of self-control to grow stronger in your life.

To help us work together with God:

 

Ø      Confess	Ø      Forsake
Ø      Apply and use the word of God	Ø      Consider becoming accountable

 

o        Acknowledge our total inability to control “self” on our own.  It won't come through gritting your teeth and trying harder.  God knows we can't do it by ourselves, that’s why he has given us the power of the risen Christ—the same Spirit lives within each believer. 

 

o        We have the power to be self-controlled, but a lot of us don't go to our source of strength and victory.  We keep trying to do it ourselves.  It'll never happen except through the power of Jesus in you.

 

o        God gives His Spirit to us to begin the spiritual creation that will bring us into His very image. 2 Tim 1:7 “For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline”

 

o        The goal of God's creative ability is to work in us and shape us into the image of Jesus Christ. So, for the Christian, self - control is actually Christ controlled and “Love in Charge”.

 

o        It is my responsibility to allow His Spirit to control me, and when I am controlled by the Spirit of God, then my self is controlled—I am “self-controlled”.

 

o        Where does the power of self-control come from? It comes from the Holy Spirit who has His permanent home in each believer. The Holy Spirit lives within us to help make us Christ – like.

 

o        How is it released? By asking God for His grace in each difficult situation we face.

 

o        Love is first, no accident. Love is expressed in all these flavours of the Holy Spirit’s fruit.

o        However, they are useless without self-control. Self-control is essential to exhibit any of these characteristics with consistency, and therefore abide in the Holy Spirit.

o        For example, how can we walk in love and believe the best of someone after they have just repeatedly insulted us unless we use the fruit of self-control?

 

The Holy Spirit empowers God’s word and makes it happen, he makes real what Jesus has already done. However, there are conditions:

Gal 5:16: “So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature”

Gal 5:18: “But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law”

Gal 5:25: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”

 

o        This is fruit, not seed. It is organic, a product of a relationship, a result.

 

o        Fruit is not added on afterwards, not “produced” by hard work and effort, it is supernaturally derived, we have the choice how much of them we exhibit and nurture.

 

o        Being filled with/led by the Spirit is not an event, it is a process made up of multitudes of daily choices, it is a walk.

 

o        If we have the Spirit, we have the fruit in embryo or seed, but if we do not purposefully choose to exercise it then it does not grow any bigger.

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