The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 9

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – 9

Subject: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit – Self Control

By Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

The Fruit of Holy Spirit – Self-control.

Self-control - the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.

Synonyms of Self-control - self-discipline · self-restraint · restraint · control · self-mastery · self-possession · will power · strength of will · composure · coolness · moderation.

--If there is anything missing in the body of Christ, it is the fruit of Holy Spirit – self-control.

Biblical Self-control - the ability to control one’s emotions and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.

--Self-control, as a fruit of Holy Spirit, lets us know that there is available to us supernatural strength to be able to do what we cannot do without Holy Spirit’s help. John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

--The Apostle Paul gives us this command as he encourages us toward self-control.

Ephesians 5:15-18 (NLT2)
¹⁵  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
¹⁶  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
¹⁷  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
¹⁸  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--Maybe you do not see it like I do, but I see Paul telling us that if we will have self-control, it will be possible because we are filled with Holy Spirit. It will still be our choice.

--Paul says we need to be careful how we live…use self-control…don’t live foolishly. He tells us to understand what the Lord wants us to do…we should give great thought to what the will of God is for our lives. 

Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV) ⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 

1. To operate in the fruit of the Spirit ‘self-control’ we must understand God is in control.

--Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart that He is in control of every situation? We usually have problems with self-control when we feel things are out of our control.

--There are many times when things are out of our control but there are never times when life is out of God’s control. how you react to life’s trials will be greatly affected by how you trust God or not.

--How you determine to flow in the fruit of Holy Spirit will also be determined by how you make up your mind to trust God with all of your heart. Everyone say, “God is in control!” 

Romans 8:26-28 (NKJV)
²⁶  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

A. God knows that we have weaknesses and He is always there to help us.

B. God knows there are times that things are so bad we do not even know how to pray. 

C. God knows Holy Spirit is there making intercession for us as we pray in the Spirit. 

D. God knows what is in our hearts and He knows what Holy Spirit is saying.

E. God knows what His will is so He prays according to His divine will. 

F. God knows what we need and He works all things together for our good. All things.

G. God knows we have all been called according to His purposes, so He works it for our good.

Pro. 19:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
²¹  There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel--that will stand. 

--Remember that, it is the Lord’s counsel that will stand…you can trust Him because He is the One Who is in control. Pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 

Joshua 1:8-9 (NIV)
⁸  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
⁹  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

2. To operate in the fruit of Holy Spirit ‘self-control’ we must walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

 

1 Samuel 24:3-6 (NIV)
³  He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
⁴  The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
⁵  Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
⁶  He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." 

--Let me establish before we move forward with this story that David had blessed Saul in so many ways. He fought and killed the enemies of Saul. He killed his ten thousand and more for his king.

--He would minister music to Saul and the spirit that was sent from the Lord would depart from him and the Bible said he would be refreshed and made well. 

--He even defeated a nine-foot-tall giant who was taunting Israel and Israel’s God. Saul was too afraid to fight him but David trusted God. 

--David is the example of a man walking in the Spirit and Saul is definitely an example of a man walking in the flesh. You would think David would be Saul’s best buddy. See how sin blinds us. 

--Saul threw spears and David while he was playing the harp and trying to pen him against the wall. He chases him like a dog and wants to destroy him. Anger and bitterness out of control. No self-control.

--Saul has the Special Forces of Israel’s army pursuing David with him and he is bent on getting rid of this young guy who was a threat to his kingdom. 

--David never would have been a threat to Saul if he had lived righteously and had been obedient to God’s commands. Many of our problems are our all creations.

--The remainder of this message, let’s look at the self-control that David used in this situation where Saul was in the most vulnerable situation possible.

--Let me point out how incredible of a warrior David must have been to be able to sneak up on Saul in a cave when he is relieving himself and cut the corner of his robe off without him knowing. Maybe noisy! 

A. Recognize David’s self-control when he had his peers encouraging him by using the God card. 

--Many times our so-called friends will encourage us that God is on our side when we want to take vengeance on someone that we have an issue with. Be careful thinking that is the case. God wants you to be happy. Really?

B. Recognize David’s self-control had not allowed the evil of another to cause him to compromise. 

--He immediately felt bad that he had touched the king (his master) in such a threatening way. Trials and persecution never gives you a right of retaliation. 

Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
⁴⁵  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

C. Recognize David’s self-control made him hesitate long enough to recognize God’s hand on Saul.

1 Chronicles 16:22 (NKJV) ²²  Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm." 

D. Recognize David’s self-control gave him the strength to not allow others to attack the king.

Warning: Do not take up an offense of someone else or allow others to take up your offense. Be careful who you share your junk with. You may get over it but someone else will take it to the next level.

E. Recognize David’s self-control caused David to humble himself before the king (his enemy).

--Humbling ourselves before our enemies puts them in a place where they have to deal with God. 

F. Recognize David’s self-control left it up to the Lord to avenge him.

Romans 12:19&21 (NKJV)
¹⁹  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.