Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
You will most likely agree with me that our society is plagued by a lack of self-control. All anyone has to do is tune into the local news to hear about the latest shooting, stabbing, or abuse victim. Often, once the perpetrator has been brought to justice we hear how they somehow had "just lost control". These losses of self-control are often a result of drugs or alcohol which unlocks the chains that are keeping the person's from acting on the situation. These losses of self-control wreak havoc on our neighborhoods and families.
Lack of self-control is as old as sin itself. I believe there is a reason that self-control is the last fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul in the fifth chapter of Galatians. Without self-control the other fruit are constrained, so to speak, especially if the deeds of the flesh are allowed to interrupt the working of the Spirit. We should think of self-control as the "watchman" that ensures the old selfish sin nature stays dead and buried so that the Holy Spirit has free reign in our hearts to cultivate the other eight fruits without being inhibited. Self-control is essential to arbitrate between the life that we once lived as a sinner and the life which the Lord desires we grow in as a believer.
In the book of Acts, Paul spoke to Felix regarding the Roman governor's eternal security. Acts 24:25 states: But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." Notice how self-control is sandwiched between righteousness and judgment. It is one thing to know the righteousness of God in Christ and it is another to live it out daily through constant acts of self-control. Paul stated in I Corinthians 15:31 ... I die daily. By living a self-controlled life, Paul knew that he was allowing the righteousness of the Lord to reign thus preparing himself for judgment not only in this life but in the one to come. Living a surrendered life requires us to judge ourselves in this lifetime and not waiting for the Lord's judgments on the last day. Allowing the Jesus to take the reins of our hearts, is to allow Him the rightful control and to focus us on finishing our respective races.
Paul must have loved of sports. In several passages he uses sports metaphor to convey a particular message. In I Corinthians 9:25 he states: 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. In the previous verse, Paul uses the example of a runner while making the point as to "run in such a way as to win". It is one thing to say that we desire to live a crucified life to our passions and desires but it's another to live out a disciplined life day after day. Athletes in Paul’s day as well as today's athletes must lay aside their former lives of selfishness and carnal living and beat their bodies with a new set of habits and standards that will allow them to reach their goal. There is no substitution for a daily, rigorous routine that is marked by training meant to establish regular habits in accordance with our goal. In the same way, God requires each of us who call Him Lord to daily turn over our will and life to Him.
There is a joy that we all experience as we develop new habits and we finally reach a point in our lives where these new character traits testify of the fruit of self-control as the Holy Spirit intended. The fact that self-control is the last of the nine fruits does not diminish its importance. Instead, it is the fruit that will ultimately allow righteousness to manifest through the other eight fruits. While our society continues to teeter on the brink of insanity, and as people struggle to keep "under control" in an increasingly uncontrollable world it is comforting to know that our God has given His children the ability to live a life controlled by His Spirit. All we have to do is trust in Jesus and rely on the empowering Spirit of God in order to live as a self-controlled man or woman surrendered completely to God.
For the past 10 weeks we have been looking at the Godly attributes that should control our daily life. These should be a reflected in our daily walk.
Let me end this series with this poem by Emily McAdams
The Fruit of the Spirit
We need to pray to God each day,
For His Spirit to fill our soul.
So we can experience His many fruits,
Just as Paul, His apostle told.
Because Jesus is our Savior,
His Spirit dwells within.
Let’s daily pray for self-control.
He’ll help us turn from sin.
If we love the Lord our Sovereign God
With all our heart, mind and being,
And love our neighbors as ourselves,
What joy and peace we’ll be seeing.
We should treat all others with kindness,
And practice patience in all we face.
Then our faithfulness will be evident,
At all times in every place.
Gentleness is a form of humility,
And a trait we all should show.
Then goodness and mercy will follow,
As His fruits from our heart does flow.
Tommy--one counted among the redeemed
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