THE FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL (TEMPERANCE)
Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control…
1. Defining Self-Control
- The word temperance (KJV) is the translation of the Greek word enkrateia, which means “possessing power, strong, having mastery or possession of, continent,
- Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament adds that it means “holding in hand the passions and desires.”
- The word thus refers to the mastery of one’s desires and impulses.
- The understanding of this word is not limited to merely the stringent discipline of the individual’s passions and appetites. Self-control can also include the notions of having good sense, sober wisdom, moderation and soundness of mind as contrasted to insanity. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:7)
2. Illustrating Self-Control
1) Negative illustration (Prov. 25:28)
- An example of self-control implied in Proverbs 25:28: “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” No specific Hebrew word in this sentence means “self-control,” but “rule” certainly implies it.
- The picture is that of a city whose walls have been so nearly destroyed as to be without defense against an enemy; so is the man who has no restraint over his spirit (self). He has no defense against anger, lust, and the other unbridled emotions that destroy relationships with others and self.
2) Positive illustration (Prov. 16:32)
Proverbs 16:32 shows a more positive side of self-control: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Here Solomon uses an entirely different word for “rule,” but the sense of self-control remains.
A comparison of the two proverbs reveals the great importance of self-control as both an
- We need the “walls” of self-control to protect us from negative invaders, i.e. sin, poor habits, temptation, etc. We need to rule our own spirit so as to keep us out of trouble in what we say or do.
3. Exhorting Self-Control (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul strongly exhorts us to self-control. He uses runners in the Grecian games as examples of how we are to live as Christians.
1) Focus
- The first thing to notice is the utmost tension, energy and strenuous effort pictured by athletes straining for the finish line in hope of the glory of winning.
- A runner cannot afford to become distracted by things off to the side of their course. If he does, his effectiveness in running will surely diminish. Keeping focused requires control—not allowing distractions to interfere with the responsibility at hand.
- As Christians we are to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). This requires focus of mind. It is the issue of
2) Discipline
- Paul says that the victorious runner is disciplined in all things. The runner sets Christians an example of rigid self-control: “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.”
- It is not only a matter of concentrating while he is racing, but in all areas of life because his
3) Win
- In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul illustrates self-control in its positive aspects by showing what it produces along the way and—most importantly—in the end (i.e.
- In Romans 12:1-2, Paul comes at this issue of self-control from the angle of self-sacrifice and surrender.
Self-sacrifice and surrender are issues that come into play in the individual choices we make during the course of a day:
1] Self-sacrifice (Rom. 12:1)
- The word “present” is a technical expression from the Old Testament sacrificial terminology.
- Under the Old Covenant, the offerer’s gift was presented to God and became His property. Similarly, the gift of our life is set apart for God’s use as He determines when we sacrifice or present ourselves to God.
- Understanding we are bought with a price and that we don’t belong to ourselves will help us to see why and how we can sacrifice ourselves for God.
- Paul says that giving our lives in this way is “reasonable,” that is, of sound judgment, moderate, sensible, or as many modern translations say, rational or spiritual.
2] Surrender (Rom. 12:1)
- The last word in verse 1, “service,” in context describes the service, not of a domestic slave, but of a
- It means that we must, first of all, be priests by our inward consecration and then we must lay our outward life on the altar in God’s service.
Surrender + Sacrifice will produce self-control.
- Sacrifice requires the surrender of our life and thus control of it.
Do you know what we are? Sinners. We have a sin nature. It only knows one thing to do – sin.
- What is the use of appealing to men to be self-controlled who are by very nature sinners that cannot govern themselves?
- It is useless to tell a king whose subjects have overthrown him to rule his kingdom. His kingdom is in full revolt, and he has no soldiers behind him. He is a monarch with no power.
In our own strength, that is how we are. If we live as king of our lives, we will be monarchs with no power. Our kingdom is in full revolt.
The only thing that can truly bring self-control into our lives is the Holy Spirit. We must be yielded to Him. When we are, the fruit of self-control is produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit.
Surrender + Sacrifice produces through the Spirit the fruit of