Self-Control

Becoming
July 10, 2022

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

Self Control: to exercise complete control over one’s desires and actions.

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. —1 John 1:5

I. Why is self-control hard?

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. —Galatians 5:16-18

A. There is a

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going on inside of you.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
—Romans 7:21-25

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. —Galatians 5:19-21

B. Every decision you make is about

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.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:24-25

II. How do we grow in self-control?

A. Say “no” to your flesh.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (vs. 24).

B. Say “yes” to the Spirit.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (vs. 25).

To be a

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person, you must be a

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person.

I have spoken much about Christlikeness, but how is it possible for us?

In our own strength it is clearly not, but God has given us his Holy Spirit to enable us to fulfill his purpose. William Temple used to illustrate the point from Shakespeare in this way:
It’s no good giving me a play like Hamlet or King Lear, and telling me to write a play like that. Shakespeare could do it. I can’t. And it’s no good showing me a life like the life of Jesus and telling me to live a life like that. Jesus could do it, I can’t.But if the genius of Shakespeare could come and live in me, then I could write plays like his. And if the Spirit of Jesus could come and live in me, then I could live a life like his. God’s purpose is to make us like Christ, and God’s way is to fill us with his Holy Spirit. —John Stott

Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.