The Spiritual Fruit of Self-Control!

September 25, 2005pm The Spiritual Fruit of Self Control! Galatians 5:16-26

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

What is Self-Contorl or Temperance? egkrateia {eng-krat'-i-ah}

temperance or self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and

passions, esp. his sensual appetites) 1)strong, robust

2)having power over, possessed of (a thing)

3)mastering, curbing, restraining

3a) controlling one's self, temperate, continent

from the Greek Lectionary.

Scripture Text: Gal. 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Once we become a Christian God begins to improve on our lives by recreating us. We are born again. We are in the self-improvement business not self-gratification. Improvement involves self-control. God wants to give us control over our desires.

Let’s see how David exercises self-control.

1Sam 26:1 (NIV) The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. 5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. 6 David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" "I'll go with you," said Abishai. 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. 8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." 12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep. 13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?" 15 David said, "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"

1. Temperance or Self-control is saying “no” to Temptations.

In Gal. 5:17 it says that we don’t do what we want to do, because we believe that what to do is not what God wants us to do. David may have wanted to kill his adversary Saul, but he didn’t.

2. Temperance or Self-control is learning to overcome when we come face to face with your temptation.

David came face to face with his adversary, Saul. We shouldn’t put ourselves into situations where we will be tempted, but we must face our temptations when they come and rely on the Lord to give us the ability to overcome. Remember the promises of the Lord.

1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

3. Temperance or Self-control is learning to choose God’s way for our lives. What does God want in our lives? What temptation is causing you to stumble? How can you overcome it? Will you decide that God’s way is the best way?

4. Temperance or Self-control is learning to call out on God for His help. Depending on the Lord to fight your battles. David depended on the Lord. He didn’t seek self gratification and take the life of Saul who was God’s anointed king. He decided to let God fight his battles. He didn’t take matters into his own hands.

5. Commit your life to doing God’s will. Will you walk with the Lord? Love is a decision. Commit yourself to love the Lord enough to going His way in your life.