Fruit Of Self Control Series

Theme: Fruit of Self Control

Text: 1 Peter 5:8-9

Greetings

The Lord is good; his love endures forever. I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Introduction

“Fruit of the Spirit” is ONE fruit (not multiple) and that all 9-traits were happening in a person who is of the Spirit. This is not a list to work on, but a guide for self-examination of oneself, to see if I truly have the Spirit or not. These traits are not put in order but they are multifaceted of one fruit.

Peter wrote to the disciples who were scattered all over the province or the entire readers that “Be Self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him and stand firm in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

This self-control refers to the control of words, control of deeds or actions. These are under the influence of the Spirit of God.

I would like to share with you three important controls, Control of your body, control of your spirit and your mind/soul.

1. Self-controlled Body:

Bible says, ‘A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:28). ‘Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32).

Paul, after doing the self-examination said: ‘But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (2 Corinthians 9:27). “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body (1 Corinthians 6:12-13).

Paul told Titus to “urge the younger men to be self-controlled” (Titus 2:6) and ‘Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness’ (Titus 2:2). 2 Samuel 13:7-14 Amnon did a foolish vile thing. Went to lie with his stepsister. God hated this foolish act. So, God rejected him from the throne to succeed King David. Acts 24:25 Paul spoke the relationship between justice righteousness and self-control with Governor Felix. John the Baptist warned King Herod, so he was beheaded the Prophet rather than repenting of his sin.

Romans 1:24-28 God gave them up in the list of their hearts to impurity to the degrading of their bodies. Degrading passions. Consumed with passions. Committed shameless acts. God gave them up to debased minds. 1 Corinthians 7:5 aimed at those who thought that abstaining from sexual relations in marriage was spiritual (1 Corinthians 7:9, Colossians 2:23). They talk trickly and bring them under their trap of fornication and adultery. They love the pleasure of a day and are thrown off the permanent grace of God (2 Peter 2:12-14,18-19). Jude 4

Joseph controlled himself and proved his integrity in work pressure, he never yielded to and suffered from the sexual harassment. His guiding principle was the Omniscient of God (Genesis 39:7-12 ). Job boldly told his friends that he made a covenant with his eyes not to Roaming around the opposite sex (Job 31:1,30). Jesus Christ has proved himself at various occasions of his pure love to the people (Isaiah 53:7, Mark 14:61, Matthew 27:27-30)

2. Self-Controlled Tongue:

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:2, 6-8).

Moses was such a wonderful man of God. He was a fiery prophet. A Man of God, who walked with God, talked to God's face to face. But, Moses failed to control his words by the waters of Meribah. The rash words came from the lips of Moses. So he lost the entry to Canaan (Psalm 106:32-33).

Controlled speech is needed to make a person Wise and graceful. David professes that he has set a guard over his mouth and he kept watch over his lips (Psalm 141:3). He further says that his mouth never transgressed (Psalm 17:3, James 1:19)

Solomon warns not to give guarantees to anyone. Words will bind you and will kill you (Proverbs 6:1-3), prophecy warns and builds people (Proverbs 29:18), The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to their lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb (Proverbs 16:23-24), watching over mouth and tongue Keeps a person out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23).