How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Practice Temperance In All Things

1. The Holy Spirit gives us the self-control to practice a self-restraint so that we are able to exhibit moderation in all our relationships, ministries and personal habits. Paul wrote, "The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control." (Gal. 5:23) Ask the Lord to give you an increasing ability to practice a self-restraint in your personal lifestyle, interpersonal interactions and ministry activities.

2. The Holy Spirit grants us the grace to exercise self-discipline enabling us to finish the ministry projects we begin. Paul wrote, "Run in such a way as to get the prize...Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (I Cor. 9:24-27) Ask the Lord to help you practice temperance by exhibiting Godly self-discipline enabling you to successfully complete the ministries that God has led you to undertake.

3. The Holy Spirit gives you the knowledge and wisdom to realize that Godly balance is better than extremism. Paul wrote, "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive." (I Cor. 10:23) Ask the Lord to give you greater knowledge and wisdom to help you practice a Godly balanced approach that avoids any extremist’s approaches - I.E. Legalism, judgmentalism, Intellectualism, Spiritism, Humanism, Traditionalism, etc.

4. The Holy Spirit enables you to do everything that God asks you to do with the help of Christ who gives you the strength and power. (Phil. 4:13 - Living Bible) Ask the Lord to help you to know when to pull back from your relationships, personal efforts and ministries. Trust the Lord to indicate to you when you are serving more in the power of the flesh than in the Spirit.

5. The Holy Spirit guides us in how to get out of our ruts, complacency or apathetic attitudes when we are becoming too lax toward our responsibilities. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." (Heb. 12:10) Ask the Lord to chasten you whenever you need to climb out of your ruts of complacency or apathetic attitudes or regimented thinking.

6. The Holy Spirit exhorts us through Godly Christians whenever we are losing our sense of God’s priorities. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the DAY approaching." (Heb. 10:24,250 Ask the Lord to use any Godly believer to exhort you for greater love and good works - whenever you really need it.

7. The Holy Spirit brings us back into fellowship with God whenever we fall into the sins of commission, omission, bad attitudes or faulty presuppositions. Paul wrote, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Cor. 13:14) Ask the Lord to help you be drawn back into perfect fellowship with God whenever you consciously or unconsciously fall into temptation or succumb to the pressures of the world, the flesh or the devil.

8. The Holy Spirit inspires us with a powerful word from the scriptures whenever we are leaning too far in a wrong direction in our thinking or actions. Paul wrote, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16) Ask the Lord to use the word of God to set you on the right course, show you when you get out of line, direct you how to get back on track and bring you to a higher level of competence in your relationships, personal lifestyle and ministries.

9. The Holy Spirit shepherds us whenever we are feeling too weak, discouraged or frustrated to desire to keep walking on the straight and narrow path. David wrote, "The Lord is MY shepherd, I shall not be in want of any good thing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." (Psa. 23:1,2) Ask the Lord to alleviate any of your fears, discouragements or frustrations with His shepherdly love, power and skills.

10. The Holy Spirit knows how to calm our anger when we are feeling like lashing out at someone or something. Paul wrote, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Eph. 5:31,32) Ask the Lord to help you replace feelings of anger with Christ’s kindness, forgiving attitude, and compassion.