Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
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.
Introduction:
Most people don’t live with Self Control
They live Controlled by the their Flesh
Many times and many people do what feels good to them
Many times we eat what tastes good to us
We watch what is entertaining to us
We say something because we feel like saying it
We belittle other people to promote ourselves
We buy things to promote ourselves
We consume things, buy things, eat things and do things
B’c it fulfills the desires of our flesh
Our natural response in this life is not to have Self Control
But it is to be Controlled by Our Flesh
The perfect picture of a person controlled by Flesh is a 2 year old
(And all of us in here at one point were 2 years old!)
A 2 year old is the Perfect Picture of a person controlled by flesh
B’c they do things simply based on if it feels good or not
-- They make messes in their rooms b’c it felt good to dump out all their toys
--Without any regard to the person who is going to have to clean that up
-- They stick their fingers in the birthday cake b’c it tastes good
--Without any regard to the fact that no one else wants to eat birthday cake that their grimy, boogery hands have been in
-- They go the bathroom in their pants
--Without any regard to the fact that now an adult is going to have to clean up that mess
-- They scream at restaurants b’c they don’t want to be there
--Without any regard to the paying customers around them
They do what feels good to them
-- They roll in the mud, they scream NO, they don’t share toys, they don’t play nice with others
All because they do what feels good to them
And its the parents job in those moments, to step in and shape the heart of that child
Its the parents job to step in and teach them what is right
Teach them what is right Biblically: don’t steal, don’t hit, don’t lie
But also Appropriate Behavior: don’t outburst, practice control
Safety: Run across street, play in street = live past childhood
Laws: Don’t steal candy bars = stay out of jail
Authority: Respect for authority = hold a job, get along
We know that the will lead better lives if they learn Self Control...
The problem is many Christians, spiritually never move on from the 2 year old stage
God doesn’t intend for you to stay in the 2 year old stage
I’m glad I grew out of that stage physically
It’s time some of us grew out of that stage spiritually
Paul said, I want to give you meat, but you’re still on milk
Its time for us to be full of the Holy Ghost
Its time for us to move on out of the Tantrums
Its time for us to stop tripping over every little thing
And be full of the Fruit that God desires for us!
It Comes From the Spirit
Galatians 3:2-3 NIV
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Why is that we start our lives in faith
But then we try to keep things going and reach our ultimate goal of heaven by human effort,
forsaking the faith aspect that we started with?
I’m gonna not do this, I’m gonna start to do that,
I’m gonna not say that, I’m gonna not go there,
I’m gonna not eat that, I’m not gonna mess up
This is why I believe many people get stuck in the 2 Yr Old phase
They started out right, trusting God,
Believing that the Spirit is able to transform
Then they began to rely on themselves to control their flesh
When in reality its a Fruit of the SPIRIT
You have no power over sin
But its the Spirit that dwells in you
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
Old things are passed away And behold, all things are become new.
A new creature!
Old things are passed away, All things new
The old me was controlled by flesh
The new me is controlled by the Fruit of the Spirit
The old man is flesh
The new man is spirit
You don’t have to be who you used to be
God has given you a new heart
He’s made you a new person
You don’t have to think the same way
You don’t have to act the same way
He has made you new!
1. Know That You Are In Charge
Proverbs 25:28 KJV He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down , and without walls.
Many people think they are an animal with animal instincts
Therefore they have no rule over themselves
They behave how they do, b’c its a base instinct that they can’t control
An American Indian was giving his testimony in a gathering of Christian members of his tribe
He told of his conversion and of how in the beginning he felt as
though he would never sin again;
he was so happy in knowing His Saviour
But, he explained, as time went on he became conscious of an inward conflict, which he described somewhat as follows :
“It seems, my brothers, that I have two dogs fighting in my heart: one is a very good dog, a beautiful white dog,
and he is always watching out for my best interests.
The other is a very bad dog, a black dog, who is always trying
to destroy the things that I want to see built up.
These dogs give me a lot of trouble because they are always quarreling and fighting with each other.”
One of his hearers looked up and asked,
“Which one wins?”
The other instantly replied, “Whichever one I say ‘Sic ‘im’ to.”
Know that you are in control
No one controls you
Sin doesn’t control you, God doesn’t control you
He has given you free will!
Understand you are in control of your life
You are not beholden to anyone or anything
You have rule over your life!
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls
So how do you have strength over your spirit?
Jesus said to them in the Garden
Spirit is willing, Flesh is weak
Why don’t you pray with me for one hour?
The Lord’s answer for strength was to pray!
The strength is found in prayer
In prayer, God changes things
Changes situations, Changes you!
A Daily Battle
Many fail to rule their daily walk with God
We must make time for God
giving him first place in our life
Seek ye 1st the Kingdom of God
And his righteousness
And all these things shall be added to you
2. Don’t Give Sin A Chance
Romans 13:14 KJV But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Have you ever noticed that at the Grocery Store
Make you stand by the candy while you’re in line to check out
They put little toys and trinkets there nowadays too
Basically, they load up the checkout line with
things that are appealing but they’re things you don’t need
You ever notice how the staples of your grocery list / nutrition
Are in the back of the store?
Milk is in the back of the store...
You just need milk, but they make you pass by everything else
According to About.com
66% of all purchases are decided on while in the store
That means your shopping list TRIPLES
53% of all purchases are made on impulse
They are giving room for you to be tempted
Giving room for you to make these purchases
Sin is serious
Don’t give it a chance
Don’t give it room
Don’t stand by and watch it
Lot learned this the hard way...
So serious that Jesus said
If your right eye...
If your right hand...
It would better for you to enter into Heaven with out your eye...
Don’t put yourself in places For your appetite to rise up
Cut those things out of your life
It would be better to make it to Heaven...
3. Fill Up With Good Things
Momma used to tell us,
Garbage In - Garbage Out
So easy, So true...
Jesus gave us the same concept in different words
He said, The Light of the Body is the Eye
He was saying the Eyes are the entrance to the mind & heart
If you let light things in, your whole life will be light
If you let dark things in, your whole life will be dark
I believe the default position for the heart is darkness
Thats why we are the way we are when we are 2 Year Olds
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked : who can know it?
If thats the case we ought to be
cramming good things down in our heart,
Psalm 119:11 KJV Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
We ought to be thinking on Good things, lovely things, things that are of a good report....
We ought to be in church every time the doors are open
We ought to be in the Word every day
We ought to be in the presence of God
We ought to be seeking the things of God every day
Be Full of the Holy Ghost
Broader Pic of Galatians 5
Galatians 5:16-25 NIV
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.
Anybody live there?
Angel on a one shoulder, devil on the other
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.
Its not so much about the Fruit as it is the Spirit
His charge to them is more about Walk in the Spirit, Receive the Spirit, Live in the Spirit,
He’s saying that the key to overcoming is to be full of the HS
So my message today is to be full of the HS
When Jesus was preparing for his departure
In John 16, He told them
Its best for me to leave, so that the HS will leave
Thats hard for me to wrap my head around
And for sure that was hard for the Disciples...
How does it get any better than walking with Jesus?
He’s turning water into wine
He’s healing those w/incurable disease
He’s teaching us amazing things
But what Jesus is saying
Its better for me to leave so that the Holy Spirit will be in you
And this ministry will be exponential
Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come , they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting . 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance .
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off , even as many as the Lord our God shall call .
Be full of the Holy Ghost!
