TEMPERANCE: THE NINTH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part lesson)
To address FRUIT see the other lessons)
WANT A QUICK LESSON? NORMALLY WHAT STARTS IN ANGER, ENDS IN SHAME!
There are 9 fruit of the spirit. We have studied them one by one. We are studying the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT because we desire them to thrive, to grow and develop in us. We also study the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT as we desire to teach and mentor others to encourage them to VALUE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
WANT TO GUESS: THE SYMBOL OF TEMPERANCE? STAYING IN THE BOUNDARY LINES.
A woman holding a pitcher of water and two cups.
THERE IS AN ANIMAL ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPERANCE: THE CAMEL. The camel drops to its knee to be loaded with the burdens it carries. The camel is both humble and obedient.
THE NINTH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS TEMPERANCE.
*TEMPERANCE: habitual moderation, TO STAY WITHIN THE LIMITS, self-discipline, AVOID EXCESSES, to live a balance life , emotional and spiritual restraint, self-control, self-regulation, moderation, self-restraint, to control you impulses and emotions, set and focus on goals,
This is a word we don’t hear often,
TWO KINDS OF TEMPERANCE: 1. CONTROL BY OTHERS TO CORRECT (a mark of immaturity). 2. SELF CORRECTION (Mature)
IF THERE IS A LACK OF SELF CONTROL A PERSON WILL BE A SLAVE TO LUST, LAZINESS, GREED, ANGER, GLUTTONY, PRIDE,.
*TEMPERANCE IS ABOUT MODERATION. Be reasonable, Avoid extremes, behavior, politics, opinions, appetite,
ARISTOTLE’S GOLDEN MEAN… BALANCE, SET OF SCALES --- EXCESSES IS THE DEVIL’S TOOL BOX. Excessiveness vs Deficiency. Years ago I was visiting a church in Springfield, Illinois. The Sunday School class had a good discussion about BOUNDARY LINES. I mention Aristotle’s lesson and the the teacher mention Aristotle was not Bible. So I just sat there. Later I learned ARISTOTLE’S LESSON IS ALL OVER THE BIBLE.
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
God’s word teaches TEMPERANCE- BALANCE. Just as ARISTOTLE TAUGHT. Aristotle taught we need a set of attitudes that develop character traits
*LIFE IS ABOUT MAKING HARD CHOICES: (MODERATION, TEMPERANCE)
*No education makes life hard…. Applying and schooling one’s self is hard.
*It is a hard choice Do to stay single… It is a very hard choice to marry.
*To not have children is a hard choice … To have children and raise the right is a hard choice.
*To be secular and deny God is a hard choice… To be faithful to church is a hard choice.
*To stay married is a hard choice … To divorce is a hard choice.
*Debt? To buy everything you want is a hard choice… To be financially stable is a hard choice, debt-free.
*To never change, to stay the same is a hard choice… To be willing to adapt and make paradigm shifts is hard.
*To blame other people for the way you are might be easy… To accept responsibility and correct is a hard choice.
*MY FRIEND NO MATTER HOW YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICES: LIFE WILL BE HARD.
*WE MUST MAKE THE CHOICES THAT ARE RIGHT IN ETERNAL VALUES.
IT IS THE FATHER’S DESIRE THAT YOU ARE TEMPERATE IN DEMAND FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND PLEASURE.
2 Timothy 3:4 (KJV) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
1 Timothy 5:6 But she that livet in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
IT IS GOD’S DESIRE THAT WE HAVE TEMPERANCE WITH THE WORDS WE SPEAK… THE TONGUE CAN BE DEADLY.
James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:7 (MSG) This is scary: You can tame a tiger, 8 but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer.
WE NEED TO BE TEMPERATE WITH OUR NATURAL DESIRES: WE HAVE SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL NEEDS, WE MST PRACTICE TEMPERANCE.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
WE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL OUR STOMACH’S DESIRE… How did that person get to 500 pounds? One bite at a time.
Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
WE MUST PRACTICE CONTROLLING OUR THOUGHT PATTERNS AND CONTROLLING OUR MINDS.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Matthew 18 warns us: IF YOUR FOOT OFFENDS === CUT IT OFF. WHERE YOU GO…
IF YOUR HAND OFFENDS === CUT IF OFF. WHAT YOU DO…
IF YOUR EYE OFFENDS ==== CUT IT OFF. WHAT YOU SEE…
TEMPERANCE IS LEARNING TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS. (FEELINGS, MOODS)
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
THE IS ONE MORE THING WE MUST ADDRESS THAT WE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL. KEEP YOUR TEMPER, NO BODY ELSE WANTS IT. WE MUST DEVELOP ANGER MANAGEMENT.
ANGER CLOUDS YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL PAY DEARLY FOR NOT CONTROLLING YOUR TEMPER. Temper tantrums are you trying to control others. Your blood pressure arises. Your anxiety grows. Rapid heart rate --- heart attacks. Anger is a red flag. Anger is a kissing cousin DANGER.
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
WRATH IS ANGER CARRIED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
CONCLUSION: God teach me to practice temperance every day. Lord teach me how to demonstrate the 9 fruit of the spirit. Then teach me how to teach others how important the fruit of the spirit is to our daily life.
*I DON’T KNOW (UNKNOWN)
*You go somewhere in a quiet corner and sit at Jesus’ feet, then you say: Jesus I don’t understand and I don’t know. I *don’t know where to go and I don’t know what to do. I don’t understand what is happening. I don’t know how to *handle this. My emotions are playing games in my mind, I don’t know how to handle my problems. Then I jump to this *conclusion. Lord you said if I have faith as a mustard seed I don’t need to understand and I don’t need to know. I think *Lord Jesus I don’t know, I don’t understand --- I will just trust you plan. I trust you completely.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
This is a two part lesson or you have move very quickly from point to point.)
