The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

In the Authorized King James Bible, the Greek word enkrateia is translated as temperance.  In the New King James Version it is translated as self-control.  Enkrateia connotes mastery over one’s self.

  

Solomon warned, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28 NKJV).  Lack of self-control makes us vulnerable to attacks from every source and every direction.  Lack of self-control leads to weakness, emotional instability, disease, poverty, addiction and psychosis.  If one thing is true, its opposite is also true.  Therefore, self-control leads to physical and emotional strength, immunity, sufficiency and peace.  “Against such there is no law.”

Paul used his own life as an example to the Church at Corinth: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV) 

Often we become frustrated in our attempts to control others.  We should become frustrated in trying to control others.  We were not created to control other people.  We were created and empowered by the Holy Spirit within us to control ourselves.  Our struggle for self-control should keep us so occupied that we should have no time or inclination to control our peers.  We can give advice, but we cannot force others to follow that advice.  We can, however, choose to follow the advice of our Lord.

God gives us direction in His word, but He has also given us free will.  He does not force us into obedience.  He is in control of the overall plans for time and eternity, but He does not micromanage our lives.  He desires disciples rather than puppets.

Paul explained the pattern and purpose of discipleship:  “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

As Christians, we have been redeemed from every lawless deed.  Through Holy Spirit empowered self-control, we can walk worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1) The list of the fruit of the Spirit begins with love and ends with self-control.  It becomes a cycle.  Our love leads us to self-control.  Our self-control leads us to love.   

Walking in the fruit of the Spirit, we become like Jesus who “being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”( Philippians 2:8 NKJV)  The cross demonstrates the agape love of God which led to the obedience, the self-control of Jesus on Calvary.