Fruit of Self-Control
Thank you for joining me in studying this series on the Fruit of the Spirit. I pray this has been a good and beneficial set of lessons for you and that as you have prayerfully read and considered the posts, you have learned and matured in your relationship and walk with the Lord.
It is with the flesh that we touch the physical world. Our own desires respond to the things we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. We live in this physical world and experience the temptations of the world constantly.
Today, we will examine ‘self-control’, the final listed fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 and 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Learning to partner with the Holy Spirit to exercise self-control is absolutely necessary. In Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, the Greek word translated ‘self -control’ in verse 23 is egkrateia, which means: mastery, self mastery, self restraint, continence (in regard to sexual activity), and self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions).
In addition, in Helps Word Studies, we see that “‘egkrateia’ comes from two Greek words - ‘en’ meaning, in the sphere of and ‘kratos’ meaning: dominion, and mastery, properly - dominion within such as self-control proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself. For the believer therefore, egkrateia (self control, Spirit control) can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord. Thus ekgrateia (true mastery from within) is explicitly called the fruit of the Spirit.”
I particularly like how Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words describes it: “The controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God.”
We see clearly in Scripture that there is a constant tug of war going on between the Spirit (which indwells our spirit at the time we accept Christ as our Savior) and our flesh. We see this in Galatians 5:16-25, “ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Then, we also read in Romans 8:3-8 and verse 13, “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ... 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” The normal actions of our flesh are at war with what actions the Spirit of God would perform through us. We are always given a choice whether to live a godly life or not. We must constantly choose to put to death the deeds of the body or flesh. “We are actively to work at growing in holiness and “putting to death” any sin in our hearts or minds. as well as in our words and deeds. Yet, in spite of the fact that we actively put forth effort, Paul reminds us that it is only “by the Spirit” that is, by the Holy Spirit’s power, that we succeed.” (New Spirit Filled Life Bible commentary.)
We see numerous examples of Jesus exercising self-control in the Scriptures. Matthew 4:1-11, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” Jesus was tempted with food when He was hungry, tempted to prove who He was by using the power He could exhibit, and was offered great physical and material gain in exchange for worshiping the devil. Instead, Jesus exercised great self-control and emerged as Victor!
Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus was tempted as we all are, yet without sin. He, through self-control, shows that He desires to do the will of God more that His own!
Looking at John 4:32-34 we see, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Then we read, “Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” in John 5:19 and 20 (NIV).
When being accused, Jesus showed great self-control by refusing to defend Himself, Matthew 27:12-14, “But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”
Jesus gave us examples of His exercising self-control and then exhorts us to follow His example in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
If we do not choose to allow the Holy Spirit to control us through His presence in our lives, by default, we are choosing to allow the flesh to have control.
The Father showed us His heart’s desire by sending the indwelling Holy Spirit to help, teach, and empower us. John 14:15-17 and verse 26, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. ... 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Acts 1:8, “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Then, we read in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
There are many facets in our lives that we must exercise self control over.
I believe one of the chief areas of offense to the Lord is what we express with our mouth. Colossians 3:8 and 9a (CSB), “ But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another,”
James 3:2 (NLT), “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.”
Do you see what it says? If we could control our tongues, (what we say), we could control ourselves in every other way!
Another area we see in the world in which the need for self-control is prevalent is sexual immorality. Look at what 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 20b (NLT) expresses to us, “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ... 20 So you must honor God with your body.”
Another area in which we all need to exercise self-control is regarding ‘fear’. 2 Timothy 1:7, “ for God gave us a spirit not of fear (deilia) but of power and love and self-control.” According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, “deilia is rightly rendered, “fearfulness”. That spirit is not given us of God. The word denotes cowardice, and timidity, and is never used in a good sense.” Some synonyms found for “fear” in Thesaurus.com are: “alarm, anxiety, doubt, timidity, chickenheartedness, panic, cowardice, worry, or jitters.” Do you recognize yourself in these descriptive words? Have you received a spirit that has not been given to you by God?
The root word for the phrase ‘self-control’ (what God gives us by the Holy Spirit) is sophron, which means: curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, and temperate. Isn’t it comforting to know that this is God’s heart for us? To know that He does not want us to live in fear!
We also need to exercise self-control over food, anger, laziness, our time, money and so forth.
Romans 13:14 informs us that we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. This will only be accomplished by our spending time with Him, in His Word, and prayer.
By making choices to obey Him, we train ourselves in self-control. When we ‘train’ ourselves, we train by instruction and exercise (or use). We also bring ourselves to a state of order and obedience, show restraint, and can develop or form habits, thoughts, or behavior by discipline or instruction. We can, with the Spirit’s help make ourselves proficient by instruction and practice.
We need to constantly be aware of the choices we make and choose to deny self and obey Him.
Train yourself to exercise self-control by choosing self-control under the operation of the Spirit of God..
“Better is he who has self-control than he who conquers a city.” Proverbs 16:22 (NLT).
Praise God, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 (NKJV).
I encourage you to share this post with those whom you know could benefit from reading it.
God Bless you as you continue to praise, worship, and honor Him by seeking and choosing to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are taken from the English Standard Bible.
NIV New International Version
NLT New Living Translation
NKJV New King James Version
CSB Christian Standard Bible