YES GOD LOVES US BUT HE WANTS TO PRODUCE DISCIPLINE IN US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16-24 (ESV)
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.
All the fruits need each other but they all are in step with self control! It’s easier to love, be joyful, walk in peace, exercise patience, be kind, be good, and remain faithful if you are allowing the Holy Spirit to produce in us self control
The fruit of the Spirit is the direct result of the life of Christ ministered to the believer by the Spirit: “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:11). For spiritual fruit is the outcome of the life of unbroken and full communion with Christ. “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit” (John 15:5)
- Donald Gee (From Fruits of the Spirit)
We can operate in self control or discipline with the help of our helper!
John 14:26 (ESV)
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.
Psalm 141:3-4 (ESV)
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
Titus 2:11–14 (ESV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
SELF CONTROL IS GIVING UP THE CONTROLS TO GOD! LET HIM SET THE STANDARD & THE AGENDA!
TO HAVE THE FRUIT THE GROUND MUST BE CULTIVATED
Cultivate:
to loosen or break up the soil about; to improve by labor, care, or study
Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
For fruit to happen things have to break! The soil breaks for the seed and the seed breaks for life to come forth!
THIS FRUIT CAN’T ONLY BE AGREED WITH - IT MUST BE APPLIED
Romans 8:26 (ESV)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
God desires this fruit to be generational. When we let the Holy Spirit create disciplines including self control in us and we walk as His disciples our kids learn how to properly follow Him. The seed is in the fruit. We reproduce what we are.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Practical Applications of Self Control (discipline):
- Resisting Temptation
- Speech (my tongue)
- Anger Management
- Purity & Holiness
- Finances (tithes)
- Time Management
- Healthy Living
- Forgiveness
- Humility
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Relationships
- Contentment