Feb27-Mar5: The Fruit of the Spirit Is Self-Control

Teaching Points

1. What are some Biblical examples of self control?

ANSWER:

• Genesis 39:7-20—Joseph refused to indulge or even be near temptation.
• Daniel 1:8—Daniel purposed not to defile himself.
• Matthew 4:1-11—Jesus would not be moved from God’s word.
• 1Corinthians 9:24-27—Paul disciplined himself to run the race of life.

2. What are some Biblical examples lacking self-control?  

ANSWER:

• Judges 13-16—Samson destroyed himself by his lust.
• 1 Samuel 25:3-37—Abigail’s husband hot tempered and drinking
• Daniel 5—Belshazzar’s feast
• Leviticus 1:1, 2, 9-11—Nadab and Abihu apparently drank, then tried to do holy work, but their ability to distinguish between holy and unholy was gone. 

3. What is the definition of Temperance or Self-control?

ANSWER:

•  “Temperate” Strong’s Greek: G4998—safe or sound in mind; self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion); discreet sober. G1467—to exercise self-restraint (in diet and chastity) “Temperance” Strong’s Greek: G1466—self-control; Thayer—self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites).

OBSERVATION:

• Self-control or temperance is connected to having a sound mind, being sober, being unmoved by pulls from outside stimuli, having mastery over appetites, passions, or everything in our lives!
• In the Bible, self-control is vital to being successful in overcoming temptation—those with self-control succeeded and those who were weak did not.
• We have two options: we can let our appetites and passions control what we think and do, or we can (through Christ’s strength) gain control over our passions and appetites directing what we think and do.
• Those who had self-control based their decisions on what they knew was right and stood firm not playing with temptation.

4. In the temptation of Christ, what was it that gave Him the strength to resist temptation?

ANSWER:

• Matthew 4:4—Christ said, “It is written.” The Word of God gave Him the strength to resist.  

5. What is the key that will give us success in self-control?

ANSWER:

• Psalm 119:11—Hiding God’s Word in our heart will help keep us from sin.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5—Bringing every thought into captivity to Christ’s will.
• Psalm 1—Meditating day and night on God’s law.
• John 15:5—Without Christ we cannot succeed.

OBSERVATION:

• Christ was hungry. He could have justified making bread to satisfy His hunger but instead He chose to wait on His Father and yielding to His Father’s will. He mastered His desires.
• Christ overcame by the Word of God. He refused to do anything outside of God’s will.
• We too can gain victory by bringing our lives into line with God’s word and choosing to live in complete obedience to God’s will.
• First, we need to study God’s word to know His will. Second, we need to act on His will, bringing our thoughts and actions under His control. Finally, as we surrender and cooperate with Christ, we will have victory and be self-controlled.
• It is through constant submission to Our Father in heaven that we can develop true self-control.                                                                                                

THOUGHT QUESTIONS:

• How does Jesus example teach us how to have self-control?
• Why does God want us to develop self-control?
• Why do you believe it is important that self-control be listed in the fruits of the Spirit?
• How can we cooperate in this process?

6.  What guidelines does God give us for our thoughts according to Philippians 4:8?

ANSWER:

• Whatever is pure, true, honest, just, good report, virtuous, lovely think on these things.

7.  How can we develop this type of self-control in our thoughts? 

ANSWER:

• Romans 12:1, 2—presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice (total surrender of our will to God) and becoming transformed by the renewing of our mind.
• Our mind must be renewed.
• Psalm 51:10—pray for this renewing of the mind—the word spirit here is a reference to the mind.  
• Titus 3:5—the washing of regeneration and renewing of our mind comes by the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 5:26—the washing is also by the Word. The Holy Spirit uses the word to cleanse our minds. (See also Psalm 119:9-11.) 

8. Read Philippians 2:12, 13. What do these verses reveal about the power available for us to aid in this renewing of our mind?

ANSWER:

• Work out your own salvation...
• It is God that works in you
• This is cooperation of human and divine effort. In order for us to develop all the fruits of the spirit, submitting our will to Christ.

OBSERVATION:

• God’s word gives us the basis for self-control. When we learn God’s standards and surrender ourselves with a willing heart to follow, the Holy Spirit will work in us and empower us to bring our minds under the control of Christ. When this happens, we are in the process of transformation so vital to becoming a temperate or self-controlled person.
• It is only as we surrender our will to Christ that we can have it strengthened to become unmovable.
• In Philippians 2:5 we see letting Christ’s mind of humility is related to this working out our own salvation in verse 12. Then we are reminded, in verse 13, that God is the One working in us to transform us to this mind. Humbly submitting ourselves in obedience to the will of God is the key to have God’s power working in us to enable us to obey and have the desire to do His will.

SOP:

• Meekness in the school of Christ is one of the marked fruits of the Spirit. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit as a sanctifier, and enables its possessor at all times to control a rash and impetuous temper. When the grace of meekness is cherished by those who are naturally sour or hasty in disposition, they will put forth the most earnest efforts to subdue their unhappy temper. Every day they will gain self-control, until that which is unlovely and unlike Jesus is conquered. They become assimilated to the Divine Pattern, until they can obey the inspired injunction, "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."  {RH, January 18, 1881 par. 20}
• The gospel of Christ is to be wrought into our every-day experience. The mind must be in a state to appreciate the divine claims of the gospel. It must be girded about, and disciplined to habits of self-control and obedience. If we open our Bibles with a spirit out of harmony with its sacred principles, we shall not be likely to bring from our research the spirit which it should impart. The true Bible reader finds that the teachings of the living oracles cast "down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Satan has great power over the soul, to drag it down to a low level. Those who really want to learn of Christ will have to empty the soul of all its proud imaginings, that there may be room to enthrone him there. Clothed in the robes of humility, we must take our places as children at his feet, to learn of his meekness and lowliness.  {RH, December 18, 1888 par. 12

• Life is in all cases burdened with weighty responsibilities, and happy will it be for those who brace themselves to meet it manfully, with Christ-like steadfastness resisting every temptation, with Christ-like fortitude bearing every trial, and overcoming in the name of the Redeemer. God has made man capable of constant progress in mental and moral worth. No other creature of His hand is capable of such advancement. Man can reach an eminence in self-control that will place him above the slavery of appetite and passions, where he can stand before God with thankfulness and rejoicing.  {ST, January 30, 1901 par. 8} 

 CONCLUSION:

• Those in the Bible who made a commitment or “purposed not to defile themselves” succeded in mastering self.  
• Those who did not make a solid decision to obey God at any cost did not master themselves.
• The key to success is learning what God’s word says and bringing our lives into harmony—making a commitment that we will obey God regardless of circumstances—not alone but with God’s help.
• Jesus lived “by every Word.”
• Surrendering ourselves humbly to Christ to cooperate in this transformation is vital to success.
• Both humility and self-control are closely related because we must have humility to realize our need and surrender to be empowered to have self-control.
• It is through constant surrender to the will of Our Father in Heaven that we can develop self-control.
• As in all the fruits of the Spirit, self-control is a growing process—it must be developed.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• How meek are you under provocation?
• Are you unmoved when circumstances are pulling you to let go of God and give in to temptation?
• How are you demonstrating self-control in your words and actions?  
• Do you line up with Philippians 4:8?
• Do you want to be faithful as Daniel or weak as Samson?
• Are you committed to humbly realize your need, surrender to Christ, and claim His strength for victory so that you can have self-control?
• Are you willing to ask God for self-control—to have a sound mind and master your appetites and passions?