In my November 4th posting I wrote about the Fruit of the
Holy Spirit. These Gifts of the Spirit
are nine Godly virtues which the Holy Spirit gives to the believer when His
Spirit enters into man’s spirit. I will
write about the ninth gift first and go backward, one Fruit at a time.
Self-control in a person’s life is an attribute of will
power and discipline. In the King James
Version of the Bible self-control is called temperance, meaning
self-restraint. Everyone faces
temptations. The Holy Spirit’s gift of
self-control enables us to resist temptations and to make Godly choices for our
lives. God’s indwelling strength and
presence give us the power to overcome our natural (human nature) spirit.
Just as our faith matures, the gifts of the Spirit will
mature, grow, and become more evident in our lives as we walk our life’s
spiritual journey. Growth is a
process. The Holy Spirit teaches us and
gives us wisdom and increased self-control.
We must grow in the word, trust God, and be obedient. As God’s Spirit transforms us we can see the
manifestations of a self controlled life in our choices and attitudes.
Jesus said in Matthew 26:4, “The (human) spirit (attitude
and actions) indeed is willing but the flesh (human will power) is weak.” I want God to be in control of my will and my
heart. God’s gift of self-control to us
as believers is the key to overcoming many of our human struggles and
habits. We can overcome the flesh with
God’s Spiritual gifts; His strength, His presence, and His power.
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