Sunday's Message: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - A Look at Galatians 5:22-23 (Self-control)

On Friday, August 12, SPC had its annual Summer Day Camp entitled “Big Heart Farms: Where God’s Fruit Grows.” During the day, the children looked at Galatians 5:22-23 and talked about the Fruit of the Spirit. Building on this theme, during nine of our worship services, we’ll consider how we can integrate this fruit into our own lives. We’ll focus on the following qualities:

• August 14 - Love
• August 21 - Joy
• August 28 - Peace
• September 4 - Patience
• September 11 - Kindness
• September 18 - Goodness
• September 25 - Faithfulness
• October 2 - Gentleness
• October 9 - Self-control

And so, as we move into the Fall, let’s talk about how we might cultivate the most important crop of all, the Fruit of the Spirit.

In this ninth message, we considered self-control as a spiritual fruit. The sermon text and podcast is below:

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Well, this morning we’re tying up this series that we started back in August. And you remember August: back when the temperature was in the nineties and when both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts were undefeated and when they were just starting to put out the Halloween decorations in Walmart. Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? Well, today we’re putting to bed Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: A Look at Galatians 5:22-23, that nine week series based on these two verses from Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. [Galatians 5:22-23, NRSVUE]

Of course, that means we’ve already looked at the first eight spiritual fruits, starting with love, something we said is essential and active and Godly, and then joy, something that’s given and empowering and contagious. We’ve talked about peace and how it can change our perspective of God and others and ourselves and then we talked about patience, a quality that we all know is important and that we can develop when we decide to pause and to trust, to pray and to act. And we discussed kindness, how it’s a quality of God and not in our nature either to do or to accept and yet it’s something that God still wants us to show, and that’s possible when we make the decision to stop being jerks and to start being as useful and helpful as possible and then we looked at goodness, a characteristic that God wants us again to show and that may demand that we overcome some obstacles to get there and that is actually demonstrated when we help one another. And then we considered faithfulness and how it involves us deciding, focusing, resisting, and living and then gentleness, a characteristic of Christ and something Christians are encouraged to show and one that benefits both the one who shows it and the one who receives it, something that happens when we’re humble and empathic and patient. Now that’s what we’ve been talking about these last eight weeks. And remember, if you missed one of the messages or would like to hear one again, you can find both the sermons and the services on our Facebook page, YouTube channel and church blog.

And so this morning, we’re going to look at the last spiritual fruit in Paul’s list: self-control. And I’ll tell you, I think that’s really appropriate to talk about, especially as we move through October, because we’re entering a time of year when I find self-control really challenging. You see, I really like food. In fact, when I was younger, I sort of lived by this principle: If I’d see it, I’d eat it. And since I never gained weight, self-control was irrelevant. But here lately, let me tell you, it most certainly is. In fact, now-a-days, if I eat it, man, I see it, later, right around my waist and over my belt. How the world has changed! And I’ll tell you, that’s what makes self-control during the fall so challenging, because not only do we have Halloween, but we’ve got our gluttonous remembrance of our Pilgrim fathers and mothers and that diabetes-inducing celebration of our Savior’s birth. And I haven’t even mentioned the homemade soup and noodle fix I’m getting right here. It’s too much for one man to handle, at least, this one man.

But I think we all know that our struggle with self-control isn’t limited to one time of year or one particular temptation. As a matter of fact, I think this deficiency is a major problem in our country now-a-days. And I’m not alone. A couple of days ago, I was talking to a teacher I know, and she told me that it seems as though children and adolescents in our society are having a hard time controlling their emotions and actions. And to deal with that, a lot of educators have come to the conclusion that teaching kids about their feelings and self-regulation may be as important to their development as academics. In fact, she even suggested that it might be a good idea for adults to look at themselves and consider how we’re controlling certain things in our own lives, some as dangerous as alcohol and drugs and gambling and others as basic as food and spending and making inappropriate comments. But they all involve our own self-control. Now that’s what she told, and I’ll tell you, I think she’s 100% right. You see, in my opinion, whether we like it or not, controlling ourselves is an issue for most folks, including Christians.

And so, with that in mind, we’re going to spend some time talking about self-control this morning. And to do that, we’re going to use the Bible to answer three questions: first, what is self-control; and second, why is self-control important; and third, how can we strengthen it in our own lives? Now that’s what we’re going to be doing for the next ten minutes or so. 

And of course, it starts with question number one: what is self-control? In other words, according to what we find in scripture, what does it mean to exercise some control over ourselves? Now that’s the question. And I think, according to the Bible, there are two things we can say. I mean, self-control is clearly a gift from God. And I think that’s really Paul’s point in listing it as a Fruit of the Spirit. As a matter of fact, this is how they translated Galatians 5:22-23 in the Contemporary English Version:

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. [Galatians 5:22-23, CEV]

And then Paul continued the passage by writing this:

And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. [Galatians 5:24-25, CEV]

And so, I think we can say self-control is a gift from God. It’s an ability he’s given us to develop and to show.

And I’ll tell you, it’s shown when we take control of ourselves. As a matter of fact, the Greek word that Paul used here is the same word used in other places to describe what happens when an army takes possession of a fort or a city. Now, that’s control. And you know, it has this same meaning when applied to a person. For example, in that story from Genesis, after Joseph had been appointed by Pharaoh to be his second-in-command, Joseph’s brothers came to him asking for food. And although they didn’t recognize him, he recognized them. And using this same word, this is what the writer of Genesis said: 

Then, because of his love for Benjamin, he rushed off to his room and cried. After washing his face and returning, he was able to control himself and said, “Serve the meal!” [Genesis 43:30-31, CEV]

You see, according to the Bible, this gift of self-control is just that, the ability to control ourselves, certainly emotionally but I believe also physically and spiritually. Now, for me, that’s what it is.

Which leads to question number two: Why is self-control important, you know, important for us? And again, I think you can break the answer into two parts. You see, it’s certainly something God wants us to develop and to show. Good night nurse, for me, that’s the reason he gave us the ability in the first place. For example, this was what Paul wrote to Titus about the kind of people who should be leading the church:

Church officials are in charge of God’s work, and so they must also have a good reputation. They must not be bossy, quick-tempered, heavy drinkers, bullies, or dishonest in business. Instead, they must be friendly to strangers and enjoy doing good things. They must also be sensible, fair, pure, and self-controlled. [Titus 1:7-8, CEV]

You see, this is a characteristic God wants us to develop and to demonstrate. And that’s one reason it’s important.

But it’s also something that enables us to do what God has called us to do. In other words, self-control isn’t an end in and of itself. Instead, it’s the means to an end. It’s a quality that empowers us to accomplish something else. For example, just listen to how self-control can improve our faith:

Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. [2 Peter 1:5-8, CEV]

Now that’s what Peter wrote in his second letter, and so having self-control is a good thing for the faithful. But if it’s not present, well, consider this from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

My advice for the unmarried and for widows is that it is acceptable for them to remain single, just as I am. But if you don’t have enough self-control, then go ahead and get married. After all, it is better to marry than to burn with desire. [1 Corinthians 7:8-9, CEV] 

I mean, let’s get real, who here this morning wants “to burn with desire,” especially since the Steelers kick-off at 1:00? No, I think we can say that self-control is something God wants us to strengthen and to show and that it enables us to do what God has called and equipped us to do. And this is why it’s important.

And that leaves us with question number three, the last question I’ll ask in this series: How can we strengthen our self-control? I mean, how can we claim this gift and use it to control ourselves a little better than we do right now? And how can we show that we’re serious about becoming what God wants us to be and doing what God wants us to do? How can we strengthen our self-control? Now that’s the question.

And to answer it, we’re going to look at what the Apostle Paul had to say, also in his first letter to the Corinthians, a passage that not only reinforces why self-control is important, but also shows us how we might claim and strengthen it in our own lives. This was what Paul wrote:

You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. I don’t run without a goal. And I don’t box by beating my fists in the air. I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won’t lose out after telling the good news to others. [1 Corinthians 9:24-27, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul wrote. You see, for him, the Christian life is sort of like a race, with a crown, a trophy that’s both clear and eternal. But we’re not going to get there if we take our eyes off the prize. And we’re not going to get there if we waste a lot of energy running willy-nilly all over the place. And we’re not going to get there if we forget that we’re not running the race alone. You see, like a finely tuned athlete, man, we need to keep ourselves under control. At least, that’s what Paul told the Corinthians

And I’ll tell you, I think his advice is as good for us as it was for them. You see, I believe our self-control grows when we focus our attention, you know, when our purpose and priorities are plain and our goals and objectives are clear. And you know, as Christians, I’m not sure there’s any focus better than the last words Jesus spoke to his disciples according to the Evangelist Matthew:

Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. [Matthew 28:18-20, CEV]

Now that’s a focus we can claim. But that’s not all we can do to strengthen our self-control. 

You see, we can also avoid the distractions, the temptations that can grab our attention, I’m talking about all the stuff of life that can get us off track and that can lead us to start chasing rabbits across a field. I’ll tell you, I think it’s recognizing that James certainly had a point when he wrote this:

God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.

Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.

Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. [James 1:12-16, CEV]

In other words, when distractions come up, we can do the same thing that Jesus did with Peter when his number one apostle tried to convince him to stop talking about the cross.

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Satan, get away from me! You’re in my way because you think like everyone else and not like God.” [Matthew 16:23, CEV]

Now, that’s exactly how we can avoid distractions.

And finally, to build up our self-control, we can seek out help when we need it. You know, we’re not running this race alone. Like an athlete has a coach, we have someone who will help us stay focused and avoid distractions. And you know, he’s the same one who said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” [Matthew 11:28-29, CEV] Oh yeah, Christ is with us every step of the way. And the people in the stands, cheering us on, listen to what the writer of the letter to the Hebrews said:

Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up. [Hebrews 12:1-3, CEV]

You see, by focusing our attention and by avoiding the distractions and by seeking out help, man, that’s how we strengthen our self-control.

And now we’re done. We’ve covered the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul talked about in Galatians. And so we know what they are, these gifts given to us by God. They include love and joy and peace, patience and kindness and goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and of course, self-control. You see, God has already planted these seeds within each one of us. And now, well, now it’s our responsibility to cultivate them and to watch them grow.