Unpopular Fruit

For years I attended a church that was big into the Spirit, and week after week these people would pray over one another. Most of them for circumstances they controlled. Essentially they prayed that God would undo the results of their own behavior. The Bible is very clear, you reap what you sow.

I want to talk about an unpopular aspect of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22b But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control

Self-control

Did you catch that? A fruit of the Spirit, that all saints have, is self-control. Now many of us are not exercising self control, but we who have His Spirit within us have self-control. It is just part of the beginner pack you get as a new Christian. Unfortunately, its also the part that most of us disregard. For many of us it is the missing element of an abundant life.

Today I would like you to focus on that aspect of the Spirit, and how you can use it for God's glory. There is no reason at all that you cannot experience success in any area of your life utilizing self-control. If you get this, you understand that there are no more excuses. You can study the word more diligently. You can focus more on your family, job, or anything else.You can stay away from junk foods and loose weight. You can do anything, because you have "self-control".

1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

If people will exercise self-control in a lesser pursuits like games, how much more should we peruse that which glorifies God. Look at your self, do you glorify God? Do you glorify God in your home, at work, and in all areas of your life? Or do you have no self control...do you give into the flesh every time it calls? Maybe it is time for self reflection.

2Ti 3:1-4 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

Is that a better picture of you? If so Repent.

Let this verse be a road map to your succes:
2Pe 1:5-9 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins

I pray that you may see that God has given you self control, and that you will exercise it for His glory.

Amen