SELF-CONTROL
Self- control is the ninth of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:23. It is the discipline given by GOD through the Holy Spirit to Christians so as to allow them to resist the power of the flesh. God offers us the fruit of the Spirit so we can live a holy life. Self -control is all -encompassing that it serves as a strong foundation for our lives.. It is also referred to as “temperance” which means self -restraint or moderation. It could also be defined as the ability to control one’s thoughts, emotions and actions. It is synonymous with willpower, restraint and self-discipline. Is choosing to give up trying to control things on one’s own, surrendering to God for help and working along side him for real change. It is letting God’s spirit and his word control one’s life.
God has given us the spirit of self- control through the Holy Spirit so as to be able to control our flesh vis a vis our tongue, appetite, sexual urges, lusts and pride of life. Self- control is so broad in scope that it cuts across every thing we do or involve in. For example, to do what one need’s to do at the right or appropriate time needs self -control. To keep quiet under provocation and humiliation, to suppress one’s appetite in the midst of plenty of food even if one is hungry, to run or move away when being seduced by the opposite sex, to not allow the love of money to dominate one’s life and become an idol, sticking to one’s budget, not overreacting to disappointments or challenges, to stand firm and hold fast to one’s faith even when one ‘s life is being threatened, and obedience to God’s law. Hence it is encompassing and cuts across all fields of life.
Any body that has self-control will be able to discipline his or her body, bring it into subjection and do things in moderation. It helps one to regulate one’s behaviour and remain cool headed. It is very essential for living a godly and righteous life.
Benefits of having self -control.
It helps one in decision making.
It helps one to focus and to not be distracted.
It aids greater chance of success in one’s personal, educational,professional, business and ministerial life.
It helps in one’s Christian life as it allows one to be able to resist temptation and overcome self, satan and Sin.
It helps one in time and financial management and also helps to be a good home manager.
It enhances self -esteem and healthier relationships.
It can help one to live a life in a way that honours God and to grow in other attributes of the fruit of the Holy Spirit as listed in Gal 5:22.”Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. “
Brethren, self- control is non negotiable, therefore you are admonished to live a life of self-control because it is profitable, beneficial and rewarding. One who lacks self -control can be likened to a city left without a wall and as such , has no means of defense against enemies. Prov 25:28. Such a person will be unrestrained and ungoverned.
Let us examine some characters who exhibited and acted self-control in the Bible..
Joseph:-Gen 39 :1-12
Joseph son of Jacob was sold into slavery by his brothers to the Ishmaelities. When he was brought to Egypt, Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s Officials , the captain of the guard, bought him and he had to live with him and work for him. The LORD was with Joseph, so that he prospered .The LORD blessed him and also gave him success in everything he did. Because of Joseph, the LORD blessed Potiphar both in the house and in the field. This made Potiphar to leave everything he had in Joseph’s care except the food he ate.
Joseph being well- built and handsome, Potiphar’s wife developed interest in Joseph and said , “Come to bed with me!” Because Joseph had self - control, he refused politely and with reasons and he also has the fear of the Lord, for he did not want to sin against God. Despite his polite refusal, Potiphar‘s wife wouldn’t allow Joseph to rest as she spoke to him day after day. Still , Joseph exhibited self -control and refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Even when no one was around the house
and she thought it was an opportune time to have Joseph , she caught Joseph by his cloak and said “Come to bed with me!” Gen 39:11. Joseph being self-controlled left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Despite so much pressure put on him by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph did not succumb, for he disciplined himself, put his own body under subjection in holiness and honour and he exhibited high sense of self-control. Joseph’s demonstration of self control is worthy of emulation.
Nehemiah:-Neh 2-6
Nehemiah was so moved by the desolation of Jerusalem that he gave up his job as a cupbearer to king Artaxerxes of Persia to go and repair the walls of Jerusalem with some of his men. He met with great opposition and challenges. But despite being despised and humiliated, he remained focused , prayerful and he fully exhibited self-control . Because he was self controlled, he did not allow himself to be distracted. He said “I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days, I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.”Neh 2:11-12.
Here he demonstrated a high sense of self -control, was able to control his tongue by not revealing to anyone what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem.
Also, Sanballat in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria despised Nehemiah and said “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble- burned as they are?”Neh 4:2. Despite all that Sanballat said, Nehemiah exhibited self-control and did not say a word. And to further worsen the situation,Tobiah the Ammonite, who was on Sanballat ‘s side said”
“What are they building- If even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”Neh4:3.
Brethren, despite these two men’s blasphemy and in the presence of their associates, Nehemiah did not respond, he controlled his emotions and he went to God in prayer as follows. “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.” Neh4:4-5. What a great self-control? He just turned to God and not to the blasphemers.
Nehemiah chose to surrender to God for help through prayer and was able to control his thoughts,emotions, and actions through self- control. With his allies, the wall was completed in fifty -two days. What a great lesson to learn from Nehemiah’s ability to exhibit self-control.
Brethren, God gives us the ability of self-control through the Holy Spirit. For it to be functional, one has to retain and live it with the help of the giver. May the Lord help us to grow with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Brethren, without Self-control, it may be difficult to exhibit the remaining components of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, be accomplished and live a fulfilled Christian life.
Nehemiah was able to and his ability to exhibit self - control is worthy of emulation.
Brethren, you are enjoined to life a live of Self-control. May I add that if you do, other good things will be added unto you, and you shall be fulfilled.
Daniel:-1:8-20.
Daniel was one of those taken captive to Babylon from Judah when King Nebuchadnezzar came to besiege Jerusalem. The king ordered chief of his court officials to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites captured. Those from the royal family and nobility, young men without any physical defect, trainable, well informed and qualified, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.So Daniel was among those chosen from Judah and they were to train for three years.The four men from Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Interestingly enough, the chief official gave them new names Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach; and Abednego respectively. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from his table. But Daniel resolved to not defile himself with the royal food and wine and he specifically asked the chief official for permission to not defile himself this way.
Daniel exhibited self-control by rejecting the king’s food and wine.The official pleaded with him and even told him that if the king saw him looking worse than the other young men of his age, the king would deal with him by having his head cut because of Daniel. But Daniel was undaunted and insisted on having vegetables to eat and water to drink. He was able to control his appetite despite the availability of king’s delicacies. He was so strong willed, remained undaunted and maintained his stand. So the official had to be serving him vegetables and water only, for so long a period.
Daniel practiced self-control and deliberately chose to resist the temptation of indulging in eating the choice food of the king.
Brethren, do you know that Daniel with the other three men who joined him in eating vegetables and drinking water looked healthier and better nourished at the end of the ten days. To only these four men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds which perhaps are the rewards given to him by God for exhibiting self-control and not defiling himself.
Self-control has a lot of benefits as we can see with the case of Daniel. May our belly not become an idol to us in Jesus name. He was able to put his belly to subjection; he suppressed his appetite and exhibited self -control. He was also able to influence positively the other three men from Judah.
Jesus:-Matt:4:1-11.
The mother of them all is the self -control demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ while on earth.
Jesus is the ultimate model of self- control when he strongly resisted satan’s temptations with the word of God in the wilderness. Thrice, he was tempted by the devil after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry, and the devil came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” One would have thought that in the face of food deprivation due to the prolonged fasting, Jesus Christ would succumb. Indeed it is the usual ploy of Satan to test us when in some form of deprivation. Only self discipline through the Holy Spirit can make us overcome. Jesus countered him with the word of God that “Man shall not live on bread alone , but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, “he said throw yourself down.”Jesus countered the devil with the word of God. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” “If you will bow down down and worship me.” That was most enticing. Jesus however countered him the third time with the word of God. “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Despite all the temptations and promises the devil promised, Jesus stood his ground and demonstrated ultimate model of self-control.
Jesus did this to show us that we too can, and should exercise a high degree of self- control in whatever situation or circumstances we find ourselves. And if Joseph, Nehemiah and Daniel could, we too should be able to. And actually, the Bible enjoins us to live self-controlled lives in this present age.Titus2:12b .May the Lord help us to do so.
Brethren, to be able to continuously exhibit self-control, one needs the help of the Holy Spirit.
One needs to equip self with the word of God, by studying it and then applying it.
To never devil oneself and to avoid sin.
One should avoid sin, and live a holy life.
One needs to be disciplined and also pray without ceasing.
Prayer.-
Ability to live a life of self-control has been given to us from above. Father, grant me the grace to retain, live , exhibit and act it in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
