Self-Control

Self-Control 

Self-control is a fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us. But does anyone else think that self-control is kind of bizarre? Think about it—self is controlling self. Self, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is being controlled by self that is not under His influence. That is, self, influenced by the world, the flesh, and the devil is at war with self that wants to yield to the control of the Holy Spirit. That yielding to the Holy Spirit is self-control.

Lately I have listened to a few messages that have rocked my world. I highly recommend you listen to them!

One is by my good friend, Chris Hoff, while preaching at Jesus Pursuit Church, Albany, Oregon:

http://www.jesuspursuit.org/podcast//1-25-15%20Chris%20Hoff.mp3

The others are from Mike Bickle’s series: The Millennium: Heaven on Earth:

http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/the-millennium-heaven-on-earth

And the One Thing Conference: 2014:

http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/onething-conference-2014

All these messages emphasize the eternal rewards of God’s people in view of how they lived while on the earth. (See Luke 19:11-27.)

My blog could take a turn here; I could write on many subjects relating to these teachings. Listening to messages like the ones above move us to do great things: conquer worlds, slay demons, invent things, run for office, be the next Mother Theresa or Reinhard Bonnke, etc. But, I want to point to one aspect of ruling and reigning with Christ: Ruling and reigning your own self—self-control.

Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

What God is after are people who know and love Jesus Christ and are yielded to His Spirit. These people will be strong, and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”) Great exploits are not necessarily outward visible taking of cities; maybe, but not necessarily. An example of this is also from Daniel. Daniel 10 tells of how Daniel spent 3 full weeks in mourning and fasting pleasant foods. (I’d say fasting takes self-control.) At the end of the 3 weeks a “man” came to Daniel revealing the warfare taking place while Daniel was fasting. The “man” called Daniel “highly esteemed” twice! Daniel didn’t conquer cities, but he did serve the Lord with whole-hearted devotion right where he was.

I know there is a lot more to Daniel than this one testimony of his fasting experience. Daniel served under 4 kings, was over the sorcerers in Babylon, interpreted dreams, and advised kings. But without self-control and whole-hearted devotion to the Lord Daniel’s story would read much differently. We read of King David—a man after God’s own heart—whose mighty devotion to God woos us all. However, it is hard to read about King David without remembering the tragedy of his lack of self-control. (“...he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”) Moses too. Moses’ lack of self-control cost him entrance into the Promise Land. (“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty…”)

Again, self-control is a product of living under the rule of the Holy Spirit in your life. Anyone who has the Holy Spirit living within them can live in self-control. All it takes is saying “No” to self and “Yes” to the Holy Spirit—very simple, and yet very difficult. The Holy Spirit has empowered us to live under His rule. He has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but we must apprehend them and take them by force.

Titus 2, “It [the grace of God] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”

True riches and rewards belong to those who have lived their lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Those who have followed the Lamb wherever He goes. To those who have made themselves ready. If you are called to the nations, go to the nations. If you are called to raise godly kids and fold clothes, then do it with all your might serving the Lord!

My point is that we call all please the Lord right where we are. Have a dynamic prayer life! Read your Bible! Love the Lord! Love those around you! And if God calls to somewhere else or to something else, then do that with all your heart too.

We can all live in such a way that we hear,“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”