"Learning the art of Self-Control" (Galatians 5:22-23)

Our passage says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Apostle Paul has listed nine different manifestations of love! This is because each manifestation results from being loving! In John 3:5-8, we're told that as Christ followers, we came to spiritual life (born again) by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Since we came into this new life by the work of the Holy Spirit, it stands to reason that in order to develop, mature, and grow in this new life, we must learn to walk in step with the Holy Spirit! Galatians 5:25 confirms this. It says, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." So, what about self-control? What is it? Essentially, self-control is "The ability or enablement to govern one's personal life so that we're neither compelled nor dominated by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the boastful pride of life." Apostle John says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the boastful pride of life, IS NOT FROM THE FATHER, but is from the world" (1 John 2:16). We must embrace and understand that these three things listed by apostle John are those forces in the heart of man that serve to energize our behavior patterns! It's to these inner forces that the world system appeals to promote a way of life that seeks to exist apart from the Lord Jesus Christ! The significance of self-control can be seen in the news media which graphically portray how the LACK OF self-control impacts our society for evil! Just take a casual glance at the evening news! People are behaving like brute beasts! Self-control affects many areas of the Christ follower's life. It affects how we manage our time; what we do with our money; our ability to stand against temptation, and the development of godliness in our lives! It's that important! Let me close with a short story. In a grocery store, a young husband was minding his baby while his wife was making a purchase. The baby was irritable and screaming loudly, but the father seemed quite controlled as he quietly said, "Easy now Albert, control your temper!" A woman passing by said, "Sir, I must applaud you! You seem to know just how to speak to a baby." "Baby nothing," the husband said. "My name is Albert!" Your move. Be self-controlled!