Week 10 ~ The boundaries of self-control
Truth Verses
Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
2 Peter 1:5-9 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral
excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and
in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness,
brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love
Titus 1:8 loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled
Truth Story
One of the most powerful testimonies of our modern age is the one I heard first-hand from Nicky Cruz. Nicky Cruz was a hardened violent street kid in New York City and leader of the dreaded and violent Mau Mau gang. However under the ministry of David Wilkerson he encountered Jesus Christ and experienced a radical change in his once dark and hopeless life. His story tells of his progression from being an unloved child to being alone on the streets of NY, to becoming gang leader and then being apprehended by the Lord Jesus Christ, who wrought a powerful and amazing conversion in his heart. Like the Apostle Paul, Nicky's story is one that graphically explains how the Holy Spirit changes lives by changing thinking - turning a life mastered by the enemy of our souls to that of a disciple of Jesus, governed by His Word and his ways.
Truth Unpacked
The last of the three traits of the Spirit is self-control. This final personal virtue is one focused on mastering our “personal desires and passions, especially sensual appetites”(Strong's). Self-control or temperance understands the importance of boundaries. If a flowing river does not have banks it becomes a flood. If a fire isn't contained in a fireplace it becomes wildfire and burns the house down.
Sadly, I have had friends who have wreaked devastation to their family relationships by removing agreed boundaries. Contrastingly I have witnessed blessings that flow in Spirit and Word governed lives.
Just as there would be mayhem and carnage on our roads if the Highway Code weren’t followed, removal of Gods guidelines can lead to relational meltdown.
Relationship breakups can however be prevented by a mindset shift. Instead of viewing Gods commands as optional extras, it's crucial to view them as obligatory and deserving of our obedience.
The seven “cardinal or deadly sins” are given as wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. Each is a form of self-idolatry in which the subjective rules over the objective.
These, along with other vices, have often been the 'achilles heel’ that sadly destroyed so many relationships. These self-destructive choices have often led to breakups and breakdowns.
Martin Luther King Jr said: “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”.
Therefore when the scripture prescribes us to renew our thinking, it's crucial to firstly "put off" old thinking where self is king. This mind renewal offered by Gods revelation to us through the Bible demands us to "put on" the values of our new ruler - King Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-24). Sub-mission is coming under His mission! “King-Dom” is becoming a subject or coming under the dominion of Christ as King.
Therefore in our quest to become more like Jesus, self-control is also a characteristic imparted and governed and by the Spirit.
Self-control is not just an optional idea, but rather an obligatory ideal that brings order, freedom and wellbeing to our lives.
Quote
Reign in me, sovereign Lord, reign in me,
Reign in me, sovereign Lord, reign in me.
Captivate my heart,
Let Your Kingdom come,
Establish there Your throne,
Let Your will be done!
Reign in me, sovereign Lord, reign in me,
Reign in me, sovereign Lord, reign in me"
(Song: Reign in me by Chris Bowater 1985)
Lectio Divina [Prayer reading]
Pray, read and reflect.
• Have those that are willing pray, asking that the Holy Spirit would help them hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Read the scriptures again.
• Then go around the room [allowing for ‘neighbour nudging’ to let people opt out should they not want to share]. Have everyone willing then reflect, acknowledging one thing they sense the Holy Spirit is saying to them as they read.
Pray, reinforce and contemplate.
• Close the connect group time by praying that the Spirit would help empower everyone to demonstrate Jesus-like characteristic of self-control.
• Reinforce this by participating in a symbolic gesture or creative activity that does something to express your desire to receive this change (e.g. Share one or more area(s) that the Holy Spirit has been emphasizing during these 10 sessions. Then receive prayer-ministry by having some people lay hands on you (1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22).
• Ask everyone to contemplate how he or she can demonstrate these characteristics in their everyday lives.
