THE FRUIT OF TEMPERANCE. Cultivating and developing temperance will give you divine strength to control yourself in the ways that are pleasing to God.

Transcription

1 THE FRUIT OF TEMPERANCE Cultivating and developing temperance will give you divine strength to control yourself in the ways that are pleasing to God. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Amplified Bible Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (selfrestraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Temperance is moderation in the indulgence of appetites and passions. The various powers bestowed by God upon mankind are capable of abuse. The right use of these powers demands the controlling power of your will under the operation of the Spirit of God. The opposite of temperance is drunkenness, greed, covetousness, reveling, sensuality and pride. 0

2 TEMPERANCE Stability Steadiness Constraint Evenness Forbearance Prudence Moderation Sober Judiciousness Self-discipline Self-control Continent Masterful Strong, robust Nothing in excess Controlling one s appetite Exhibit self-government Keeping within bounds Having power over Eating to live, not living to eat 1. Temperance comes from the Greek word egkrateia, which means self-control or continence. Egkrateia is derived from the Greek word kratos, meaning strength. Kratos is translated power in the second half of Ephesians 1, verse 19. Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. The same strength and power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you today as a fruit of the Spirit. 1

3 2. The fruit of self-control enables you to crucify the flesh. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 3. The supernatural seed of strength and self-control must be cultivated in order for it to produce overcoming power by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. In First Corinthians 9:25, temperate is used figuratively of the rigid self-control practiced by athletes in training with a view to gaining the prize. This passage of Scripture explains that every man who strives in the matches trains himself by all manner of self-restraint, and anyone who enters a contest goes into strict training. Temperance means to exercise self-restraint in diet and chastity, as well as to contain oneself. Subjection in First Corinthians 9:27 means to be a slave driver, to enslave and to subdue. Castaway means worthless, disapproved and rejected. The Apostle Paul kept his body under control so that he himself would not be a castaway. 2

4 Chastity fredom from sexual impurity, purity in thoughts, holy, purity, fredom from admixture of evil, freedom from defilement 4. Sin does not lie in the temptation to sin, but in yielding to sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. The children of Israel were overcome in four areas of the lust of the flesh idolatry, fornication, murmuring and tempting Christ. Covetousness is the same as idolatry. Colossian 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. God commanded people in the Old Testament not to bow down and serve idols. Serve in Hebrew means to work (in any sense), to enslave and to keep in bondage. 3

5 It is possible for Christians to allow the work they are doing for God to become an idol. They can become enslaved to the work and not allow the Holy Spirit to guide and flow through them as He desires. Serving an idol through covetousness is equivalent to bowing down to a graven image. Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Worship and service can be measured by how much time, effort and expense you give to: a. God b. A blessing that God gave you c. Other things God s provisions that can be abused include: a. Sleep b. Food c. Prosperity d. Desire for things e. Other areas of life that have been misprioritized or misused Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 4

6 Seditions in Galatians 5:20 are incitements and resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority. It includes resistance to God and God-ordained authorities, as well as children obeying parents, husband as head of the family unit and government authorities. Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your 0wn husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 5

7 5. Temperance aids believers in resisting the temptation to murmur. 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 6. You must yield to the Spirit in order to develop the fruit of temperance. Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 7. It is only when your inner man (spirit) is strong that your flesh can be brought under control! Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. 8. Speaking in tongues builds you up by building up your inner man. 1 Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 6

8 9. Praise strengthens the inner man. Psalms 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 10. Your body must be under control before you can let the perfect will of God come through your life. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 11. Paul's sum of God's requirements as he preaches to Felix (administrator of Judea) included temperance. Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 7

9 12. Temperance is included among the Christian attributes of Second Peter 1:5 10, which says, "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. The verses in Second Peter 1:5-12 are speaking of being firmly established in the truth that you now hold, of being a steadfast believer in the truth that you possess and of being well-grounded in the truth that has already reached you. 8

10 Amplified Bible 2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), 6 And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), 7 And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. 8 For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall. 11 Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So I intend always to remind you about these things, although indeed you know them and are firm in the truth that [you] now [hold]. 9

11 13. Requirements for a bishop include temperance. Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate. 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach. Circumspectly perfectly, diligently, live the gospel by watching your conduct, walk about watching on every hand to avoid danger 14. All Christians should be sober-minded. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Sober in First Thessalonians 5:8 means continent, of a sound mind, conformed to the mind of Christ, keeping yourself in hand, strong in a thing, masterful abstemious, prudent and displays self-control in appetites, words and actions. It is also to be circumspect (walk without stumbling), to abstain from wine, to be in right mind and self-controlled. Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Moderation in Philippians 4:5 means to be forbearing, mild, considerate, reasonable, patient and gentle. 10

12 15. Christians are told to walk circumspectly. Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. In Ephesians 5:15, circumspectly means: a. Look carefully how you walk. b. Take heed that you walk strictly. c. See that you walk without stumbling. d. Live life with a due sense of responsibility. 16. Incontinency is a lack of temperance. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Incontinent want of self-restraint, excess, without self-control, no control of appetites or passions 11

13 Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Satan wants you to be out of control so he can control you. God wants you to be in control of yourself and to choose the right way of your own free will. 17. God gives us a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear means cowardice, to shrink from danger and timidity. Sound means self-control, self-discipline, self-restraint, wise discretion, calm and well-balanced. Another way to translate Second Timothy 1:7 is to say that God has given us a spirit of power, love, a calm and wellbalanced mind, discipline and self-control, and inspires strength, love and self-discipline. 18. Do not let your hearts be overcharged. Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Overcharged overpowered lest your minds ever be dulled Surfeiting excessive eating 12

14 See to it that your minds are never clouded. Cares of life, drunkenness, and overeating can dull your mind. Develop the quality of prudence in your life. 19. Prudence is practical wisdom and insight. Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. Prudence is to: behave be considerate be an expert be prosperous be skillful and have good success be circumspect and intelligent guide wittingly have practical wisdom and insight 20. Exercising self-control is more important than great, physical accomplishments. God thinks more highly of a person that is in control of himself than He does of a person that is able to accomplish great physical feats, but lacks self-control. Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. 13

15 21. Maintaining calmness promotes health. Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. Amplified Bible Proverbs 14:30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy and wrath are as rottenness of the bones. 22. Do not let circumstances control you. Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Amplified Bible Philippians 4:11 Not that I am implying that I was, in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. Wuest Translation Philippians 4:11 so far as I am concerned, I have come to learn, in the circumstances in which I am placed to be independent of these and self-sufficient. 23. Be strong in grace. 2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be strong in believing God s Word and depending upon His grace to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. 14

16 Declaration I receive divine strength that enables me to have self-control according to God s Word. This enables me to be a more effective, productive Christian and protects me from the pitfalls and snares of the enemy. 15