golsen posted on February 17, 2012 07:06
This is the final Buzz on the Fruit of the Spirit. This week we focus on "self-control" or "temperance" in some older translations. This aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit means we can have a balance when it comes to food, drink, and lifestyle. It also means there is self control when it comes to issues like our anger, our passions, and our tongues. We are expected, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to guard what we say to others; to have self control with our words. James has a lot to say about that in the third chapter of his book. For instance, verses 7 - 10 say in the New Living Translation: "People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!"
These nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control) point to Christlikeness and we need to remember it starts with the command to daily be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18.)
If you want to go back and review the earlier messages on the Fruit of the Spirit, they are available on our website.
Pastor Gil