Acquiring Self-Control
Jesus, The Master Of Self-Control
Paul writing to the Galatians, 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...
One of the most dangerous phrases we can ever say is, "I am in control!" When you have to exercise your appointed acquired authority with such words you really lose respectful authority to all those around you. People, perhaps the world, may even laugh at you as was done at USA Secretary of State Alexander Haig after he made just such a comment when the U. S. President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
In our circumstances most people like and want to be in control but in reality we control very little of our circumstances. Governments determine much about our lives. All the things we do publicly and much of what we do privately is, rightly or wrongly, controlled by laws and regulations.
How we do our jobs is controlled by forces outside of our lives. We work for a paycheck so we do what the boss or supervisor says, often if we do not want to. You may think you are independent in your job, even if you own the business, but your customer likely and ultimately controls what you do because you desire to sell your goods and services.
At home, maybe you have some control. But, we do (and should do) a lot of listening to our spouse and if a good parent, we listen to our children's needs, desires and wishes.
Then, a good leader, even in the home, will most often make decisions based on the needs of the group not on personal satisfaction of exercising authority and control. This is the beginning of the real control we have over our lives. Control acquired through our self-confidence and self-achievement is fleeting but control of self acquired through the Gift of the Holy Spirit through God is eternal.
Self-control in what we do is often judged by what we do for others and the good of the group we serve. But, we need Guidance to have Proper Self-control. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives brings too the Holy Spirit. In that Spirit we find our true self-control.
Jesus was The Master, the Model, and the Example of Self-control and provides the essential requirments for our lives in using our granted authority to serve the needs of a group.
Consider how many years Jesus watched the blasphemy in the Temple courts as with patience and self-control he saw the leaders cheating the people in the selling of sacrifices and changing money. In patience, He waited for years to just the right moment before he cleared the Temple in announcing His opposition of such behavior.
Look below at the scripture about paying taxes. Jesus was in total control as the Pharisees' disciples tried to trap Jesus into saying something that would incite the people to stop paying taxes*1. He was in total self-control as He asked for a coin. He always, because of His patient self-control, knew exactly what to say, what to do, when to say it, and when to do it. Jesus had the greater Wisdom through Spiritual Self-Control. Because of Jesus' self-control, they left Him in total amazement that this carpenter of Nazareth had so quietly destroyed their intent to trap Him and He did it with such few words*1.
Finally, look at His final hours in Matthew 26,
at the Lord's Supper as
He tells Judas*2 that he is the betrayer*3;
He tells Peter of the denials to come*4;
as he softly encourages His disciples
to remain awake in the Garden*5;
He heals the soldier at His arrest*6; and see
His quiet self-control before the Sanhedrin as
He infuriates them with His few words in His muted
display of His authority*7.
Jesus was always in control. In accomplishing God's desires, He most often refused to overtly and directly control His circumstances as He could have, but in Spiritual Self-control He exercised only the necessary control to achieve God's ultimate will for Him. All this, in patience in waiting for just the correct moment in His life.
We can have the same control of self as Jesus did.
Just as Jesus had the Fruit of the Spirit, Self-control, so too can we have that same sensitivity in Spiritual Self-control. Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden for God's Will in His life, so can we. Self-control is fruit of the Holy Spirit and as we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives the Holy Spirit comes to us as our guide and counselor. And, in the Fruit of that guidance we find self-control.
True self-control comes through acceptance of and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit guidance of our lives, to teach us of the Fruit, and in our prayers to accept the His guidance; in return, God gives us the Spiritual strength to be in self-control, just the same as Jesus.
In all moments of your life,
everything we think,
everything we say,
everything we do,
pray for the Holy Spirit
to continuously fill your life
in all you think,
in all you say, and
in all you do.
Pray, often everyday, that your Holy Spirit guided self-control comes through regardless of your circumstances. Jesus shows us that Godly Spiritual Calmness in the face of every day stress is your greatest asset bringing peace of mind in the face of all enemies and circumstances. Godly Spiritual Calmness leads you to Peace of mind and righteous thoughts, words, and deeds.
Two Examples:
In driving, when someone cuts you off and you respond inappropriately, immediately pray for that person to drive safe and for your attitude to be removed and improved.
When someone steps on your work and claims it for themselves, pray that you do not respond in the same behavior. Just as with Jesus, your time will come to respond appropriately.
When unrighteousness comes to your mind, erase it with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to block such unrighteousness. In your earnest humble prayers throughout the passage of time, simple bad habits can and will be removed.
Pray that in all of life's moments and circumstances
you respond as the Holy Spirit guides you.
Pray that
in times of stress,
the Holy Spirit will control your heart beat;
in times of loneliness
the Holy Spirit attends to your comfort;
in response to mental challenges, pray for
the Holy Spirit to fill your words and behaviors.
In all these things, pray for sensitivity to Holy Spiritual guidance.
But, above all, in all circumstances, pray*8.
Wisdom is knowing what to do and what to say
especially in times of stress,
Spiritual Wisdom is knowing
when not to do it and when not to say it.
Just as Jesus in Spiritual Self-control,
Choose your battles, Choose the Wise time.
Happiness will not always be in our circumstances,
but just as the Holy Spirit
supplies Joy in all life's moments,
so to the Holy Spirit in all of life's moments
supplies of our True, God-Given, Self-Control.
Thanks be to God
© lonnie coggins
Other Readings:
in a Storm To Guide my Blinded Pilot to a safe Landing
REFERENCES
(*1) Paying Taxes to Caesar
Matthew 22 -- Mk 12:13-17; Lk 20:20-26
15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius,20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(*2) The Plot Against Jesus
Matthew 26:2-5pp -- Mk 14:1,2; Lk 22:1,2
1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,2"As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,4and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.5"But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."(*3)The Lord's Supper
26:17-19pp -- Mk 14:12-16; Lk 22:7-13 26:20-24pp -- Mk 14:17-21 26:26-29pp -- Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:17-20; 1Co 11:23-25
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.21And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(*4) Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
26:31-35pp -- Mk 14:27-31; Lk 22:31-34
31Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."33Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."35But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.(*5) Gethsemane
26:36-46pp -- Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:40-46
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"(*6 ) Jesus Arrested
26:47-56pp -- Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.51With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.52"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.56But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.(*7) Before the Sanhedrin
26:57-68pp -- Mk 14:53-65; Jn 18:12,13,19-24
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.58But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward61and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' "62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.66What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him68and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"(*8) Pray1Thessalonians 5:13-23 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.16Be joyful always;17pray continually;18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.19Do not put out the Spirit's fire;20do not treat prophecies with contempt.21Test everything. Hold on to the good.22Avoid every kind of evil.23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Publication 000
Intro:
Self-control for many people is a most mistaken term, an oxymoron. They think think they are in control of self, but have lost it and do not recognize they never really had it. But, there is a real source of self-control that will not leave us. Click the link for more and share this on facebook as you feel led to do so.
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/08/acquiring-self-control.html
Publication 000
Intro:
Self-control for many people is a most mistaken term, an oxymoron. They think think they are in control of self, but have lost it and do not recognize they never really had it. But, there is a real source of self-control that will not leave us. Click the link for more and share this on facebook as you feel led to do so.
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/08/acquiring-self-control.html
