THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: TEMPERANCE!

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: TEMPERANCE!

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

          We come now to that final piece of spiritual fruit which is temperance. The word conjures up visions of women in old fashioned dress marching with placards against alcohol. But temperance is more than a passion against the use of alcohol. Temperance, according to Merriam – Webster, is “habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions.”  The Greek word is egkrateia and it means “self control.” Some of the original manuscripts add the word chastity but the idea is the control of animal passions.

          Certainly the passions of our culture are out of control. Even the government feels the need to help us control our intake of calories by limiting the size of our soft drinks. Everything is supersized including ourselves but the answer is not government intervention. What we need is the power of the Holy Spirit.

          The man who is temperate will excel in self government. He will not only abstain from strong drink but from all other forms of excess including his temper and his tongue. Is it any wonder that this virtue is mentioned last? It has to be the most difficult area of our lives to yield to the Holy Spirit’s control. I’m sure that Paul had this in mind when he wrote Romans chapter 12 and First Corinthians 9.

Rom 12:1-2

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.

1 Cor 9:27

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.

Dear Lord, I do not feel very successful at controlling my passions. I desperately need your help today. Let thy Holy Spirit be strong within me. AMEN

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: MEEKNESS!

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: MEEKNESS!

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Matt 11:29

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Num 12:3

3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Ps 37:11

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

          Merriam – Webster lists two definitions for the word “meekness.” One is: “characterized by patience and long-suffering.” The other is: “deficient in spirit and courage.” I don’t think the second definition defines biblical meekness. The Greek word used in Galatians is prautes and means “mildness or humility.”

                Meekness is not weakness but great strength, authority, and power under control. “The meek Christian does not throw his weight around or assert himself. Just as wisdom is the right use of knowledge, so meekness is the right use of authority and power.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary)

          Adam Clarke says meekness is: “‎Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite to anger.”

1 Cor 13:5

5 [Charity] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Col 3:12-13

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

          The Holy Spirit enables us to patiently bear the error of the ignorant, to gently deal with the weak and to suffer the injustices of the cruel. This is the key to forgiveness and reconciliation.

Dear Lord, let my responses today be Spirit controlled. Let frustration and anger be put aside and replaced with your very own nature. AMEN

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: FAITH!

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: FAITH!

Gal 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

          We’ve said that love, joy and peace are fruits of our relationship with Jesus. The love of God applied at salvation produces joy and gives us peace. The second set of triplets, longsuffering, gentleness and goodness allows us to relate to our fellow man in a godly manner. We suffer patiently the insufferable, we are gentle when we want to lash out and we live our lives as a benefit to others. All this is done in the energy of the Holy Spirit.

          Faith, meekness and temperance are fruits that aid self improvement. The Greek word for “faith” is pistis and it means: “persuasion, moral conviction of religious truth and constancy in such belief.” So it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to be faithful. Faithfulness is lacking in the person who is not heeding the urgings if the Holy Spirit. They run hot and cold. They are unreliable because they are not firmly convinced of what they claim to believe.

Titus 1:16

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

          Fruit grows in a climate blessed with an abundance of the Spirit and the Word. "Walk in the Spirit" (Gal 5:25) means "keep in step with the Spirit" - not to run ahead and not to lag behind. This involves the Word, prayer, worship, praise, and fellowship with God's people. (Warren Wiersbe)

Are you struggling in being faithful? Fall in love with Jesus. Ask Him to heal your doubting and to plant in you a firm resolve. Start with small commitments. Show up on time and finish small tasks. Gradually move on to greater obligations and determine to finish those as well. Begin! Begin today!

Dear Lord, I want to be faithful but I know that in many ways I am not. Help me today as I begin again to yield my life to you. AMEN