The fruit of the spirit shows itself in many facets. Learning self control is about how your spirit learns to rule your body, your passions, your hungers and your appetites.
For an example of self-control let's use Sampson. Sampson was born during a time when the Jews had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Without a king to hold them accountable, they needed their own strong moral sense, the fruit of the spirit-self-control and character so, they would hold THEMSELVES accountable.
But that didn’t happen. There was a lot of freedom and no responsibility. So God allowed that nation to be ruled by the cruel Philistines for 40 years. After that period of discipline, God had a plan to rescue his people. Thank God for His great grace.
For an example of self-control let's use Sampson. Sampson was born during a time when the Jews had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Without a king to hold them accountable, they needed their own strong moral sense, the fruit of the spirit-self-control and character so, they would hold THEMSELVES accountable.
But that didn’t happen. There was a lot of freedom and no responsibility. So God allowed that nation to be ruled by the cruel Philistines for 40 years. After that period of discipline, God had a plan to rescue his people. Thank God for His great grace.
Without the gift and practice of self-control we are at the mercy of our sinful hearts, our potent drives, our fickle feelings. Self-control is not some sort of bad news set alongside the good news of grace. Self-control is grace, grace kneaded into our lives. Through His gift of self-control the Holy Spirit makes all the wonderful facets of love—joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and generosity—possible. Self-control is the human soil where the gift of grace grows and blossoms into the full flower of love.
God sent an angel to a childless couple to tell them that they would have a baby the following year and this baby must be treated special. No strong drink, no fancy or harmful foods. He must be totally dedicated to God, no razor on his head and the result would be, Sampson who have amazing physical strength and would become a national deliverer, as an invincible warrior.
After he grows up, we find him traveling, and he sees a beautiful woman who was a Philistine. Sampson knows God has forbidden the Jews from marrying foreign spouses, so their hearts would not be lured away from devotion to the one true God. His parents plead with him to not do it. But Sampson says: "She’s the one I want, go get her for me."
In other words, I want what I want and I wants it now! No waiting, no control of my sexual desire, or my desire for marriage. I want instant gratification because I have a craving I cannot , and I will not deny it.
When the Bible talks about self-control it uses a word that means to "rule the appetites of your body." The great irony in Sampson’s life is that the very body that God wanted Sampson to harness, and use to deliver his people, eventually was too strong for Sampson himself, and became the death of him.
He went ahead and married that Philistine woman and at the wedding reception he presented all the Philistine wedding guests with a riddle and a bet. If they could guess the riddle, he would pay 30 garments, if they couldn’t, they would pay Sampson 30 garments. At first no one could guess the riddle, so someone blackmailed Sampson’s fiancé to get it out of him.
Sampson hadn’t told anyone the riddle, not his bride to be, or his mother or father. Probably because he didn’t trust his new Philistine in-laws because they didn’t fear God, and they didn’t have rules like the Jews did about telling the truth, and keeping promises, and against bribery.
So, he tried to keep it from her. But she manipulated and cajoled, and through tears and fits and nagging, finally she coxed Sampson to give up his secret.
Friends, I want you to observe Sampson’s downward spiral, that all comes from a lack of self control. He couldn’t control his sexual desire and was marrying a woman he shouldn’t marry, and now he couldn’t control his tongue, and keep a secret.
So, he told his wife and she told the others, and Sampson lost the bet. The next day, he exacts vengeance on the Philistines by destroying all their crops. You see any self control there? They in turn kill his bride and her family, and start a war with the Jews to get Sampson. But, Sampson overpowers a whole company of Philistine soldiers because of his amazing strength.
See, his physical ability bails him out, but does he learn to control his body? No. He continues his downward spiral, next we see him hooking up 20 years later with a prostitute in the land of the Philistines. His body is still not under his control, it rules him. And it would have killed him, but again he escapes ambush because of his great strength.
Next, we see him fall in love with another Philistine woman, Delilah. Again his sexual passions overcome his better judgement, this is not good marrying material. She’s an easy target for blackmail. Sampson again without any verbal self control, tells her the secret of his strength, his long uncut hair.
With that, Delilah betrays him for money as she cuts his hair in his sleep, and he’s made a slave to the Philistines who pluck out his eyes, and make sport of him in their temple.
Friend, this is how a lack of self control works. We let our passions and appetites rule in a little area, and then we cannot take back that control in another area, where the cost is even greater. Until you can say no to everything and everyone but God, you’re helpless and led around by your appetites which will lead you by the nose ring you won't admit you allowed satan to put there.
After he grows up, we find him traveling, and he sees a beautiful woman who was a Philistine. Sampson knows God has forbidden the Jews from marrying foreign spouses, so their hearts would not be lured away from devotion to the one true God. His parents plead with him to not do it. But Sampson says: "She’s the one I want, go get her for me."
In other words, I want what I want and I wants it now! No waiting, no control of my sexual desire, or my desire for marriage. I want instant gratification because I have a craving I cannot , and I will not deny it.
When the Bible talks about self-control it uses a word that means to "rule the appetites of your body." The great irony in Sampson’s life is that the very body that God wanted Sampson to harness, and use to deliver his people, eventually was too strong for Sampson himself, and became the death of him.
He went ahead and married that Philistine woman and at the wedding reception he presented all the Philistine wedding guests with a riddle and a bet. If they could guess the riddle, he would pay 30 garments, if they couldn’t, they would pay Sampson 30 garments. At first no one could guess the riddle, so someone blackmailed Sampson’s fiancé to get it out of him.
Sampson hadn’t told anyone the riddle, not his bride to be, or his mother or father. Probably because he didn’t trust his new Philistine in-laws because they didn’t fear God, and they didn’t have rules like the Jews did about telling the truth, and keeping promises, and against bribery.
So, he tried to keep it from her. But she manipulated and cajoled, and through tears and fits and nagging, finally she coxed Sampson to give up his secret.
Friends, I want you to observe Sampson’s downward spiral, that all comes from a lack of self control. He couldn’t control his sexual desire and was marrying a woman he shouldn’t marry, and now he couldn’t control his tongue, and keep a secret.
So, he told his wife and she told the others, and Sampson lost the bet. The next day, he exacts vengeance on the Philistines by destroying all their crops. You see any self control there? They in turn kill his bride and her family, and start a war with the Jews to get Sampson. But, Sampson overpowers a whole company of Philistine soldiers because of his amazing strength.
See, his physical ability bails him out, but does he learn to control his body? No. He continues his downward spiral, next we see him hooking up 20 years later with a prostitute in the land of the Philistines. His body is still not under his control, it rules him. And it would have killed him, but again he escapes ambush because of his great strength.
Next, we see him fall in love with another Philistine woman, Delilah. Again his sexual passions overcome his better judgement, this is not good marrying material. She’s an easy target for blackmail. Sampson again without any verbal self control, tells her the secret of his strength, his long uncut hair.
With that, Delilah betrays him for money as she cuts his hair in his sleep, and he’s made a slave to the Philistines who pluck out his eyes, and make sport of him in their temple.
Friend, this is how a lack of self control works. We let our passions and appetites rule in a little area, and then we cannot take back that control in another area, where the cost is even greater. Until you can say no to everything and everyone but God, you’re helpless and led around by your appetites which will lead you by the nose ring you won't admit you allowed satan to put there.
Judges 16:28
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
ACTION STEP: Learn to rely on God and deny the flesh. Remember that one sin leads to another, and then another. Sin always demands an increase. Listen to your parents or those over you in the Lord. Fulfill the purpose for which you were born!
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