THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS Lesson 10 for the 6 th of March, 2010

Temperance, self-discipline, strength of mind, willpower.

“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans, 7: 18) Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and only with His help we can have it. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans, 8: 1)

SAMSON JOSEPH With everything in his favour, he didn’t want to suppress his passions. With everything against him, he determined to do right with God’s help. ADAM JESUS Vs.

“He [Jesus] was passing over the ground where Adam fell. Adam had everything that his wants required. But fierce hunger was upon Christ, and what He wanted was food. The devil was foiled in this temptation” E.G.W. (Temperance, appendix B, page 285)

God’s part: Man’s part: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians, 2: 13) “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians, 9: 24-27)

1 st step:Leaving sin and denying the old man. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews, 12: 1) “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry… But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Colossians, 3: 5-9)

2 nd step:Seeking celestial things, letting the Holy Spirit to work His fruit in us. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians, 3: 1-2) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians, 5: 22-23)

3 er step:Practicing self-control daily and getting away from temptation. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians, 3: 12) “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans, 13: 13-14)

“Every besetting sin must be put away. Warfare must be waged against it until it is overcome. The Lord will work with your efforts. As finite, sinful man works out his own salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who works in him, to will and to do of His own good pleasure. But God will not work without the co-operation of man. He must exercise his powers to the very utmost; he must place himself as an apt, willing student in the school of Christ; and as he accepts the grace that is freely offered to him, the presence of Christ in the thought and in the heart will give him decision of purpose to lay aside every weight of sin, that the heart may be filled with all the fullness of God, and of His love” E.G.W. (Fundamentals of Christian Education, cp. 16, pp. 134)