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SELF CONTROL: A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT  

June 13, 2025

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING IN US. As Paul closed his letter to the Galatians, he highlighted the fruit of the Spirit as an outcome of a life transformed by grace. When we are saved, a new way of living begins (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fruit of the Spirit transcends nurture and nature. Both DNA and imprints from my youth had some bearing on my weaknesses and my strengths. I’m not denying that, but inherent in the new birth is the fruit of the Spirit, including self-control.
 
2. SELF-CONTROL ISN’T SOMETHING TO FEAR. Don’t let the idea of self-control freak you out. The Roman governor Felix invited Paul to speak, but he became frightened when Paul started discussing “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25). The world doesn’t naturally walk in this, but as Christians, we operate differently. Whether we came from a disciplined background or not, when we get saved, the Holy Spirit begins training us in righteousness. That includes growing in self-control – reshaping what we crave, how we respond, and what we pursue. 

DEFINITION:
dis·​ci·​pline, noun 
From Latin disciplina, “teaching, learning,” and discipulus, “student, follower” (disciple).

3. TO BE A DISCIPLE IS TO WALK IN DISCIPLINE. God wants us first to be disciples, then to go out and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-202 Timothy 2:2). It’s no coincidence that discipline and disciple come from the same root word. Discipline is about yielding and submitting to Jesus, then everything else falls into place.

SAY THIS OUT LOUD:
I have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and the Holy Spirit is at work in me, producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Copyright © 2025 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.“Discipline, N.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, 2025, merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline. “Discipline, N.” Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2025, etymonline.com/search?q=discipline.