Just imagine a tree bearing fruit as a symbol for producing God's fruit in Christian's lives. Think about the wonderful attributes of the Spirit, like love, joy, peace, and patience, as if they were different flavors in your favorite fruit. Picture self-control as the vital ingredient in all these virtues, ensuring each trait is expressed correctly and at the right time. Self-control is like the secret ingredient that brings integrity to our spiritual journey, forming character and helping us face challenges and temptations with grace and truth. It's not just a virtue but a vital necessity for cultivating God's fruit in life, all because we just believe in self-control.

"Self-control" in the Bible extends beyond sheer willpower; it encompasses the ability to exercise moderation, restraint, and the strength to resist fleshly temptations like drugs, avoidance of pain, and pride. It expresses God's work in our lives, empowering us to align our thoughts, words, and actions with Christ's teachings on love. This virtue is crucial for Christians to embody, as it empowers us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, enabling us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives that bear the savory fruits of God.

The lack of self-control can lead to adverse outcomes for a Christian. As Jesus emphasized, "A good tree yields good fruit, but a bad tree yields bad fruit" (Matthew 7:17). Unfortunately, many who claim to follow Christ lack the self-discipline to reflect God's transformative power in their lives. Consequently, the world is deprived of the life-changing impact of God's Spirit through His followers, and the world goes hungry. This is all due to self-centered Christians who fail to spread God's message of hope and salvation.

Following Jesus's example of remarkable self-control and discipline is the key to overcoming challenges and temptations. Jesus, led by the Spirit of God, demonstrated strength and resolve in resisting temptations in the wilderness before starting His ministry. Similarly, God tests us to make the right choices and resist the temptations that steer us away from our path. By emulating Jesus's actions, we can cultivate the fruits of God in our lives, as described in Matthew 4.

In the Bible, "Self-control" is a human endeavor and an essential element of God's Spirit. This divine attribute empowers us to resist temptations, exercise moderation, and live following the teachings of the Bible. It is an unmistakable sign of God's transformative work in an individual's life and is a virtue that Christians must strive to embody daily. This divine nature of self-control connects us to God's power and grace, making it a powerful tool in our spiritual journey and is required for all other aspects of God's Spirit to flourish.  

So, the question is: Will you embrace self-control as Jesus commanded and demonstrated, or will you continue to succumb to excuses and neglect this vital aspect of spiritual growth? The choice is yours! Will you miss the mark or just believe in self-control?

With love and self-control,

Pastor Drake