9. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Self-control.
Bible Reading: Galatians
5:23.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.”
9: SELF‑CONTROL.
l. CONTROL OF OUR TIME.
A. Reviewing our time, Psalm
90:12. Knowing the shortness of life, we must adjust our time accordingly.
B. Remembering the importance of time, Ecclesiastes 12:1 Solomon had all one could ask or dream of, yet
he forgot God.
C. Redeeming the time, Colossians
4:5 “Make most of your chances to tell others the Good News. Be wise in all
your contacts with them” (LB).
D. Realizing the importance of time, Ephesians 5:15‑16 “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days.
Do not be fools be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing
good.”
2. CONTROL OF OUR TEMPER.
A. Patience and anger, Proverbs
16:32. We must control our tempers.
B. Practical advice, Ecclesiastes
7:9. It is never right to become angry quickly.
C. Punishment for anger, Matthew 5:22. The punishment for anger is God’s judgment.
D. Practical attention, James
I: 19. Christians should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to
anger.
3. CONTROL OF TALENTS, Matthew 25:15‑30.
A. Reason for talents, verse
15. God expects us to invest our talents or to use them to make a gain.
B. Rules with the talents, verses 16‑18. The five talents increased to ten, the two increased
to four, and the one talent was hiding in the ground.
C. Rewards for talents, verses
19‑23. God always rewards faithfulness.
D. Rebuke for not using talents, verses 24‑30. If our talents are not used, they will be cast out.
4. CONTROL OF THE TONGUE.
A. Slandering tongue, James
3:5‑7. A sharp tongue can destroy others.
B. Surrendered tongue, Ephesians
4:31. All evil is removed from a surrendered tongue.
C. Sanctified tongue, James
1:26. If we do not control our tongues, our religion is vain.
