Manna Ministries (NI)
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Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (rom c12:v1-v2). The American Standard Revised Version departs from the King James Version and the English Revised Version by translating “egkrateia” "self control" (acts c24:v25; gal c5:v23; 2 pet c1:v6; 1 corin c9:v25-v29). In the new testament, the most common Greek word for self control (temperance) is “Enkrateia” its root meaning is 'power over oneself'. Control over our passions, desires and impulses. The virtue of temperance (self control) implies obedience and humlity within the spiritual walk. Temperance reveals the true nature of the child of God. This is what is meant by being sober of spirit, walking in the light having dominion over oneself. The Greek word, “engkrateia”, is the noun form of a verbal root that means "strong in a thing; strength; power; dominion; having power over; being master of." this is the Biblical application. Paul the apostle uses it this way in relation to the general demeanour of a bishop. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, Holy, and self controlled, (titus c1:v7-v8). " He applies it to sex in; but if they cannot exercise self control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.(1 corin c7:v9). The same word describes the discipline of his body in following this way of life. Now, “I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.(1 corin c9:v27). It is through this virtue of temperance that the Holy spirit influences the heart and teaches him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself; to control his evil propensities, and to subdue all inordinate affection. In the Bible, self control is vital to being successful in overcoming temptation, those with self control succeeded and those who were weak did not. We have two options: we can let our appetites and passions control what we think and do, or we can (through Christ’s strength) gain control over our passions and appetites, by directing what we think and do. Those who exercise self control base their decisions on what they know is right and stand firm, not playing with temptation. In the temptation of Christ, what was it that gave Him the strength to resist temptation? “ Christ said, “It is written.” The Word of God gave Him the strength to resist. The word of God is the only sure escape for the child of God, it is the key that will give us success in self-control? “In my heart I treasure your promise, that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your laws. With my lips I recite all the edicts you have spoken. I find joy in the way of your decrees more than in all riches. I will ponder your precepts and consider your paths. In your laws I take delight; I will never forget your word. Be kind to your servant that I may live, that I may keep your word. Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of your teachings. “In your laws I take delight; I will never forget your word.(ps 119:v16:v20). Hiding God’s Word in our heart will keep us from sin”. We must bring every thought into captivity to Christ’s will. (2 corin c10:v5). Without Christ we cannot succeed.(john c15:v5). Christ is our example He overcame by the Word of God. He refused to do anything outside of God’s will. We too can gain victory by bringing our lives into line with God’s word and choosing to live in complete obedience to God’s will. It is through submission to the word of God that we develop temperance (self control). God’s word teaches us now to master self control. When we surrender ourselves with a willing heart to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit He will empower us to bring our minds under the control of Christ. When this happens, we are in the process of transformation so vital to becoming a temperate (self controlled) person. It is only as we surrender our will to Christ that we can have it strengthened to enable us to become overcomers. “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus. Who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness ; and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. (phil c2:v1-v8-v9). Temperance (self control) like all the virtues of God will only come into fruition when we die to self, and be obedient to the Word of God. Remember self-discipline begins with God’s discipline. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges." Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not then submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but He does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for that Holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (heb c12:v4-v14). |
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