Published by “But the fruit of the spirit is…self control” Gal. 22 & 23
But it is not really SELF control as in it being of self; else it’s not of The Spirit. Self has to do with one’s own ability. The Spirit does not strengthen self in that which has to do with the flesh. In fact, they are usually at war and are both contrary to the other. This is why one has to die to self even daily. And the truth is any time we walk after the Spirit we are actually denying the self. and showing that we have died to it with respect to that issue as at that point in time.
The “arm” of the flesh will always fail. Now this failure does not necessarily mean that there will be no visible prosperity. There are some things that have a likeness to godliness but are in actual fact, a product of self discipline and imposition. So because they look godly i.e. of The Spirit doesn’t make them so. And the real danger here is that one can’t visibly see or tell the difference between such denials and control i.e. whether they are self or Spirit born because they have almost twin like similarities. There are things that look very godly but in essence i.e. as it has to do with the source, are not of the Spirit of God. These are seen in various ‘religious’ pursuits and amazing self subjugation (of their desires and their bodies) that some have been seen to exhibit.
So some one going on a weight loosing diet, having the right dose of will power can exhibit a great degree of self control in his or her self denial. But what is being done is of self and not of Spirit. And those who don’t have The Spirit because of will power can through self discipline exhibit such self control.
But since they are at enmity i.e. The Spirit and self (through the flesh), there is no way The Spirit will produce a fruit called SELF control
On the other hand, The Spirit can and does give strength and grace for one to put his or her body “under” but not by self. So Moses and Elijah were not under self control when they went forty days without food. The strength they received to do this was not self born. Samson was usually stirred by The Spirit to do great exploits with regards to warfare. But his appetite sadly remained under the domain of self. That is, it was under self control. The Spirit will not help self. The Spirit has proprietary rights over His giftings and fruits. Hence it is not self but Spirit control i.e. The Spirit given you grace to put or bring your body under the control of the Word and will of God.
Anybody by self control can do or achieve anything. But he that is under Spirit control is only given grace and strength to achieve things that have been undersigned by the Godhead. So at that point it’s really not by self or by the flesh but by His Spirit. Anybody can have self control or exhibit it but only these can exhibit Spirit Control i.e. those that:
Have The Spirit
Yield to The Spirit
But where confusion now comes in is found in those who have The Spirit, do not yield to it yet find ways (of self) to rein in their bodies. They usually say it’s of God but the truth will eventually be revealed by fire. Nevertheless, it will be sad to wait until that day but if we judge ourselves now then we shall not be judged.
