Fruit of the Spirit: Part 9 – Self-Control
The last characteristic listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as a fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is the change in our character that happens because of the Holy Spirit’s work in us. We do not become a Christian on our own, and we cannot grow on our own. Paul tells us in Philippians that “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Every good thing we do is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Self-control or “temperance” in the KJV, is, of course, the ability to control oneself. It involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to our evil desires and carnal lusts. One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our thoughts, words, and actions. It’s not that we are just naturally weak-willed, but rather our fallen nature is under the influence of sin.