Whose In Control?

 But the fruit of the Spirit is... self-control Galatians 5:22-23

Self-control is not a popular virtue in our culture. We are an instant-gratification, act-on-impulse, if it feels good do it society. If you shop at Walmart you will observe that parents have failed to teach their children self-control. Self-control is a base value. Other virtues cannot exist without it. God values self-control of extreme importance, for it is listed in His Word as a fruit of the Spirit.

A child cannot, by himself, understand the need to be self-controlled unless parents teach the virtue. Children refuse to bring their desires under control because it is part of their fallen nature. Children are not self-controlled but self-centered. They cannot help it. When you hear a child in the store screaming for a certain toy, or candy, they are demanding that self be satisfied. It is the parent's responsibility to bring their children under submission so that when they come of age, it will be easier to yield to the Holy Spirit's control.

A person has only two choices: Be controlled by his flesh or be controlled by the Holy Spirit. If you refuse to accept Christ as your Savior, you will by default be controlled by your lower nature (the flesh). Once the spirit of a person has been raised to life by the Spirit of God, the old desires of the flesh do not immediately disappear.

There is a battle that rages on. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want." Galatians 5:16-17 (Emphasis added)

You will find that every day you will have to choose: The flesh? The Holy Spirit? Remember you are not helpless against the desires of the flesh. walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.