MORNING MANNA 7/24/20
TEMPERANCE
“But the fruit of the Spirit is… temperance..” – Gal. 5:22-23
The fact of the matter is that we all need help when it comes to maintaining control of ourselves. The flesh is too weak to prevail without divine aid. But thankfully every Christian has the potential to win this battle. Paul speaks of it in Gal. 5:23 where the last thing he mentions regarding “the fruit of the Spirit” is “temperance“, which means “self-control”. It implies that the Holy Spirit enables us to rule over our desires, conquer our passions, and deny the appetites of the flesh. That’s what we need! Prov. 16:32 says, “ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
The bottom line is this – if we are not under the control of the Holy Spirit we are out of control. And when we are out of control bad things happen – there is no telling what we might do. It’s easy to look out on the world and see things that need to be changed – it’s not a pretty picture. But, what we need to do is to look within – examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word, and see ourselves as we really are. Then we need to surrender ourselves fully to the Spirit of God. He will change us and create within us that which causes others to see Christ in us. Not only is it heartbreaking to see believers so out of control that they are not useful in the work of God, it also grieves the heart of God who has purposed better things from them and for them. – HDS
Make It Ever True
Change My Heart Oh God
May I Be Like You
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
