From the FPF Board of Directors: Living with Self Control, Reflecting the Spirit — Phil Hopper
The Power of Self-Control: Walking in the Spirit
In Galatians 5:16-26, Paul urges us to “walk in the Spirit.” This means fully submitting our lives to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that becomes more evident in your life as you submit to God’s will and walk in His Spirit. It’s not about trying harder on our own but surrendering to God and allowing Him to work in us so self-control naturally becomes a part of our lives.
Our Hearts Are Christ’s Home
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, we become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation isn’t about religion and following a set of rules; it’s about allowing Jesus to change us. As we submit to Him, we experience a process called sanctification, which means we are becoming more like Christ. This internal change leads to a change in our outward behavior, including self-control.
The Battle Within Between the Flesh and the Spirit
As Christians, we have a constant internal battle between our sin nature (flesh) and our spiritual nature. Galatians 5:16-18 reminds us that we are constantly choosing whether to walk in the flesh or the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit means exercising self-control and submitting to God. It can be compared to the internal struggle between Gollum and Sméagol from The Lord of the Rings. We face daily choices to either indulge our fleshly desires or submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Our decisions shape our lives, and walking in the Spirit leads to freedom while walking in the flesh leads to captivity and destruction.
God’s Chain of Command: Spirit Over Soul and Body
God designed us with three parts: the spirit, soul, and body. The spirit, where God’s presence dwells, should lead the soul (mind, will, and emotions), and the soul should rule the body. Unfortunately, we often reverse this order and let our bodies dictate our desires. When we allow the Spirit to lead, we experience true self-control. A Spirit-filled believer has surrendered their mind, will, and body to God. It’s not about getting more of the Holy Spirit but giving more of ourselves to Him. This submission allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
Living with Self-Control: Reflecting the Spirit
We are faced with the choice to walk either in the flesh or the Spirit daily. Self-control comes when we submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide our thoughts, actions, and desires. The more we yield to Him, the more we reflect His character and experience true freedom. True self-control isn't about behavior modification but an internal change that begins with your heart’s submission to God. Choose to walk in the Spirit today and let self-control flow from your submission to God and His will.