Self-Control Is Remembering Who We Are In Relationship To Jesus Christ

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The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – SELF-CONTROL #7

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

Prologue: Jesus Christ, The Eternal Word

In John 1:1-18 NLT says, “1  In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,
and the Word was God. 2  He existed in the beginning with God. 3  God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. 4  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. 11 He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. 12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 15 John testified about Him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before me.’”
16 From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is Himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”

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In John Chapter 1 Verse 1 describes when John wrote of the beginning, he was paralleling the words of the creation account. John called our Lord Jesus Christ, “the Word.” John did not identify this person immediately, but described His nature and purpose before revealing His name (see John 1:17). As the Word, the Son of God fully conveys and communicates God.

Theologians and philosophers, both Jews and Greeks, used the term “word” in a variety of ways. The Greek term is logos. It could mean a person’s thoughts or reason, or it might refer to a person’s speech, the expression of thoughts. As a philosophical term, logos conveyed the rational principle that governed the universe, even the creative energy that generated the universe. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, “the Word” is described as an agent of creation (Psalm 33:6), the source of God’s message to His people through the prophets (Hosea 1:2), and God’s law, His standard of holiness (Psalm 119:11).

John may have had these ideas in mind, but his description shows clearly that he spoke of our Lord Jesus Christ as a human being he knew and loved (see especially John 1:14), who was at the same time the Creator of the universe, the ultimate revelation of God, and also the living picture of God’s holiness. Our Lord Jesus Christ as the logos reveals God’s mind to us.

By using the expression “He was with God,” John was explaining that the Word (the Son) and God (the Father) already enjoyed an intimate, personal relationship in the beginning. The last verse of the prologue (John 1:18) tells us that the Son was at the Father’s side; and in Jesus’ special prayer for His followers (John chapter 17), He expressed that the Father loved Him before the foundation of the world.

Our Lord Jesus Christ not only was the Son with God, He was Himself God. John’s Gospel, more than most books in the New Testament, asserts our Lord Jesus Christ’s divinity. One of the most compelling reasons to believe the doctrine of the Trinity comes from the fact that it was revealed through a people most likely to reject it outright. In a world populated by many gods, it took the tough-minded Hebrews to clarify the revelation of God’s oneness expressed through “three-in-oneness.”

In Verse 2 describes the second verse of the prologue underscores the truth that the Word, the Son, was in the beginning with God. A wrong teaching called the “Arian heresy” developed in the fourth century of Christianity. Arius, the father of this heresy, was a priest of Alexandria (in Egypt) during the reign of Emperor Constantine. He taught that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was not eternal but was created by the Father. Therefore, Jesus Christ was not God by nature. Arius’s views gained some support. At the Church Council in Nicea in A.D. 325, Athanasius defeated Arius in debate and the Nicene Creed was adopted, which established the biblical teaching that Jesus Christ was “one essence with the Father.” Yet this controversy raged until it was defeated at the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381. This heresy still exists, however, in several cults. Yet John’s Gospel proclaims simply and clearly that the Son of God is coeternal with the Father.

In Verse 3 describes the New Testament portrays the Son of God as the agent of creation, for all things were created through Him (see 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). Everything came into being through our Lord Jesus Christ and ultimately depends upon Him.

In Verse 4 describes creation needs to receive life from the Word – for life itself was in Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives physical life to all. But He also gives eternal life to all those who believe in Him. The Greek term used for “life” is zoe; in the Gospel of John, it is always used to describe divine, eternal life. Our Lord Jesus Christ used this specific term during the Last Supper when He told His disciples, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

The divine life embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ gives light to everyone – revealing divine truth and exposing their sin. Everywhere our Lord Jesus Christ went, He brought light (see John 3:21; 8:12). Light means understanding and moral insight, spiritual vision. But more than just shining or reflecting, the light of our Lord Jesus Christ penetrates and enlightens hearts and minds. Everyone who comes into contact with our Lord Jesus Christ can be enlightened. When Jesus Christ’s light shines, we see our sin and His glory. We can refuse to see the light and remain in darkness. But whoever responds will be enlightened by our Lord Jesus Christ. He will fill our minds with God’s thoughts. He will guide our path, give us God’s perspective, and drive out the darkness of sin.

In Verse 5 describes John used the past tense in the previous sentence, saying that our Lord Jesus Christ was the light of all people by virtue of being their Creator; but John shifted to the present tense: the light shines through the darkness. The timeless light has invaded our time, and we can see it in our darkness. As the light shines, it drives away the darkness, for the unsaved world is blinded by the prince of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 5:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ’s light shined to a hardened, darkened humanity – and He continues to shine. But the darkness can never extinguish it. This statement indicates the struggle between the darkness and the light. Unregenerate humanity under the influence of Satan, the prince of darkness, has not accepted the light and even resists the light. Thus, “darkness” indicates ignorance and sin, active rejection of God’s will. Those in darkness reject our Lord Jesus Christ, His light, and His followers. But no matter how deep the darkness, even a small light can drive it back. The power of Jesus Christ’s light overcomes any darkness in the world.

In Verses 6-8 describe John abruptly introduces our Lord Jesus Christ’s forerunner and herald, John the Baptist. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist has a prominent position in the prologue because his ministry prepared the way for the Messiah – he pointed people to our Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist’s function was to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. He was the first to point people to our Lord Jesus Christ, so in a very real sense, all who have come to believe have done so because of his witness. John himself was not the light, but he came as a witness to the light. He was first in a line of witnesses that stretches through the centuries to this day.

In Verse 9 describes the word everyone here could be nationalistically inclusive, referring to both Jews and Gentiles, or it could refer to all individuals. Every person has life from God, thus they have some light; creation reveals God’s power and divinity (John 1:3; Acts 14:17; Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-16); and our conscience also bears witness to God’s existence. The Gospel writer’s description captures the transition between the ministry of John the Baptist as herald and the ministry of Jesus Christ, the true light. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as opposed to any other “luminaries,” is the true and exclusive revelation of God to man. Because of this, we can count on Him.

In Verse 10 describes John notes one of the greatest tragedies: the world – humankind – didn’t recognize its own Creator. They were blinded and could not see His light. Although our Lord Jesus Christ created the world, the people He created didn’t recognize Him. He was denied the general acknowledgment that should have been His as Creator.

In Verse 11 describes In Greek this reads, “He came to His own things”; that is, He came to that which belonged to Him. The expression can even be used to describe a homecoming. This phrase intensifies the description of our Lord Jesus Christ’s rejection. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not welcome in the world – or even His home. His own land and His own people refer to God’s chosen nation, Israel, which was particularly Jesus Christ’s. He was not accepted by those who should have been most eager to welcome Him. As a nation, they rejected their Messiah. This rejection is further described at the end of our Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry (John 12:37-41). Isaiah had foreseen this unbelief (Isaiah 53:1-3). In spite of the rejection described here, John steers clear of passing sentence on the world. Instead, he turns our attention on those who did welcome our Lord Jesus Christ in sincere faith.

In Verses 12-13 describe though the rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ was universal, individuals did respond personally – some believed Him and accepted Him as the Son of God, the Lord and Savior. To them He gave the right to become children of God. In Greek right means “authority or permission.” In this context, it speaks of God’s granting the right or giving the privilege for the new birth. No one can attain this new birth by his or her own power, merit, or ability. Only God can grant it. One is not in God’s family because he or she is a Jew by physical birth (or even born into a Christian family). The new birth cannot be attained by an act of human passion, and it has absolutely nothing to do with any human plan. It is a gift of God.

Many believed superficially in our Lord Jesus Christ when they saw His miracles, but they did not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They “believed” in Him while He fulfilled their expectations of what the Messiah should be, but they left Him when He defied their preconceived notions. We must believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; we must wholeheartedly believe in Jesus Christ, not limiting Him to our ideas and misconceptions; we must regard Jesus Christ as the Bible truly presents Him.

In Verse 14 describes returning to the powerful term used at the beginning of the Gospel, John continues the theme of the prologue. The first thirteen verses summarize “the Word’s” relationship to the world as its rejected Creator, Visitor, Light, and Savior. Yet throughout the opening paragraph, John does not identify the Word as being human, except in the personal pronouns. The phrase, became human, is striking and arresting, despite its familiarity. Understanding its meaning simply increases our wonder. When Jesus Christ was born, He was not part man and part God; He was completely human and completely divine (Colossians 2:9). Before Jesus Christ came, people could know God partially. After Jesus Christ had come, people could know God fully because He became visible and tangible (Hebrews 1:1-3). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect expression of God in human form. The two most common errors that people make about our Lord Jesus Christ are minimizing His humanity or minimizing His divinity. Our Lord Jesus Christ is both divine and human (see Philippians 2:5-9). God, in Jesus Christ, lived on earth among people. The man living with the disciples was God incarnate! John was overwhelmed with that truth. He began his first letter by describing the experience of seeing, touching, and hearing this Word who became flesh and was with them (1 John 1:1-4). In our Lord Jesus Christ, God came to meet with people; through our Lord Jesus Christ we can come to meet with God. John described Him as full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

Glory refers to Jesus Christ’s divine greatness and shining moral splendor. (For a specific instance of “seeing His glory,” see John 2:11.) This is perhaps the clearest example of what John was thinking when he and two other disciples saw Jesus Christ’s Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-13. Peter spoke of it specifically in 2 Peter 1:16-18). This was the glory of the only Son of the Father. The Son was the Father’s one and only, His unique Son. Although all believers are called “children” (John 1:12-13), our Lord Jesus Christ is one of a kind and enjoys a special relationship with God. Eastern thought teaches a cycle of reincarnation. Many Hindus believe that Jesus Christ was one in a series of reincarnations of Krishna. But John teaches that our Lord Jesus Christ, as the unique Son of God, has a special glory and an unrivaled, unparalleled, and unrepeatable place of honor.

In Verse 15 describes John the Baptist declared, “Jesus Christ is far greater than I am, for He existed long before I did.” Although our Lord Jesus Christ was humanly born after John the Baptist, Jesus Christ existed from eternity past. For this reason, our Lord Jesus Christ outranked John the Baptist.

In Verse 16 describes the rich blessings indicate superabundance and completeness. When John spoke of our Lord Jesus Christ’s benefiting His people with one gracious blessing after another, he was affirming that he had never found Jesus Christ lacking in any way. John’s description conveys a subtle invitation for us to trust Jesus Christ’s ability to meet our needs.

That we have all benefited includes all the believers, not just John and the apostles. We as Born-Again Christian believers receive Jesus Christ’s blessings, but nothing can deplete our Lord Jesus Christ – no matter how much the believers receive of Him, He keeps on giving. His strength is not diminished by helping us. Believers do not need to seek any other source of spiritual power but Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself fulfills our Christian life; we do not need to seek anything beyond Him. The blessings given by our Lord Jesus Christ can never be exhausted.

In Verse 17 describes John introduced one of the central questions Jesus Christ would answer: Because law and God’s unfailing love seem to contradict, what action should people take? Both law and love express God’s nature. Moses emphasized God’s law and justice, while our Lord Jesus Christ came to highlight God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness. Moses could only be the giver of the law, while our Lord Jesus Christ came to fulfill perfectly the law (Matthew 5:17). The law revealed the nature and will of God; now our Lord Jesus Christ reveals the nature and will of God. Rather than coming through cold stone tablets, God’s revelation now comes through a person’s life. As we get to know our Lord Jesus Christ better, our understanding of God will increase.

In Verse 18 describes this statement, no one has ever seen God, seems to contradict passages like Exodus 24:9-11, which says that the elders of Israel “saw God.” What then does John mean? Very likely, he is affirming the fact that no human being has seen the essential being of God. Some men experienced “theophanies” (special appearances of God in various forms), but no one saw the essential being of God. Only the Son – our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Himself God, can communicate His glory to us. The Son is near to the Father’s heart, picturing the Son as a child in close dependence on His Father – enjoying a close and warm relationship with Him. It also reflects the image of two close companions enjoying a meal together. According to an ancient custom, the one who reclined next to the master at a meal was the one dearest to him. This is the Son who has told us about God. The Son is God’s explainer; He came to earth and lived among people to explain God to us – with His words and by His person. No one can know God apart from our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s explainer. Again, this mirrors Verse 1, where the Son is called “the Word” – the expression of God, the communicator of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Self-control is rarely the virtue of the proud. Security breeds indulgence and death – both personal and national death. Still, believers are called to live lives of self-denial in times of cultural decadence, corruption, debauchery, depravity, dissolution, and self-indulgence.

Prayer is the key that unlocks and reveals faith. Effective prayer needs both an attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates complete reliance on God. Thus, there is no substitute for prayer, especially in situations that seem impossible.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said that prayer and devotion to God are the real evidences of a robust inner faith. Self-control is the first step of spiritual discipline. We must practice and prepare ourselves for the coming battles.

So, let our hearts and minds in tune with God, in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. We as Born-Again Christians have been tried and cleansed, we have moved freely into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is more powerful than it was before our trials. We are at home in the presence and fellowship of God, for we are heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, more like Him that we could ever have dreamed possible. So, let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. Amen!

So our worship centers on our self-control. But then so does our entire world of relationships. Our self-control finds the energy to be consistent in its driving desire to bring pleasure to our Heavenly Father.  

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable as we have studied and learned last time. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom gentleness and self-control comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace gentleness and self-control and in our treatment of others.

Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship, let me encourage our brothers- and sisters-in-Christ, and I want my readers and listeners to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others’ needs. Because all, we as Born-Again Christian believers are strong in certain areas and weak in others, we constantly need to monitor the effects of our behavior on others.

In these SELF-CONTROL Series of Podcast, we learned the following PURPOSES of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. Learned and knew the Path of Coming to Maturity – Podcast Self-Control #1
2. Learned To Say No To Our Appetites – Podcast Self-Control #2
3. To Receive Freedom From Permissiveness – Podcast Self-Control #3
4. To Manage Our Moods – Podcast Self-Control #4
5. The Disciplined Life – Podcast Self-Control #5
6. The Mark of Obedience – Podcast Self-Control #6
7. Remembering Who We Are In Relationship With Christ – Podcast Self-Control #7

Three (3) Questions we can answer from these Sources: The Bible and Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Observation: What do these passages say to you?

Interpretation: What do these passages mean to you?

Application: How do the meaning of these passages apply to you or to your situation?

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer, please take a look of one of our ministries, “An Invitation To Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are going to start a new Podcast with the Fruit of The Holy Spirit – “LOVE” next week.

Suggested Prayer: Father God, we come into your presence in our Lord Jesus Christ name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and forgiveness you have done on the Cross of Calvary, and continue to intercede for us in prayer. Thank you Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. Thank you for the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage and strength. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Words, obey them, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth that sets us free, and apply them in our lives, in our Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!

God bless you all and our families!

In Malachi 3:10-12 AMPC says, “10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it”, says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 2:2.] 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight”, says the Lord of hosts.

If the people would obey God, giving as they should, God would flood His people with blessings. There would be an overabundance of God’s blessing if He was given what He requested.