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Fruit of the Spirit: TEMPERANCE |
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Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law. 1
Corinthians 9:25 — 25 Everyone who competes in
the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will
not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 2
Peter 1:5-8 — 5 For this very reason, make every
effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and
to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you
possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from
being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. In referring to these races as a figure of the Christian warfare, Paul emphasized the preparation necessary to the success of the contestants in the race--the preliminary discipline, the abstemious diet, the necessity for temperance. "Every man that striveth for the mastery," he declared, "is temperate in all things." The runners put aside every indulgence that would tend to weaken the physical powers, and by severe and continuous discipline trained their muscles to strength and endurance, that when the day of the contest should arrive, they might put the heaviest tax upon their powers. How much more important that the Christian, whose eternal interests are at stake, bring appetite and passion under subjection to reason and the will of God! Never must he allow his attention to be diverted by amusements, luxuries, or ease. All his habits and passions must be brought under the strictest discipline. Reason, enlightened by the teachings of God’s word and guided by His Spirit, must hold the reins of control. (Acts of the Apostles – 311) "They
which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize." 1
Corinthians 9:24. In the warfare in which we are engaged, all may win who
will discipline themselves by obedience to right principles. The practice
of these principles in the details of life is too often looked upon as
unimportant --a matter too trivial to demand attention. But in view of
the issues at stake, nothing with which we have to do is small. Every act
casts its weight into the scale that determines life’s victory or
defeat. The scriptures bids us, "So run, that ye may obtain."
Verse 24. With
our first parents, intemperate desire resulted in the loss of Pointing
to the self-denial practiced by the contestants in the ancient Greek
games, the apostle Paul writes: "Every man that striveth for the
mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep
under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when
I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Verses
25-27. (Ministry of Healing
– 129) |
