SELF-CONTROL

The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

It is possible to exercise self-control. It is not beyond our ability to do so. Remember that in Christ the original purpose of creation is restored–and that includes mastery.

Self-control is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is a popular passage of Scripture, but most people tend to concentrate on the first few qualities of the Spirit-filled life, and self-control, which comes last in the list, barely rates a mention.

In any case, most people would rather talk about love, joy and peace than mastery of self. But the fact that it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit reminds us that it is a quality that should be developing in every believer’s life.

The way to cultivate self-control is to cultivate the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, we are more able to master our own lives.

The Greek word for self-control is egkrateia. It literally means ‘derived from strength’. When we control ourselves, we act from a position of strength. When we are strengthened inwardly by the Spirit we are able to adopt a position of personal mastery.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

WHO WAS REALLY THE MASTER?

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the disciples panicked and tried to resort to arms. Jesus alone was calm and assured (John 18:11).

When on trial before Pilate, Jesus, although evidently the prisoner, was really the one in control. If you had looked casually at the scene, you would not have thought so. Jesus wore a crown of thorns on his head and a purple robe, mocking his Kingship.

Pilate, in contrast, was the Roman governor, with soldiers at his side and the might of Rome at his back. Yet it is Pilate who cannot decide what to do and Jesus who knows exactly what must be done.

When Pilate asked him. ‘Don’t you realise I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’, Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given you from above’ (John 19:10-11).

Who was really the master?

Because of the inner serenity that Jesus experienced, he was always in control of what was happening around him. He is the supreme example of living in the image of God as master over his world.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

RESIGN IN LIFE, OR REIGN IN LIFE?

Sometimes we are faced with real opposition.

It might be serious sickness, for instance. Or criticism. Or bitterness. Or depression. Or fear.

We have a choice of giving in to the opposition–or taking charge of it through Jesus Christ. We can either resign in life or reign in life! The difference in spelling is minimal–only one letter–but the difference in life is colossal!

Whether we change the situation or change ourselves, we can still overcome.

One of my favourite passages of Scripture says:

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall… It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

The theme of this passage is one of victory and mastery. Many times there seems to be a whole troop of troubles before us or a wall too high to climb or a mountain too rugged to scale.

But God gives us strong arms for fighting and sure feet for climbing so we can win a certain victory and safely mount the heights.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

REIGNING IN LIFE

Who calls the tune in your life? Are you ruled by what happens to you? Or do you rule over what happens? Is your life determined by your surroundings and environment? Or do you determine the impact of what happens around you?

God intended us to have a sense of mastery. For many people, life has got out of control. It seems that how they live is dictated to them by forces outside themselves. In fact, psychologists tell us that this is a major cause of stress.

When we read Genesis, however, we see that God designed us to be in mastery over our affairs. No matter what is happening around us, we should be in charge.

Everyone faces situations and circumstances beyond their control. Things happen to us all that we cannot change. But we can change. We can choose how to react to what is going on around us and how to deal with it.

The Bible uses the phrase ‘reign in life’ to describe God’s purpose for us–

Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

We can do it because of God’s abundance of grace.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

BEING GENEROUS

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

This promise is given in the context of teaching about generosity and giving to the work of the Lord. God’s provision is conditional on our willingness to be generous in our use of the resources he provides.

God will make us rich on every occasion in every way but only so that we can be ‘generous on every occasion’ (2 Corinthians 9:11).

Those who try to use the world for their own ends and to build up their own personal wealth are making a serious mistake. God does promise to supply abundantly what we need to do his will. But at least part of the harvest he supplies must be sown again through giving before there will be any more.

Overall, however, we can say that whatever we need to do for God can be based on God’s resources. There will always be some way to get the job done!

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

LIVING OR JUST EXISTING?

So often we see life as a burden to be carried or a tyrant to be obeyed. It should be the other way around. God intends us to be in charge. It is possible to live the kind of life that God wants us to live. His will for us is that we live a quality life–not a second-rate existence. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for us to settle for mediocrity.

Over the years, Vanessa and I conducted regular Marriage Joy seminars. We chose the name for these carefully as we really believe that joy should be an integral part of marriage.

Hundreds of couples attended these seminars and it was exciting to receive feedback from time to time of people who learned how to lift their relationship from being ordinary to being extraordinary.

On the other hand, it was sad to see those who had accepted a dull, average relationship–especially those who have given up and simply didn’t want to try any more.

It was always rewarding to observe couples who were at the point of giving up, with renewed faith, making a fresh start.

Now they could reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17,21).

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

MASTERY OVER SELF

‘This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith’ (1 John 5:4).

The word ‘world’ is clearly used in a metaphorical sense. In fact, John gives us a definition of what he means by the world–

For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (I John 2:16).

There are some who see John’s definition paralleling the temptations that Jesus faced in the desert. He was confronted by three suggestions–‘the cravings of sinful man’; ‘the lust of the eyes’; and ‘the boastings of what he has and does.’

Just as Jesus overcame these temptations, so can we. God has designed us to exercise mastery over the world and all its allurements. In order to exercise mastery over the world, it is first necessary to master ourselves. The original word for ‘self’ in Scripture is ‘flesh’. Basically, it means the sinful human nature. Living in the image of God means exercising mastery over oneself.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

KING OF THE JUNGLE?

KING OF THE JUNGLE?

Often we are like the lion who went through the jungle confronting every animal with a roar and the question, ‘Who is king of the jungle!’ All the animals sat trembling and answered, ‘You are, O mighty lion.’

Then the lion met an elephant. He asked him the same question. The elephant did not say a word. He picked the lion up in his trunk, swung him round in the air, dashed him against a tree and left him lying bruised, winded and dazed on the ground.

As the elephant trudged off through the jungle, the lion mumbled, ‘Well, just because you don’t know the answer, there’s no need to lose your temper!’

Like the lion, we often make poor rulers.

When we put our trust in Christ, we begin to tap into mastery in life. Paul states this clearly–

‘How much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace… reign in life through one man Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17, 21)

‘Reign in life’. This is how God intends us to live. Just as God originally created people to rule over the earth, so in the new creation in Christ Jesus, his ultimate intention is the same.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

INCREDIBLE POSSIBILITIES

Once we come to Christ we can never again have reason to feel ashamed, embarrassed or inferior. Christ came to retrieve us from our fallen state and to help us stand tall once again.

No wonder Paul concludes Ephesians chapter 3 with these words —

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (3:20-21).

Let’s think about this step by step.

God is able to do what we ask.

He is able to do all we ask.

He is able to do all we ask or imagine.

He is able to do more than all we ask or imagine.

He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!

All this is ‘according to the power that is at work within us’.

So we invite Christ to change our lives. We invite the Holy Spirit to live within us. We allow the Spirit to implement the power of God in us.

Then there is no limit to the incredible possibilities that lie before us!

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o read more on this topic see Barry Chant, Living in the Image of God (Miranda: Tabor, 2012) from which this edited extract is taken.

‘OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD.’

‘OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD.’

In one of his great prayers, Paul the apostle asks that God will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 1:17). In this way, we shall get to know Christ better. Indeed, without such help from the Spirit of God, there is no way that we can know Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to our aid to reveal him to us more fully.

It is important that we pray this prayer for ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual insight so that we might see personally the great blessings that are ours in Christ.

Sometimes we fail to believe because of ignorance or unwillingness or fear. It may be that we just don’t ‘get it’.

Spiritual truths need spiritual insight. Only the Spirit of God really understands the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10,11).

We need the Holy Spirit’s help so that we may understand (1 Corinthians 2:12), or, to use Paul’s expression here in his letter to the Ephesians, to have the eyes of our hearts opened (1:18).

Like Elisha’s servant, we need to see past the realm of the physical into the realm of the spiritual (2 Kings 6:17). We need a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.