Throwback Dec 2016 – Pastor Yoojin
During Yesterday’s prayer, God spoke to me about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Especially the power of the Self-Control.
Galatians 5:22-24 (EXB) But the Spirit produces the fruit of [fruit of the Spirit is] love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness [or faith],
23 gentleness, SELF-CONTROL.
The Greek word for self-control in Galatians 5:23 is “egkrateia” which means “temperance: the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.”
In order for the Spirit to produce the fruit of self-control, “Self” must become broken and demolished. Christians without having the fruit of self-control tend to place themselves in the center of everything. It is because Self is not Controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit but still by themselves. Most of the time, this type of Christian do not realize or acknowledge it. They are Blinded with Self-centeredness. Because they are Self Centered, anything that discomforts their Selves will greatly stir their flesh.
The Christians without the fruit of Self-Control have a hard time controlling in most areas of their lives. For example, anger, jealousy, eating, and so on. Because they have a hard time controlling and not getting angry, resentment and unforgiveness also form easily. Eventually, this type of Christian will face many more problems. It is because a person without self-control is like a city with no protective walls. If you have no “walls to protect” you are open to all kinds of invasion and attack (by the evil spirits). You will be Conquered in no time.
Proverbs 25:28 (VOICE) Like a Conquered city with no walls, so is a man who has no self-control.
So, how to possess the power to Self-Control? First, prayer always has to be backed up. Second, God will create certain situations for you to produce the fruit of self-control, when this happens, you must quickly recognize it and utilize the situation as an opportunity to break and demolish your SELF. In order to possess the power to control yourself, you must overcome certain situations that are created by God. Every time when you pass/overcome the situation, the power of Self-Control will accumulate and get stronger. But there is another important factor: Your Free Will.
Luke 13:24 (EXB) “Try Hard [Strive; Exert yourself] to enter through the narrow door, because many people [ I tell you] will try to enter there, but they will not be able.
The Greek word for “Strive” is agonizes, in which you correctly hear the English word “Agonize.”
Are you “Agonizingly” Fighting against anger, jealousy, envy, resentment, eating, unforgiveness, and so on? You WILL NOT be able to possess the fruit of Self-Control IF YOU DO NOT Agonizingly Strive and fight to overcome your problems. If you encounter certain situations and if these situations stir up the problematic areas in you, overcome and fight them as you bite your tongue and pray. Trust me, every time when you overcome, you will receive more power to control yourself from the Holy Spirit. But each time when you blow up and lose control, you will lose more ground.
Pastor Yoojin Kim