Self-Control

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)

²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

1.     Manipulating The Illusion Of Self-Control

 Matthew 2:1-6 (NASB)
¹  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
²  "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
³  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
⁴  Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
⁵  They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
⁶  'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

2.     Manipulating Others

Matthew 2:7-12 (NASB)

⁷  Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.

⁸  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

⁹  After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

¹⁰  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

¹¹  After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹²  And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

3.     Manipulating Circumstances

 Matthew 2:16-18 (NASB)
¹⁶  Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
¹⁷  Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
¹⁸  "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE." 

4.     Surrendering Control To God’s Word 

Matthew 2:4-6 (NASB)
⁴  Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
⁵  They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
⁶  'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

5.     Surrendering Control To The Holy Spirit 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)

²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)

²⁸  Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.