I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)
The health of the church is the only thing that will support the harvest of people that the church is called to reach.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:19-25 (NLT)
The Fruit of the Spirit are not FEELINGS… they are CHOICES.
There is no fruit called OTHERS-CONTROL.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
You will forever be the hardest person you will ever have to lead.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Behavior modification is not the goal of following Jesus… It’s the by-product of the new life He has planted on the inside of us.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24(NLT)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
A boundary defines what is allowed and what is not.
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
Temptation will always be there… but BOUNDARIES put distance between temptation and sin.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way! Proverbs 19:2-3 (NIV)
A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:2-3 (NIV)
We are in control of our lives and have whatever we CREATE or whatever we ALLOW.
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15-16 (NIV)
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:15-16 (NIV)
You CANNOT control in yourself, what you cannot SEE in yourself.
“You have nothing better to do with your life than to spend every moment trying to improve.” –Joyce Meyers
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
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. 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
Self-control is not about your WILL POWER… it’s about GOD’S POWER IN YOU.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:11-14 (NLT)
When we can trust God more than our feelings, and realize we have power over our actions and emotions… God will use us beyond our imagination.
