The Fruit of The Spirit - Temperance

Welcome back to my blog. Today, we are looking at the ninth and final characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit which is temperance! I really hope this series has been edifying for you and that you have been able to learn a lot.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” - Galatians 5:22-26.

- We learn more about the fruit of the Spirit in this scripture. We learn that there is not just one characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, but we learn there are quite a few characteristics. It may seem overbearing, but once you are able to master one fruit of the Spirit, the other characteristics will fall into place naturally as The Holy Spirit leads us and works through us. I believe this is why the word ‘fruit’ was used and not ‘fruits’ because once you have one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, you will be able to access and exhibit the other characteristics also because they work together.

- It becomes up to you to continuously nurture the fruit of the Spirit and to try not to do anything opposing God’s word that may cause you to not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Dying to self daily, seeking God’s face and genuinely striving to have a closer walk with God will help you along the way. With that said we are all human beings and we all have the tendency to slip up at times, but because of God’s grace and mercy we can come to Him with a repentant heart. However, we must be sincere and know that we have the assurance that our Father in heaven will forgive us our trespasses, so long as we forgive those who trespass against us.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:8-10.

We no longer walk in darkness, we walk in the light because we know that we are children of the most High. There is a high calling on our lives where we can walk with our head held high knowing that we are loved and have been redeemed by our Saviour. Walking in the light means that we no longer cling to who we once were, words we once said or things we once did. We walk differently because we strive to make our Father proud. We care little of what the world says and more about what God says. The love He has for us is one we can search the world for, but we will not be able to find such because God loves us differently!

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Temperance refers to having emotional control or self-restraint.

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“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” - Psalm‬ ‭103:8‬.

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.” - Psalm‬ ‭145:8‬.

We learn that even God is gracious, merciful and compassionate. He exudes all characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit including temperance because He is slow to anger.

To be able to show emotional restraint is very powerful. It means you are in control of your emotions and that you are therefore in control of yourself and your actions. Unfortunately not being in control of your emotions will have negative repercussions because it means you may act out of character and think later. As oppose to thinking then acting.

My Mother often says, “act in haste, repent in leisure,” meaning at times people are too quick to act without thinking. Once the act is done it is often regretted by the individual because they initially had no clarity on the situation before acting.

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” - Proverbs‬ ‭15:18‬.

Mama, if someone offends you what is your response? How do you act?

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.” - Proverbs‬ ‭15:1‬.

This very scripture helps to know how to respond and diffuse difficult situations. Another saying my Mother often says is, “you cannot fight fire with fire.” If someone is angry or upset with you if you return the same anger and potentially hurtful commentary you are fighting fire with fire, it will never work. One has to display a calm attitude, free from emotional or mental agitation. It does not mean you are weak, it means you are wise. Arguments cause nothing, but tension and strife. Be at peace by responding in a Godly civilised manner.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” - James‬ ‭1:19‬.

How can you develop more self-control?

Through the help of Holy Spirit and disciplining yourself you will begin to develop more self-restraint. Also being content with your portion in life and not being greedy or ungrateful. There will always be something out there that appears more alluring than what you already have, but find contentment in your portion of life. There is always something to be grateful for. If you were to receive everything you ask God for, what would that teach you?!

Absolutely nothing! True contentment is found in Christ alone, once you have Him all your needs shall be supplied. He is more than enough.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬.

Here are some more scriptures regarding temperance:

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” - Proverbs‬ ‭25:28‬.

“It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search their own glory is not glory.” - Proverbs‬ ‭25:27‬.

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.” - Isaiah‬ ‭53:7-9‬.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” - ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5‬.

Stand strong and try to always exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in your lives, so that your child(ren) can also exhibit these characteristics and please God. Be a light.

Be of good courage Mamas.

I encourage you all to walk with peace in your hearts, know the truth and share the gospel with others.

Did you find any scriptures on meekness that you would like to share?

What are your thoughts on the following? Comment down below and let’s talk!

1. Which verses stuck out to you?

2. Why do you think displaying temperance is so important?

3. How do you show self-control?

4. Why can lacking emotional restraint be a hinderance?

5. Why is it important to be calm even if others are not?

With Love,

Roxanne-Sasha x