Thursday, 13th February, 2025
BE CONTROLLED FROM WITHIN
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)
Did you read the opening scripture well?
Kindly go back, read it again and focus on the latter part.
Did you see it?
What I wanted you to see was self-control. Many have disregarded this subject as a mere activity of the mind, but this is contextually incorrect.
Stay glued to this discussion and follow through as we unravel the true meaning and understanding of self-control.
When we hear of self-control we first think of subjecting our thoughts and emotions under our own control.
However, it doesn’t work that way.
To bring things under your control will still make you lose control.
It is always difficult to bear burdens on our own.
To exercise SELF-CONTROL according to the scriptures, is to subject your emotions, thoughts, and desires or cravings to our Lord Jesus.
The Greek word is (“egkrateia”/“enkrateia“) from the word, “enkratos” (“en” means in and “kratos” means dominion, mastery, power to rule).
It also stems from the word “krat” which speaks of power or lordship. It literally means dominion within.
It is the ability or idea to take a grip on oneself or hold oneself.
For you in Christ, self-control proceeds out from within you, but not by yourself. This is because it is only possible by depending on the power of the indwelling Spirit.
With self-control, you hold your passions and desires in hand, as you are enabled by the Lord.
You cause God’s word to master your desires and passions, especially your sensual appetites.
The Greeks used “self-control” for one who had his sex passions under control.
It speaks of the ability to make the will of God get a grip on yourself.
Egkrateia has reference to restraining passions and appetites. It points to the inner power of God, to control one’s own desires and appetites.
To have self-control, you function like Jesus. He never became a victim of the tricks of the adversary. (Matthew 4:1-11). He was never found doing or saying anything that was not consistent with His Father’s will and divine nature.
Jesus said, “…I seek not mine own will, but the will (or desires) of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30.
This is the simplicity of self-control. It is not just about having a restraining force, it is God’s will becoming your restraining force.
Get this, you are not a machine, God has made you an organism or a free moral agent. Thus, you exercise self-control by a free act of will.
Until you make a personal decision to submit to God’s restraining ability within you, God won’t force His will on you.
When you yield your cravings to God, you exercise self-control in the energy which the Holy Spirit supplies.
This is a glorious interworking of your will and the grace of God.
There is a price of fruitfulness, therefore live as an athlete who disciplines and restrains himself; beating his body into submission ( 1Co 9:27).
A good top-level athlete will abstain from rich foods, wine, and sexual activities to focus all his strength and attention on training to be more efficient.
Beloved, practice self-control by yielding your thoughts, emotions, and desires to the instructions of the Word and the Spirit.
Do you want to bear more fruits?
Don’t sleep when you are to be praying. Be diligent in praying and fasting and not be controlled by your appetite for food.
Be disciplined and diligent to share the gospel of Christ with others no matter how you feel.
Refrain from sexual immorality. Don’t frustrate the grace of God.
Take advantage of the strength of the Holy Spirit to do more.
Selah.
Apostle Benjamin Nana Amissah Ansah
All my cravings and desires are govern by the will of God
I don’t do as I desire. I exercise the strength of God in my dealings
Thank you Jesus
Christ is my strength 🙏💪
Heyaaaaa
In the name of Jesus
I submit my cravings and desires to the good pleasures of the Father’s will.
I live a life in submission to God.
I live a life in submission to God.
In the name of Jesus
I subject my emotions, thoughts, and desires or cravings to my Lord and personal savior, Jesus Christ!
In the name of Jesus
In the name of Jesus
Self control proceeds from within a man but with the man in Christ, it doesn’t depend on his own ability.
With the man in Christ, the Holy Spirit within you enables you to exercise Self control with ease.
As you subject your emotions, thoughts, and mind to the word of God, the word shapens your heart exercise self control from within your spirit.
Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Jesus!
“patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…”
This particular portion of the opening verse really ministered to me.
Thank you Apostle Bennie
Ayaaaaaa
Thank you Jesus
I depend on the power of the spirit within me to exercise self-control!
I depend on the power of the spirit within me to exercise self-control!
God’s will is my restraining force!
Thank you Jesus
In the name of Jesus
I yield my thoughts, emotions, and desires to the instructions of the Word and the Spirit!
Oooohhhh….. so sweet a word
This is a timely message.
Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Apostle Bennie.
Atell you
I AM CALLED BY THE LORD INTO HIS GREATNESS!!!
I think GREATNESS!
I take GREAT steps!!
I ESTEEM the Lord’s assignment for me!!
Haa!! It is a GREAT thing to serve the Lord!!
Hahaaaaaa
Wow…patience is not the ability to wait but it is how we act while we’re waiting!
Thank You Jesus for the cleared misconception!
Woooooowwww
Mmm self control doesn’t necessarily entail subjecting my thoughts and emotions under my own control…by so doing…I will still lose control. Ei woww!!
I refuse to bring such things under my own control because I will still lose control!!
I refuse to bring such things under my own control because I will still lose control!!
I exercise self control by subjecting and submitting my emotions, thoughts, desires and cravings to my Lord Jesus!!
To me as a believer in Christ, Self Control flows from within me because it is only possible by depending on the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling me.
With self control, I am able to hold my passions and desires in hand by how God enables me…thank You Jesus!
In the name of Jesus
I cause God’s Word to master my desires and passions, especially my sensual appetites.
If ever I have lustful desires or sensual appetites, I must remind myself of God’s Word which teaches me to flee fornication. The Word of God also teaches me that I am royalty and as the chosen of God, I must not subject my body to sexual immorality because my body is the temple of God!!
By aligning myself and my desires to these truths in the Word of God…I give full and complete mastery to God’s Word. Therefore the Word of God will have power and authority over those desires… thank You Jesus!!
Thank you Lord
Thank you Jesus 🙏
The inner power of God is at work within me to control my desires and passions that are not of God!!
To have self control, I function like Jesus!!!
I refuse to give in to the tricks of the adversary by the help of the Holy Spirit within me!!
Jesus was never found doing or saying things that were not consistent with the will and divine nature of God.
This teaches me that for me to remain focused and grounded in the Word of God, the things I do and say must be very consistent with God’s divine will and nature. The emphasis is on the word CONSISTENT!!
I cannot say I love God and then keep on saying and doing things that boost the growth of selfish desires and passions and sensual appetites within me.
I saturate my deeds and words with the Word of God and align them solely to God’s divine nature and will…in the name of Jesus!!!
Deep Incite
I seek the Father’s will at every given time!!!
Self control demands that I don’t just have a restraining force…but God’s Word is my restraining force!!
If I am being tempted into committing a sin, it is the Word of God within me which will restrain and stop me from committing that sin.
Kaaaiiiiissssssshhhhhh
Even though God has made me an organism of free will, I choose to submit to God’s restraining ability within me.
I yield my cravings and desires to God, therefore, I exercise self control in the energy the Holy Spirit provides!!
I live as an athlete who disciplines and restrains herself and beats her body into submission!!
I focus all my strength and attention on training to become more efficient…in the name of Jesus!!
I yield my thoughts, emotions and desires to the instructions of the Word and the Spirit!!
I refuse to be asleep while I should be praying!!
I remain awake and sober!!
I make the decision to be diligent in prayer and fasting and not to be controlled by my own desires!
I choose to be disciplined and diligent to share the Gospel of Christ no matter how I feel.
I refrain from sexual immorality by the restraining force of God’s Word at work in me!!!
I refuse to frustrate the Grace of God
I take advantage of the strength to do SO MUCH MORE!!!
Thank You Jesus!!!!!
I take advantage of the strength to do SO MUCH MORE!!!
What a beautiful machaira episode!
Thank you Jesus!
I exercise self control in the energy that the holy spirit supplies.
Christ is my eternal strength!
1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV
[27] but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Wow,this machaira teaches me not to frustrate the grace of God but to take advantage of the strength and energy of the holy spirit to fight off fleshy desires and cravings!
By doing so,my spirit becomes focused and i can bear more fruits and be effective in the Kingdom.
Thank you Apostle Bennie!
Christ is my eternal strength!
I increase in the strength of the Spirit to exercise self-control or temperance in all things, in the mighty name of Jesus!
in the mighty name of Jesus!
My cravings and desires are governed by the will of God.
Hallelujah
My longings, cravings, pleasures are submitted to the good pleasure of the Father’s will.
My longings, cravings, pleasures are submitted to the good pleasure of the Father’s will.
I don’t do as I desire. I exercise the strength of God in my dealings.
Ayaaaaaaa
Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Lord
GLORREYY.
It is always difficult to bear burdens on our own.
Instead of figuring things out on my own, I submit my will, thought and desire to God
I choose to react to my burdens with the Strength of God
I take steps by the inspiration Of the Spirit
I refuse to exercise my own control over issues, instead, I rely on the power Of Holy Spirit to exercise control
I rely on the power Of Holy Spirit to exercise contro
In the name of Jesus !
In the name of Jesus !
Oh, I hold my desires and passions in my hand by the enabling ability Of God
I make the right choices and desire because I am enabled by the Lord to exercise control over my cravings
I make the right choices
OH, My life is totally subjected to the ruling of the will of God
My life is totally subjected to the ruling of the will of God
To have self-control is to function like Jesus
I function like Jesus
To exercise self-control like Jesus, is to remain consistent with His character. That is, having a consistent thought and speech with Scriptures. I exercise self-control in my speech and actions
I exercise self-control in my speech and actions
I submit and yield to the restraining ability of God in me
Cmon nooowwww
I give myself wholly to the practice of self-control by yielding your thoughts, emotions, and desires to the instructions of the Word and the Spirit.
Oh boi
I won’t frustrate the Grace of God at work in me
Ohhhh boi
I learnt that self control is subjecting your mind, emotions, thoughts and will to God’s Word.
Heeeeyyyyyyy
I don’t do as I desire. I exercise the strength of God in my dealings.
I don’t do as I desire.
I really need this self control influenced from within..i see an forceful rhythm to acticulate any happenings.
Thank you Jesus
In take advantage of the strength of the Holy Spirit to do more.
I do more
I do the Lord’s will!!
Ayayaaaaaa!!!!
In the name of Jesus
I take advantage of the strength of the Holy spirit
I don’t do as I desire
My longing ,pleasure,cravings are submitted to the good pleasure of the Father’s will
The grace to be discipline
Thank you lord Jesus
Whoooooosssshhhhh
Self-control reflects a glorious partnership between human will and God’s grace, enabling believers to act in accordance with His plans and purposes.
Like an athlete, self-control requires discipline and the willingness to abstain from distractions in order to focus on spiritual growth and effectiveness.
To practice self-control, one must actively yield thoughts, emotions, and desires to God’s guidance and the teachings of Scripture.
Jesus exemplified self-control by consistently aligning His actions and words with the Father’s will, demonstrating mastery over temptation (Matthew 4:1-11).
God has made humans free moral agents; self-control is exercised through a voluntary submission to God’s will.
Authentic self-control is only achievable through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not by personal effort alone.
ONLY BY THE SPIRIT.
Self-control involves holding one’s passions and appetites in check, ensuring that God’s word governs our desires.
Engagingj in prayer and fasting is vital for cultivating self-control, as it helps overcome the cravings of the flesh.
it really does.
Refrain from sexual immorality. Don’t frustrate the grace of God.
Take advantage of the strength of the Holy Spirit to do more.
I do the will of God.
Christ is my strength.