9.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• A person who cannot control himself is like a city with broken walls.
• The Holy Spirit gives us gentleness and self-control so that we can stand strong against sin.
• Gentleness is strength that is used under the guidance of God.
• Self-control is the ability to control yourself.
• You can grow in gentleness and self-control by praying that the Holy Spirit will give you more of it.
• You can also grow in gentleness and self-control by listening to God’s Word, not to your own heart.

9.2 Galatians 5:22-23←⤒🔗

^5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

^5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

© NET Bible

9.3 Psalm 73:1-6, 21-28←⤒🔗

^73:1 Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure!

^73:2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.

^73:3 For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

^73:4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed.

^73:5 They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do.

^73:6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing.

…

^73:21 Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain.

^73:22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.

^73:23 But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

^73:24 You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.

^73:25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth.

^73:26 My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

^73:27 Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.

^73:28 But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

© NET Bible

9.4 Out of control!←⤒🔗

Psalm 73 was written by a man named Asaph. Asaph was a true believer. But when he looked at the world around him, he became very worried. The world was full of violence (verse 6). People were out of control!

Then Asaph also lost control of his thoughts and his feelings. He became angry. Why did God allow all this violence? People were not listening to God, but they were not punished for it! They lived nice and healthy lives (verses 3 and 4). Asaph even became jealous of them (verse 3).

Proverbs 25:28 tells us that a man who cannot control himself is “like a city whose walls are broken down.” Such a person is unprotected against the dangers of life. This was true of Asaph. He could not control his thoughts and his feelings of anger. Because of this, he says “My feet had almost slipped” (verse 2).

9.5 Under God’s control←⤒🔗

But God was faithful to Asaph. Even though Asaph lost control of himself, God was there to guide him. That is why Asaph praises God: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand” (verse 23).

Even though we are Christians, we still have sin in our hearts. This sin can start to control us. Like Asaph, we can become full of anger and jealousy. Or perhaps we can become full of lust or greed. But Christians are not the slaves of sin. God makes us strong, to rule over sin!

How does God do this? He gives us his Holy Spirit. In this lesson we will look at the last two words that describe the fruit of the Spirit. They are: gentleness and self-control. Gentleness and self-control can both help us to stand strong against sin.

When gentleness and self-control are growing in our lives, we are not like an unprotected city anymore. Then we are under God’s control.

9.6 Gentleness←⤒🔗

Jesus said to the people around him, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

When the Bible says that Jesus is “gentle,” it means that Jesus uses his strength in humble ways. That is why people could come to him. He would not hurt them. He would give them rest.

The Holy Spirit puts this same gentleness in our hearts. Gentleness is not weakness. It is strength that is used under the guidance of God. Instead of being angry and proud, you are humble and thankful to God. When other people hurt you or disagree with you, you control yourself. You don’t think only of yourself. You rather think of God’s will. You think of good things to say and to do.

God helped Asaph to become gentle. Asaph stopped being angry. He started to trust that God’s time and God’s ways are best. He became humble before God: “But as for me, it is good to be near God” (verse 28).

9.7 Self-control←⤒🔗

Gentleness and self-control go together. Self-control is the ability to control yourself. A person with self-control does not do everything that he wants to do, or say everything that he wants to say. He thinks before he speaks and before he does something. He is careful of bad thoughts. He chooses to rather think of better things.

Why is self-control so important? It is because there is so much sin in our hearts. Our hearts can tell us to do what is wrong: to lie, or to cheat, or to shout at somebody. If we do everything that our hearts tell us, then we are like that city in Proverbs 25:28. A city that does not have walls. A city that cannot protect itself against evil.

But when the Holy Spirit works in us, he gives us gentleness and self-control. Then we do not live out of control anymore. Then we put ourselves under God’s control. We stop asking, “What do I want?” We ask, “What does God want?”

9.7 Growing in gentleness and self-control←⤒🔗

Do you see why gentleness and self-control are so important? It is because they will protect you against the attacks of Satan. They will also protect you against the sin in your own heart. With gentleness and self-control, you come under God’s control. Then you are free to grow in the rest of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.

How can you grow in gentleness and self-control? Pray every day that the Holy Spirit will give you more of it. Also, remember the lesson that Asaph learned: “You guide me with your counsel” (verse 24).

God wants to guide you through his counsel. His counsel is found in his Word, the Bible. Do not be proud and listen to your own heart. Listen to God’s Word. Let God teach you how to think, how to speak, and how to act.