SELF CONTROL Tape 1145

Self control. You know self control is a very important thing in as much as God has an election. People that, just as he told Jeremiah, "I knew you before you were ever in your mother's womb." Why? God created the souls in the beginning and He said "I chose you then." Why? He proved himself. He knew he could trust him. He could cut it. He didn't shake when the wind blew. And then he said "When you were in your mother's womb, I chose you as a prophet. I named you as a prophet" which means God is going to speak through him. "Now I'm going to use you" so sometimes God wants to use you and it takes a great deal of self control. By this, I mean, you know, some people say "i have studied God's Word and pretty much know all there is to know about it. I've read it. It's simple. I kind of know it all." And then here comes someone who has hardly cracked the cover and do you know then why Jesus told Peter to feed the sheep three times. Only once it was a little lamb. It doesn't matter what you know. It's whether you have the ability to go to that person's level you're going to bring up to where you are. When it comes to teaching or leading people, you're not important. So don't get on any ego trip. "Yes, I be the Bible scholar. I be a high critic." Well, criticize somewhere else. If you have any wisdom at all then you want to let God use you. You have to practice self control to bring that under control and go to that person's level whereby they know what you are saying. Otherwise you are speaking a different language. By that I mean, you are speaking so far above their head they're going to say "He knows his Bible" but isn't it kind of sad that you didn't take the time to teach that one? When that is your purpose. Which means if you didn't do it, then how can God use you? So it takes discipline and self control to pay attention to who you are teaching, who you are planting a seed with. If God uses you. Okay, open your Bibles if you would to 2 Peter, let's find out a little bit about this word self control. In the Greek it is (?) and it means exactly that , it means self control. It means temperance and I'll add the word discipline because that comes with it. Lack of self control is lack of discipline. And opening one's self to allow God to use them, God to be in their life. I'm going to tell you something. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing more important in this world at this time than to know God that He can use you. That you are available. You are His child and you are a servant. And I'm not telling you to, you know then a lot of people will get on a real high kick and they'll print out a bunch of leaflets and go down to the corner and gonna be a religious fanatic. That's losing it too. It takes self control to protect your credibility. And quite frankly that is to be as near alike as the person you are going to teach or plant a seed to without putting on the dog or something else. Okay, just be yourself. You know, haven't you ever noticed that when you are yourself, some people like you. Some may not still yet, butusually when you are yourself most everybody will get alongthey like that. They like you. So kind of be yourself. Don't put on the dog. You all know what that expression means. You know and just talk. That's what prayer and that's what teaching is. Is letting God's Word flow. 2 Peter chapter 1. Let's find out about this word patience, self control. And we lay the ground work beginning with verse 4. Peter's instructions. "Whereby," this is the same one Jesus said feed my sheep three times. Three times and pretty

soon Peter said Lord I heard you the first time, basically. He wanted to get the point. You have to teach on different levels with different people. Okay, that is called self control. Verse 4 chapter 1, 2 Peter "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:" Have you ever claimed any of them? They're yours. "That by these ye might be partakers" You know partakers means to take part in. okay? "of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." In other words, knowing how to stay away from that part of the world that is simply just lust. That has nothing to do with the love of your partner and friends and so on and so forth. Christians have more rights than anyone else in that respect. So many people will say `that means you gotta just" I kinda wish I hadn't gone hereI kind of wish I hadn'tit means you can't be yourself. Well that's wrong. Again as I stated, you knowI don't have to explain that. Five, "And beside this, giving all diligence," that means care, being careful. "giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;" that meansadd to virtue resolution. In other words don't be a quitter, don't give up every time some bad wind blows. Get tough, okay? Knowledge, that means intelligence. Learn how to use it. Verse 6. "And to knowledge" to that intelligence "temperance"; there's the word self control. That means understand what the situation is and align yourself with it. Self control means that you understand the situation and you have the intelligence to understand that and the divine nature that we read of in a prior verse there means that God is going to touch you and assist you and you are going to get the job done. The effects might not even be what you had hoped but it will be what God wanted. And when you mature enough to understand that, that's what's important, is what our Father wants. "To knowledge temperance, and to temperance" that's self control "patience" Boy that's a hard one. It sure is, you know. "And to patience, godliness." That's doing it God's way. Hey if we're going to convert someone, blast it, let's convert them right now. Well it doesn't work that way. Its got to be God's time, God's place. And that person may go away from you after you have planted that seed and might have two or three nervous nights of sleep and finally all of the sudden BAM! "I got it! I see it!" God has to make it grow and then they may see the whole thing. They may have forgotten that you're even the one that planted the

seed. And boy that kind of hurts, doesn't it? No it doesn't. you were used by God. That's what's important. Not that you get credit for it. Not that it's even remembered but the fact that the person you planted that seed with accepted it. And it grew. That's what's important. That's true godliness. Verse 7. "And to godliness, brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness, charity." That means Christian love. Love that abounds. A love that is pure. And a love that cares about the family and the fact that we get it done. You know, I knowwe are so blessed, and I shouldn't say this because we are on national television right now but do you know that we are the largest scripture teaching ministry in this nation today? We purchase more time on television and are with people more hours than any other ministry in teaching God's Word. You are a part of that. Why? We let God use us and we let the Word itself do the leading. We let the Word itself reach out and turn and change lives. Now, I want to tell you about, we are teaching in Genesis. Go there with me. Genesis 43. Genesis chapter 43. I want to tell you about a little old seventeen year old boy. In the fact of self control. This seventeen year old boy was named Joseph. His father's name was Jacob. And he was the first son by the wife he really loved, Rachel. Wow, he loved that woman. And here was this boy Joseph. And he made him a coat of many colors. But do you know what God did to that seventeen year old? He gave him a vision. A dream. That his brothers were all paying obeyance to him. They were all bowing to him. Now, question: did Joseph have that dream? Seventeen years old. No, God gave it to him. And Joseph's father gets all carried away and puts on the first fruit jacket, coat of many colors, and "This is my boy." Well, he's got ten brothers that love their daddy too. And here this boy is walking around with the heirs jacket on. Which means it is mine all mine, as far as you can see it's all mine. He didn't say that but that's what it means. So anyway, is that his fault? No Joseph didn't ask for the jacket but boy his brothers hated him for that. Then God gives the boy, seventeen years old, another vision, dream. And he is shocking sheaves. And I mean the whole bunch bows to him. This time we'll just get it all said here in one pass, momma, daddy, and even his old man got upset with him over that. Was it Joseph's words? No! it was God using Joseph. Why am I saying this? Sometimes God may be using you and you

may have a little difficulty recognizing.. it's going to cause you to lose a little skin maybe. That's a figure of speech, alright. Meaning it might cause you a few hardships. But I'm going to guarantee you one thing. If God gives you a purpose, a duty and a destiny, you can handle it. Well, how do you know, brother? Because if God gives it to you He's going to see that you cut it. He's going to see that you get it done. Otherwise He is going to lose you totally but He's not going to because if God gives it to you He's already seen what you are capable of. So, like this little boy. Here he has the whole house of Israel and this poor little old kid is telling everyone in the house that they are all going to worship him. And that went over just about like a lead cloud in early spring. It did not fly at all, so guess what his brothers do? Pappy sent this little one, we'll call him the peacock with his coat of many colors saying "I want you to go and check on the boys. There off over here to seacham and where Dinah was molested over there and you just go one over there and bring me back good word about the boys and.." and here he went. Well they had moved over to twin caverns or caves, rivers, twin rivers. He found them. They saw him coming. I mean he is sporting his fancy jacket and he is approaching and they say "Let's kill that little rascal. Let's get rid of him." They hated him. I mean here, they're out their working hard earning everything the old man's got and the old man's got a coat on that says he's going to give it all to that kid. Seventeen year old kid. Let's kill him! And finally one, the oldest said, "No, let'slet me put him here in this pitanyway so they did sell him. Judah is the one that offered to sell him. I'm supposed to be reading scripture but I'm getting such a kick out of telling the story I think I'll just keep on. Anyway, they did sell him to some merchants. And the merchants took him right on down to Egypt and sold him to old pottifar. I mean, he's kind of the old sherrif of pharaoh's household, by that I mean he keeps everything running smoothly Now, Joseph is blessed of God and Joseph is showed of God that there is a big famine coming, drought, so Joseph takes over and I mean he increases pharaoh's wealth tremendously. And he kind of gets to be next under Pharaoh and almost a pharaoh himself. That's a little seventeen year old boy that has a year or two on him now. And he's moving

up in the Egyptian clan pretty high. Now stop and think. I mean, he has power. I mean, he can speak and people can lose their lives just like that. That's Joseph. And I mean, he has moved right up the ladder. He is the high muckety duck and Joseph (should be Jacob but pm says Joseph) decides to send the boys with money down to Egypt to buy some grain. Joseph sees them coming recognizes the lot, sells them theasks them about the old man. They didn't recognize him, of course, fills their little old grain sacks up and puts their money back into it and sends them back home. And they get nervous. Wouldn't you? I mean they're going to say we stole this money. See? Well you see it was Joseph blessing them. Anyway, a little time goes on. Joseph told them, "If you come back, you have a little brother, you bring him with you." Well, this would be little Benjamin. And Jacob just hinged on little old Benjamin's life because that was the only son left out of his favorite wife Rachel. And I mean the sun rose and set on that boy. Whether like it or lump it, he played favorites, and he shouldn't have with the other children. And they went back and told the old man and the old man said "You're not taking him down there." and well, of course they get hungry and pretty soon they swear on their lives that they'll take care of him and here the whole bunch takes off back to Egypt and guess what, that's what we came to chapter 43 about. Chapter 43. We're going to pick it up where they hid in their in the second trip. Pick it up with verse 18 if you would in this 43rd chapter and it reads. "And the men were afraid," that's to say the sons of Jacob "because they were brought unto Jacob's house" now they had no business there, they felt. I mean how many times do you go to buy a bag of grain or a feed store and they take you down to the muckety duck's house? I mean that don't happen every day. Got it? "And they said, because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in that he might seek occasion against us and fall upon us and take us for bondmen and our asses." Now bear in mind, they sold him into bondage. This is where you have to learn self control. This seventeen year old is dealing with his brothers that threatened to kill him and sold him into bondage. Verse 19. "And they came near unto the steward of Joseph's house and they communed with him at the door of the house and said `o sir, we came indeed at the first time to

buy food and it came to pass that when we came to the end that we opened our sacks and behold every man's money was at the mouth of his sack. Our money is in full weight," every bit of it. Last penny. "and we brought it again in our hand" we brought it back down. "and other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food. We could not tell who put our money into our sacks." they're afraid that someone is messing with them. And boy was there someone messing with them. It was their little brother. That seventeen year old that God had his hand on. Verse 23. "and the steward," Joseph's steward "said `peace be to you. Fear not. Your God and the God of your father hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money' and he brought Simeon out and unto them.' now he had had Simeon there bound and he had said that `you will come back and you will bring your little brother or we're going to keep this Simeon.' so they bring him out and turn him loose. They do have Benjamin with them. Verse 24. "and the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water and they washed their feet and he gave them their asses provender" Fed their asses. 25. "And they made ready their present against Joseph came at noon. For they heard that they should eat bread there." he told them, well you're going to have food with him. Now this might cause a little attention because it is not legal for an Egyptian to eat with a Hebrew. That's below them and they can't do that. Their religion won't let them especially, and I'll fit this from history, especially if they are a shepherd. I mean if you are a shepherd the Egyptians look down upon thee. Entereth the great story of the shepherd kings. Different time, a different place. Verse 26. "and when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand unto the house and bowed themselves to him unto the earth" remember the dream I told you about? That little seventeen year old said `I had a dream and your sheaves bowed to my sheaves. You paid obeyance to me?' here it is. God's in control. That's what I want you to see here. Verse 27. "and he asked them of their welfare and said `is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?" and of course, this is his daddy. This is Joseph's

daddy he is asking about. 28. "and they answered `thy servant, our father, is in good health. He is still alive' and they bowed down their heads and made obeyance" again, dream fulfilled. "and he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin." now this is his full blood brother. The other son by Rachel, the little one. His mother's son. "and he said, `is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me?' and he said `God be gracious unto thee my son'" and he's about to lose it. This is where self control comes in. I want you to see the emotions that have built up in this one. God is using him. Here is his own brothers that sold him. And here is his full blood little brother. And naturally this gets touchy to him. 30 "and Joseph made haste for his bowels," right from within him. deep in him. "did yearn upon his brother and he sought for where to weep and he entered into his chamber and wept there." he had to get away a moment. I mean, he had to practice self control. Why? God is using him and God's plan must come to fulfillment. It has to come to pass the way that Father wants it.

31 "and he washed his face and he went out and refrained from," there's the word. Refrained his self control. In the Hebrew it is ____. And again in the Septuagint the Greek rendering of this you have the same word ___. Self control. He grasped again his self control. Under all this pressure, this young lad, he is still a young lad, to do God's word. That that God had appointed. "He refrained himself and said `Set down bread'". He gave the order. 32. "and they set on for him by himself" in other words, they Joseph the head of the household over by himself. "and for them, by themselves" again as I have stated, it is not right that Egyptians eat with Hebrews. "and for the Egyptians which did eat with him by themselves because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians." again as I have said another further into history especially if it is a shepherd. And this is why you must always separate the shepherd kings of Egypt as Hebrews that tended sheep though they were in Egypt. A different study for a different time but they were not Egyptians and that has a great

deal with who married who. Anyway, back to the story. Here this one is eating and there's his brothers. Do you know what? They wanted to kill him. They hated him. They sold him into bondage. And here sits his little brother Benjamin. Full blood brother. 33. "And they set before him the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth and the many marveled at one to another." How did he know that? Verse 34. "And he took and sent messes unto them from before him. But Benjamin's mess was five times so much as theirs and they drank and were with them." checking them out. Wants to know if they were going to be envious of little Benjamin. Wants to find out if they were jealous of little Benjamin. That's fair game. I mean, after all, what I want you to see is how many inner emotions this man has going with him. And he still has to do God's work. I would question you again. Is it his fault? Is it his brother's fault they sold him? Is it his fault that he is in the precarious position that he is? No, it wasn't. Self control to the mature follower of God knows that God caused it. God has a plan. Actually what's happening, had God not sent Joseph on ahead to be the, I'll say head guru but you know what I'm talking aboutpharaoh's next assistant, he's over the grainery, he's over the food. And God showed him years before the famine came that he could stock up and have seven years supply on hand. God took care of that. What does that mean? Your Father knows what you need. Your Father, when He is in your life knows what is coming down the road, down the pike. He knows what it is that you need to do if you are going to be his servant. And it may be a real small thing to you like planting a seed in a certain place or something of that nature or serving Him. Who knows. For most in this generation it is witnessing against the false messiah. It is very important. It is essential and it takes self control. Discipline to do it God's way. And here he sits he is checking them out. Little old Benjamin. Continue right on into 34 here just a little ways, "And he commanded the steward of his house saying `fill the men's sacks with food as much as they can carry and put every

man's money in the sack's mouth" put that money back in their again "and put" listen to this "and put my cup, the sliver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest" in his corn money "and he did according to the word as Joseph had spoken." Now, he's going to find out more than this. Now he's going to check them out and is going to see if they are going to sell their little brother. Because he is going to put his main cup in there, his silver cup. They are going to charge out of town. Well, let's just read on. We'll let the Word speak it. "And as soon as the morning was light the men were sent away they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city and not far off, Joseph said unto his steward, `up! And follow after the men and when thou doest overtake them say `wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?'" now kind of they did by selling their little brother. Do you understand that? Old Joseph is kind ofI don't blame himokay, I'm not putting any blame against Joseph but he is testing his brothers okra here. He's going to find out if they will sell that little brother. And if they didit would be tough sledding for them. Well, they are not going to. Praise God. Five. "Is this not it in which my lord dranketh? And whereby indeed he divineth?" Joseph did not divine out of a cup. He followed God. God lead him. God instructed him. But this is a put on. Got it? "Ye have done evil in so doing" and he overtook them and he spake onto them these same words and they said unto him `wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing." We wouldn't steal anything for anything in the world. Now you want to always be careful if you've got a sharpie on your case. "behold the money which we found in our sack's mouths we brought again unto thee out of the land of Caanan. How then should we steal out of thy lords house silver or gold?" we wouldn't do that. Well, they have been set up and unfortunately, little old Benjamin is the one they set up. "With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die and we also will be my lord's bondmen." now that's kind of wishing death on little old Benjamin. "And he said, `now also let it be according unto your words. he with who it shall be found shall be my servant. And ye shall be blameless." See he's checking them out. Will they sell Benjamin? Joseph already knows where that cup is. He knows little Benjamin has got it

because Joseph had it put there. And he's going to see if these old boys will also, as they have sold Joseph, will sell little Benjamin. And Joseph knows it will kill their father. He will simply die of a broken heart. "Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground and opened every man his sack and he searched and began at the eldest and left at the youngest and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack." o my lord. "Then they rent their clothes and laid every man his ass and returned to the city." I mean, they are not going home. They can't cut that. They can't do that to their daddy again. And what they are not being honest with Joseph about is Benjamin had an older brother and they sold him. That's why they can't go back without Benjamin. "And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house for he was yet there." you bet he was. "And they fell before him on the ground and Joseph said unto them, `what deed is this that you have done. Know it not that a man such as me can certainly divine." he can divine their little old heads right off their shoulders. "And Judah said, `and what shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? How shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants." In other words, we sold our little brother. God has found it out. Well, God knew it all the time cause this was their brother before him. "Behold, we are in my lord's service both we and he also with whom the cup is found." And he said, "God forbid that I should do so but the man in whose hand the cup is found he shall be my servant." in other words, it goes on. And Judah offers himself. He says, keep me. Let the boy go or it will kill the old man. Please keep me. So Judah is the one which first said, sell him and rather than kill him. So Joseph knows that they are not going to betray Benjamin. If they can help it. That's what he wanted to know coming out the gate. And then he does identify himself. Go one to chapter 45 and pick it up in verse 4. After he tells them who he is. That he is their brother. And then listen the explanation in the Word of God. Verse 4 of chapter 45. "And Joseph said unto his brethren, `Come near to me, I pray you." And they came > near and he said, `I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt." What a sad awakening. I mean, here the head muckety duck. "Now therefore,

be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that you sold me hither. For God did send me before you to preserve life." To preserve your life. I'm here for that reason to preserve the life of the Egyptians, to preserve the life of the Israelites. By giving him the divine inclination and knowledge in self control to provide food for that seven year stretch. And so it was. "For these two years hath the famine been in the land and yet there are five years in which there shall neither be earing nor harvest." You're just not going to make any grain. Now, I want you to put yourself in that boy's place. Do you see how important self control becomes in your life. He had to maintain that self control to complete God's work. Just like you in your lifetime, many times, have to practice that self control in approaching tender ears. Unfortunately, this is where most people who really dig into the Truth get lost because they begin to think only of themselves and not God's children. You have to bring them along. You have to use self control. "Well, I've heard that a dozen times." Well, have you? Well, this person hasn't heard it at all. Was it not important for you to hear it? Well, of course. It was a blessing. And it is important also that this little one has the opportunity to hear so that you have growth in self control in discipline wherein you are a living unit for God rather than an old has been that's just not accomplishing a whole lot. You've got to stay plyable like clay that can still be formed so that God can form you and use you. Let's return now, if we may, to the new testament. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. I'll tell you one thing. If you ever think that your donkey is being overloaded a little bit by people, you might remember Joseph. Remember him in the pit. It wasn't his fault that he was in the pit. His brothers threw him there because his father showed him favortism and God was setting him up to use him. Remember when pressure comes on, look around and ask yourself `why? Why is this happening?' think about it. Go through it intelligently and that is to say if God has His hand on you and if He is using you, He is going to do things in your life. Chapter 19, verse 9, 1 Corinthians. Paul teaching here. Verse 19 and it reads. "For though I be free from all men," in other words, `there is no control over me' "yet have

I made myself servant over all that I might gain the more." in other words, I have made myself a slave, a servant, so that I'm not out here playing big wig. I'm getting down here where they are. You gotta know that Paul was a scholar. He could speak more languages than any person and God had brought him, though he had been a good scholar of the old testament before the road to Damascus hit and God have him an education in a hurry. And then it all fit together because the old testament speaks of the new. Paul was a scholar of scholars so he had to go down to where people were. He had to know what they believed, where people were so that he could bring them up in Christ. Verse 20 "unto the Jews," this is our brother Judah now, not kenites "I became as of the tribe of Judah that I might gain the Judeans," that means those that lived under the old law, our brother Judah. Again, not kenites. "unto them that are under the law, as under the law that I might gain them that are under the law." in other words, if someone believes in the old law, you don't go to them and start teaching the new without building a bridge. A bridge of knowledge. Understand what I am saying. Somebody might say, "how could I possibly build a bridge of knowledge?" well does the old not say that a virgin shall conceive in Bethlehem? It is easy to make a bridge and you have to do it in many ways. Verse 21 "to them that are without law, as without law being not without law unto God but under the law through Christ that I might gain them that are without the law." in other words, I can swing that both ways. The point I want you to grasp here, what Paul is telling you "it's not important what I know. What is important is that I know how to go to this one that is under the law and this one that is under the law of Christ and reach both of them." You're talking about a teacher here now. You're talking about someone that can plant a seed because he is simplifying in the simplicity that Christ and our heavenly Father taught us in both the old and the new. 22. "to the weak, become I as weak that I might gain the weak." that's the only way that you are going to reach them. Been there; done that. "well, I'm not weak". well, that kind of means financially and many of you say "I've never been in financial troubles."

Well, now wait a minute. Now stop and think. You know what it is like. "I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some." that's what it's all about is reaching people and you do that by self control. "And this I do for the gospel's sake that I might be partaker of with you." in other words, that the gospel comes to fulfillment and that it grows and springs to life. 24. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize." there is only going to be one winner. "So run so that you may obtain." run so that you can win. Win the race. So what are we talking about here? Saving souls. Now if you go out there and say "Well, I would like for everyone to get this straight in their mind coming out the gate that I know everything that there is to know about God's Word. I know you poor heathen have probably never cracked the book so I will try to be as patient as I can with you even though you are a little bit on the stupid side." now, you are not going to get very far that way. "But you don't understand brother. I know it all." well, you think you know it all. You don't know nothing with that attitude. You have to reach the person you are helping or you are not going to be any help at all. That's what Paul is talking about. When you run, you run to win. And if it takes going down to the primary, kindergarten, you go there. It will not hurt you. It will not harm you and bring that person forward. 25 "and every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate" you know what that word is? Self control. "is temperate in all things" he is self controlled in all things knowing that God can use him or her. "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we, an incorruptible." in other words, the Olympics. They run to win that gold medal. We have a gold medal but it's a little different. Its in your heart. Its in your mind. And self control brings that to you. You win every time if you know people. If you know where those people are in reaching them. And as I said, for most, we have a time approaching that's witnessing against the spurious messiah. Self control. 26 "I therefore so run not as uncertainty. So fight I. Not as one that beateth the air." I don't just shadow box. Get this real straight. I'll say it like it is. `I don't just shadow box. I knock the daylights out of them. I go for it. I go for the prize.' and spiritually that's what you have to do.

27 "but I keep under my body and keep it under subjection lest by any means when I have preached to others that I myself might be made a castaway." that is to say, unworthy or false. you don't want to be that. You want to be a servant of God. Plyable. That he can use you. And when you size up, you practice discernment and when you talk to someone, discern them. Feel their spirit. See where they are. Ask them a question or two. Find out where they are and go there. Again, its not important how much you know. Its important what this little one knows right now and what can we do about it to help bring them into the Truth of God's Almighty Word that will change lives. That's what we have to do. I want to go one more place and then I am going to quit. We're going to finish this. Go to Galatians with me. The great book of Galatians. Right after this book of Corinthians basically. Chapter 5 verse 22. Galatians, the land of the Gaul. Chapter 5 verse 22. In conclusion, "But the fruit of the Spirit is," we just had what it is not. And I'm going to guarantee you in this generation you don't have to look very far to see what its not. With the perversion that is taking place in this world. But the fruit of the Spirit, and that is what I want you to reap. That's what self control will bring for you. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith." that's what the fruit of the Spirit is. We are talking Holy Spirit here okay. There's a lot of things in this world you can tangle up with and it just listed it in prior verses. Verse 23 "Meekness, temperance" there it is. Underline it. Self control. That is what temperance is. Self control. That is to say to be willing to allow God to work in you life and to be mature enough to understand when He is touching you. Moving you. Leading you. Because there is a reason for it. "Against such there is no law" there is not law against following God and allowing Him to use you. There's just nothing against that. Its very preferable to bring forth the blessings of almighty God. That's what is important. Not a golden crown but an incorruptible crown that lasts for an eternity. And you have the privilege of having a part thereof. 24 "and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the afflictions of lust" in other words, this is lust which is in the sexual connotation and anything which isn't

Christian. It doesn't mean that we put sex aside. It doesn't mean that at all. Lust. Verse 25 "if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." and that's good advice and it's just common sense. "let us not be desirious of vain glory." that's showing people how much you know. "provoking" vain glory brings forth this "provoking one another and envying one another." it brings trouble. It really does. So patience and self control. Self control automatically opens the valve of intelligence to "Father, what is it that you are telling me? Father, which way do you want me to go? Father, what is it that you wish me to do? Ask and I will do it. Lead and I will follow. And that's what His Word is about. Is being blessed by the Spirit that you can actually help people. That's what true Christianity is about. Christ was given for everyone and you as a Christian are a Christ man that follows in those footsteps and you automatically become a blessing, a blessing to those that are starving. Those that are hungry. Those that need that drop of water of Truth to help change their lives whereby they can enjoy that as well. Heavenly Father, thank you Father for Your Word. Thank You for strengthening our self control. Thank you Father for Joseph and for what he went through Father and yet in the end he knew all of the time that it was You God that caused those events to come by and that forgiveness was in his heart and that they all gained and grew by it. Thank You Father. Self control. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.