The Fruit of SELF-CONTROL - Fall Series pt. 6

Nov 21

In this episode we are wrapping up the fruits in our lives - The Fruit of The Holy Spirit, that is! And this fruit is one that you may want to master If you want freedom, Full Freedom from all of your fears, from everything that stresses you out or has a stronghold over you. So, Come, Learn of our Master, Jesus, Who always shows us the right path to take. Join in the fun!

Diana’s Notes

Self- Control (along with…..kindness, goodness, gentleness, & faithfulness)

Hey Everyone, How’s it going out there?! Well, whatever you have going on in your life I want to say :Thanks so much for spending your valuable and precious time, listening in to : Heartfelt Conversations with Diana!

Well, we are on our 6th and final episode of our Fall Series on God’s Characteristics known as “The Fruit of the Spirit. So this has been the “fruit” part of the series and next week, we will move on to the grain portion. So keep listening, and if this is your first time tuning in, I invite you to go back and pick up from the beginning of this series on any of your platforms or you can also find all of the episodes on our website; heartfeltconversations.com

Last week we spoke about Patience, I know, I know. It is a tough one for me too.

Patience in the Oxford Dictionary is defined as: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, or suffering without getting angry or upset

Of course without the first 3 key “fruits” of God’s spirit, - Without Love, Joy, and Peace, it is impossible to be long-suffering with others.. But! - when we know how much we are loved and come to realize just how much we have been forgiven, then it is way easier to be patient .

And we will also need to have endurance, so that we can be patient.

And - we talked about how We need stamina which is (endurance), so that we can continue to last, to be able to accept and tolerate, EVEN WHEN things don’t go our way - AND! Without allowing it to disrupt our attitude by becoming upset.

Endurance in the Cambridge Dictionary is defined as: The ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a LOOOOOONG time. Running a marathon is a test of human endurance.

We spoke on how Saul had a life changing meeting with Jesus and he became better known as the Apostle Paul. Teaching us that when we feel overwhelmed, weak, that we are actually at our strongest because of God’s divine Spirit in us. That when we humble ourselves and seek God, His grace will strengthen us for whatever comes.

Paul is speaking about what the Lord said to him when he cried out in -

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Berean Standard Bible

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 1 0 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…

Today, in episode 6 we are going to be wrapping up the remaining characteristics - The Fruit of the Holy Spirit - of God, and the remaining 5 are: Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self- Control.

With our focus on Self-control

Why? Why are we learning these? Because they are supplements to a healthy relationship, personal relationship with God, our Father, that will separate all other distractions in life from us so that we are laser- focused on the calling placed within each one of us. A Vision, A Hope, A Dream, something deep within- that keeps calling, maybe from a distance, maybe in the fog of life, a feeling there is more, but you are too afraid, or too ashamed or too weirded out, or too angry, or whatever your “too” might be, if you want to find out exactly who you were created to be and why God created you. The uniquely you, you! Then engage with the One Who knows you best ,Your Designer, Creator, the One Who breathed life into you and gave you life.

Listen to the plea of Peter as he encourages us to embrace ALL that we have access to as God’s promise to us for a fruitful- blessed- abundant life.

2 Peter 1:1-11 The Message

I love this in the Message translation when Peter says, all due to our God’s straight dealing - I was so confused and lost in doctrine, and theology, and denominations and what is real in the Bible and what is made up, is it made up and how do I know??? I believed, but I was confused about what was right. I knew what I felt deep inside me, but all of my religious upbringing told me I was rejected by God because I could not figure out how to be good enough for God. I needed God to tell me straight what the heck was wrong with me, and He did. It was my stinkin’ thinkin’ and that is where I began the transformation. I did not listen to anything but what God’s Word said because I decided, I believed it or I didn’t, I could not be torn down the middle based upon how I felt about it personally. Once I did that, once I decided to step out and believe God Period! I was so thankful that God is so straightforward. It makes life so much easier on my nerves now! No head games with God and I appreciate that! Because, now I know what I believe - for myself.

Okay, on to verse 3 of 2 Peter :

Don’t Put It Off

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

I like how the Message says: alert discipline and that each one develops the other all working in unison together.

( here comes our why - ) Why bother, why the effort of seeking God and following Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us through a spiritual dimension while we are walking around earth - here is why- Peter goes on to say: With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Whatever holds us back, we do not have to be afraid, because our entire old life is wiped off the books, like Saul - when we receive Jesus and His light begins to erase the darkness of sin. There is NOTHING to do, just believe, confess, receive and be filled and then go out and do good until the day He reveals Himself to you. If you have never received Jesus as your personal Savior, then as Peter says, Confirm God’s invitation for eternal life now and do not put it off. Go to the website and there is a prayer of Salvation for you to confess out loud- then find a local church that follows Jesus and God’s word and get involved and grow so that this passage of scripture will become your reminder that you now have everything you need!

But we must earnestly seek to find God and know Him - Then, we will meet Him! I promise you that! Earnestly seeking Him, is the key.

According to a blog in usemotion.com, it describes a self-disciplined person to have extraordinary self- control, they are focused on achieving their goals,and they believe they are responsible for what they can accomplish -

Who did the Search on Proverbs 3:5-7 - Here is what God says about whose plan we should follow for personal success.

Proverbs 3:5-7: NLT

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 -Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7- Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

This has a promise to it -

Verse 8 -Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

This tells us how to have healing and strength.

As we fix our eyes on Jesus and Learn of Him, we also Learn how to Lean on the Holy Spirit to lead us into God’s full divine power, under the shadow of the Almighty One. To have Victory over every area of our lives! It does not mean that our lives will be in a little happy bubblesphere, LOL that does not exist, it just doesn’t. That is not a real expectation of life.

If you want freedom, Full Freedom from all of your fears, from everything that stresses you out or has a stronghold over you, then we must surrender, surrender all to Jesus, and I promise - that as you learn and grow, you personally will find out for yourself by experience - He WILL be EVERYTHING you NEED! I know this is true from personal experience.

I am living that promise now. My life has plenty of manure in the Orchard LOL, but as I grow in Patience and Self- Control - all the other fruits are blooming and growing and bearing fruit too. And I have learned that when I am applying Proverbs 3 into my life, God makes the thorny Roses smell even better - because I am earnestly seeking His will, His way over my way.

Just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemne when He was praying just before He was to face torture and death, “ not My Will Father, but Your will be done.”

Patience and Self-Control have become the stability and steadiness in my life, my “regulators” of how much stress and pressure are coming into my life. When I seek God first, then I know with His wisdom and discernment that it might be time to re-evaluate some things in my life. What I am allowing in, what I am spending too much wasted time on, what I am losing sleep over that I have no control over. There are good pressures that stretch us and our capacity, they increase blood flow and bring value and benefits to our lives, then there are things that steal life from us. We have to apply what we are learning to correct and change course when we realize we are walking outside of God’s will for us personally. And as we grow, love, joy , peace , kindness , goodness , gentleness , faithfulness- all of the good qualities we all wish we had, will develop naturally. We won’t be struggling - we will be right in step with God.

God desires that we be healthy, whole, bold, courageous, zealous, energetic , united - but without patience and self-control we become arrogant, rude, impatient, self-focused, uncaring and we find our lives in constant chaos, stress, and disorder.

When we activate Self-Control, when we hit the pause button before we react, we allow God to move, to be God. I have a verse hanging on my wall where I see it every single day. It is my daily reminder not to meddle, not to react, not to stir and dwell in emotions and stress, but to be Still, be still in knowing God is God, He is I AM.

Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I AM GOD

It is TRUST

When we develop and strengthen Patience and Self- Control we become strong, bold, confident, stable, relaxed, fun people! At one time in my life I forgot what it was to be a fun, relaxed person. To be comfortable in my own skin and if you have forgotten or have never known how to be confident with who you are, to be relaxed when you are out of your comfort space. How to laugh when your day has become so insane that you scream, cry, or laugh, and now - you chose to laugh!

When we put all of God’s characteristics into practice, they help grow us and prepare us for the very purpose He created us for.

God created you - you - because He loves you! And He sent Jesus to Restore you back to Him - its His Free Gift of an eternal home, an eternal life with Him. But salvation is just the beginning! God has so much more for you while you are still here, in this dimension. On earth. First step, Salvation, then - get ready for the journey and adventure of your life!

God does not want you to just cope and barely get through life, God wants you to thrive, to be whole, fruitful, blessed, to have an abundant life to the full overflowing beyond all you can even imagine.

That is exactly what Peter encourages us to do , don’t delay - seize it now!

As we draw closer to the end of 2024 and prepare to enter 2025, let’s be determined to embrace, comprehend, and apply all of the good benefits of Galatians 5:22-23 - God’s characteristics in us.

As we study each one of these 9 in our own individual lives, we will see the bloom of God’s beautiful design, His plan, for each and every one of us.

He loves you so much!!!! Every -thing- Good He has for you, is written in His word, so, study it! Know it! Search it and Seek it for yourself! For your own benefit! The buried treasure specifically for you is in there. Go for it! Dig it out!

Be well! Be Blessed! Be ALL God Created YOU to be!

God bless! and see you next week when we talk about some good grain- Living Bread!

And!

I have put a link to a Joyce Meyer’s video on the gift of self-control: - it’s on the notes for this week on our website.

You can find the link of the podcast on -

Heartfeltconversations.com -https://www.heartfeltconversations.com/

I hope you can check it out and remember- Keep your Chin Up - Eyes fixed on Jesus!

11 For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that [a]brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, 13 awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.

Titus 2:11-14 AMP Bible

How rich are we, that we are Chosen by God to be set apart as His “special people’ who are enthusiastic for doing what is good!

NOW! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

God Bless!! And see ya next time!

Songs to inspire you

Cody Carnes, Benjamin William Hastings – Take You At Your Word (Official Live Video)

All He Says I Am // Cody Carnes // Forever Yours

I Am Not Alone - Kari Jobe - Worship Video with lyrics

Scriptures from This Weeks Podcast

Philippians 4:9:

KEEP putting into practice all you have learned and received from me - everything you heard me and saw me doing. THEN, the God of peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Berean Standard Bible

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…

2 Peter 1:1-11

Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God’s straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Don’t Put It Off Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, ( the fruits of God’s spirit we have been looking at) spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-7,8: NLT

Verse 8 -Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I AM GOD

Galatians 5:22-23: AMP

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, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Other Scripture to meditate on, let it roll over in your thoughts and heart…

Acts 3:19-20

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then, times of refreshment will come from the presence of the LORD, …

Philippians 2:12:

continue to work out your salvation - [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ.]

Foundation Verse

Romans 8:11

The Spirit of God, Who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Chrisr Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living in you. “

Additional Resources

Prayer of Salvation

Jesus has given salvation, healing, and countless benefits to all who call upon His name. These benefits can be yours if you receive Him into your heart by saying this prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to You admitting that I am a sinner. Right now, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that Jesus rose again from the dead so that I may be justified and made righteous through faith in Him. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus, I choose to follow You, and I ask that You fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. I declare right now that I am a born again, child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This prayer and the comment above, were taken out of the book:

Secrets to Powerful Prayer - Discovering the Languages of the Heart

By Lynne Hammond and Patsy Cameneti

If you have just received Jesus as your Savior, please write Lynne Hammond Ministries at:

PO Box 29469

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55429-2946

Or, email one of the ministries listed on the Additional Resources Tab and let them know that you are a brand new christian and need some direction on the next steps for your new life in Christ.

Or email us here at Heartfelt Conversations with Diana and we will pass along your information for you.

Congratulations if you are a brand new Christian or if you have Returned Home! Welcome!!! Get in God’s Word and get it into you!

Diana’s Home Church:

Valley Family Church - Pastor’s Eric and Alexa Jones
www.valleyfamilychurch.org

Other recommended Jesus-centered churches who teach the True Word of God:

Elevation Church - Steven Furtick
https://elevationchurch.org/

Joseph Prince Ministries - Joseph Prince
https://www.josephprince.org/

Joyce Meyer Ministries
https://joycemeyer.org/

Selomon Closson