Moderation and self-restraint. Temperance is moderation in thought, word, or action. Those who practice temperance are self-controlled and show restraint in their passions and behaviors. However, this temperance must be regarding the things of God.
I think that the world is to a place now where there is a defect in many Christians. Many seem to look more like the world than they do being a Christian. Jesus should be our example, but so many call themselves Christians but live anything but a Christian life. So many people just are not living as Christians. Oh, they might go to church, but for exactly what reason? Do they have a personal relationship with the Lord? Some do, of course, they do, but many others don’t. Many think they are living correctly but by whose measure?
Many say that Jesus is their Lord but they do not want to listen to Him. Those that don’t want to listen to the Lord and do as He says, are they really Christians?
We, as Christians, need to limit our actions, wants, desires, and restrict what we do so that we are living right, and living as God wants us to live. We are to bring our mind to the mind of God and not of this world and its ways. We might be living in a hostile world right now, but we don’t have to believe what they do, nor do we have to go along with them.
Is temperance something built into us? I don’t believe so, but I could be wrong. I think it is something we must work on. Gal 5:16 NLT says, 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Gal 5:22-23 NLT says, 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is singular. All nine of the fruits of the Spirit grow as one fruit in your life all at the same time…that is if you let it grow.
Temperance is so valuable to our walk with the Lord. It allows us to be walking with the Lord. Our greatest example of temperance is from our Lord and Savior Jesus. He was temperate in His testing, in dealing with people, and He was temperate when He went to the cross. Think for a moment about Jesus, our Lord hanging on the cross. Now think just how temperate He was and that every word He said…He was totally in control.
Let us learn to walk in the spirit and grow daily in it. Don’t give into sin, and in everything resist the devil and fight with the very word of God.
Here are some verses that might also help you.
Galatians 5:23 – Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1 Corinthians 9:27 – 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.
Titus 2:12 – Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Galatians 5:22-25 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Read More…)
2 Peter 1:6 – And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Read More…)
Proverbs 25:16 – Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Romans 13:14 – But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Corinthians 9:25 – And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 John 4:1-21 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (Read More…)
Proverbs 23:1-3 – When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: (Read More…)
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (Read More…)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (Read More…)
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Romans 5:3-6 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Read More…)
Galatians 5:16 – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Now may the Lord bless you, guide you, protect you, grow you, define you, and give you His peace. Don’t give up and stay the course in the Lord.
God bless you.