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WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 26, Issue 6
Healthy Homes & Families Natural, Biblical, Healthy Living Self-Control…Denial or a Double Portion?
By Chris McMahan October 2025
the life of a believer. What is offered to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit, is not the world’s self-control. What is this fruit? How do we get it? Fruit always starts with a seed. In our
than just receiving this initial gift. Philippians 2:12b-13, “... continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill
work of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the best example of Biblical self-control (and simultaneously the worst example) is from Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane — (Matthew
lution is to yield to the Holy Spirit. There can only be one boss or master – our flesh or the Spirit God has given us. We usually think of self-control as sacrifice and giving something up, but it actually unlocks the FULLNESS God has for us. God’s heart is to give us the better portion (the whole bouquet, not just a single bloom). What is in the way of us receiving it? We may think of self- control as denial, but it really is the open door for God to GIVE to us — His heart is for us to live in FREEDOM/LIB- ERTY – there is no law against the fruit. Self-control is not the right to do as we want, but the liberty to do as we ought. Corrie Ten Boom said “It’s not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.” God won’t do my part and I can’t do His part. Self-control is our faithful response to God’s divine guidance and power. We see this fruit in our lives by submitting our control over our lives to God – we yield to Him. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to reign in the flesh, which al- lows Him to reign freely in our lives. Back to our original title… “Self-con- trol…Denial or Double Portion?” When we yield our will to the will of God, we receive the BETTER PORTION, the GREATER PORTION! Why would we want less when we can have more? Chris McMahan Email: Happy1970@icloud.com
If God were to offer you a single bloom or an entire bouquet, which would you choose? What if He gave
life as Christians, that seed is the Word of God taking root to bring us to our starting point of salvation. All seeds are designed (by God) to produce fruit…a LOT of fruit! The apple seed produces…apples. The orange seed pro- duces…oranges. The seed of God’s Word produces…the fruit of the Spirit! This fruit, self-control, is evidence of our rela- tionship with God. True Biblical self-control
26:39-45 NLT). This passage shows the ul- timate submission to the Holy Spirit, the ulti- mate self-control, as Jesus submits His flesh to death on the cross. And possibly the ‘worst’ failure of self-control as the dis- ciples cannot stay awake to pray with Him. The partnership was requested of them. During this time in the garden, Jesus said… (Matthew 26:41), “Keep watch
you the choice of a nickel or $100? We always want more, right? Why would we want less when we can have more? Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind- ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle- ness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” God does offer us more, but it often comes in an unlikely wrapping…self- control. What comes to mind when you hear the word “self-control?” We often asso- ciate a feeling of withholding, denial or lack with this word. Maybe you think of a friend who goes to the gym five days a week and doesn’t eat sugar, or someone who rises at 5 am daily. Those things aren’t completely wrong in defining self-control. However, they don’t really fit with the ‘more’ that we usually want! The WORLD can show a certain amount of self-control. But it is not the same self-control that we are talking about today. The self-control of Gala- tians 5 is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – meaning, it is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in each of our lives. This particular evidence can only be seen in
comes not just from oneself, but from Divine influence. Self-control is simul- taneously spirit-control and flesh-con- trol. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to reign in the flesh, which allows Him to reign freely in our lives. I am giving up my control to come under the con- trol of the Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-control.” This verse gives us a description of Holy Spirit, who lives in us — we have ac- cess to this! Self-control is a gift, given to us through the gift of the Spirit. But there is more to our Christian walk,
His good purpose.” We have a call to us to nurture what God has started, with the gloriously good news that He will help us! So we work out our salvation…but ALSO, God works in us. It’s a partnership! We must PARTNER with God by choosing the work of the Holy Spirit over the desires of our flesh. We are not working FOR salvation. We are working FROM the point of salvation… working OUT our salvation. We must not confuse the effort it takes on our part to grow with the gift of faith that we were given at salvation. Salvation by faith…growth by partnership with the
and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body (flesh) is weak.” We need to quit using this verse as our excuse to sin and fall short, when the reality is that it portrays exactly the opposite truth. The Spirit is ALWAYS stronger than the flesh. So even though there is a struggle between the two, the Spirit is ALWAYS capable of winning — IF we partner with the Spirit. Our salvation is the initiating word and work of the Holy Spirit — that gives us access to the power of the Holy Spirit. But the flesh doesn’t just dis- appear. This creates a conflict. The so-
This is What I’ve Learned...
...About the International Harvester
By Layton Howerton October 2025
heart
That sin and death had won When the International Harvester comes
And all who believe God’s bounty will re- ceive
And grow w е ary In your, in your well doing Just put your hand to
When like a mighty
combine,
The Master’s gonna
come
The har-
For like a mighty com-
vest is past
bine
The
The Master's gonna come And gather the wheat From Kansas to Caper- naum And He’ll reclaim the land That sin and death had won When the International Harvester comes Yes, He’ll reclaim the lands That sin and death had won When the International Harvester comes. * ‘International Harvester’ is one of the songs on Layton Howerton’s 1998 album, titled “Boxing God.”
summer is gone
And still some are not saved The workers in the field are few Just a skeleton crew ‘Cause all, all have not obeyed But like a mighty com- bine The Master’s gonna come And gather the wheat From Kansas to Caper- naum And He’ll reclaim the land That sin and death had won When the International Harvester comes
And gather the wheat From Kansas to Caper- naum And He’ll reclaim the land
the plow And don’t you look back now Just work, for the night is coming
And there’ll be a table
spread
With milk and honey
and living bread
Oh, so don’t you lose
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