WEBVTT 00:00:08.289 --> 00:00:12.289 Welcome to the Spray United Methodist Church podcast. 00:00:12.689 --> 00:00:17.009 My name is Hoyt, and I am grateful you are here today. 00:00:18.129 --> 00:00:29.410 Let us take a quiet moment to breathe, to slow down, and to rest in the presence of God. 00:00:31.410 --> 00:00:37.490 Today we are going to reflect on the spirit and the fruit of self-control. 00:00:38.689 --> 00:00:52.850 When most people hear the words self-control, they think about willpower, trying harder, holding emotions in, forcing ourselves to behave correctly. 00:00:54.050 --> 00:01:00.770 But the self-control produced by the Holy Spirit is something deeper than performance. 00:01:01.010 --> 00:01:03.810 It is not pretending anger does not exist. 00:01:04.769 --> 00:01:07.250 It is not becoming emotionless. 00:01:09.250 --> 00:01:11.810 It is not spiritual acting. 00:01:13.010 --> 00:01:21.170 Instead, it is the quiet work of God, changing how we respond to life. 00:01:23.890 --> 00:01:27.329 Not perfectly, but genuinely. 00:01:27.969 --> 00:01:54.129 In Galatians chapter five, the apostle Paul writes, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:01:54.609 --> 00:01:56.210 Notice something important. 00:01:56.769 --> 00:02:02.129 Paul calls self-control fruit, not performance. 00:02:02.370 --> 00:02:07.250 Fruit grows slowly, quietly, over time. 00:02:08.210 --> 00:02:16.689 And sometimes we do not even realize that God is changing us until we look back and notice our reactions are different than they once were. 00:02:18.289 --> 00:02:25.090 Recently, I had several frustrating days dealing with problems involving my car tire. 00:02:25.650 --> 00:02:31.250 There were delays, repairs, more problems after the repairs. 00:02:32.530 --> 00:02:41.810 Years ago, that situation would have produced anger, stress, and frustration spilling out everywhere. 00:02:43.009 --> 00:02:47.009 But this time something was different. 00:02:47.810 --> 00:02:49.569 I stayed calm. 00:02:51.090 --> 00:03:03.090 Not because I was forcing myself to appear spiritual, not because I was pretending everything felt wonderful, but because somewhere deep inside peace stayed. 00:03:04.050 --> 00:03:07.250 And afterwards I realized something. 00:03:13.490 --> 00:03:16.129 I did not even recognize it at first. 00:03:17.409 --> 00:03:24.210 There was self-control, not performance, the quiet miracle. 00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:36.129 Sometimes we think miracles must be dramatic, but maybe one of the quiet miracles of spiritual growth is this. 00:03:37.330 --> 00:03:42.849 The old person inside us does not always react the same way anymore. 00:03:44.289 --> 00:03:59.650 The words soften, the anger slows down, the urge to explode loses some of its power, and little by little the peace of Christ begins to arrive before anger takes over. 00:04:00.770 --> 00:04:06.289 Not because we became strong, but because the Holy Spirit is changing us. 00:04:07.650 --> 00:04:16.449 The world teaches us to react instantly, to lash out, to vent, to return anger for anger. 00:04:17.250 --> 00:04:20.129 But the spirit teaches something different. 00:04:20.769 --> 00:04:27.649 Pause, breath, pray, listen. 00:04:28.769 --> 00:04:37.250 Sometimes self-control is simply creating enough quiet for the Holy Spirit to speak before our emotions do. 00:04:38.050 --> 00:04:51.649 And honestly, that can change relationships, it can change homes, it can change churches, it can even change the atmosphere inside our own hearts. 00:04:53.810 --> 00:05:06.610 Self-control is not weakness, it is strength under surrender, not the strength of pride, but the strength that comes from allowing Christ to govern the heart. 00:05:07.810 --> 00:05:12.370 And true self-control is not, look how disciplined I am. 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:19.009 It is Lord Jesus, help me to respond more like you. 00:05:21.810 --> 00:05:24.449 So today maybe the prayer is simple. 00:05:25.170 --> 00:05:27.810 Holy Spirit, slow my reactions. 00:05:28.530 --> 00:05:31.410 When anger rises, bring peace. 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:36.209 When frustration grows, bring patience. 00:05:36.850 --> 00:05:46.129 When fear appears, bring calm, and teach me to notice the quiet ways you are changing my heart. 00:05:46.689 --> 00:05:57.889 Because sometimes the clearest evidence that Christ is working within us is not found in dramatic moments, but in gentler reactions during ordinary life. 00:05:59.089 --> 00:06:00.530 Let us pray. 00:06:01.490 --> 00:06:06.449 Holy Spirit, thank you for your quiet work within us. 00:06:07.490 --> 00:06:11.410 Thank you for the moments when you interrupt anger with peace. 00:06:12.769 --> 00:06:21.329 Teach us to slow down, teach us to listen, teach us to respond instead of simply react. 00:06:22.209 --> 00:06:33.649 Grow within us the fruit of self control, not so that we can appear impressive, but so our lives might reflect Jesus more clearly. 00:06:34.689 --> 00:06:38.290 When frustration rises, bring gentleness. 00:06:38.689 --> 00:06:41.970 When pressure builds, bring peace. 00:06:42.530 --> 00:06:47.730 And when we fail, remind us that your grace still holds us. 00:06:48.370 --> 00:06:51.490 Continue your transforming work within our hearts. 00:06:51.810 --> 00:06:54.930 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 00:06:57.329 --> 00:07:01.250 Thank you for joining me on the Spray United Church podcast. 00:07:01.970 --> 00:07:16.610 If you do not have a church home, we invite you to worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at eight oh three Morgan Road in Eden, North Carolina. 00:07:17.089 --> 00:07:22.850 We are a loving family who loves God and loves people, all people. 00:07:23.889 --> 00:07:27.569 Now may the peace of the Holy Spirit fill you and keep you safe. 00:07:27.889 --> 00:07:30.930 Until next time, goodbye.