LEADERS HAVE SELF-CONTROL: Proverbs 25:28 “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”  We have a lot more control over our attitudes, words, anger and behavior than we want to admit.  These are all choices that we make daily even when we know in our heart what to do.  Worry and discouragement are two more.  Have you ever been in a situation where you lost it?  Maybe your attitude towards the situation or a person resulted in anger and words that you wish you had not expressed.  At the same time, someone might call you on the phone and you said a pleasant, “Hello.”  Can this be possible?  It can be because we choose to control our emotions and anger one way or another.

Can we do this alone?  No!  However, there is a way.  We can if we allow the Holy Spirit to control us.  He promises us that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  It is interesting to note that self-control is listed last after first eight.  Why?  It takes self-control from the Holy Spirit to live out the first eight.  When we are faced with upsetting situations, we do have a choice and the Holy Spirit tells us how to handle it.  Like so much of the Christian life, it takes our obedience to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.  Leaders have self-control when they live this way and their spiritual leadership and impact honor Christ and give an example of Jesus living in us.