“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32)

Galatians chapter five tells us that one of the nine fruits of the spirit is self-control. I am doing a short series discussing things that God has given us the ability to control. Here is another one.

Self Control of Your behavior, i.e. the way in which you act or conduct yourself, especially toward others.

Here’s a great way to behave

Eph. 4:32, says that we should be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, and to forgive others in the same way Christ forgave you.

Thegolden rule of behavior

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31)

And, here’s a final word on behavior

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

“When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Phil. 2:5-8)

Self-control of your attitude, i.e. the way you think and feel about someone or something.

God did not create us to be robots but instead gave us self-control. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Tim. 1:7).  Galatians chapter five tells us that one of the nine fruits of the spirit is self-control. Over the next few days, I will discuss a number of things that God gave us the ability to control.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

Bible Instructions about attitude

“Makemy joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:2-8)

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” - Zig Ziglar

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” - Albert Einstein

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil. 2:4)

This is a simple formula for happiness

Helping others does a number of positive things for you. There are two immediate benefits from helpingothers. First, you feel good because you are helping others, and secondly, others feel good because they are getting help from you. It's a win-win situation.

Many other benefits

Studies show that when people get involved in helping others, the mesolimbic system, which is the portion of the brain responsible for feelings of reward, is triggered. The brain releases feel-good chemicals and spurs you to perform more kind acts — something psychologists call “helper’s high.”

In a study by United Health Group, 78 percent of people who volunteered to help others over a 12-month period said they felt that their helping activities lowered their stress levels. They were more calm and peaceful than people who didn’t help others.

Kindness is contagious, according to a study by researchers at University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Cambridge and University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. “When we see someone else help another person it gives us a good feeling,” the study states, “which in turn causes us to go out and do something altruistic ourselves.”

But the main reason we should help others is because God told us to.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ( Gal. 6:2)

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:4)

When you help others you are helping Jesus!

“'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:35-40)

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you will answer me.” (Psalm 86:7)

Everyone is visited by trouble from time to time, it's just a part of life. A lot of promises in the Word of God give us great assurance about turning to God during times of trouble.

Help in the time of trouble

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)

“Letus draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” (Heb. 10:22a)

When I was about ten years old, I went to the five & dime store with my dad where there were shelves and shelves of toys. When nobody was looking, I slipped a little toy into my pocket and left the store with my dad and did not pay for it. My conscience immediately started to bother me. That night I couldn't sleep and imagined the worst case scenarios. I was a thief! I had stolen something. I imagined being arrested and taken to jail! The next day, my dad had to go back to the same store to get something and I went with him. I secretly slipped the toy out of my pocket and back onto the store shelf. I immediately felt a great sense of relief and happiness.

The conscience

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the conscience as: “a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right; moral judgement that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt.”

Someone asked an old Indian for his definition of the conscience. He said, “A conscience is a wheel within your heart with sharp arrows pointing outward. When you do something wrong, the wheel turns and the arrows hurt you. But, if you continue doing it, the points break off.”

The Biblesays you can sear your conscience

“Now the Spirit speaksexpressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

Guard your conscience and keep it in good shape

“Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Pet. 3:16)

“Keepingfaith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” (1 Tim. 1:19)

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” (Rev. 5:11)

• Angels, Angels, Angels, they're everywhere!

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.” (Heb. 12:22)

• You can't always see them, but they are still there!

So was the case of Elisha’s servant when he saw the king’s vast army coming to attack. Elisha wasn't concerned because he could see what his servant couldn't see! God’s angels in chariots of fire! So he prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

• You can see them sometimes, but you may not be aware of it!

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Heb. 13:2)

• They are God’s messengers

Many times, throughout the Bible, God’s messages were delivered through His angels. Here is just one example:

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” (Luke 1:11-13)

• Angels are used of God to help you

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalms 34:7).

“Therefore, angels are only servants - spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.” (Heb. 1:14)

Notice that this verse says that angels are “sent to help people who will inherit salvation.” When I was in Vietnam, before I became born again, I thought it curious that I always arrived at places on the DMZ just after they were attacked and I left places just before they were attacked. And, I was shot at, and could even hear the bullets whiz right past my ears, but I was never hit! After arriving back home, I discovered that a pastor had prayed for me everyday during his family’s evening mealtimes. He prayed, “Lord, please watch over Mike and keep him safe from any harm.” I do believe God heard his prayers and sent angels to help me. It wasn't long after I arrived back home that I became a follower of Jesus. I “inherited salvation,” so to speak.

• Angels perform God’s Word

“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” (Psalms 103:20)

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Pet. 2:2-3)

This passage of scripture was written to brand new “baby believers.” And like all babies, they needed to be fed “milk” in order to grow. But, there does reach a point when the diet leaves “baby food” to adult solid food.

The writer of Hebrews talks about this: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14). Paul saw the same problem with the Corinthian believers; they had not grown in their faith, and he could only give them "milk" because they were not ready for solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The problem with many believers is that they never mature beyond the “baby Christian stage” and this is very dangerous! They remain weak, immature, and noneffective in their Christian life.

A Christian's spiritual diet should consist of the Word of God!

The truths taught in the Bible are rich spiritual food for Christians! Peter wrote in 2 Pet. 1:3-11, that God has given us everything we need for life through our knowledge of Him. He lists character qualities that need to be added to our beginning point of faith in order for maturity to take place and to have a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life …” (2 Peter 1:3)

Have you ever watched a dog chase its tail? He doesn't realize that it is part of him. He continually chases after it in a futile attempt to get what's already attached and is already his!

In the same way, many Christians chase after what is already theirs. How do they do this? They ask God to provide for them what He has already provided for them!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

Lack of knowledge!

They don't have a lack of God’s provision, (He has provided everything!) but, they do have a lack of knowledge of what He has provided for them in His Word!

The problem

If you don't know that you have something, you will believe and behave as though you don't have it, even though you actually have it!

It's like the man who died of a combination of exposure and starvation while living under a bridge in a major city. He had actually inherited a fortune but wasn't aware of it! Even though he was in fact very wealthy, he didn't know it and therefore lived and died as though he was poor.

It's the same with God’s people!

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). What you don't know can and will hurt you!

What you have that Jesus paid for

• Youcan approach Him with freedom and confidence at any time! “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence,” (Eph. 3:12). You don't have to go through a priest or do some kind of religious ceremony, but you can approach God directly through prayer (just talk to Him!).

• He will never leave you! “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 23:5b). You don't have to ask Him to “be with you or go with you,” but instead, you can simply thank Him for “being with you and for going with you!”

• Thousands of promises for you! “He has given us his very great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4). These promises cover every conceivable need! God has it all covered!

• He supplies all your needs! “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus!” (Phil. 4:19). This is the golden promise of all promises! It takes care of everything when you apply it and mix faith with it!

• God has created you for a purpose. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10)

• He gives you strength to do the purpose He has created you for! “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13)

He is the Alpha and the Omega

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27)

Nothing is too hard for God! Your problems are not too big or too small for Him!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Rev. 22:13)

“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” (Jer. 10:12)

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col. 1:16)

“And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:19-21)

So put your trust in Him for all things with great confidence!

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” (Heb. 10:35)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7)

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Isa. 26:4)