We have been seeing how prayer is a means for us to grow in all the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and that this is not surprising, since the Spirit Himself is given in answer to our prayers.
The last of the fruits we will consider is that of self-control. First we need to understand what is meant by self control when it is used to describe spiritual fruit. Paul gives us a very helpful insight to this in writing to Titus:
Titus 2:11–12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
This self-control, then, is the God-given ability to deny ourselves when we are tempted to gratify the cravings and lusts of our flesh. This is very different behavior to that which is ours by nature, which Paul also describes to Titus:
Titus 3:3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Self control liberates us from the bonds of this slavery so that we might live sensible, righteous and godly lives.
In our text, Jesus tells His disciples that they need to exercise this self-control in the light of the judgment that is coming. Rather than having hearts that are weighed down with worldliness and dissipation so that they are unprepared for these events, Jesus wants them to have the strength to escape and to stand in His presence (i.e. to be righteous). This strength is the same gift of self control that we have been thinking about, but note how Jesus instructs His disciples to obtain it - through prayer!
Here then, is the answer to living as a believer in a society that is overrun with sin and dissipation. Here is the "secret" source of power to overcome indwelling sin - to put off the world and to put on Christ. It is not hard to understand or something that only a few chosen saints have the ability to do. This self-control, this grace, this strength, is produced in us by the Holy Spirit in answer to our prayers.
In days when so many who claim to be believers live lives that are indistinguishable from those of the world there can scarce be a more important prayer we can offer. Is it because those who name Christ's name have largely abandoned prayer that there is so little practical godliness in the church, and so much pursuit of pleasure?
Let's search our hearts this week and give ourselves to prayer that we may all grow in this precious fruit of self control.