Be Perfect - but How? by Derek Prince

Author:Derek Prince
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Derek Prince Ministries
Published: 2013-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

Exercising Our Will

We are now ready to move on with the successive stages of this process. Let’s examine the third building block, which we find in 2 Peter 1:6:

. . . add . . . to knowledge self-control . . .

I find that some people who have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit have the attitude that the Holy Spirit is going to take over and do it all for us. But self-control is one of the ninefold fruits of the Holy Spirit and it must be cultivated. So the Holy Spirit is not going to do it all. He imparts self-control to us, and then we have to control ourselves. If we will exercise our will and make the necessary decision, the Holy Spirit will empower us and enable us. But—He will not make the decision for us.

The New Testament generally uses various pictures to illustrate the need for self-control. One reason why we need self-control is because it is closely followed by endurance. These two building blocks, self-control and endurance, can develop into a bottleneck. If you can’t get through this bottleneck, you can find yourself unable to make any further progress. And you cannot switch them around—you need to follow according to the biblical order.

After knowledge comes self-control. When you know all you ought to do, that is good—but it is not the same as being able to do it. Being able to do it and doing it effectively depend on being able to control yourself.

One of the most vivid pictures Paul uses to illustrate self-control is that of an athlete. I am always humbled when I teach on this theme because I am continually asking myself, “How far have I myself come?”

Let’s look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know . . .?” Notice again that here is another challenge regarding ignorance:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

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