“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23, NASB)

In speaking about the language of the heart, we now turn to what could be the most important quality of the Spirit that defines God’s voice to our heart, that of self-control. Control is at the heart of the Gospel reality. Who or what is in control is the entire reality of salvation. We are saved out of the control of the devil

When Yeshua called the man that we know of as the Apostle Paul into ministry, He defined what He was doing this way:

“‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’” (Act 26:16-18, NASB)

The mission was and is to open the eyes of those who blinded by darkness are under the power of Satan so they can see the Light of God and receive forgiveness for the deeds of darkness and walk into their inheritance in the Light of God. The control of Satan is thus broken and self-control is now possible.

What is the fruit of self-control and how does it manifest? Also how do we live in the idea that God is in control in the light of self-control?

I think to grasp the fruit of self-control in the language of the heart, we need to go back to the beginning of things. When God created man in His own image and likeness He created a being who could chose. Adam and Eve chose to disobey and gave themselves to the kingdom of darkness by their rebellion. In that place they lost pure access to the Word of God. Death entered creation and Satan became its master.

Yeshua, the “davar-elohim”, the Word of God, came in physical form to restore not only the language of the heart but also to restore eternal life and eternal relationship.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb 2:14-15, NKJV)

Again His death and resurrection freed us not only from sin but also from the power of death and the voice of fear of death. This restored the possibility for self-control.

What is the role of God’s control in the development of the fruit of self-control? When we say God is in control, what do we mean? I think most people who say that are saying that they feel that God has a plan that He is working on.

“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2, NKJV)

The author and the finisher. Another translation says He is the originator and the perfecter. The passion translation says it this way:

“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” (Heb 12:2, TPT)

This tells us He births, He originates, He authors our faith, our trust in Him. Unless He draws us we remain in darkness. Yeshua explains:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” (Jhn 6:44-48, NKJV)

God originates, He authors, He originates. But He also perfects, finishes, and refines us. He has a plan, a purpose for each of our lives. This is what I think people mean when they say God is in control. Central to the plan of God is our cooperation, our learning to live out our destiny through our decisions.

Trust is the cornerstone of any disciple-master relationship. The master doesn’t want a robot disciple whom he controls. If that were the case then we would have no responsibility and no accountability.

The Apostle Paul said: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:12, NKJV)

How can we be accountable if God is in control? I think it is more that He is the author of the plan, the story of our lives but we are joint heirs with Him in the story.

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom 8:15-17, NKJV)

We receive the Spirit of adoption and He fully receives us as His children which gives us an inheritance in Him which is unique and chosen by Him for us individually and collectively as His Body in the earth. This is His ultimate Glory. There is a bridge to that reality and I believe it is the fruit of the Spirit part of which is the fruit of self-control.

So how do we walk in self-control?

Let’s look at the Hebrew word picture for control. The word is “afek”.

In its original Paleo-Hebrew script, Afek (pronounced ah-FEK) is written as 𐤀𐤐𐤒 (read from right to left). In this ancient system, each letter was a pictograph representing a physical object and a deeper concept. 

Paleo-Hebrew Breakdown (𐤀𐤐𐤒) 

𐤀 (Aleph): A pictograph of an ox head. It represents strength, leader, or first.

𐤐 (Pe): A pictograph of a mouth. It signifies speech, opening, or proclaiming.

𐤒 (Qoph): A pictograph of the back of a head or a sun on the horizon. It often represents behind, following, or a circle. 

Meaning & Symbolism 

When these pictographs are combined, they reinforce the geographical and spiritual nature of the name: 

Strength of the Source: As a location, Afek was often where springs began or rivers surfaced, aligning with the idea of a "mouth" (Pe) that reveals "strength" (Aleph).

Strategic Fortress: In the context of the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet chart, the combination of strength and a defined point (like the sun on the horizon) points to a fixed, powerful fortress. 

Meaning & Context 

Definition: The name typically refers to "strong" or "vigorous". In specific geographical contexts, it is also associated with riverbeds or water sources (as in Afik), referring to the headsprings of rivers like the Yarkon.

Water sources are crucial for life to flourish. Water also symbolizes the Voice of God.

“and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone from His glory.” (Ezk 43:2, NASB)

Afek, self control is a deep connection to the voice of many waters. An analogy might be in order here. The Voice of The Lord is the voice of the Holy Spirit. Yeshua described that He would lead us into all truth.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (Jhn 16:13, NASB)

The phrase, “what is to come” is among other things, a revelation of our true self in Him. This true self includes our gifts and talents and our destiny. The analogy is of coach who sees us not for how we start but how we will be when fully manifested in the prime of of our calling.

To come into that destiny requires discipline, being a disciple of the Master. Responding to the voice of discipline is the fruit of self-control.

Satan, the ruler of the voice of the world also carries a vision for what is to come.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jhn 8:44, NASB)

Satan’s voice is the voice of the false-self, the identity that formed in reaction to the traumas of the world. This voice is empowered by the temptations of the world which would have us yield our fruit of self-control over to the Tempter.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.” (1Jn 2:16-17, NASB)

The will of God is another way of saying what is to come. God’s will is His plan for our lives. He both wills it and then perfects it.

Our role is to hear His voice and to yield ourselves to that training in righteousness which is called being a living sacrifice.

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1-2, NASB)

In this process we are transformed and our choices align with His plans and the fruit of self-control increases in our lives as we exhibit increasing faithfulness. The sacrifice is making choices that align with Him and His will. They are living sacrifices, where we choose to limit our behavior to that which is worthy of the call of God on our life.

To others they make look like losing out on the hedonism and pleasures of sin, but to us they pale by comparison with the destiny that God has for us. Self-control is yielding to Him in those choices.

Activation: Where in your life do you struggle with self-control? What voice are you listening to in the struggle? Ask God to show you His plan for your life.