Temperance by Teri Johnson
Early this morning I was enjoying the “Hyrdo-Massage” Bed @ my local gym, after my daily swim. I was also enjoying my special time with Holy Spirit. Quite often, He drops just one word into my spirit and today the word was “Temperance”.
The Fun & Adventurous “Road-trip of Revelation”
When I heard “Temperance” I thought He was talking to me personally about discipline & the self-control of taking care of my body at the gym. However, later as He took me on a journey through several Bible passages, Websters Dictionary & had me do some other research, I realized it was a word for me to share.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. -Proverbs 25:2
The first scripture that came to mind was:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. Against such there is no law.
~ Galatians 5:22-23
Discipled with Discipline
As a Follower & Disciple of Christ, I am discipled with discipline.
1. The Discipline of Physical & Mental Training
Physical Training
We need to take care of our body, the Temple of God.
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27
Mental Training
We have the Mind of Christ. And when “All Hell is breaking out”; We must quickly shift the atmosphere, by focusing & magnifying; Who God is & What He has already done.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that He may instruct Him?” But we have the Mind of Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:16
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
2. Discipline’s Code of Conduct
· Encourage
· Honor & Appreciate
· Be a Peacemaker
· Warn & Strengthen
· Be a Kingdom Builder
· Seek & Pursue the Goodness of God & His Righteousness
· Be Joyful, Thankful & Prayerful
· Be a Good Listener
· Uphold the weak
· Be Patient with all
· Never quench the spirit
· Love the Spirit of Prophecy
· Abstain from every form of evil
· Be Full of Mercy
· Be Pure in Heart
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22 & ~ Matthew 5:3-11
3. Discipline’s Devoted Alliance
Choose to align the thoughts of your heart with His, or in other words: purposely: “Agree with the Holy Three”!
. . . be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ~ Philippians 2:2
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ~ John 5:19
He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ~ Luke 11:2
Temperance & the Tempering Process
Holy Spirit then told me; Those that walk with Him in Temperance have gone through the process of tempering. As a sword is tempered in the fire, we have also. Because of this, we are strong as “steel” in Him! In Christ we are firm, solid, inflexible & impenetrable & a ramrod to the enemy!
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ~ 1 Peter 4:12
Our Tempered Sword
Finally, He has put the Sword of His Spirit in our mouths and in our hand. Now more than ever @ this point of HIS-STORY, we are to use our sword to cut through the fog & muck & mud of the world. And We really need to discern the times.
Let’s speak Life versus death, Light versus darkness, Healing versus sickness, Miracles to what appears to be impossible, Justice for the abused, Unity versus division, Peace versus confusion, Provision for the impoverished, & Love versus hatred. There is absolutely NO LIMITS for what God has called us into, for such a time as this!
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand
~ Psalm 149:6
. . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; ~ Ephesians 6:17
The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”their hand, many hearts may be revealed.” ~ Joel 3:10
a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughtsof many hearts may be revealed. ~ Luke 2:35
The Fun & Adventurous “Road-trip of Revelation”
When I heard “Temperance” I thought He was talking to me personally about discipline & the self-control of taking care of my body at the gym. However, later as He took me on a journey through several Bible passages, Websters Dictionary & had me do some other research, I realized it was a word for me to share.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. -Proverbs 25:2
The first scripture that came to mind was:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. Against such there is no law.
~ Galatians 5:22-23
Discipled with Discipline
As a Follower & Disciple of Christ, I am discipled with discipline.
1. The Discipline of Physical & Mental Training
Physical Training
We need to take care of our body, the Temple of God.
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27
Mental Training
We have the Mind of Christ. And when “All Hell is breaking out”; We must quickly shift the atmosphere, by focusing & magnifying; Who God is & What He has already done.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that He may instruct Him?” But we have the Mind of Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:16
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
2. Discipline’s Code of Conduct
· Encourage
· Honor & Appreciate
· Be a Peacemaker
· Warn & Strengthen
· Be a Kingdom Builder
· Seek & Pursue the Goodness of God & His Righteousness
· Be Joyful, Thankful & Prayerful
· Be a Good Listener
· Uphold the weak
· Be Patient with all
· Never quench the spirit
· Love the Spirit of Prophecy
· Abstain from every form of evil
· Be Full of Mercy
· Be Pure in Heart
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11-22 & ~ Matthew 5:3-11
3. Discipline’s Devoted Alliance
Choose to align the thoughts of your heart with His, or in other words: purposely: “Agree with the Holy Three”!
. . . be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ~ Philippians 2:2
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ~ John 5:19
He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ~ Luke 11:2
Temperance & the Tempering Process
Holy Spirit then told me; Those that walk with Him in Temperance have gone through the process of tempering. As a sword is tempered in the fire, we have also. Because of this, we are strong as “steel” in Him! In Christ we are firm, solid, inflexible & impenetrable & a ramrod to the enemy!
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ~ 1 Peter 4:12
Our Tempered Sword
Finally, He has put the Sword of His Spirit in our mouths and in our hand. Now more than ever @ this point of HIS-STORY, we are to use our sword to cut through the fog & muck & mud of the world. And We really need to discern the times.
Let’s speak Life versus death, Light versus darkness, Healing versus sickness, Miracles to what appears to be impossible, Justice for the abused, Unity versus division, Peace versus confusion, Provision for the impoverished, & Love versus hatred. There is absolutely NO LIMITS for what God has called us into, for such a time as this!
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand
~ Psalm 149:6
. . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; ~ Ephesians 6:17
The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”their hand, many hearts may be revealed.” ~ Joel 3:10
a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughtsof many hearts may be revealed. ~ Luke 2:35
