A man who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls. -- Proverbs 25:28, RLIV.
THE battle with self is the greatest battle, and we have Jehovah's word for it that he that "ruleth his spirit (his own mind, will) is better than he that taketh a city," because he has to that extent learned to exercise the combativeness of a true character in the right direction, in self-control. It is after we have had considerable experience in battling with sin and selfishness in ourselves, in casting the beam out of our own eyes, in subduing anger, malice, hatred and strife in our own hearts and flesh -- it is then, and by means of this severe battle and experience, that we will be prepared to assist the brethren, and to assist our neighbors in their difficulties -- to help them to overcome their besetments and weaknesses. -- Adapted Excerpt from: "Finally Be All of One Mind", ZWT, 9/15/1901
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In both the Biblical Hebrew and Greek, the words for "spirit" have several meanings. As used in our text, it is referring to one's disposition or temper. For many, their disposition is controlled by their emotions or desires of the flesh. More than likely, we have all had such experiences in our lives where we allowed our emotions to rule our spirit, leading to uncontrolled outbursts of the traits of the work of the flesh, especially hatred, outbursts of uncontrolled anger, envy and possibly even violence. Solomon likens such to a city that has been broken down, and without any protective walls. To not control our spirit makes us like an unwalled city, open to all kinds of temptations. Thus, it is important for the child of God to always allow God's spirit to lead them, so as to have their disposition controlled by the fruits of God's spirit rather than the works of the flesh. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
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The “spirit” referred to here is the spirit or disposition of mind, the thoughts of the mind that control our actions. We must rule our thoughts and imaginations, and cast out and keep out anything unprofitable to us as new creatures. Our warfare is in the mind. The new creature is developed in the mind. The new creature must use our fleshly mind as its instrument, making it a captive of the new will, the mind of Christ. This is concisely stated in 2 Corinthians 10:5. -- Excerpt from "Nehemiah", by Robert S. Seklemian, as found in Discourses by Robert S. Seklemian.
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Related Scriptures: Psalm 116:11; Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 19:2; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 23:2; Proverbs 25:8; 29:20; Ecclesiastes 5:2; 7:9; Luke 14:26, 27; Romans 8:12,13; Romans 13:14; Romans 14:1—15:5; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Corinthians 9:12,15,18,19,23, 25-27; Galatians 5:16-24; Colossians 3:5; Titus 2:12; James 1:19; 1 Peter 4:1,2; 2 Peter 1:6.
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