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Writer's pictureDebra Pauli

Graceful Perseverance: A Lack of Self-Control According to God (1 of 2-part series) - 07/07/2024

Welcome to this week’s blog. I felt compelled this week to share a very powerful message. A message that some may find harsh in nature, but others will realize it's simply biblical truth. What does it mean to have a lack of self-control according to the Word of God? Have you noticed that our world is becoming more and more corrupted than ever? Have you noticed mankind is becoming more and more out of control, and showing more lack of self-control than ever before?


We are living in horrific times, the last generation, the last days where more and more people have, and will continue to fall away from the Bible, God's truth. The Bible, God's Holy Word, is becoming more and more diluted (watered down) by satin and his advocates in order to convince people that his version of the bible is truth, while deceiving many. Matthew 24:4-5 (NIV) says this - 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.


If you don't know the Bible, and you have never opened the Bible to read, study and understand God's message, then just imagine the trickery, false prophecy, misleading and renditions of the true doctrine you are unaware of, and you are oblivious to. As a result, many have become unholy in their ways, without a second thought to what's right or wrong in the eyes of our God according to His Word, His doctrine. Many will grow cold and lose faith. Many have grown cold and lost faith. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. - Matthew 24:10-11 (NIV). And what's even worse yet, people don't care.


More and more people have a lack of self-control. More people are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, they are boastful and prideful. Young children have become more and more disobedient and mouthy to their parents. Young adults no longer show respect for their parents, and sadly shun them from their lives. More and more people are conceited, rash, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Read this scripture slowly, over and over, if need be. You will quickly learn that God proclaimed in His Word that we are the last generation, and we would not pass away until we see and witness these things, a fallen world. Read Matthew 24:1-51 (NIV), the truth of the signs of end times, to learn what God long ago prophesized will happen in these last days. His prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes. Mark this scripture as God's truth, the one and only truth.


According to 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NIV) 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.


We should all realize by now, just looking around us, that we live in a fallen world. We truly are right in the middle of a spiritual warfare between God and satin. You must also realize satin, in partnership with the anti-christ, they have their own final plans. Folks, satin doesn't lack an agenda. Just the opposite. The more people demonstrate a lack of self-control in this world, the more we see satin's final plans thriving.


What is a lack of self-control? A lack of self-control has many, many examples: temptations to engage in drugs and alcoholism, drunkenness, cults, gangs, racism, compulsive spending, sexual immorality, sex trafficking, sex, drugs and violent movies and gaming, pornography, prostitution, cheating, gossiping, mocking, hypocrites, judging and condemning the lives of others, domestic violence, riots, procession of weapons, suicides, teenage sex and pregnancies, abortions, killings, robbery, corruption, slander, cursing, filthy language, taking God's name in vain, idolatry, lovers of pleasures, slaves to money, lust, passion and status. Today, these sins are considered the new society and social standards. It's the new norm for many; therefore, today many see nothing wrong with our society.


Our world is changing rapidly from lovers of God to lovers of pleasure. We see unrestrained lusts all around us without thinking there's anything wrong with these pleasures or behaviors. Filthy language is all around us. Our world has turned away from God's Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The standard of the God of this world is no longer biblical. Human beings have become more evil, wicked, rash, idolaters, fornicators, killers, thieves, practicing witchcraft, the list goes on and on. All of this is SIN! And all sin is due to the lack of self-control. There is no longer a spirit of self-control, as sin abounds all around us.


We all know right from wrong. We know what we out to do, as opposed to what we ought not to do, but yet many do it anyway, for they have a lack of self-control. Satin is a huge advocate, which is helping many lose the fruits of their self-control. People, more and more, are letting loose of their self-control. Have you ever given thought to this - a lack of self-control is a lack of the Holy Spirit? How many of us can honestly say we are yielding the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) tells us this - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Who's controlling your life, the Holy Spirit or satin? This is not a rhetorical question, but a question that deserves an answer. Is your flesh or the Holy Spirit controlling your life? Examine your life. We all must examine our lives. Are you living by the works of your flesh? Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJ) clearly articulates the definition of the acts of the flesh. Review the list of acts of the flesh to do a self-check on your own life. God knows our every thought, and God is watching our behaviors. There is no hiding from God, publicly or privately. If you find yourself doing any of these forbidden sins, there is no negotiating with God the day you stand before Him, giving Him an account of how you lived your life. Therefore, there is no negotiating or free passes to Heaven if you defy God's instructions, and you're living or acting from the flesh. There are no exceptions to God's rules and commandments. And, that's another harsh truth.


19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV).


The lack of self-control is living in SIN! Without the Holy Spirit in your life, you are not being led by the spirit, but by the spirit of the flesh, which equates to SIN. Does sin dwell in you? Does sin dominate your life? Satin wants nothing more than to temp you, your flesh, and strip people of their self-control. More and more satin is taking control of this world, which explains why our world is becoming more and more corrupted right before our eyes. Do you really realize how much evil is in the world? The power of sin is making people lose their self-control. We live in perilous times. There's even more and more immorality in the churches, in the pulpits. Scandals around the world are the result of sin, the lack of self-control.


I pray for the Holy Spirit, as that is the only solution to our sins and our problems. If you pray for the Holy Spirit, you will get the Holy Spirit. You must get the Holy Spirit, and all you need to do is ask in prayer and it is yours. The Holy Spirit is our biggest blessing, stop making dumb decisions in your life that only return a lack of self-control. Say no to evil, and pray for the Holy Spirit to come into your life. It is then that you will gain self-control. I didn't say you would automatically be free from sin. None of us will ever live out our lives free from sin. But with the Holy Spirit living in us, we will make wiser choices, follow God's 10 Commandments, and rid the lack of self-control. We will no longer be under satin's temptations to sin.


Choose holiness above all! Follow Christ! You are closer than you think. We are in our last days. We are the last generation. Sin is over taking the world. Proverbs 25:28 and Beth Moore said it best with the definition of the fruit of the spirit is self-control, and the lack of self-control. Learn to be the fruit of the spirit (self-control), and not fruit of the flesh (lack of self-control).


28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. - Proverbs 25:28 (NIV).


The anti-christ is more and more abound. Again, read this scripture slowly, and as many times as you need to so you understand God's Word to us - 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV) - 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Pretty amazing that our God prophesized about this from the beginning of time. God knew in the beginning of time that mankind would fall to sin, and sin would become the nature of all mankind. But knowing this, God did give man a means by which to turn from their sin. The blood of the cross was His way of saving us from our sin. In His absence, when He rose from the cross and descended into Heaven, He also provided us with the Holy Spirit to live in us, guide us, and help us live in this sinful world. Nevertheless, sinful behaviors continue to abound our world. Is man listening to God, NO. Is God angry, YES. Why is God angry? God is angry with His children because His children have fallen away from Him. People have become lovers of themselves, lovers of the pleasures of this world more than they are lovers of God. God is no longer first in many people's lives. Is God a jealous God, yes, He is.


I want to continue this blog into next week, as this topic has many facets that are worthy to share with my readers. This is a harsh topic, but an extremely important topic. Ponder on this week's blog because next week there are four areas I will expand on in my next blog in order to help my readers with scripture relevant to the topic of people who lack self-control. And, there's so much more I want to share of what God offers to all mankind, to help people turn away from the lack of self-control. I will expand on the following next week.


  1. Selfish lives

  2. Unholy People will Multiply

  3. Lovers of Pleasure, more than Lovers of God

  4. Forms of Godliness


In the meantime, God Bless, and here's some scripture for you in preparation for next week when we continue this topic. Open your Bible, and trust the Word of God. He's speaking directly to each of us. Do not let others deceive you or water down God's truth. He has a powerful message for all of us, we just need to desire to listen, obey and stay in God's Word as the world around us crumbles.


Remember, scripture has been given to us by the inspiration of God; for it is profitable as Holy doctrine, for reproof, correction, instructions and in righteousness according to 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJ) - 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.


  • Proverbs 8 (NKJ or NIV)

  • Colossians 3:8 (NKJ or NIV)

  • 1 John 2:15 (NKJ or NIV)

  • John 14:15 (NKJ or NIV)

  • Hebrews 12:14 (NKJ or NIV)

  • Philippians 2:6-8 (NKJ or NIV)

  • 1 John 4:19 (NKJ or NIV)

  • Luke 14:11 (NKJ or NIV)

  • Matthew 22:37 (NKJ or NIV)






Blessings until next week my brothers and sisters in Christ,


Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer


Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)

Digital Assets: U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index, Section 107

Beth Moore: Digital asset (image) of Self-Control


Copyright © 2024 by Debra M. Pauli @ Pauli Publishing House (PPH) disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of these writings may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission from the author.

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