In what way is self-control a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

TL;DR:

Even though self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, it still requires our active participation. We can quench or hinder the Holy Spirit’s work in us by the decisions we make.

Galatians 5:22–23 lists the "fruit of the Spirit" with self-control being one of them. Self-control (“temperance” in the KJV) is the ability to control one’s own desires and passions. It involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to our baser desires and fleshly lusts. Another way to say it is self-discipline. Self-control as a fruit of the Spirit is a bit of a paradox. How can the ability to control oneself be the result of being controlled by someone else? We must actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit by presenting our bodies to Him, but it is still the Holy Spirit doing the work in us to allow us to be self-controlled (Romans 12:1–2; Philippians 2:12–13). We make choices that affect the Spirit’s work and can either be controlled by the Spirit, or we can quench and hinder His work (Ephesians 4:17–32). Each aspect of the fruit of the Spirit works in concurrence with the others.

from the old testament

The wise King Solomon wrote many proverbs for the purpose of helping us to live a “disciplined” and prudent life (Proverbs 1:1–7).

from the new testament

Romans 6:15–23 explains the conundrum of being released from slavery to sin and yet still being inclined to sin. It highlights the need for self-control in choosing obedience to righteousness over sin. By submitting to God, we resist sinful desires and grow in sanctification, which leads to eternal life.
Romans 12:1–2 is Paul’s appeal to believers to not be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and discern God’s will. We need self-control to not live for ourselves or the things of the world but for God.
Believers need self-control because the outside world and internal forces still attack (Romans 7:21–25).
Believers need self-discipline as opposed to no restraint. As Paul said, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Christians are controlled by the Holy Spirit, not the sinful nature (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), which makes us able to say “no” to sin.

implications for today

The Bible teaches that, in a certain sense, the unbeliever has no free will. There are influences beyond his control. Unbelievers are "slaves to sin" (Romans 6:16–20). Our sinful nature "predetermines" us to choose selfish, harmful behaviors, and our fallen world aids the process. Without Christ, we are not free to completely release our thoughts and actions from sinful influences and simply choose what is good. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. As He works in a believer's life, the fruit, or result, is that the believer can pull away from the determinant of the sinful nature and make a truly independent choice. That is the first step of self-control. The freed self then has choices to make, and he finds that the range of choices has broadened. Instead of choosing one sin over another, the new man in Christ can make choices based on love for God and rooted in the wisdom of God.

Whenever we follow unhealthy appetites or society's lies, we limit our options in the future. A sinful act is another step down a dead-end road; the more steps we take, the harder it gets to make an independent choice in the future (James 1:12–18). We can enjoy God’s best and experience the most freedom when we use our self-control to submit to Christ (John 15:1–17). His Word brings life. Christ allows us to be what we were designed to be, to display the glory we were created with. His Spirit produces self-control in us, the ability to say "no" to fleshly lusts and live in moderation and wise constraint. Indulging in sin enslaves and destroys us. Self-control frees us to live for Christ.

understand

Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that helps believers resist sin.
Self-control requires cooperation with the Spirit to make godly choices.
Self-control leads to freedom in living according to God’s will.

reflect

How do you actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit in your life to practice self-control?
In what areas of your life do you struggle to make choices that align with God's will? How can the Holy Spirit help you overcome these challenges?
How can you use the self-control given by the Spirit to resist unhealthy desires and live in freedom for Christ?

engage

How does self-control as a fruit of the Spirit differ from relying on your own strength to resist temptation?
How can we see the benefits of self-control in a world that discourages restraint?
How do you think practicing self-control today can impact your ability to live for God in the future?