Self-Control vs Mind Control

The Holy Spirit Opposing The Flesh in the End Time Battle for the Mind

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers."
--- 1 Peter 4:7

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."
--- 2 Peter 1:5-7

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
--- Proverbs 25:28

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
--- Titus 2:11-14

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
--- Colossians 3:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
--- Romans 12:2

Throughout the tribulation, there is an ongoing battle for the souls of mankind. It is a battle of good versus evil. Satan is working hard to get the world to worship him using manipulation, mind-control, lies, persecution, and even rewards. And the Anti-christ system will kill those who will not submit. God and Satan are contending for the souls of humanity.

Self-control is the discipline given by the Holy Spirit that allows Christians to resist the power of the flesh. Self-control allows Christians to refuse and endure the manipulation and mind-control tactics of Satan.

The fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 are the characteristics of Christ that are produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we submit ourselves to His control.
Self-control is the characteristic that makes it possible for us to separate ourselves from the world and unto God. (1 John 2:15-16)

By controlling our emotions when we are provoked to anger, we are able to demonstrate Christ's love to those around us and live peaceably with them. Though it is difficult to practice self-control, the Holy Spirit helps us have power over our sinful desires.

Self-control is not just about being submissive but also about being in control of your emotions, words, and actions. As a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, it means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you so that you do not sin. It involves the ability to exercise restraint and moderation in various aspects of life, including our thoughts, words, actions, and desires.

A person who lacks self-control is often unstable in their behavior and more likely to make unethical decisions.
And those who lack self-control engage in self-sabotaging behaviors like drinking, smoking, or overeating, which often lead to anxiety or depression.

The Bible warns against excess and indulgence, emphasizing that a lack of self-control can lead to sin and spiritual waywardness. It can also result in physical, emotional, and relational harm.

When we are saved by Christ’s sacrifice, we are free (Galatians 5:1). That liberty includes, among other things, freedom from sin.
"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." --- Romans 6:6.
Now, as the Spirit gives us self-control, we can refuse sin.

Self-control naturally leads to perseverance (2 Peter 1:6), as we value the long-term good instead of the instant gratification of the world. Self-control is a gift that frees us. It frees us to enjoy the benefits of a healthy body. It frees us to rest in the security of good stewardship. It frees us from a guilty conscience. Self-control restricts the indulgence of our foolish desires, and we find the liberty to love and live as we were meant to.

And all sin is due to the lack of self-control.

Without the Holy Spirit in your life, you are not being led by the spirit but by the spirit of the flesh. The power of sin makes people lose their self-control.

The Lord has not only provided self-control as a fruit of the spirit but also has provided us with His peace to protect our minds as we seek Him through prayer and meditation.
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
--- Philippians 4:6-7

The World is Out of Control.

Our world is changing rapidly from lovers of God to lovers of pleasure. We see unrestrained lusts and desires all around us. This type of behavior has become so common that society accepts and even embraces it.

But this unchecked behavior always brings despair, hopelessness, and aloneness, which the Anti-christ will use to overcome many in the last days.

Godlessness in the Last Days

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
--- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Mind Control and Believing What is False

Throughout history, people have been manipulated by propaganda and social pressure. During World War II, Hitler was able to manipulate an entire country into hating certain people groups.
In the end times, this will repeat when the whole world will be manipulated and controlled mentally by narcissists, with the help of the anti-Christ spirit and deceiving spirits, into hating Christians and Jews. The world will believe what is false because of the lies of the enemy.

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons"
--- 1 Timothy 4:1

Most in the world will reject the truth and prefer lies:
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths"
-- 2 Timothy 4:3–4

And the time will come, Jesus said, when the deception will be especially great when false messiahs and false prophets appear. Their deceitfulness and dishonesty will be so convincing that even true believers could be deceived if not for the protection of the indwelling Holy Spirit:
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect"
--- Matthew 24:24

And since the wicked want to believe what is false by placing their faith in their god instead of the one true God, then the Lord allows them to believe what is false:
"The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness"
--- 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12

When people reject God's truth over and over again, He simply abandons them to their own sinfulness. God gives the wicked what they want especially those "who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." (Romans 1:18)

"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper"
--- Romans 1:28 NASB

Believing God and Standing Firm in the Truth

To stand firm against this mind manipulation by deceiving spirits and unsound doctrine, we need to use the whole armor that the Lord has provided. "to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"
--- Ephesians 6:13-18

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."
--- 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

And to take every thought captive, we have to walk in the Spirit wearing the whole armor of God and exercising self-control to not fall under the mental control of the anti-Christ system. We must continually yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
--- Romans 7:25

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
--- 2 Corinthians 4:4

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,"
--- Philippians 1:27

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
--- 1 Peter 1:13

And though the last days will be an arduous time for believers, when we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.

Those who walk in the Spirit will rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed (Romans 6:11–14). They show daily, moment-by-moment holiness, just as Jesus did when, "full of the Holy Spirit, [He] left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness" to be tempted (Luke 4:1).

Those who walk in the flesh will be vulnerable to taking the mark of the beast.
And the most defenseless will be alcoholics, drug addicts, gambling addicts, shopping addicts, and the like who will not have the self-control to prevent selling their souls to the devil. For these, hopelessness and despair will abound.

So, watch and pray and let your mind dwell on Christ. (Philippians 4:8) so you will not fall into temptation. (Matthew 26:41)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. --- Romans 8:5-7

That is why it is so important to read and meditate on scripture. It makes you God-focused and your mind is set upon the Lord instead of the flesh.

Pray without ceasing for strength, endurance, and self-control.

Galatians 5:16, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 56:11, Matthew 10:28, Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 16:17-18, 2 John 1:7

(in part from gotquestions.com)