Introduction: Do you find yourself feeling sluggish, dull headed and unmotivated? Are you loosing the battle of the bulge? Is your life characterized by failure, fear and frustration? Do you live in dread of report card day, semester exams, plagued by bad grades or GPA? Are you held captive by compulsive behavior or nasty habits? Do you find yourself wasting time and energy? Do people often refer to you as a "couch potato"? What about your finances? Do you have credit card problems, too much month left over at the end of your money? Are moods and emotions running your life? Is your life characterized by procrastination, unkept promises, messy closets, drawers, rooms, being late most of the time? Does lust and sexual compulsions, improper illicit thoughts rule your life, taking you captive at will? Do you have any annoying habits? Have you lost the ability to say no? Is your mind slow and rusty and empty like a canyon latent with the essence of moth balls? Have you become stuck in a rut, predictable, uninteresting and boring? Do you feel spiritually bankrupt, your prayers and daily devotions practically non-existent? Well, if such is the case my friend, you need a daily injection of God's miracle cure! You need that which this present world has forgotten. Your need is the need of the 90's. What is it which can help us to overcome and bring us successful, victorious living in the 90's? Discipline! There, I said it! The "D" word! Discipline! It is as difficult for us to say the "D" word as it is for President Bush to say the "T" word.
What comes to your mind when you hear that word, discipline? Perhaps you image a school teacher. Not just any school teacher, but a crabby old lady, her grey hair wrapped in a bun, granny glasses, her arms crossed, a ruler in her hand, with a mean judgmental make my day expression on her face. Perhaps the word disciple conjures up the image of a "bull dog" Marine drill sergeant yelling in your face or a college professor presenting a long, dull, boring lecture, maybe your pastor, or even your dear, sweet mother! To many of us, discipline is synonymous with a torture rack, a life minus any pleasure or fun! But is this a true picture? Does discipline have to be a negative thing? Why is it that that which can potentially bring us so much victory and success in life, is cast in such bad light? Why can't we embrace discipline? Why can't it become something sought after and attractive to us? Something we seek rather than avoid like the plague. This study or series of lessons is purposed to change our minds about discipline, disclose our need of discipline, present the biblical case and call to discipline and most of all to move us off center toward a Christ like life, which is a life characterized by discipline.
Webster defines discipline as follows (1) Training that develops self-control, efficiency, etc... (2) Strict control to enforce obedience. (3) Orderly conduct (4) A system of rules, as for a monastic order (5) Treatment that corrects or punishes. Now, all of that sounds very negative and perhaps that is part of our problem with discipline. It is always presented in such negative terms.
Another definition could read "Regularly practicing a course of study or action in order to reach a desired goal. This definition is a bit more positive because it presents discipline not as an "end" to itself, but a "means" to an end. It is the goal which should be foremost in our view. Dale E. Galloway in his book, "Dare To Discipline" gives a positive expression for discipline. Dale defines discipline as "Denying the lesser to gain the greater!" Now that is something I can live with. "Deny the lesser to gain the greater." The focus in this perception of discipline is upon the "end" rather than the "means", the reward rather than the rigor.
This was Paul's view of discipline. His focus was upon the goal, the end, the reward not the rigor! In I Corinthians 9:24-25 Paul says "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." Truly, discipline becomes a positive thing when we view it in a biblical sense. It is not merely a restraint, but preparation for release. It is not a loss of freedom, but the road to greater freedom. It is not holding back but moving ahead. It is not an enemy, but a friend. It is not self punishment but self control. It is not slavery but mastery. It is not an end in itself but the beginning and follow through to all worth while achievement. Discipline is something to be coveted in that the enemy of discipline is an aimless, ambiguous, unfocused life! An undisciplined life has no goals, no purpose, no direction. We can already see that the Christian life must include discipline.
One obvious reason is our environment. We live in a "I want it and I want it now!" culture. It is our own lack of patience and discontentment that fuels this consumption oriented society. So, at every turn especially in the Western world, we are blitzed with messages telling us that restraint is neither necessary nor acceptable. We are encouraged to let our impulses, emotions and desires have free reign! Society has for a long time taught us to expect if not demand "what we want, when and how we want it and that we want it now!" We have been conditioned to instant gratification by a world of fast food, prepared foods, microwaves, instant everything, convenience stores, drive through lanes and the like.
William Backus, in his book "Finding The Freedom Of Self Control" said "Even Christian heads can be saturated with such beliefs as these. Nobody should have to work at paying attention; studies should be made so interesting they involve you without effort; religious teaching should always be exciting, so there's not need to grapple with difficult or intricate doctrines; your daily work should be fascinating and always agreeable; home should always be entertaining; effort is bad. If beliefs like these truly do saturate the intellectual air we all breathe, then we might be expected to have special difficulties with discipline or self control." So whether it is machines or morals, no one wants to wait, every one expects instant gratification, no one cares about long term investments of time and energy.
Another reason discipline is so difficult to come by in the 90's is our own sinful, fleshly nature. While the fruit of the Spirit is "temperance" or self control, discipline, the fruit of the flesh is no control, indulgence. The two do not harmonize therefore there is a constant struggle for dominance. Paul documents this internal struggle in Romans 7:22-23 where he says "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
True discipline should seek as its "end" to conform us into the image of God's dear Son, Jesus Christ. This discipline of the body, soul and spirit does not come easy. To be conformed to this world, letting the fleshly nature rule, is to float down stream, pulled by the current of indulgence, greed, selfishness and lust. But to be conformed into the image of Christ through discipline, to tame the shrew of our undisciplined self, is to row upstream against that same current. Sad to say most people and many Christians have their oars out of the water, floating down stream following the path of least resistance!
The Bible is a discipline which celebrates a God of discipline. Paul said of God in I Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." We do not serve a God of confusion, disorder or randomness but rather a God of order, symmetry and discipline. The creation account itself manifest a God of discipline. Every aspect of creation came at the appointed time, in the appointed order for a definite reason, to achieve a designed goal. The first man, Adam was given a task, and being made in God's image given the discipline to accomplish and fulfill this purpose. We could go on and on, for page after page of God's Holy Word is filled with instruction, admonition and warning concerning discipline. Solomon knew the rewards of a disciplined life versus the regret and the disappointment of an undisciplined existence. In Proverbs 13:4 he says "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." The word "diligent" describes someone who is sharp, pointed, acute in business, disciplined.
Of course Jesus Christ was the personification of discipline. As theo-anthropos, the God-man being fully God but fully man, He knew what it meant to exercise and exhibit discipline. Luke records that at the age of twelve Jesus astonished the doctors in the temple by His understanding and insight. Luke records in Luke 2:52 that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Listen, discipline, self-mastery is the pre-requisite for all worthwhile achievement and Jesus was master of discipline, truly the master of all disciplines. His life exemplified discipline in the most inspiring and exemplary way. We could speak of His extraordinary discipline, self-control in the wilderness as he was tempted forty days by Satan. His ability to always be everywhere on time, never rushed, never losing sight of His immediate or long range goals. His extra ordinary patience and long suffering with both His disciples and His enemies who dogged His path. Of course Calvary was the showcase of self control and discipline. In every action, every attitude, every utterance Christ who could have not only come down from the cross but destroyed Satan and his co-hearts in an instant, restrained His power, surrendered His life, forgave His enemies, achieved His goal by the disciplinary power of His great love!
Hence, we have been called to the same. To be like Jesus. "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. For even here unto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." The Beatitudes are a study in discipline. We have been called to a life of not just self-control but Christ-control. As Paul exhorted young Timothy in II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." A "sound mind" literally means saving the mind, which is an admonishing or calling to self-control or discipline. The Bible admonishes us time and time again to die to self and live for God. The call to discipleship is a call to discipline, "Let a man deny himself, take up His cross and follow Him."
Perhaps the greatest argument for a life of discipline is the Biblical record of the lives who refused the control of God. Just look at the lives of those who didn't believe in self control or discipline. We could speak of Cain, Essau, Lot, Mrs. Lot, Achan, Samson, Gehazi, Herrod, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Demus the list goes on and on. Even the great men and women of God often suffered for their failure to be controlled by the Spirit of God.
So discipline is something every body needs, but no body wants. Sad to say the very people who should personify discipline, those who name the name of Christ, are the ones who refuse to hear its call and refuse its control. The recent demise of such men as Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker or good Independent Baptist preachers and pastors whom we all know, should serve notice as to a life minus discipline, self control and accountability. It's my desire that this series will move us toward a life of discipline in the 90's That we would once again value what this world has lost, the pleasure and satisfaction of a disciplined life.
Here are some basic stepping stones toward discipline or a Christ-controlled life:
STEP ONE - You must find your motivation by a personal encounter and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Until Jesus resides in our hearts by personal faith we will never know the inner motivation to deny the lesser to gain the greater. Truly our concept of the greater will fall short because Jesus Christ is our goal. Any goal short of Christ likeness is an inferior goal. Our focus is not so much "mammon" but the Master, Himself. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Salvation is that beginning.
STEP TWO - You must wake up to your need for discipline! Wake up and look around you! Look at those who do not believe in discipline, the students who drop out of school, those who fill our prisons, those who contract venereal disease or fall prey to drug addiction! Think of the wasted life, wasted opportunities, wasted potential in your life. It is discipline that makes the mind sharper, the will stronger, the body firmer, our outlook brighter, our temperament sweeter, our walk with God closer, our family life dearer. Listen to the apostle Paul in Romans 13:11-14 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Wake up! Get your oars in the water and head up stream against the current of this present world!
STEP THREE - Realize that there are no short cuts. We want the fruit of labor minus the labor! We want the butter without first churning the cream. We want to lose weight without exercising or denying ourselves that bowl of Blue Bell. We long to have great spiritual insight and strength without daily seeking God. We desire to be great teachers and preachers of the Bible but never spend time searching and studying the Scriptures! There are no short cuts. We must deny the lesser to gain the greater! Discipline is hard work, but there is pleasure and fulfillment in working hard and attaining a goal.
STEP FOUR - We must begin by becoming disciplined in little daily things of life. Like anything else you must start. Little successes add up to big successes. Little disciplines lead to larger disciplines. Ask God to move and motivate you to do more, be more, seek more for His glory. Ask Him for the strength and determination to "Deny the lesser, so to gain the greater."
When will you grow tired of saying things like "Maybe next year", or "I couldn't help myself", or "I'm just that way" or "My schedule is too full" or "I just don't have time" or "I can't help it". One day everyone of us will stand before the Lord and give account for our lives, our talent, our opportunities, our time. We must seek the Lord now, draw upon His power now, gain control of our lives now!
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