Discipline Is The Master Key Series

Discipline is the master key that unlocks the door to greatness.

24?Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25?All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26?So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27?I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Cor 9:24-27 NLT

We cannot Win in this race without discipline

Discipline/Self-Control/Self-Discipline

What is Discipline?

Discipline is the unshakable commitment to do what must be done, no matter how you feel.

If we want to Run to Win there is no way around discipline…There are no shortcuts.

Many people are not disciplined because it is not easy…we don’t feel like it

Discipline is sacrificial, painful, uncomfortable, we have to do things our flesh does not want to do.

Here is what I know about me maybe it is true about you as well.

Why we tend to avoid discipline.

Illustration: I’m like water.

Water will generally flow in the Path of least resistance

This is a principle The path of least resistance

When it comes to human behavior it implies that individuals often choose the most convenient or familiar option, even if it might not be the optimal choice.

I do my stretching on the Treadmill

The Stretching area is not far away but right next to this area is the stairs

And so when the routine is done and I’m ready to go it is easier to just walk down the stairs

Disciplined myself to just stretch right there.

We can be disciplined people we can exercise discipline in our lives how do I know.

God gave us Discipline:

7?For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:7 NLT

According to Gal. 5:22. Did you know that when we walk with the Spirit that discipline is a fruit that God wants to produce in us?

We want the Holy spirit to produce all these other fruits but self-control, self-discipline I think I can pass on this one

Can I submit to you that though you may experience some degree of all of those.?

If we paid more attention to discipline or self-control

We would experience more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,?gentleness

Discipline is so important Here is why

28?A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Pr. 25:28 NLT

But you don’t understand discipline is hard. And in the beginning that is true.

But discipline is like a muscle the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes.

Remain disciplined even when it gets hard.

Illustration: Bathroom on the Treadmill

One of my hardest runs on the treadmill…I had to go to the bathroom.?

It was gradual but get keep coming on and on until it was full on.? Like I have got to get to the bathroom asap.? But I wanted to reach my goal. So I kept going on the treadmill.?

I would love to say the feeling of having to pee went away Oh no.

Faced with 3 choices:

Stop and go to the bathroom

Go to the bathroom right where you are and run on a wet treadmill.? Which is dangerous and I don't recommend.

Or let Discipline kick in and press on to the goal.

Discipline is not a punishment. It’s a form of freedom. It’s the freedom to live your best life. To achieve what you’re capable of, and to become the person you have always dreamed of becoming.?

Paul gives us this imagery of an Athlete running to win Compares it to the Christian life run to win

Both require discipline or strict training not trying Paul is not telling us to try really hard

Eat right - nutrition is key…practice running

Work on endurance…Strength training

Doing the necessary things to be in the best physical condition you can get your body into

Willing to endure pain

Sacrifice time relentless, focused, determined and intentional

Illustration: Have the goal of running a marathon

Lets say right now I am 35LBS overweight

I have not run since the 8th grade. I haven’t exercised in years

Last night for dinner I had twinkies and desert I had more twinkies

But I really want to run a marathon. So I sign up to run

The day of the race I’m stoked, I’ve got the Eye of the Tiger blaring in my airpods

I take my place among the crowd of runners waiting for the gun to signal the start of the race