"Discipline"
Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
There are many people who do certain things wrong, that really have no idea they are wrong at all. Some are steered away from the gospel and have no idea it is happening. These can be called “lost sheep”. It is a tragic shame that this happens, which is why we preach and we teach and we try to spread this wonderful gospel.
Come today to say “It takes discipline to run the race “AND WIN”
The apostle Paul compares the race of life to a natural race, such as the Olympics. He lets us know that if one is going to run, even for that of a corruptible crown (gold medal) (Corinthians) it takes discipline.
It takes discipline to run any type of race and win. Which means while others are out eating pizza, and burgers, and other snacks, you are knowing exactly what you can and can’t eat. While others are out on the town with their friends and cruising around having fun, you are at home resting up and saving all energy you can.
We, the Christian people, are in the race of life. We are not competing with each other. We are competing with the clock, we are competing with demons and devils, and we are competing with the ways of this world.
In the Olympics, while they run their race, they have people in the stands watching and cheering them on. As do we. In the stands, as we run our race, Hebrews 12 says “wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” being all the apostles and saints of God. And lets not forget the Man himself, our Lord and Savior.
It also states in Hebrews 12, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Some people have their own interpretation about sin. Some say this is a sin, that is a sin, and some agree and disagree. And sometimes they may be right. It may not be a sin, BUT it may be a weight. Hebrews 12 says lay aside every weight and sin. A weight would hinder you from successfully running and winning the race. I believe the Christian people can recognize the weight and the sin, and if you can’t that is what your brothers and sisters are for and our pastors and teachers. But the deeper you are in the word, the more the Lord will clear up your vision.
So we must prepare ourselves by having a disciplined life if we really intend on winning the race.
What do you mean by disciplined life??
Well, a life that has discipline.
Discipline Definition
American Heritage Dictionary: Training that produces moral or mental improvement. Controlled behavior. A method to obtain obedience. Punishment intended to correct or train.
The Ilumina Bible Encyclopedia: Parents are warned to discipline their children, fathers to their sons, and pastors to their churches. That type of discipline is referred to as guiding and teaching and as a result comes the reward of knowledge, a forewarning of things ahead, and a form of preparation for our future.
Positive Discipline: instruction, knowledge, training
Negative Discipline: correction, punishment, reproof
Those who refuse to obey God’s laws or “positive discipline” will experience God’s negative discipline through his wrath and judgment.
A life without discipline is a life out of control.
Discipline is a way for us to become responsible, reliable, and self-motivated adults.
Discipline is giving yourself a set of rules, but the Bible does that for you.
In the beginning, God tells Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit for in that day you shall surely die. (Rule of discipline by God) Adams reaction was a disobedient one. And when the Lord called for him he had to admit he didn’t have self control yet he blamed the woman and God. God was the one that sent her to him. And the woman gave unto me and I did eat.
Like Adam, people do fail to correctly discipline themselves and then they come up with an excuse. In other words “before I admit it to you Lord, I gotta tell you why.” But it is God’s Word that says to be a man, be a woman, and take the blame for yourself. Do not convert the blame toward another. In this case it’s about admittance rather than submittance.
After admittance comes God’s punishment.
The serpent: Genesis 3:14 Thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.
Eve: Genesis 3:16 I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Adam: Genesis 3:17-19 Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
ALL EXAMPLES OF GOD’S NEGATIVE DISCIPLINE
It’s seen everyday that we live in the time where all or most are completely out of
control.
TEMPER
- some people lose it on the streets. If it gets bad enough may pull out a gun or a knife. It happens to cops all the time. Pulling over people for speeding at first then turns into a crossfire. OUT OF CONTROL
- Parents going to their children’s sports event and fighting with other parents.
- Professional Athletics. Now these people are supposed to be role models for our children. These guys are getting in trouble with the law, doing drugs, carrying guns, being charged with rape. Yet they still uphold them as role models. BAFFLES ME But you can understand the world doing it because the world is turned around but as for people of God, our heads should be screwed on a little straighter.
TOBACCO/ALCOHOL/DRUGS/GAMBLING ANONYMOUS
- supposed to help people out of control.
- Most say it’s just a big weakness. OUT OF CONTROL
SEXUAL DESIRES
- this produces homosexuality and bisexuality.
- Bisexuality- man today woman tomorrow it doesn’t matter NO CONTROL
- People see these dangerous STD’s but still keeps on truckin.
When becoming a Christian or Servant of God, we are first asked to ACCEPT Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. After we have ACCEPTED Him, we are then challenged to bring our lifestyles under control.
The gentiles back then thought they didn’t have to change their lifestyles because they have already accepted Jesus Christ. BUT as it states in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and behold all things are become new.”
Once Jesus Christ is accepted in your life, the old life must be put away. Cannot live your life this way without discipline.
Being saved, baptized by the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues and praising the Lord are all wonderful things. But if you start moving toward that fridge where you keep that beer, the Holy Ghost isn’t going to snatch your arm away. If you start going to meet your friends cause they’ve found a new drug, the Holy Ghost won’t pull you back. ONLY through faith in God will you have the power to stop yourself. It has to be in your mind though, cause if you don’t have a mind to stop then God can’t help you.
NEW SCRIPTURE
Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.”
Mortify: practice of disciplining ones body, or to put to death (appetites of world)
The key to a disciplined life is making the flesh yield to the spirit.
It’s not about what’s in your brain, it’s about what’s in your heart. That is where you may find the spirit. You must make your brain yield to your heart. Heart goes first then allow the brain to follow behind it. That is why they say “Follow your heart and you’ll never go wrong”
Paul says in order to live a disciplined life for Christ I must mortify my members or make the flesh yield to the spirit.
Q: How often must I mortify?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:31 “I DIE DAILY”
You have to deny self everyday. Crucify self yesterday he’ll rise again today. Crucify him today he’ll rise again tomorrow. Crucify him tomorrow he’ll rise again the next day.
Back to scripture.
Paul first mentions fornication which includes all types of sexual behavior outside the bonds of husband and wife.
Uncleanness
Inordinate affection- inordinate meaning unregulated, disorderly, exceeding unreasonable limits, excessive. Some people live for sex. Some think sex is love. Sex we have in common with animals. Love we have in common with God.
Evil Concupiscence- evil desires
Covetousness- evil desire for wealth or possession or other’s possessions
(which is idolatry) which is worship of physical object as a God, devotion to something
We must know the difference between praising God and worshipping God.
Praising Him = giving thanks for all He’s done for us. (house, family, car, kids)
Worshipping Him = doesn’t have a thing to do with what he’s done, it only has to do with who he is. (sick-worship, broke-worship, live with rats-worship)
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Boasters-
God wants you to have self esteem but he wants it to be coupled with Him meaning he wants some credit. I believe he’s earned it.
Paul says in Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things” but I can’t do it because of my self image. Your life must be yolked up with him and because it is yolked up with him, through Jesus Christ can you do all things.
Blasphemers- cursing our Lord
Incontinent- without self control
CONCLUDE
Paul says this thing is like a race. If you’re gonna be a champion, you’re gonna have to have this thing called discipline.
GOTTA RACE TO RUN, MIGHT HAVE TO LEAVE SOME FOLK BEHIND, MIGHT HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, MIGHT HAVE A FEW WEIGHTS TO LAY ASIDE, GOTTA RACE TO RUN
GOD WANTS YOU TO WIN, GOD IS IN YOUR CORNER
NOT ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH ANYBODY, IT’S ABOUT BEING READY TO GO, YOU GOTTA FAST, YOU GOTTA PRAY
MAY NOT BE SWIFT, MAY NOT BE STRONG, MAY NOT BE FAST BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE. JUST LIKE THE TURTLE, ONE DAY YOU GONNA REACH THAT FINISH LINE AND THAT GREAT CROWD IN THE CLOUDS IS GONNA GO WILD BECAUSE YOU MADE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for all you’ve done for us. We thank you for your wonderful mercy and grace. Lord we ask that you display discipline in our lives, and in our hearts. Let us run this race of life with love, with strength and willpower, and with courage to witness to others and bring those that are lost into your loving arms. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
