MY FRIENDS, DISCIPLINE, SO EASY AND YET SO HARD OR IS IT?

May 16, 2015

MY FRIENDS, DISCIPLINE, SO EASY AND YET SO HARD OR IS IT?

My friends, let’s focus today on a subject that seems, at times, just out of control or the lack there of. Whether it is the discipline of our mind and body along with allowing God to take full control of every aspect of our life. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)

Webster defines discipline as a; “state of order and obedience brought about by training and control.” And my friends bringing our life under the complete control of God’s Spirit is just something we are not willing to do if it interferes with our own plans. “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Gen 39:6-9 (NKJV)

What discipline for a young man in his twenties, who had already been in a foreign land for over a decade. So my friends, what the story of Joseph should tells us is, we can also live in a foreign land without being influence by foreign practices, if we are disciplined in the precepts in God’s word, while allowing His Spirit to take control.

Peter tells us. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV) And as children of the King, we should always feel like foreigners, in a country that we never want to become complacent to the fact, we don’t belong here.

The Psalmist tells us in Ps. 119:19 (KJV) “I am a stranger on earth” But though we travel as temporary residents, we still have a mandate as God’s chosen to tell others of the good news of a new home for all who believe. In addition, like Joseph, we must also recognize we are in a foreign country, while maintaining a passion for a heavenly country that “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived” [all that] God has prepared for those who love him” 1Cor. 2:9 (NIV)

My friends, it will take discipline that can only be achieved by a complete surrender, as we allow self to die in Christ, before we can enter the promise land. But remember, what discipline it must have taken for God to witness His only Begotten Son dying on that cruel cross and what discipline it must have taken for Christ to carry out the plan of salvation for each of us.

Now today we must ask ourselves, do we have the discipline, which brings about faith which brings about endurance to accept Christ as our Savior, Christ tells us “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (NIV)

What discipline it will take to be a disciple of Christ and to stay on that narrow road that leads to life eternal, that only a few will find. My friends I am determine to discipline myself to be one of the few, and I pray, each of you will do the same, remember Christ victory on the cross, gives each of us victory, if we believe.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY