Showing posts with label Self-Control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self-Control. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
11.19.11 "Taming the Beast"
"Taming the Beast"
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
James 2:18-3:18
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
Have your words ever got you in trouble?
"If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way." James 3:2
Growing in Christ is such a matter of discipline. (I guess that's where disciple and discipleship come from!) I think there are times when we get frustrated with ourselves over the fact that God isn't changing us as fast as we'd like. We know and quote, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." But still there are some issues that just haven't "disappeared" as fast as we'd like.
That's when we go buy the bumper sticker that says, "Please Be Patient, God isn't Finished with me yet." I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that statement, but where we get into trouble is in the fact that sometimes we're waiting for God to do some miraculous change in our lives without applying personal discipline. So, we give ourselves all kinds of grace over the fact that "oops, I slipped up again..."
The sad part is that there are times we don't offer that same grace to others. We're quick to point out their mistakes. "...and they call themselves a Christian..." James 3 warns Verse 1 warns about this: "Dear brothers, don't be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater than it would be for others."
Often we like to deflect what the Lord is trying to do in our own lives onto others. If the Lord's telling me I shouldn't do a certain thing, it's in my nature to judge you, and let you know that you shouldn't be doing it either.
Our growth needs to be from the inside out. James 3:13 says, "If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness, so that only good deeds will pour forth." The way to tame our tongue is to discipline our heart. It's to allow God to cleanse us entirely of the ungodliness that lurks within.
"And by all means don't brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil." James 3:14-16
It's amazing how practical God's Word is. We focus so much on the outside, but the only way to see true transformation on the outside is to be transformed on the inside. It's in disciplining our thoughts and emotions, and allowing the peace-loving nature of Christ fill us.
Listen to God's plan for us:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17-18
The only way our tongue can be tamed is as we grow steadily in the character-transforming discipline found in God's Word and allow his Spirit to fill our lives.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, June 10, 2011
6.10.11 "Got Discipline?"
"Got Discipline?"
I Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
If I were to write a book and put that title on it, I don't think a copy would sell. Who loves discipline? I guess it all depends. If it's an area we enjoy, we are apt to be more disciplined. If you love to play the cello, practicing isn't so terrible. If you love to run, exercise isn't such a nightmare. But overall, self-control can be a challenge.
"it is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army." Proverbs 16:32
I think the first part of the verse is pretty funny. Even back in Solomon's day the tabloids must have picked up on crabby people. But it's the second part of the verse that really caught my eye. We need to have self-control. We need to be disciplined. As you know, discipline is the principle of Empowered through Biblical Training. It is the root of discipleship. We need to be internally strong. This applies to every area of our life.
We need to be disciplined Spiritually. This comes through time in the Word, faithfulness to God's house, committed to small group study and so much more. When we live with a focus on growing in Christ, we align ourselves with activities that serve that purpose. We strain out anything that serves to endanger the spiritual disciplines.
We need to be disciplined Physically. We need to make sure we are healthy in our bodies. In yesterday's reading in Psalm it spoke of having the discipline to get proper sleep. We need to do that. We need to eat healthier. We need to exercise. This body we have is a resource given to us by God. We need to be good stewards of it.
We need to be disciplined Mentally. We need to grow intellectually. We should be in a constant state of learning. whatever our skill set may be, there's more to learn. I need to be a better piano player. I need to be a better Pastor. I need to study to do those things. I need to gain more information. Whatever your job is, you should be working to be better at it. This is a discipline that aligns with God's word.
We need to be disciplined Emotionally. Emotions are a gift of God, and just like any other gift, they can be misused or abused. "I'm just an emotional person." Is a cop-out. It may be true, but it does not excuse a lack of restraint. Like the first part of today's verse says, we don't want to be "famous" for our lack of discipline in this area. This area includes our affections. We can control what our mind dwells on. "Falling out of love" with things we are commanded to love is a sin. So is "Falling in love" with the wrong things. It takes a discipline of emotions to stop errant feelings early.
All of these things need to be taken seriously. We need to make sure that each area receives our attention in order to live the Balanced Christian Life. In Acts 7, Stephen is still preaching his sermon to the Jewish Council. As part of his history lesson he's talking about how David wanted to build the temple, but God said no. This is what God had said to David. "'what kind of home could you build?' asks the Lord. 'Would I stay in it?'" (Acts 7:49)
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What kind of home are we building? It takes discipline to build it right. It takes proper measurements, and clean materials. Is God pleased living in you? He can't dwell with impurity. We must be disciplined to cleanse ourselves daily in his Word. No one else can do it for us. No email devotional can replace the time spent in God's Word.
So, "Got Discipline?"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
If I were to write a book and put that title on it, I don't think a copy would sell. Who loves discipline? I guess it all depends. If it's an area we enjoy, we are apt to be more disciplined. If you love to play the cello, practicing isn't so terrible. If you love to run, exercise isn't such a nightmare. But overall, self-control can be a challenge.
"it is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army." Proverbs 16:32
I think the first part of the verse is pretty funny. Even back in Solomon's day the tabloids must have picked up on crabby people. But it's the second part of the verse that really caught my eye. We need to have self-control. We need to be disciplined. As you know, discipline is the principle of Empowered through Biblical Training. It is the root of discipleship. We need to be internally strong. This applies to every area of our life.
We need to be disciplined Spiritually. This comes through time in the Word, faithfulness to God's house, committed to small group study and so much more. When we live with a focus on growing in Christ, we align ourselves with activities that serve that purpose. We strain out anything that serves to endanger the spiritual disciplines.
We need to be disciplined Physically. We need to make sure we are healthy in our bodies. In yesterday's reading in Psalm it spoke of having the discipline to get proper sleep. We need to do that. We need to eat healthier. We need to exercise. This body we have is a resource given to us by God. We need to be good stewards of it.
We need to be disciplined Mentally. We need to grow intellectually. We should be in a constant state of learning. whatever our skill set may be, there's more to learn. I need to be a better piano player. I need to be a better Pastor. I need to study to do those things. I need to gain more information. Whatever your job is, you should be working to be better at it. This is a discipline that aligns with God's word.
We need to be disciplined Emotionally. Emotions are a gift of God, and just like any other gift, they can be misused or abused. "I'm just an emotional person." Is a cop-out. It may be true, but it does not excuse a lack of restraint. Like the first part of today's verse says, we don't want to be "famous" for our lack of discipline in this area. This area includes our affections. We can control what our mind dwells on. "Falling out of love" with things we are commanded to love is a sin. So is "Falling in love" with the wrong things. It takes a discipline of emotions to stop errant feelings early.
All of these things need to be taken seriously. We need to make sure that each area receives our attention in order to live the Balanced Christian Life. In Acts 7, Stephen is still preaching his sermon to the Jewish Council. As part of his history lesson he's talking about how David wanted to build the temple, but God said no. This is what God had said to David. "'what kind of home could you build?' asks the Lord. 'Would I stay in it?'" (Acts 7:49)
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What kind of home are we building? It takes discipline to build it right. It takes proper measurements, and clean materials. Is God pleased living in you? He can't dwell with impurity. We must be disciplined to cleanse ourselves daily in his Word. No one else can do it for us. No email devotional can replace the time spent in God's Word.
So, "Got Discipline?"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, May 28, 2011
5.28.11 "The DNA of Undisciplined Thought"
"The DNA of Undisciplined Thought"
1 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-95
Proverbs 16:6-7
What does it mean to NOT live the DREAM? Well, the principle of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is obedience, so that must mean it's to live in disobedience. The principle of Relationships Devoted to Unity is Submission, so that must mean to live in rebellion. When we get to Empowered Through Biblical Training we know the principle is Discipline. That means to NOT live the E is a lack of discipline. What we fail to realize sometimes is the effect it has on others when we don't live the way God intended.
As we looked at a couple days ago in Psalm 119, David spoke of his dedication for the Word, and how even at the midnight hour his thoughts would be on God's word. The contrast of that was 2 Samuel 11 where he rose to find his thoughts on Bathsheba. He dwelt on them to the point of allowing his flesh to believe, "I must have her". We know what ensued.
Follow this DNA strain that's passed on to Amnon, David's son. In 2 Samuel 13, He began to entertain thoughts of "I must have her" toward his sister. He allowed this to grow to the point of making him sick. An obsession. He allowed a friend (cousin) into his life who only served to feed the undisciplined thought. This thought grew to the point of action being taken, and rather than this desire being fulfilled, the result was "now he hated her more than he had loved her."
As a result of all that David's son, Absalom, had undisciplined thought that was the unbridled hatred for his brother. For 2 years it simmered, until he killed his brother.
The collateral damage of undisciplined thought should not be underestimated. Undisciplined thought can almost become an "alternate universe" where truth has no "gravitational pull". When there has been undisciplined thought for an extended period of time, it seems truth has no impact. There's almost a glazing of the eyes like the old "night of the living dead" zombies. Individuals who become slaves to their own lack of discipline begin to wander aimlessly muttering, "I must have...."
This thought process becomes so self serving, one begins to lose all concept of the needs of others. I had a friend tell me after being freed from the bondage of pornography about what happens in the mind. He said you begin to lose any concern for your family and their needs. Everything revolves around the need for the addiction.
To further the universe analogy, this undisciplined thought grows to the point of itself having the gravitational pull that only truth should have. We see how that brought such destruction to the house of David. I think this is ultimately why we have such moral relativism in our country today. "It's all about me" is the natural result of undisciplined thought.
So what kind of rocket booster does it take to break from the orbit of undisciplined thought? Psalm 119:95b says, "I will quietly keep my mind upon your promises." The only cure is disciplined thought.
Ps 119:92-93 says, "I would have despaired and perished unless you laws had been my deepest delight. I will never lay aside your laws for you have used them to restore my joy and health." The only hope is being "Empowered through Biblical training."
Knowing the danger of undisciplined thought should help us aggressively guard the "candy store" of our mind that we can easily allow ourself the luxury of window shopping. It's confections of lust, revenge, jealousy, greed, even comfort should come with a hidden warning label that declares "this product is highly addictive." Garrison Keiller has a saying, "if you don't wanna go to Minneapolis, don't get on the train." If you don't want the trouble that comes, don't even board the train. Don't start. Don't try it.
We MUST stay far away from the attractions of our thoughts lest we infuse ourselves with a DNA strain we were never intended to have.
The proverb for today is 16:6-7: Iniquity is atoned for by mercy and TRUTH; evil is avoided by reverence for God.
Make sure you are taking your supplemental TRUTH vitamin today through God's word!!! It is like a radioactive agent fighting the cancer of the flesh.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-95
Proverbs 16:6-7
What does it mean to NOT live the DREAM? Well, the principle of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is obedience, so that must mean it's to live in disobedience. The principle of Relationships Devoted to Unity is Submission, so that must mean to live in rebellion. When we get to Empowered Through Biblical Training we know the principle is Discipline. That means to NOT live the E is a lack of discipline. What we fail to realize sometimes is the effect it has on others when we don't live the way God intended.
As we looked at a couple days ago in Psalm 119, David spoke of his dedication for the Word, and how even at the midnight hour his thoughts would be on God's word. The contrast of that was 2 Samuel 11 where he rose to find his thoughts on Bathsheba. He dwelt on them to the point of allowing his flesh to believe, "I must have her". We know what ensued.
Follow this DNA strain that's passed on to Amnon, David's son. In 2 Samuel 13, He began to entertain thoughts of "I must have her" toward his sister. He allowed this to grow to the point of making him sick. An obsession. He allowed a friend (cousin) into his life who only served to feed the undisciplined thought. This thought grew to the point of action being taken, and rather than this desire being fulfilled, the result was "now he hated her more than he had loved her."
As a result of all that David's son, Absalom, had undisciplined thought that was the unbridled hatred for his brother. For 2 years it simmered, until he killed his brother.
The collateral damage of undisciplined thought should not be underestimated. Undisciplined thought can almost become an "alternate universe" where truth has no "gravitational pull". When there has been undisciplined thought for an extended period of time, it seems truth has no impact. There's almost a glazing of the eyes like the old "night of the living dead" zombies. Individuals who become slaves to their own lack of discipline begin to wander aimlessly muttering, "I must have...."
This thought process becomes so self serving, one begins to lose all concept of the needs of others. I had a friend tell me after being freed from the bondage of pornography about what happens in the mind. He said you begin to lose any concern for your family and their needs. Everything revolves around the need for the addiction.
To further the universe analogy, this undisciplined thought grows to the point of itself having the gravitational pull that only truth should have. We see how that brought such destruction to the house of David. I think this is ultimately why we have such moral relativism in our country today. "It's all about me" is the natural result of undisciplined thought.
So what kind of rocket booster does it take to break from the orbit of undisciplined thought? Psalm 119:95b says, "I will quietly keep my mind upon your promises." The only cure is disciplined thought.
Ps 119:92-93 says, "I would have despaired and perished unless you laws had been my deepest delight. I will never lay aside your laws for you have used them to restore my joy and health." The only hope is being "Empowered through Biblical training."
Knowing the danger of undisciplined thought should help us aggressively guard the "candy store" of our mind that we can easily allow ourself the luxury of window shopping. It's confections of lust, revenge, jealousy, greed, even comfort should come with a hidden warning label that declares "this product is highly addictive." Garrison Keiller has a saying, "if you don't wanna go to Minneapolis, don't get on the train." If you don't want the trouble that comes, don't even board the train. Don't start. Don't try it.
We MUST stay far away from the attractions of our thoughts lest we infuse ourselves with a DNA strain we were never intended to have.
The proverb for today is 16:6-7: Iniquity is atoned for by mercy and TRUTH; evil is avoided by reverence for God.
Make sure you are taking your supplemental TRUTH vitamin today through God's word!!! It is like a radioactive agent fighting the cancer of the flesh.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
12.15.10 "The Power of Self-Restraint"
"The Power of Self-Restraint"
Micah 1:1-4:13
Revelation 6:1-17
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 30:1-4
Micah 2:1 has a simple phrase in the Living Bible: "Because you can, you do." A while back, I was trying to lead a friend astray. There were goodies in the office. He was taking out a knife & cutting one in half. I was saying, "come on, take the whole thing! You deserve it!" He had the noble restraint to only eat a half. I on the other hand, couldn't stand to see that half left unattended, so I ate my treat, and his half as well. Because I could, I did.
Just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should". Lack of self-restraint is really a discipline deficiency. It's also poor stewardship, or responsibility. The principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training is Disciipline and the principle behind Active Ministry Involvement is Stewardship.
Obviously, Empowered through Biblical Training is not just a Sunday Morning commitment type of thing. It's needs to be a part of our lifestyle. Part of who we are. We know that, and understand the need for daily application. As we are consistent in reading the word, our life grows in discipline and discipleship.
What about Active Ministry Involvement? How do we make that a part of daily life? You can't work in the nursery everyday, can you? So, do I just apply that principle to my life during seasons or times? Not if you understand the principle behind it. The principle is Responsibility. It beckons us to be good stewards of all that God has given us.
Think of it in terms of money. Because I can afford to go buy something doesn't mean I should! I must exercise restraint to be a good steward of what God has given me. Think of time. Just because I have time to do something doesn't automatically mean I should.
We've all been given resources. Not just talents, but time and even physical health. We'll need to give an account for what we've done with that. Think of the "auditing" process. It's stressful to get the letter from the IRS saying you will be audited. Stressful because you have to get your documents together, and you hope things are in order. Well, scripture clearly indicates that we are going to be audited. Everyone of us. It's not an "if" kind of thing. It will happen. What we have done with our lives will be weighed in the scales of God's judgment. What have we done with what he has given us?
So, how do we know how to be good stewards? By being Empowered through Biblical Training. When we know God's word & discipline ourselves to follow it, we make decisions based on Godly principle, and not on emotion or circumstance. Then we don't just do stuff because we can, we do it because we SHOULD.
The Body of Christ becomes healthy applying these principles. Living in self-restraint positions us to receive incredible things from the Lord. For one, it's because he can trust us. We've proven ourselves faithful. I Cor. 4:2 says, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." This life we have must be marked with discipline and self-restraint.
The more we realize the great things God has done for us, and realize the blessings he has given us, the more we must constrain ourselves to do the right thing. When we see what's at stake, we must stay in the center of the path he has laid out for us. The risk is too great to live a life of doing things "just because we can". We must apply these principles to our life.
A word of clarification. It could be very easy to use this line of thought as an "excuse" NOT to get involved in ministry, or not to give of your resources. That's the opposite interpretation. In essence, that's "hoarding", and that's not the definition of good stewardship. The goal is that we must FOCUS our attention and activity on investing our resources in an optimal way. There are times when there is need and we just have to jump in. Also, there are also many opportunities to just be distracted. The point is in discovering what God has called you do, and doing it with all of your heart.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Micah 1:1-4:13
Revelation 6:1-17
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 30:1-4
Micah 2:1 has a simple phrase in the Living Bible: "Because you can, you do." A while back, I was trying to lead a friend astray. There were goodies in the office. He was taking out a knife & cutting one in half. I was saying, "come on, take the whole thing! You deserve it!" He had the noble restraint to only eat a half. I on the other hand, couldn't stand to see that half left unattended, so I ate my treat, and his half as well. Because I could, I did.
Just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should". Lack of self-restraint is really a discipline deficiency. It's also poor stewardship, or responsibility. The principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training is Disciipline and the principle behind Active Ministry Involvement is Stewardship.
Obviously, Empowered through Biblical Training is not just a Sunday Morning commitment type of thing. It's needs to be a part of our lifestyle. Part of who we are. We know that, and understand the need for daily application. As we are consistent in reading the word, our life grows in discipline and discipleship.
What about Active Ministry Involvement? How do we make that a part of daily life? You can't work in the nursery everyday, can you? So, do I just apply that principle to my life during seasons or times? Not if you understand the principle behind it. The principle is Responsibility. It beckons us to be good stewards of all that God has given us.
Think of it in terms of money. Because I can afford to go buy something doesn't mean I should! I must exercise restraint to be a good steward of what God has given me. Think of time. Just because I have time to do something doesn't automatically mean I should.
We've all been given resources. Not just talents, but time and even physical health. We'll need to give an account for what we've done with that. Think of the "auditing" process. It's stressful to get the letter from the IRS saying you will be audited. Stressful because you have to get your documents together, and you hope things are in order. Well, scripture clearly indicates that we are going to be audited. Everyone of us. It's not an "if" kind of thing. It will happen. What we have done with our lives will be weighed in the scales of God's judgment. What have we done with what he has given us?
So, how do we know how to be good stewards? By being Empowered through Biblical Training. When we know God's word & discipline ourselves to follow it, we make decisions based on Godly principle, and not on emotion or circumstance. Then we don't just do stuff because we can, we do it because we SHOULD.
The Body of Christ becomes healthy applying these principles. Living in self-restraint positions us to receive incredible things from the Lord. For one, it's because he can trust us. We've proven ourselves faithful. I Cor. 4:2 says, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." This life we have must be marked with discipline and self-restraint.
The more we realize the great things God has done for us, and realize the blessings he has given us, the more we must constrain ourselves to do the right thing. When we see what's at stake, we must stay in the center of the path he has laid out for us. The risk is too great to live a life of doing things "just because we can". We must apply these principles to our life.
A word of clarification. It could be very easy to use this line of thought as an "excuse" NOT to get involved in ministry, or not to give of your resources. That's the opposite interpretation. In essence, that's "hoarding", and that's not the definition of good stewardship. The goal is that we must FOCUS our attention and activity on investing our resources in an optimal way. There are times when there is need and we just have to jump in. Also, there are also many opportunities to just be distracted. The point is in discovering what God has called you do, and doing it with all of your heart.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
6.10.9 "Got Discipline?"
"Got Discipline?"
I Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
If I were to write a book and put that title on it, I don't think a copy would sell. Who loves discipline? I guess it all depends. If it's an area we enjoy, we are apt to be more disciplined. If you love to play the cello, practicing isn't so terrible. If you love to run, exercise isn't such a nightmare. But overall, self-control can be a challenge.
"it is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army." Proverbs 16:32
I think the first part of the verse is pretty funny. Even back in Solomon's day the tabloids must have picked up on crabby people. But it's the second part of the verse that really caught my eye. We need to have self-control. We need to be disciplined. As you know, discipline is the principle of Empowered through Biblical Training. It is the root of discipleship. We need to be internally strong. This applies to every area of our life.
We need to be disciplined Spiritually. This comes through time in the Word, faithfulness to God's house, committed to small group study and so much more. When we live with a focus on growing in Christ, we align ourselves with activities that serve that purpose. We strain out anything that serves to endanger the spiritual disciplines.
We need to be disciplined Physically. We need to make sure we are healthy in our bodies. In yesterday's reading in Psalm it spoke of having the discipline to get proper sleep. We need to do that. We need to eat healthier. We need to exercise. This body we have is a resource given to us by God. We need to be good stewards of it.
We need to be disciplined Mentally. We need to grow intellectually. We should be in a constant state of learning. whatever our skill set may be, there's more to learn. I need to be a better piano player. I need to be a better Pastor. I need to study to do those things. I need to gain more information. Whatever your job is, you should be working to be better at it. This is a discipline that aligns with God's word.
We need to be disciplined Emotionally. Emotions are a gift of God, and just like any other gift, they can be misused or abused. "I'm just an emotional person." Is a cop-out. It may be true, but it does not excuse a lack of restraint. Like the first part of today's verse says, we don't want to be "famous" for our lack of discipline in this area. This area includes our affections. We can control what our mind dwells on. "Falling out of love" with things we are commanded to love is a sin. So is "Falling in love" with the wrong things. It takes a discipline of emotions to stop errant feelings early.
All of these things need to be taken seriously. We need to make sure that each area receives our attention in order to live the Balanced Christian Life. In Acts 7, Stephen is still preaching his sermon to the Jewish Council. As part of his history lesson he's talking about how David wanted to build the temple, but God said no. This is what God had said to David. "'what kind of home could you build?' asks the Lord. 'Would I stay in it?'" (Acts 7:49)
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What kind of home are we building? It takes discipline to build it right. It takes proper measurements, and clean materials. Is God pleased living in you? He can't dwell with impurity. We must be disciplined to cleanse ourselves daily in his Word. No one else can do it for us. No email devotional can replace the time spent in God's Word.
So, "Got Discipline?"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
If I were to write a book and put that title on it, I don't think a copy would sell. Who loves discipline? I guess it all depends. If it's an area we enjoy, we are apt to be more disciplined. If you love to play the cello, practicing isn't so terrible. If you love to run, exercise isn't such a nightmare. But overall, self-control can be a challenge.
"it is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army." Proverbs 16:32
I think the first part of the verse is pretty funny. Even back in Solomon's day the tabloids must have picked up on crabby people. But it's the second part of the verse that really caught my eye. We need to have self-control. We need to be disciplined. As you know, discipline is the principle of Empowered through Biblical Training. It is the root of discipleship. We need to be internally strong. This applies to every area of our life.
We need to be disciplined Spiritually. This comes through time in the Word, faithfulness to God's house, committed to small group study and so much more. When we live with a focus on growing in Christ, we align ourselves with activities that serve that purpose. We strain out anything that serves to endanger the spiritual disciplines.
We need to be disciplined Physically. We need to make sure we are healthy in our bodies. In yesterday's reading in Psalm it spoke of having the discipline to get proper sleep. We need to do that. We need to eat healthier. We need to exercise. This body we have is a resource given to us by God. We need to be good stewards of it.
We need to be disciplined Mentally. We need to grow intellectually. We should be in a constant state of learning. whatever our skill set may be, there's more to learn. I need to be a better piano player. I need to be a better Pastor. I need to study to do those things. I need to gain more information. Whatever your job is, you should be working to be better at it. This is a discipline that aligns with God's word.
We need to be disciplined Emotionally. Emotions are a gift of God, and just like any other gift, they can be misused or abused. "I'm just an emotional person." Is a cop-out. It may be true, but it does not excuse a lack of restraint. Like the first part of today's verse says, we don't want to be "famous" for our lack of discipline in this area. This area includes our affections. We can control what our mind dwells on. "Falling out of love" with things we are commanded to love is a sin. So is "Falling in love" with the wrong things. It takes a discipline of emotions to stop errant feelings early.
All of these things need to be taken seriously. We need to make sure that each area receives our attention in order to live the Balanced Christian Life. In Acts 7, Stephen is still preaching his sermon to the Jewish Council. As part of his history lesson he's talking about how David wanted to build the temple, but God said no. This is what God had said to David. "'what kind of home could you build?' asks the Lord. 'Would I stay in it?'" (Acts 7:49)
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What kind of home are we building? It takes discipline to build it right. It takes proper measurements, and clean materials. Is God pleased living in you? He can't dwell with impurity. We must be disciplined to cleanse ourselves daily in his Word. No one else can do it for us. No email devotional can replace the time spent in God's Word.
So, "Got Discipline?"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
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