Personal Discipline

Personal Discipline of Life

In view of the corruption that was in the city of  Corinth, Paul instructs Christians to discipline their  lives (1 Cor. 9:24-27). Personal discipline is one of  life’s most difficult problems—it is one of my difficult  problems, and it is one that also belongs to you. Yet, it  is essential if we are to please the Lord and save our  souls. To do so, Paul selects the metaphor of running a  race, similar to our Olympic races. According to history,  several things were involved in such races that were  familiar to Paul and the Corinthians.

First, one had to train for at least ten months in  order to enter the race. Consider the discipline necessary  to train for ten months just to be able to enter the race!  After the ten months of training to enter, there would be  another month in which the athletes were continually  judged about what they ate and did before they entered  the race, again emphasizing discipline so that they would  be qualified to enter and win the race. Considering  another sports analogy, consider the training necessary  for football players—they do not simply go out on their  first game and play for the first time, but they train long  and hard before they ever play their first game. This  underscores the value of discipline. Many people engage  in any number of things and discipline themselves at  almost any price in order to be successful.

Second, in the race to which Paul refers, only “ one  receiveth the prize ” (9:24), but in the Christian race, this  is not true. All of us may win, provided that we recognize  the importance of disciplining our lives. “ So run, that ye  may obtain ” (9:24).

Third, they must follow the rules and regulations of  the race. If not, they would become disqualified. Do we  remember the Canadian athlete who won first place, but  whom officials later detected that he had taken steroids?  Thus, in spite of the fact that he finished in first, he still  lost, potentially becoming disqualified forever as penalty  for not abiding by the rules. Therefore, in the Christian  life, we have to run according to the rules, else we  become disqualified.

Fourth, “ every man that striveth for the mastery  is temperate in all things ” (9:25). The Greek word for  “ striveth for the mastery ” is the word from which we  literally obtain our word “agonize.” How many of us  really put forth that type of effort—agonize—in order  to be pleasing to the Lord? Does that type of effort enter  our lives, or are we rather sort of easy-come, easy-go?  In areas where it is not as easy to be acceptable to the  Lord, do we really agonize? For instance, take the matter  of the tongue. James points out that this is not an easy  thing to control (James 3:1-12). Do we really agonize  over the fact when we do not control our tongue? How  much effort do we really put forth? Therefore, it is not  merely a matter of running, but doing so with discipline,  often in agony.

Fifth, while they ran to win “ a corruptible crown ”  [laurel wreath, along with whatever national honor that  accompanied such] (9:25), we are not running for such  a prize, because we are not running that type of race. We  are in a race looking for “ an incorruptible ” crown—an  eternal, everlasting “ crown of righteousness ” (cf. 2 Tim.  4:8). How much more motivation should there be for  discipline in our lives to see that our lives harmonize with  the rules so that we may obtain such a prize? “ I therefore  so run, not as uncertainly ” (9:26). In other words, I  understand the rules and regulations; I understand the  discipline necessary to win such a prize. I seek to know  the will of God. In addition, Paul shifts from running a  race to shadow boxing: “ so fight I, not as one that beateth  the air ” (9:26). Shadow boxing is important in training,  but if one actually boxes in a match and never strikes  the opponent, it is futile. Thus, we recognize what we  are trying to do and exercise discipline wherever we  need such.

Paul concludes, “ But I discipline my body and bring  it unto subjection, lest, when I have preached to others,  I myself should become disqualified ” (9:27 NKJV).  Therefore, we see the discipline of life necessary to keep  one from being disqualified. The word “ castaway ” (KJV)  literally means “reprobate, unapproved and rejected”  (incidentally, this shows the possibility of apostasy). For  instance, items that are subject to quality control must  meet regulations and abide by a certain standard or else  they are rejected or “cast away.” Therefore, it is important  that we realize, even though we are Christians, that there  must be personal discipline in our lives to do what the  Lord wants us to do, else He will reject us!

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Attitude Strange? Then Change!

The attitude of the psalmist toward worshiping God stands in stark contrast to the attitude of many Christians. There is no scripture which better reflects the kind of heart we must have in worship than Psalm 84. If the words of this psalm seem foreign to your attitude toward worship, it is imperative that you work on your attitude and change it.

The psalmist said, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psa. 84:2). When he was away from the courts of the Lord, his soul longed to be there. The present tense of the word “longs” indicates not an occasional passing desire to be in His court, but an ongoing desire to be at the Lord’s house. The depths of his desire to be there is seen in the word “faints.” He longed for his body (his flesh) and his soul (his heart) to be where he could sing to the living God.

He saw the courts of the Lord to be such a blessing that even the lowly bird would be blessed by having her nests near the altars there. “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altar.” If a sparrow is blessed by being in His courts, how much more are we! If that which is least among His creation  is blessed by being in His court, how much more are we!

Then the psalmist looked for some way that he might never have to leave His court. He speaks of those who dwell there and can always be singing praises to God. The psalmist said, “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise.” Some would look as such opportunity as almost being like a curse, a thing to never be desired, but the psalmist calls it a blessing. Does this sound strange to you?

The final expression of his desire to be able to worship God in His courts is the most remarkable. “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psa. 84:10).  A thousand days is nearly three years. Yet think of how easy it is for us the trade one day in His courts for just one day elsewhere.

The psalmist would not trade one day in His court for a thousand days any other place doing any other thing. Some trade a day in the courts of the Lord for a day simply to sleep in and get rest. Some trade a day in His courts for a day at a recreational park. Some trade a day in His courts for fishing, shopping, golfing or traveling. Think about the last time you chose to miss meeting the Lord at His table in His temple. What did you get when you traded that day with Him for secular matters? He would not trade one day for 1,000 of yours!

If this seems strange to you, perhaps it is time to meditate and reset priorities. Think about this. Pray about it!

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Demas and Self-Gratification

Demas was a good worker and Paul seemed to appreciate his work. In fact, Paul put him right up there with John Mark and Luke when he wrote, “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.” (Phm. 1:24). So, Demas accompanied Paul and others on missionary trips, such as the one into Asia and went with him in his voyage to Rome and seems to have also been a fellow prisoner with Paul (Acts 19:29). And, while Paul sent an epistle to the Christians in Colossae, Paul again named Demas right besides doctor Luke. “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” (Col. 4:14).

But, Demas had a problem. A memory problem. He kept forgetting about the world to come. Of course Demas wanted heaven and was a diligent worker for the Lord. He knew that he would have heaven later. But, he also just wanted what this world had to offer, too and Demas wanted this now. So, as Paul wrote, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica . . .” (2 Tim. 4:10). Paul stated that Demas loved the Now Age.

What is the obsession for the Now Age? One seems to see it written all across our society in bright colors to easily be noticed. People no longer want to wait. They want things at once, immediately and instantly. Now, certainly there is nothing wrong with having a soda with a now taste. But, we have raised and are still raising a “Now Generation” of adults who promises far more than it threatens. The problem is much like that of Demas and many of God’s people are swapping heaven later for the Now Age, Now.

Christ’s people have given up their citizenship rights in this world in order to claim it in the world to come. Paul said, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” (Phil. 3:18-20). Christians are far too easily choosing to be residents of the Now Age. Many have neglected that God’s grace has appeared and brought salvation (Jn. 1:29). They have forgotten that the Lord teaches how to live responsibly, righteous and godly lives…now. Giving in to this world, many have forgotten the instructions to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and have forgotten that Jesus redeemed us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Tit. 2:11-15).

Thus, the child of God should not expect a reward on earth for faithfulness. We can however have a blessed hope of happiness forever when this world is gone. So, don’t sacrifice eternity for the “Now Age.” You will always regret that. Demas did. And that is why the story of Demas is one of the saddest stories of the New Testament. How does your life read?

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Changes

Today we find that in many congregations the pure gospel is lacking. This condition exist because some congregations that were faithful 50 years ago have since gone through changes that have placed them in a situation with the Lord where Jesus might say – “You have left your first love” or “I have a few things against you” (cf. Rev. 2:4; 2:14).

The forces of evil never rest; the truths that were defended in the 30s through the 80s are still truth. Yet; many church members today have changed their views about marriage-divorce-and-remarriage, about the function of the congregation with its resources, about the work of the church in evangelism (i.e. some today are advocating that institutions other than the local congregation may set up brotherhood projects that have been assigned to the church alone); these departures violate the clear instruction via the Holy Scriptures that teach the congregation is God’s missionary society; nothing else is authorized by God as an agency to spread the gospel. Indeed, the individual Christian also has responsibilities to spread the gospel as is clearly taught by the Holy Scriptures,

cf. Acts 8:1-4 – 1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 as for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. KJV

2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. KJV

Brethren; friends; I am concerned about the changes that are being introduced into some churches and the direction of some of the good brethren who in the past were staunch advocates of COMMAND, APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE, and NECESSARY INFERENCE. Some of the faithful men of the past, if possible, would arise to condemn these changes; good men that we can recall by name.

What does the future hold? Perhaps we can know what the future holds by looking at the church and what has happened in the past 110 years. There have been continued departures by those determined to make changes in the Bible method of doing things in the congregation. Indeed, some have allowed the grand schemes of TV evangelist, and on-the-march brethren who are dissatisfied with the ancient truths to pursue error without taking a stand. May God bless each one of us to see the hand-writing on the wall for the future generations and cry out before another major division in the Body of Christ takes place!

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If it looks like a Cowboy…

All Hat and No Horse!

Years ago, I worked for an electronics company with a guy who tried very hard to look, act and speak like a real cowboy… the problem was he was not a real cowboy… In fact, he had grown up in the city and was working as an electronics technician – about as far from being a real cowboy as one can get. He was the kind of guy that real cowboys describe as being, “All Hats and No Horse.” On the back window of his little pick-up truck was a large decal that said REDNECK in big, bold letters and he had a bumper-sticker that said “Cowboy Up.” (and we don’t even want to talk about what he had hanging down from his bumper hitch…) To all the world, with his cowboy hat, decals and bumper stickers, he was declaring himself a “Redneck, Cowboy…,” but to anyone who knew him these sad attempts were a little bit humorous. I asked him something like this one time, “What does it really say about you, if you have to wear a t-shirt and have window decal on your truck so that people will know you are a ‘Redneck Cowboy’?”

I was reminded of this fellow, the other day when I was looking around in a religious book store that also sells gifts, T-shirts, jewelry and other “christian” knick-knack items, when I saw in the jewelry section that there were many different types of cross or “fish” necklaces, bracelets and earrings for both men and women. And in the T-shirts section I also saw that there were many different t-shirts depicting some scripture reference, or Christ, or a cross, or a “fish”, or some other “christian” logo. I thought to myself, if I would have to wear a necklace or a t-shirt for people to know I am a Christian, then what would that say about my faith and my manner of living? It’s not that there is anything inherently wrong with wearing something like that, but shouldn’t people be able to see Christ in me, even if I am wearing no jewelry and have on just some old jeans and a plain white t-shirt? Our faith must be plain for all to see, without our having to wear any overtly “christian” clothing or jewelry – this is a part of our Christian profession…

Here are a few Bible passages for your consideration that describe how those in the world will know that you are a Christian, without you ever needing to do a “christian” t-shirt or cross necklace:

  • People will know we are Christians because of our love. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another…”
  • People will know we are Christians because of our love and unity. John 17:20-23 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me…”
  • People will know we are Christians because of our good works. 1 Peter 2:11-12 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation…”

 

 

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