DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONTROL

August 19, 2009

Good Morning!

“People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.” 1

Like it or not, discipline and self-control are basic to spiritual growth and maturity: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…But the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control” (I Tim. 4:7b NAS; Gal. 5:22a, 23b).

If we in our world of touchy-feely me-centered Christianity resent and resist restrictions in the name spiritual liberty, we may want to consider St. Paul ’s analogy of spiritual maturity to two great Greek festivals, the Olympic and Isthmian games: “You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself…“ (I Cor. 9:24-27 Msg. Trans.). (See 2 Tim 2:5)

Paul implores us to “run to win.” Unlike the Greek athletes, ours is for an imperishable prize: “…God…has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you…I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (I Pet. 1:3, 4; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 - Selected).

Athletes in training gain control over their minds and bodies and place themselves on a strict regimen. Paul, in like manner put himself on a rigorous routine of discipline, lest he be shelved (in terms of effective service.) (I Cor. 9:27) In Romans 8:13 the Apostle gives us the means by which winning over the flesh is possible: “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

The reality is that the imperishable requires discipline and self control just as the perishable: “…Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us” (Heb. 12:1b NLT). As followers of Christ, whatever good we may accomplish, whether in education, business, the arts, our marriage, sports, our walk with God - you name it, can only be achieved through these twin virtues as we are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (See Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16)

Many of us started out on our pilgrimage with Christ with enthusiasm and a deep sense of devotion. Somewhere along the way however, we “broke training” as the flesh, the world, our daily concerns and personal interests - and laziness, choked our spiritual growth: “…The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mk. 4:19). (See 1 Jn. 2:15, 16)

Look around you at your fellow believers. Many are slaves to their bodies, which tell their minds what to do. Their impulse is to eat and drink what they want, when they want; to sleep as they please; to indulge in whatever entertainment crosses their path, etc. It behooves us to consider Paul’s caution: "Everything is permissible for me--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me--but I will not be mastered by anything” (I Cor. 6:12 ). (See I Cor. 10:23)

QUESTION: So tell me, my fellow brother or sister in Christ, how are you doing in the discipline and self-control departments? Do you view yourself as a person of excellence? Do you respect yourself? Are you choosing to prioritize and focus your life? Are you choosing to order and discipline your mind and your world so that you make time for God, your kids, your spouse, and serving others? Jesus, our model and standard, had a reputation for excellence: "He has done everything well" (Mk. 7:37). How about you?

1 D. A. Carson , For the Love of God

My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill

FOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WALK WITH GOD

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"

"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"

August 12, 2009

Good Morning!

LET ME ASK YOU FOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WALK WITH GOD:

In an age of casual Christianity and mediocre spirituality, it behooves us to take careful stock of our lives, asking the penetrating, hard questions, with the understanding that one day we will give an account to a holy God who reminds us that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14) “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5) (See Matt. 5:20; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10)

Are you going deep with God? By that I mean, are you studying God’s word regularly, carefully, and in depth? How about memorizing key passages and praying them into your life? Are you internalizing quality spiritual material in the vein of Elizabeth Elliott, Richard Foster, Cynthia Heald, C. S. Lewis, George McDonald, Henry Nouwen, J. I. Packer, John Piper, John Stott, A. W. Tozier, Dallas Willard, and Philip Yancy, etc? Or are you only reading light weight, quick fix religious fast food caliber material that is so prevalent today? Are you choosing to associate with men and women of spiritual substance, who challenge you to the core to be hard after God; to be great for God?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart…Train yourself to be godly…Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth...He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Jer. 29:13;1 Tim. 4:7b; 2 Tim 2:15; Pro. 13:20 )

Do you possess a passion for holiness? By that I mean a passion for Christlikeness. An exercise to help you intelligently answer that question is to prayfully review Galatians 5:19-23 as to where you really stack up. Tell me, do you gravitate toward what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise? (Phil. 4:8) Or are you inclined toward that which is sensual, pride-based, and materialistic? Does your heart truly yearn for God? Does your daily schedule and check book strongly suggest that the knowledge of and service to the Holy One is your top priority?

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God… One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple…To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” (Psa. 84:2; 27:4; Pro. 8:13)

Are you a broken vessel before God? Or does your pride rule your life? Are you grieved over your attraction to sin? Do you have a tendency to react whenever someone crosses you, challenges your authority, or corrects you? Do you secretly pride yourself on your achievements, ministry, financial success, and social status? If you are truly honest, are you focused primarily on yourself or on serving others?

“The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise… All who fear the Lord will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech…Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Psa. 51:17 NLT; Pro. 8:13; Phil. 2:3, 4)

Are you intentionally engaging with the lost (the “unconvinced”) with a view toward influencing them toward Christ? Or are you hunkered down in your holy huddle, safe among the churched? "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men…When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some… " (Matt. 4:19; Lk. 14:12-14; I Cor. 9:22b)

My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill

FEAR

FEAR (Alarmed concern, anxiety, apprehension, consternation, dread, fright, panic, terror, timidity, trepidation, unease)

Fear is like back pain: Paralyzing. Immobilizing. Consuming. Certainly it is not God’s idea of how we are to live our lives. Rather, it is God’s intention that we be free from fear: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline...I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…” (Isa.41:10; 2 Tim. 1:7a; Psa. 34:4)

The raw truth about fear is that it is the absence of faith in not believing God:

· [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mk. 4:40)

· “[Jesus] replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matt. 8:26)

· “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psa. 112:7)

What is it that we fear the most?

* Failure: “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground…” (Matt. 25:254b) (See Psa. 42:5; Isa. 31:1)
* The future: “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psa. 112:7)
* People: Isaac lied to Abimelech that his wife was his sister. (Gen 26:1-11) (See Gen. 12:20-20; 20; Pro. 29:25)
* That God is not with us: “O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.” (Psa. 30:7) (See Psa. 10:1; 13:1; 143:7)

Even some of the best people in the Scriptures stumbled in fear. For example:

* Elijah, after courageously confronting and destroying the prophets of Baal, fearfully runs from Jezebel, who threatens his life. (I Kin. 18:16-19:3)
* Peter boasts that he will lay down his life for Christ and then fearfully denies him. (Jn. 13:37; 18:15-27)

The Enemy of our soul wants us immobilized by fear. God, however, implores us to trust him and be free from fear:

* “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you." (Deu. 3:22)
* “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Jos.. 1:9) (See Jos.. 1:5-9)

* "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." (Isa. 35:4a)
* “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psa. 46:1,2) (See Jos.. 8:1; Matt. 10:28; Psa. 23:4; 1 Jn. 4:18)
* “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27)

May I entreat you to join the company of courageous people who believed God and overcame their fears:

* Peter and John defied the authorities’ prohibition in witnessing for Christ. (See Act. 4:7-13; 5:17-32)
* Paul in facing trial and probable death: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem , not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Act. 20:22-24)


My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill