Discipline Yourself
Discipline shapes a person’s character and helps them to behave correctly. The
word comes from a Latin word meaning “instruction” or “training”. Discipline helps
us to live our lives so that we can do what we ought to do.
Even in this world discipline is an important tool. To live a healthy life, we are told
to eat healthy, exercise and get plenty of rest. However the world today is not
living a healthy life, there are so many foods that cause people to go astray, and
without self discipline, there is a problem, when you look at the health care crisis,
you see that this country leads the world in all kinds of sickness. Mainly because
this country leads the world in fast foods.
Discipline is to train by instruction and control; Paul writes in I Corinthians 9:24-27
“know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So
run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I
therefore, so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. But I
keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; less that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away”.
Over the centuries the church has realized the value of certain “spiritual
disciplines”. The following have always been included among the spiritual
disciplines.
Praying - Jesus as our example had a life style of praying (Luke 6:12) which says
“and it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God”. Jesus says in Matthew 6:5-8 “and when you
pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men,
verily, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into
your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in
secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when
you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall
be heard for their much speaking. Be not you, therefore like to them, for your
Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him”.
Fasting – going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for spiritual purposes.
Jesus says “moreover when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast,
verily I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your
head, and wash your face. That you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father
which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly”
(Matthew 6:16-18).
Studying – we have to remember that the Bible says “get wisdom, get
understanding; forsake it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you; love her, and she shall keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get
understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7). We have to understand that as Jesus taught in
the parable of the sower, the devil comes to steal the word we don’t understand.
Paul commends the Bereans (Acts 17:11) “these were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. Paul also tells
Timothy “study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).
Giving – giving is an act of worship, lets look at Cornelius (Acts 10:1-5) which says
“there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band
called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared (reverence) God with
all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He
saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God, coming
in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was
afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said to him, your prayers and your alms
are come up for a memorial before God. and now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter”. God saw his prayer and giving and way for
him to be saved.
Jesus warns that your giving is not for people to see and praise you (Matthew 6:1-
4) “take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise
you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do
your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men, verily I say to
you, they have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know
what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret, and your Father
which sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly”.
Self-Discipline is an important concept in the New Testament, because Jesus
came, Christians have been set free from, “the law of sin and death”, and have
“the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ”, read Romans 8:1-8 to change our
inner selves so that we can fulfill God’s law. The indwelling Spirit of God enables
believers to exercise self-discipline. Spiritual transformation is accompanied by
renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1-2), which brings us a new understanding of
ourselves, our motivations, and our attitudes. Trusting the Holy Spirit to produce
self-discipline in individual lives and seeking fellowship and exhortation in context
of the church. A well ordered, wholesome, liberated life that releases the Christian
for service is almost always a self-discipline life.
Our discipline allows us to enter into a relationship with God. The holiest place is
opened to us, the veil was ripped as Jesus died on the cross. Jesus did the legal
side, we have to do the vital side, we are told to put off the old man (Ephesians 4:
22-32) “that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor; for we are members, one of another. Be you angry, and sin not, let not
the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that
stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which
is good; that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
The key to this is to walk by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16-17) “this I say then,
walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one
to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would”. Jesus tells us to
“Abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; and more can you except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the
branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit for
without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned. If a man abide in Me, and My words abide I you, you shall ask
what you will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified that you
bear much fruit, so shall you be My disciples” (John 15:4-8).
The Bible tells us through out that discipline is necessary to help us avoid sin
(Psalms 119:9,11) “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking
heed thereto according to Your Word. Your word have I hid in my heart, that I
might not sin against you”.
The biblical concept of discipline has both a positive side (instructions, knowledge,
and training) and a negative aspect (correction, punishment and reproof). Those
who refuse to submit to God’s positive discipline by not obeying His laws will
experience God’s negative discipline through His wrath and judgment.
The Bible tells us to “judge yourself and you will not be judged” (I Corinthians 11:
31-32). People fear discipline from God, but it is His wrath that should be feared.
His wrath is directed only against those who have proved themselves to be God’s
enemies. God’s discipline is different from His wrath. God disciplines His people
as a loving father disciplines a beloved son (Proverbs 3:11-12) “My son, despise
not the chastening of the Lord Yahweh, neither be weary of His correction. For
whom the Lord loves, He corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 2, 2010
Discipline shapes a person’s character and helps them to behave correctly. The
word comes from a Latin word meaning “instruction” or “training”. Discipline helps
us to live our lives so that we can do what we ought to do.
Even in this world discipline is an important tool. To live a healthy life, we are told
to eat healthy, exercise and get plenty of rest. However the world today is not
living a healthy life, there are so many foods that cause people to go astray, and
without self discipline, there is a problem, when you look at the health care crisis,
you see that this country leads the world in all kinds of sickness. Mainly because
this country leads the world in fast foods.
Discipline is to train by instruction and control; Paul writes in I Corinthians 9:24-27
“know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So
run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I
therefore, so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. But I
keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; less that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away”.
Over the centuries the church has realized the value of certain “spiritual
disciplines”. The following have always been included among the spiritual
disciplines.
Praying - Jesus as our example had a life style of praying (Luke 6:12) which says
“and it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God”. Jesus says in Matthew 6:5-8 “and when you
pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men,
verily, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into
your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in
secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when
you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall
be heard for their much speaking. Be not you, therefore like to them, for your
Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him”.
Fasting – going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for spiritual purposes.
Jesus says “moreover when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast,
verily I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your
head, and wash your face. That you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father
which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly”
(Matthew 6:16-18).
Studying – we have to remember that the Bible says “get wisdom, get
understanding; forsake it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you; love her, and she shall keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get
understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7). We have to understand that as Jesus taught in
the parable of the sower, the devil comes to steal the word we don’t understand.
Paul commends the Bereans (Acts 17:11) “these were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. Paul also tells
Timothy “study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).
Giving – giving is an act of worship, lets look at Cornelius (Acts 10:1-5) which says
“there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band
called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared (reverence) God with
all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He
saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God, coming
in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was
afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said to him, your prayers and your alms
are come up for a memorial before God. and now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter”. God saw his prayer and giving and way for
him to be saved.
Jesus warns that your giving is not for people to see and praise you (Matthew 6:1-
4) “take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise
you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do
your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men, verily I say to
you, they have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know
what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret, and your Father
which sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly”.
Self-Discipline is an important concept in the New Testament, because Jesus
came, Christians have been set free from, “the law of sin and death”, and have
“the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ”, read Romans 8:1-8 to change our
inner selves so that we can fulfill God’s law. The indwelling Spirit of God enables
believers to exercise self-discipline. Spiritual transformation is accompanied by
renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1-2), which brings us a new understanding of
ourselves, our motivations, and our attitudes. Trusting the Holy Spirit to produce
self-discipline in individual lives and seeking fellowship and exhortation in context
of the church. A well ordered, wholesome, liberated life that releases the Christian
for service is almost always a self-discipline life.
Our discipline allows us to enter into a relationship with God. The holiest place is
opened to us, the veil was ripped as Jesus died on the cross. Jesus did the legal
side, we have to do the vital side, we are told to put off the old man (Ephesians 4:
22-32) “that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor; for we are members, one of another. Be you angry, and sin not, let not
the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that
stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which
is good; that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
The key to this is to walk by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16-17) “this I say then,
walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one
to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would”. Jesus tells us to
“Abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; and more can you except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the
branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit for
without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned. If a man abide in Me, and My words abide I you, you shall ask
what you will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified that you
bear much fruit, so shall you be My disciples” (John 15:4-8).
The Bible tells us through out that discipline is necessary to help us avoid sin
(Psalms 119:9,11) “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking
heed thereto according to Your Word. Your word have I hid in my heart, that I
might not sin against you”.
The biblical concept of discipline has both a positive side (instructions, knowledge,
and training) and a negative aspect (correction, punishment and reproof). Those
who refuse to submit to God’s positive discipline by not obeying His laws will
experience God’s negative discipline through His wrath and judgment.
The Bible tells us to “judge yourself and you will not be judged” (I Corinthians 11:
31-32). People fear discipline from God, but it is His wrath that should be feared.
His wrath is directed only against those who have proved themselves to be God’s
enemies. God’s discipline is different from His wrath. God disciplines His people
as a loving father disciplines a beloved son (Proverbs 3:11-12) “My son, despise
not the chastening of the Lord Yahweh, neither be weary of His correction. For
whom the Lord loves, He corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 2, 2010
